4Runner Capabilities

[Thai]

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

Well, when we off-roaded this past weekend, TexGX lifted his 4runner's butt to clear over some rocks. So, it was useful. It definitely improves your departure angle...and to a lesser extent, you breakover too (slightly). However, you have to be careful, raising the butt will decrease your approach angle by 1 degree. That is why i favor a system to increase both front and rear heights.

 

[mandercruso]

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

haha, thx, I was just about to type that response myself. I was in no way agreeing with her father-in-law. In fact, I think it's just a stupid excuse to show that they have money for big toys. I even laughed at the fact that the wide seats are "good" for his hip.... but he probably has to use a ladder to get in it lol.

Amanda

 

[tcpoob]

thai,

is the "req" that allegedly caused runna's lower clearance in 4th gen a measure to protect the "smaller cars" from crashing under the bigger SUV or to protect the bigger from flip flop? or both.

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.

 

[bulldog-yota]

The 4R is useless offroad, it can barely climb a pebble nevermind cross a stream.









































j/k
The H3 has a pretty good advantage offroad if you get the right configuration. WIth 4:1 transfer case and 33" tires. Its engine might be weaker, but it will have bigger tires and gearing especially for rocks. On sand it will not do too well with the extra pork and weak engine. The 220 HP is not what worries me, but rather the 225lb/ft! Time will tell how well it does.

The 4R can cross 16" water with ease, going to 27" is not a problem either. Teh front diff, tranny and transfer case already has breathers up to the high end in the engine bay. The rear diff takes like $10 and 1/2 hour and you relocate the breather to the filler area by the gas cap. The approach angle on the 4Runner is not great at 31 degrees, H3 is 37.5 which is not so super either. The Jeep Rubicon/H2 are probably the only ones with bragging right of more than 40 degree approach angles, the rest of them all are pretty much sucky ( excluding things like the H1 off course). The departure angle on the 4R is misleading as you will tend to drag your spare and tow hitch a bit, so no real biggie to be honest.

Also on the 16" wall climbing nonsense, I have yet to see nice 90degree steps on a trail. Most of the time you will aproach it when the vehicle is already at an angle of 15 degrees or more making the 16" step a lot smaller.

I can't wait to see the H2 guys now complaining about the H3s making the Hummer name sound sissy. Now they know what the H1 guys felt like.

Besides if you want to do wheeling, you might want to check out the new FJ Cruiser. It looks like it will have a lot of potential, still waiting for final specs. But angles, clearance will be improves, less weight, shorter wheelbase ( not always a good thing), diff lock, 32' rites and ATRAC by the looks of it. Probably std sliders on certain models too.

 

[Bill42]

Hey Ollie, me thinks you are a HOMER!

Lol, I can't really imagine someone wanting to buy an SUV comparing the H3 versus the 4Runner. Two completely different design intents. I could see the off road variant of the H3 being compared to the Jeep Rubicon and Nissan Xterra - though not successfully.

The Pathfinder, Blazer, Exploder and the Dorango would seem to me to be the natural comparos for the 4Runner.

 

[Thai]

thai,

is the "req" that allegedly caused runna's lower clearance in 4th gen a measure to protect the "smaller cars" from crashing under the bigger SUV or to protect the bigger from flip flop? or both.

It's both. For the car's benefit, the SUV won't override the car's bumper/hood. I think that it's a good thing. Yeah, it does slightly decrease approach angle, but most of us do spend more time on-road than off-road anyway and most of us have families.

Hehehe, if i want a big off-roader, then i would get the Dodge PowerWagon. H2 cannot compare to the PW.

 

[boston_kevin]

It's both. For the car's benefit, the SUV won't override the car's bumper/hood. I think that it's a good thing. Yeah, it does slightly decrease approach angle, but most of us do spend more time on-road than off-road anyway and most of us have families.

Thai - wasn't this mandated by the Fed NHTSA? I think all vehicles have a maximum height at which the lower edge of the bumpers (front and rear) must conform to. Interestingly enough, there is no minimum height for the top edge, so your sports cars will forever have a lower front bumper height than the rear bumper of most vehicles on the road. The bumper height of the 4Runners match the bumpers on most vehicles and also match the side impact safety beams in most vehicles on the road, now your front bumper (if you T-Bone someone) will not push through the side cabin of the vehicle (or through the glass).

I think it is a good idea, even though it does put a damper on the off-roading aspect, but with vehicles getting more expensive to purchase and repair, most people won't be using their vehicles in those situations.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

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.

Toyota dropped them an inch starting with the '01 model and yes,it had to do with safety but the requirement had little to do with safety as much as it is the fact that most SUVs are sold to the family types and tall rides are hard to get into and not as comfortable and lowering them did help keep insurance costs down but those things are little consolation to the real off road guys/gals. Plus there's still many new truck/SUVs with taller bumpers than the 4th gens so Toyota did the drop voluntarily.

Losing the rear diff lock was a a big deal to the off road guys and the '99-'00 Limiteds had the AWD multi mode automatic with center diff lock and rear diff lock so they dropped it due to cost since very few people would actually use it.

 

[Thai]

Plus there's still many new truck/SUVs with taller bumpers than the 4th gens so Toyota did the drop voluntarily.

Losing the rear diff lock was a a big deal to the off road guys and the '99-'00 Limiteds had the AWD multi mode automatic with center diff lock and rear diff lock so they dropped it due to cost since very few people would actually use it.

I doubt that it was because of cost...the Tacoma continued to be offered with locker and it's cheaper than 4runner. The rear diff lock was dropped because most people (99%) don't need it since ATRAC was good enough for most terrains.

All newly designed SUVs since 2002 or so have lowered front bumper/suspension. I think that trucks do not have to follow this requirement...but i still think that they will have to.

 

[T4RMatt]

You know........the H2 has the same exact seat design as the other GMT 800 trucks (Tahoe, Escalade, Silverado......) with a different covering. That is why the door sill is so dang wide, as the seats are bolted in the same location (same floorpan under console/seats) but the truck is wider, requiring a big sill. Also, the H3 is suprisingly good on the road, not like a 4Runner but better than the Colorado/Canyon. I think they are going to turbocharge the I-5 to get some more juice out of it. Super:wtf: . What I would like to see would be a Rubicon unlimited with the 2.8 CRD.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I doubt that it was because of cost...the Tacoma continued to be offered with locker and it's cheaper than 4runner.

It was cost,I remember the article in MotorTrend reviewing the '01 Runners and Toyota acknowledged that very few Runners actually go off road and it just wasn't a costworthy option.

Of course on the trucks they kept it since I'm sure alot of Tacoma buyers do actually off road and that is still a target crowd for Toyotas but also look at the trim and comfort quality of a Tacoma,not exactly in the same class as the pricier 4Runner by far.
4Runners have a different buyer since they have the comfort and ride that the Tacomas will never have and take a look at the members on this board which is primarily a 4th gen group and the off road forum isn't that busy and coupled with how many 4th gens I see with 20" rims it's obvious 4th gens are more likely to be seen street cruising than off roading pretty much like any SUV nowadays.
I don't see too many Tacomas with oversize rims on them.

 

[Bill42]

I was on the lot the other day and saw that there is a TRD Sport option and a TRD Off Road option for the Tacoma. It would have been nice to see a 4Runner Off Road option.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

It would have been nice to see a 4Runner Off Road option.

I'm making my own and I've already got the TRD Sport stickers on the sides and next up will be Bilstein HD shocks and H&R springs which should net about 2" of lift.

 

[Bill42]

Me too. I purchased Hanna Quality Sliders and when Donahoe completes their suspension system I will be adding it too. Hey, we need to talk to Momo about a special 4Runner Off Road sticker.

Momo - are you out there? Yoo hoo...

 

[Thai]

It was cost,I remember the article in MotorTrend reviewing the '01 Runners and Toyota acknowledged that very few Runners actually go off road and it just wasn't a costworthy option.

Of course on the trucks they kept it since I'm sure alot of Tacoma buyers do actually off road and that is still a target crowd for Toyotas but also look at the trim and comfort quality of a Tacoma,not exactly in the same class as the pricier 4Runner by far.
4Runners have a different buyer since they have the comfort and ride that the Tacomas will never have and take a look at the members on this board which is primarily a 4th gen group and the off road forum isn't that busy and coupled with how many 4th gens I see with 20" rims it's obvious 4th gens are more likely to be seen street cruising than off roading pretty much like any SUV nowadays.
I don't see too many Tacomas with oversize rims on them.

Hmm, you are maybe right. But a Tacoma or 3rd gen with 20" rims will be downright horrible to ride in!!