4Runner Capabilities

[independent70]

Does anyone know or feel like explaining a stock 4x4 4Runners capabilities offroad without aftermarket tires?

I was reading the review of the hummer h3 and they brag about being able to climb 16 iinch steps, ford 16 inches of water at 20 miles and hour and rock climb stock...

What about our 4Runners?

I have nothing against Hummers, I think if used by peopel who actually need the size (never been in one though...) or capaablities (whatever they are) they are great (my opinion of ALLLLLL SUVS, yes i am a soccer mom hater with her GIANT Excursions and H2's)

So... What are the 4Runners capable of doing?

Thanks, joe

 

[Koz]

The Hummer 3 is a Chevy Colorado that weighs 4700lbs with 220 hp. Needless to say it

 

[sharp4runr]

Have you seen the 0-60 times of the H3? It's insane, the thing can't even get out of its own way!!!!!

 

[boston_kevin]

capabilities

To address some of the things the Hummer can (or can't do) stock with respect to the 4Runner:

16" steps - Hummer maybe, 4Runner cannot do this (approach angle is to flat with the nose of the 4Runner). Most offroaders would not do this anyway unless you are really hardcore. I will use rocks or logs to build up if I need to ascend a 16" step.

16" water fording at 20 mph - Honestly I wouldn't do this with either vehicle stock, but if you equip the diffs, tranny, and transfer case with breathers - this should be no problem (and this is a quick modification most offroaders will do)

0-60 in under 8 seconds - Hummer could never do this even with modifications, 4Runner stock can do this without breaking a sweat.

19+ mpg hwy - Hummer could never do this even with modifications, 4Runner stock can do this without breaking a sweat.

Reliability - I have seen more H1, H2, (and most likely H3) broken down than 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gen 4Runners and the 4Runners are cheaper to fix.

Towing - Hummer cannot tow more than 4500 lbs. Toyota V8 - more than 7000 lbs.

Seating for 7 - Hummer H1, H2, or H3 cannot do this (unless you get the military configuration). 4Runner - with or without leather, seating for 7 is ready to go.

When you compare real world tasks for the hummer and 4runner, the choice is clear. I'd rather spend 30k on a 4Runner, 3k on a trailer and 9k to modify a beater jeep CJ5 (still unbeatable) to go rock crawling. That way if I do slip off a rock while doing something hardcore I haven't done anything to my daily driver.

 

[mandercruso]

this may be somewhat off topic, but my sister's in-laws are on their third H2 in less than two years. The tranny caught on fire in the first two. The reason they keep getting another H2, besides to show off their money, is because her father-in-law has a really bad hip and he likes the wide seats.

~Amanda

 

[sharp4runr]

His bad hip may not enable him to get out of the next burning H2 which would cause his death and then a lawsuit and then they'd have more money?

 

[dcampen]

ford 16 inches of water at 20 miles

The 4Runner has a water fording depth of 27-28 inches. But not at 20 mph. Who knows what the water fording depth is at 20 mph. That the Hummer lists their water fording depth at 20 mph just reinforces my opinion that Hummers are for Walter Mitty types who go offroad only in their daydreams - perhaps chasing down bad guys in Afghanistan while on assignment for the CIA.

 

[boston_kevin]

The 4Runner has a water fording depth of 27-28 inches.

This would be for a vehicle with the breathers installed for the diffs. Fording this depth without the breathers (snorkels) would risk filling the diffs with water. Aside from Hummers the only vehicle with stock breathers on the diffs is Jeep Rubicon (as far as I know)... Acura, Lexus, Ford, GM, Dodge, even Toyota don't have stock breathers.

 

[abin]

The 4Runner has a water fording depth of 27-28 inches. But not at 20 mph. Who knows what the water fording depth is at 20 mph. That the Hummer lists their water fording depth at 20 mph just reinforces my opinion that Hummers are for Walter Mitty types who go offroad only in their daydreams - perhaps chasing down bad guys in Afghanistan while on assignment for the CIA.

That maybe part of the problem.
Bad guys in Afghanistan use Toyota truck there...

 

[Thai]

The 4Runner has a water fording depth of 27-28 inches.

ONLY after you do the breather install! I would not go this deep for any length of time without the breather mod. A quick swim is OK...but that's about it.

 

[Thai]

This would be for a vehicle with the breathers installed for the diffs. Fording this depth without the breathers (snorkels) would risk filling the diffs with water. Aside from Hummers the only vehicle with stock breathers on the diffs is Jeep Rubicon (as far as I know)... Acura, Lexus, Ford, GM, Dodge, even Toyota don't have stock breathers.

Mine does. Actually, all breathers are routed to the top of my engine bay. I think that the Rubicon routes the axles to halfway up the underbody. The tranny does not have a breather tube. I will ask my brother to make sure.

 

[Thai]

Hummer H3 does have a tremendous crawl ratio, along with approach and departure angles. But THAT engine has got to go!!

 

[Lime02sport]

No disrespect but your sister is a little silly, she is on the 3rd car of the same kind when the previous 2 Caught FIRE and the only reason is because it has wide seats that helps her fathers bad hip, I am willing to bet climbing into that thing does his hip more damage then the wide seats do him good, Oh and there are plenty of vehicles with wide seats not just hummers, sounds like your sister just has bad taste in cars.

 

[boston_kevin]

Mine does. Actually, all breathers are routed to the top of my engine bay. I think that the Rubicon routes the axles to halfway up the underbody. The tranny does not have a breather tube. I will ask my brother to make sure.

OK Thai... Mercedes has it on your SUV, but not the ML series, just the G wagons, right? Most of the SUVs in this price range (25k to 45k) do not have the breathers.

Jeep may have changed this. My '91 Wrangler had breathers venting into the engine bay, I also still had the knockouts in the floor to so I could drain the inside after being in deep water. You really couldn't go any deeper than the headlights because the intake was directly behind (and slightly below) one of the headlights.

Unless you really are into fording streams (which most environmentalists frown on anyway) you don't really need this feature. (I added the breather mod to mine anyway - cheap mod $15 for both diffs and the tranny)

 

[olliebear]

How's this for capability over the H3...

I go out each morning and fire it up. THe 4Runner starts right away!

I can expect it to last 150,000 miles before something really needs fixing. Try that in a H3!

Everything works like it's supppoed to! Try that in a H3.

I have yet to take it in for anything more than a lug nut in the first month. I've had my Runner for 8 months, 21,000 miles, and everything still works. Try that in a H3.

The Runner has smooth riding 4 link suspension with coil springs and fully boxed rails. That gives me a firm, rattle free frame. Try that in H3.

The engine is silky smooth and does not sound like a diesel engine having a crack withdrawal symptoms. Try that in a H3.

I get much higher resale than any CHevy product. Try that in a H3.

I can expect to do all the 4x4 within reason to all the outdoor stuff I want and make it home. Try that in a H3...with On star to call AAA...

I have a car that still feels solid at 100,000 miles. The H3 will need a full rebuilt at 60,000, if it has not already been recalled 5 times.

The Runner will keep on going long after teh H3 sits next to my Tahoe DOA.

How's that for capability!

 

[Thai]

OK Thai... Mercedes has it on your SUV, but not the ML series, just the G wagons, right? Most of the SUVs in this price range (25k to 45k) do not have the breathers.

Yup, you're right. ML does not have them. Most SUVs nowadays don't have it, regardless of price range.

 

[sharp4runr]

No disrespect but your sister is a little silly, she is on the 3rd car of the same kind when the previous 2 Caught FIRE and the only reason is because it has wide seats that helps her fathers bad hip, I am willing to bet climbing into that thing does his hip more damage then the wide seats do him good, Oh and there are plenty of vehicles with wide seats not just hummers, sounds like your sister just has bad taste in cars.

Her Sister doesn't own the H2, her Sister's In-Laws do.:

 

[RonMAIDEN]

The H2 was tested in stock trim over the trails in Moab by Truck Trend and it didn't have any problems plus it has built in sliders so it is a little more capable than a stock 4th gen,now in the reliabilty dept......well,you guys already know the answer.

In reality '99-'00 3rd gens are more capable than 4th gens right off the showroom floor due to their best ground clearance of any other year and if you have the factory rear diff lock you're in business.
I went off roading with my friend and his '04 sport and he did have some approach issues and he has a couple inches less clearance than my '99. so he got a little apprehensive on the trail a couple of times but the new Runners are a sweet looking truck so I didn't blame him.

Toyota took away some of the Runners off road capabilities since they know less than 1% of all Runners sold actually see anything more than gravel roads if any dirt at all and that's why they lowered them a little and stopped offering the diff lock after '00 but obviously it hasn't hurt sales. Plus I see more and more 4th gens with oversize wheels on them everyday ......and most of them are 4wd!!!

 

[Thai]

Toyota took away some of the Runners off road capabilities since they know less than 1% of all Runners sold actually see anything more than gravel roads if any dirt at all and that's why they lowered them a little and stopped offering the diff lock after '00 but obviously it hasn't hurt sales. Plus I see more and more 4th gens with oversize wheels on them everyday ......and most of them are 4wd!!!

I believe that they had to lower the front of the suspension down due to car-truck crash compatiblity requirements. It's not really Toyota's fault...everyone is or will be doing it. I guess you can say that you lose a bit of off-road clearance, but you don't flip/roll your car when you crash into a smaller car.

The switch from rear locker to ATRAC system was also more for safety in '01. You don't lose much in terms of off-roading. With 2001-up 4runners, you get 4-channel ABS, VSC (stability control), Brake Assist, and 4-wheel LSD-like differential with ATRAC. Prior to that, the rear locker was the only highlight of the 4runner. So, with 2001-up 4runners, you lose a little bit of rear axle traction, but you gain front axle traction due to 4-wheel ATRAC.

What i would like to see is Lexus GX and 4runner getting air suspension, where you can raise both the front and rear ends, like Lexus LX470. That would be perfect.

 

[Mark86]

Does the rear air suspension/rideheight on the 4Runner/GX actually benefit you when off-roading or is it only for towing and loading?