NoSpeedLmt
New member
Would you say that the 05 T4R V8 4x4 is the best "out of the box" SUV for offroading?
05 T4R best SUV?
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greasefingers
New member
No...it's way to subjective. It
Mark86
Super Moderator
Wait until the new FJ Cruiser hits the market. From the sound of things, that may put all of the competition to shame offroad!
I would say the 4Runner is definitely at the top when it comes to offroading, but I don't think it is the best. I think a 3rd generation 4Runner would be better offroad than a 4th generation.
I would say the 4Runner is definitely at the top when it comes to offroading, but I don't think it is the best. I think a 3rd generation 4Runner would be better offroad than a 4th generation.
See it's subjective cause I was thinking as a new vehicle that is currently in production and for sale on a dealer lot but then Mark decides to hit the pre-owned lots
Ever watch Little House on the Prairie, think of living in a time like that driving a wooden wagon through the US on land that was untouched, as great as these 4Runners are who would just randomly drive 200 miles through the wilderness, I would not,
Back then they did it with no one but your woman and kids, maybe a dog but your main muscle was your horses, think about all the offroad trails being done in a horse drawn wooden wagon, then I think what we have is great
:
OK maybe I went to deep:arrow:
Ever watch Little House on the Prairie, think of living in a time like that driving a wooden wagon through the US on land that was untouched, as great as these 4Runners are who would just randomly drive 200 miles through the wilderness, I would not,
Back then they did it with no one but your woman and kids, maybe a dog but your main muscle was your horses, think about all the offroad trails being done in a horse drawn wooden wagon, then I think what we have is great
: OK maybe I went to deep:arrow:
TRD04RUNNER
New member
EDGE said:
Are you sure? My came in a big huge metal box when it was ship over to the usa.
pat161
New member
I agree that the rubicon is probably the best stock off road. After that I woul d say a regular cab 4wd tacoma w/ locker would be slightly more capable than a runner.
As for the little house on the prairie days, several hundred miles through wilderness would kick ass! I would bring along plenty of "just in case" parts and such, but it would be awesome to cruise around this country 200 years ago with a modded runner.
I guess it would be similar to conditions in certain places now, like Africa and the Australian outback. And look, most people who rely on their vehicles there have Toyotas.
As for the little house on the prairie days, several hundred miles through wilderness would kick ass! I would bring along plenty of "just in case" parts and such, but it would be awesome to cruise around this country 200 years ago with a modded runner.
I guess it would be similar to conditions in certain places now, like Africa and the Australian outback. And look, most people who rely on their vehicles there have Toyotas.
Thai
Elite Member
The 4runner is probably the best off-roader in it's class. I would not say that it's the best in any class. If you take out the price factor, then you have to consider the Jeep Rubicon, Hummer H1, and Mercedes G500.
The 4runner is top in it's class because of it's features (lockable Torsen center diff, effective aTRAC system, low-range gearing, body-on-frame, big standard tires of 31") and excellent reliability/durability. You know that the 4runner will make it back from an off-roading trip in one piece...and that it does not have to rely on "limp-home mode" due to mechanical/electronic failures. IMO, to be a good off-roader, you must be reliable.
The 4runner is top in it's class because of it's features (lockable Torsen center diff, effective aTRAC system, low-range gearing, body-on-frame, big standard tires of 31") and excellent reliability/durability. You know that the 4runner will make it back from an off-roading trip in one piece...and that it does not have to rely on "limp-home mode" due to mechanical/electronic failures. IMO, to be a good off-roader, you must be reliable.
boston_kevin
New member
purely for off-roading
I would take the Jeep Rubicon over anything else (new) in the under $30k price range. Dana 44 solid axles, the 4.0L inline 6 was a torque monster, lockers in both the front and rear, and you get rock rails and 31" BFG AT's on the stock vehicle. Automatic or 6 speed manual (I'd get the manual due to the starter assist feature) and you pretty much have an unstoppable machine off road, plus with the small wheelbase, you will never get high-centered.... On road you have a teeth jarring, small wheelbase, noisy vehicle that gets bad gas mileage.
I took my '91 wrangler through some heavy stuff with 31's and lockers, and never had a problem with the reliability. Even took the car through a small river with water above the engine (had the snorkle intake). I just hated the the ride on the street.
I would take the Jeep Rubicon over anything else (new) in the under $30k price range. Dana 44 solid axles, the 4.0L inline 6 was a torque monster, lockers in both the front and rear, and you get rock rails and 31" BFG AT's on the stock vehicle. Automatic or 6 speed manual (I'd get the manual due to the starter assist feature) and you pretty much have an unstoppable machine off road, plus with the small wheelbase, you will never get high-centered.... On road you have a teeth jarring, small wheelbase, noisy vehicle that gets bad gas mileage.
I took my '91 wrangler through some heavy stuff with 31's and lockers, and never had a problem with the reliability. Even took the car through a small river with water above the engine (had the snorkle intake). I just hated the the ride on the street.
Thai
Elite Member
veloindy said:
The Defender is a good off-roader...but it does NOT come with full lockers (as in Rubicon, G500, and optional on H1). The Defender has amazing wheel articulation which helps it. However, without lockers nor traction control standard from factory, it will have a tough time keeping up with the ones i mentioned above. In addition, Land Rover axles are considered a bit weak when you put on aftermarket lockers...they are not design for them. Thus, most hardcore Defender guys have to replace the axles before putting on lockers.
veloindy
New member
Thai,
Do you still have the pictures you posted from April 1st somewhere on this site? I would love to see more. I know they aren't 4runner related, but they were still cool! Especially with the Rubicon in them. I think you mentioned your brother owned the Rubicon? Is it a daily driver for him?
Thanks!
Do you still have the pictures you posted from April 1st somewhere on this site? I would love to see more. I know they aren't 4runner related, but they were still cool! Especially with the Rubicon in them. I think you mentioned your brother owned the Rubicon? Is it a daily driver for him?
Thanks!
Thai
Elite Member
Two threads with pics of my SUV:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5136&highlight=g500
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5881&highlight=colorado
My brother's Rubicon is a daily driver...and he actually takes it on long-distance drive too with his wife and daughter.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5136&highlight=g500
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5881&highlight=colorado
My brother's Rubicon is a daily driver...and he actually takes it on long-distance drive too with his wife and daughter.
veloindy
New member
Thanks for links! The Rubicon is so cool!. I've only taken it for short test drives and couldn't imagine traveling from the midwest to Utah or even CO in it. The Unlimited has a little bit better road feel but not much.
I wonder if you get use to the ride of the Rubicon? What does your brother have to say about it? I read a review that equated the Rubicon to a penalty box on wheels. He couldn't even finish his week evaluation, the only vehicle he had handed in early. I still love it anyway!
I wonder if you get use to the ride of the Rubicon? What does your brother have to say about it? I read a review that equated the Rubicon to a penalty box on wheels. He couldn't even finish his week evaluation, the only vehicle he had handed in early. I still love it anyway!
boston_kevin
New member
I haven't driven a Rubicon, but the wranglers in general are a little more harsh than other SUV's that have a longer wheel base. Between the full leaf pack in the rear (mine had leaves front and rear), and the shorter wheelbase, the ride is not the same as a 4Runner, but it is not meant to be. This is still the only vehicle, stock, with a fully removable hardtop, removable doors (extremely handy while 4wheeling), and a fold down windshield (although it is a pain to do). It comes down to what you want to get used to and what the wife/gf will allow.
When you see the comparisons of this or any wrangler, keep in mind that they are comparing to the more streetable SUV's like the 4Runner, pathfinder, RAV4, etc. Supposedly Xterra has a rough ride too, but I didn't find the ride all that bad. I wouldn't base my opinion on the ride on what someone else wrote though. They probably are used to the barcalounger type seating in the Grand Cherokee.
Thai - do they still have the starter crawl feature on the Rubicons? That was a fantastic way to crawl over a boulder (speed was about 1 inch per second)
When you see the comparisons of this or any wrangler, keep in mind that they are comparing to the more streetable SUV's like the 4Runner, pathfinder, RAV4, etc. Supposedly Xterra has a rough ride too, but I didn't find the ride all that bad. I wouldn't base my opinion on the ride on what someone else wrote though. They probably are used to the barcalounger type seating in the Grand Cherokee.
Thai - do they still have the starter crawl feature on the Rubicons? That was a fantastic way to crawl over a boulder (speed was about 1 inch per second)
Thai
Elite Member
boston_kevin said:
I am not sure of what you mean by the starter crawl feature. However, with the Rubicon's 4:1 LOW range and strong first gear (4.1), you have a crawl ratio of around 63:1, which will allow you to inch over a rock as slow as you want (and you may not even need to touch the gas pedal).
