4Runner LTD Family

[Bumbo]

Found a used pro here for
Good price.

What would be the benefit of the limited va the pro on road?

Yeah looks like the gx would be way more work then it’s worth or that k am willing to do.

Pro is more off-road focused. Limited is better on-road... they discontinued the Torsen (which allows for unlocked AWD) in the 5th Gen SR5, ORP, and Pro.

Pro has 4WD, not AWD. The Limited has both.

That change has been my biggest gripe... it's the first time Toyota did something like that. The Torsen was standard equipment in previous generations, even on a base model, and is the same style of transfer case as the GX and LC

 

[freitz]

A Pro is an upgrade over the regular off road. Upgraded TRD bilstein suspension with a 1" lift up front. More skids underneath, different front grill, the black leather with the red stitching, carbon interior look, blacked out exterior trim, black trd wheels, and very low production numbers. I'm sure I'm missing a few things as well. I have the Pro and love it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It seems the general rule of thought is if not actively using the off road abilities the limited is the better daily.

 

[blanchard7684]

Does being under-powered bother anyone either?

Just looked up the super chargers and can't see how the 6k would be worth it.

Head room and underwhelming power are things I "price in" to owning a 4 runner.

In general, Toyotas are underpowered compared to competition, Tundra being an exception.

You aren't winning any races with a 4unner, ever. Unless you measure it on a 300,000 mile race.

I also tell myself that 270 hp was considered avg for a V8 not too long ago.

The thing I do like about 4runner power train is the gearing and torque of the 4.0 add up to a good (not great) low throttle angle acceleration. Most high HP V-6s need 3/4 to move out of a parking spot.

 

[blanchard7684]

Thanks, I think I need more test drive time. I felt fine in it the first drive.

Just need a solid go anywhere family vehicle. Its really down to this or the wrangler... given the current wrangler fail rate that leaves me basically with this.

Down side
-Size, not very big inside; not a lot of ceiling height with the moon roof.
-Passenger seat not adjustable (wife isn't tall but is 5'7", so shes not short either) worried with baby seat back there might be hard for her to sit there on long rides.
-Seat comfort. Interested to hear what people think on long rides how comfortable are the seats.

Seat comfort is miraculously great. I've driven 11 hours straight with no issues.

The passenger seat and rear seat configuration fit my overly tall 4 year old without and front seat adjustment. my wife is 5'7 also.

The passenger seat adjustment is a negative for sure. However the Limited seats are more comfortable than the other models.

My wife could last about 5 hours in the SR5 premium. She can last 7 in the Limited. We bought a high end seat cushion and she can go 8.5 hours.

 

[Bumbo]

The seats in the Limited are VERY good... I think they nailed.

I think does lack some adjustment when compared to the GX from what I read. Coming from a cloth seat 4th gen, it's a massive upgrade.

 

[blanchard7684]

2013+ GX460 have an approach angle of 21 degrees. Twenty-one.

I actually have lots of experience on 4WD roads with that kind of AA. Believe me, you do not want to. And you are coming from Wranglers, so for you that would be a shock. The AA rules out any difficult surface trails in stock form, limits a lot the number of moderate trails, and can ensure an embarrassing moment or two even on an easy trail.

With 30/26 angles plus low range and a-trac, I would personally take a Limited on any moderate trail in UT, AZ, or CO (or CA) with 17" wheels and AT tires as the only mod.

On road, the GX460 will be superior, no doubt about it. But I would not personally put a steel bumper on a newish luxury vehicle.

Btw, when I say difficult/moderate/easy I refer to the Charlie Wells guides, not some arbitrary categories.

I took the stock 2018 Limited up Schnebly Hill. I took it real slow but it was amazingly competent with stock 20" tires at rated pressure.

(For reference, 2018 Schenbly Hill is more like going down a washed out creek with lots of rocks and shelfs)

 

[freitz]

So I think I found a solution to the head room problem. a TRD Pro would not have sun roof thus should give what maybe 2 more inches of space?

How are the seat in the TRD Pro?

Whats the downside for daily driving the TRD Pro vs a Limited?

 

[blanchard7684]

Not to nitpick, but that's a rough dirt road/easy trail. I have done it in all my Subarus multiple times. It is more of an easy trail now, but not approaching moderate. Moderate in that area are Diamonback Gulch aka Greasy Spoon and Outlaw, on both of which a Limited should have no problem. I would also take it on Oak Creek Homestead aka Cliffhanger, which is rated difficult but in fact is moderate. A carefully driven Limited should survive the harder trails in the area, Broken Arrow and Red Rock Powerline with minor scraping, maybe a bruised valance and/or flattened exhaust tip but that's it.

Any 4Runner's baseline is far above Schenbly Hill. That's a stock Subaru baseline. I know it is getting rougher and that it is extremely bumpy and annoying, but that's not the same as hard for the vehicle and it is so wide it will take a long time to become moderate.

My point was that, by contrast, the 21 degree AA limits the GX 460 in a way that is completely incomprehensible considering the platform and the 4WD system it has. It would be like putting Wrangler angles on a Subaru AWD. It is a complete mis-match between traction and clearance, which tells you what Toyota thinks of the way it is used. The 2010-12 GX 460 had better angles, enough for any moderate trail I have seen in the SW.

Not sure when you've gone up last, but about 2-3 months ago it was definitely not a Subaru level trail.

Regardless the limited was great on the trail.

 

[Bumbo]

How are the seat in the TRD Pro?

I haven't spent enough time in the Pro to comment on comfort, but the Limited is the only trim level that comes with real leather.

Google: "Toyota Softex vs Leather" and come to your own conclusions.

Whats the downside for daily driving the TRD Pro vs a Limited?

NONE, until you get into the bad weather conversions. Snow/Ice performance is where you will see the bulk of the real difference.

Agent Outside has truly embraced what the Limited is about. Good examples here.
Agent_Outside: Adventures in a 4Runner Limited

 

[freitz]

I haven't spent enough time in the Pro to comment on comfort, but the Limited is the only trim level that comes with real leather.

Google: "Toyota Softex vs Leather" and come to your own conclusions.




NONE, until you get into the bad weather conversions. Snow/Ice performance is where you will see the bulk of the real difference.

Agent Outside has truly embraced what the Limited is about. Good examples here.
Agent_Outside: Adventures in a 4Runner Limited

Ah snow performance stinks on the Pro? I guess since not all the time 4wd. That's disappointing.

 

[MAST4R]

Not sure when you've gone up last, but about 2-3 months ago it was definitely not a Subaru level trail.

Regardless the limited was great on the trail.

You will be surprised by what a stock Subaru can do and what a stock 4Runner can do. Most people think they need far more than they actually do and the 4WD aftermarket industry happily feeds that line of thought, I wonder why....

As for personal comfort with trails, it is entirely a matter of experience. The person who started this thread comes from 6 Wranglers and an 80-series Land Cruiser so my comments were aimed accordingly. Let's not hijack the thread.

 

[zcruiser]

Ah snow performance stinks on the Pro? I guess since not all the time 4wd. That's disappointing.

Witness. I have driven my 4Runner Limited in heavy, packed snow several times now. It never flinched, even with stock Michelins.

 

[freitz]

Witness. I have driven my 4Runner Limited in heavy, packed snow several times now. It never flinched, even with stock Michelins.

I think what I was getting at is the pro isn ot as good as the LTD in daily driving bad conditions.

 

[MAST4R]

I think what I was getting at is the pro isn ot as good as the LTD in daily driving bad conditions.

The TRD series is all the same thing except for the Pro that adds a performance suspension (now a very serious Fox one) and a number of styling cues. The performance suspension is for going really fast on dirt. The regular suspension is plenty good enough elsewhere; whether people like the feel of it is another story.

The Limited is much closer to the GX460 on road as it comes with AWD plus 4WD with low range and off-road traction control. The GX 460 has more sophisticated versions of that traction control (same as on TRD series 4R), but neither Limited or GX has a rear locker (which is the real difference maker). The Limited also has a street oriented suspension, which others can explain in detail.

For rain and snow, the GX and the Limited will be in a whole different league from TRD-series 4Runners.

 

[Bumbo]

Ah snow performance stinks on the Pro? I guess since not all the time 4wd. That's disappointing.

You can't unlocked the center diff in the Pro, that is the main difference.

You can still drive in 4WD if you really needed to, but it's not going to have as much control especially when tuning or on curvy roads.

The Pro in 4WD is always locked, the power split between the front and rear axles are 1:1 at all times when in 4WD.

Unlocked AWD, it turns into a mechanical limited slip differential between the front and rear.

Having tested this myself, traction control will end up being quieter when driving in sketchy conditions because you end up putting down more power without breaking traction.

 

[freitz]

You can't unlocked the center diff in the Pro, that is the main difference.

You can still drive in 4WD if you really needed to, but it's not going to have as much control especially when tuning or on curvy roads.

The Pro in 4WD is always locked, the power split between the front and rear axles are 1:1 at all times when in 4WD.

Unlocked AWD, it turns into a mechanical limited slip differential between the front and rear.

Having tested this myself, traction control will end up being quieter when driving in sketchy conditions because you end up putting down more power without breaking traction.

So the LTD is clearly the better daily.

 

[Bayou_Pro]

So the LTD is clearly the better daily.

I would think so if you will be driving in adverse weather conditions alot. I don't see snow but maybe once a year and then it's immediately gone in a day. Myself and my wife both daily drive Pros and I have zero down sides. Love the suspension and in fact I think it rides better then the limited. It's a softer suspension paired with 17" wheels instead of 20s. I like the interior better just wish for $45K it had cooled seats and climate control. Doesn't feel as sporty but that's not what I was after. The wife came out of a Audi Q7 and she hasn't complained at all except that it doesn't handle as well when wet. No way I'd ever choose a limited for myself but I would have gotten her one for sure. I kinda steered her that way until see saw a Pro on the lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[freitz]

I would think so if you will be driving in adverse weather conditions alot. I don't see snow but maybe once a year and then it's immediately gone in a day. Myself and my wife both daily drive Pros and I have zero down sides. Love the suspension and in fact I think it rides better then the limited. It's a softer suspension paired with 17" wheels instead of 20s. I like the interior better just wish for $45K it had cooled seats and climate control. Doesn't feel as sporty but that's not what I was after. The wife came out of a Audi Q7 and she hasn't complained at all except that it doesn't handle as well when wet. No way I'd ever choose a limited for myself but I would have gotten her one for sure. I kinda steered her that way until see saw a Pro on the lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Would have to agree I had a SQ5 not even a year ago sold it for a x3M40i (bmw bought back to many issues to even write here).

Wife lived my Q5 so I just got her one before the new year. I do miss how both the BMW and Audi handle but I need a truck type. Audi Quattro is awesome even in the snow. Would imagine the limited is just as good?

Audi Q5 is no off roader though. Ground clearance is marginal at best. Its a road cruiser. Q7 was always awkward looking to me, Q8 if I was looking today. I don't want two German cars lol to high risk for shop time. Which lead me to toyota.

Highlander checks all the boxes except that if weather gets bad its worthless. The AWD system is a joke. I need something that can go anywhere (minus the rock crawl and extremes) although that can be had with modding it seems and a limited.

 

[Bayou_Pro]

Wife lived my Q5 so I just got her one before the new year. I do miss how both the BMW and Audi handle but I need a truck type. Audi Quattro is awesome even in the snow. Would imagine the limited is just as good?

No way would I say the limited is just as good. Audi has the AWD perfected but I think it'll be the best option for what you want. I drove a limited for a week and liked it. The traction will be the best that Toyota can offer and will be close to the Quattro. I loved and hated the Q7 but it was gorgeous and fun to drive. I think you need a limited.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bumbo]

What I like about the Pro is the aesthetics and paint options... but there isn't too much about it that sets it apart from the ORP.

Rims, tires, and suspension is easy. You could easily outfit the ORP or LTD with even better than what comes on the Pro, and for less money.

At one point, I owned 3 sets of rims and tires for my 4Runner... Changing shoes is fun, really changes the entire tone of he truck.

I have the same 6112 shock that came on the Pro on my 4th gen... I already grew out of it, and so has a buddy of mine who owns a Pro and has already upgraded to some King 2.5 RRs.

What you can't easily upgrade is the TC, climate control, and other interior items. The LTD leather is pretty nice, I suspect it will age better over the years.

Just learn as much as you can about these things and pick the one that make the most sense to you.