5th Gen Dirtiest 4Runner?

[SteadFAST 4Runner]

Ok, is it just me or what?

It seems that every off-road trail I take my 4Runner collects INSANE amounts of dirt/dust on the rear... here is a photo of a recent off-road trip to Bloody Basin trail and check out all the dirt I have compared to the FJ and the other 4Runner.
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:47.8240740741% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ_8mRYDXT3/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I ain't afraid to get dirty! #4runner #t4r #toyota #toyota4runner #off-road #offroad #arizona #desert #4x4 #4wd #5thgeneration #5thgen #letsgoplaces #keepitwild #trd #trailready #4runnernation #yotanation #4x4nation #ledlightbar #tacomaworld #tacoma #trdpro #trd</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Crusader4Runner (@crusader4runner) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-09-06T03:20:28+00:00">Sep 5, 2016 at 8:20pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Now, I know someone will say "its because you are the 3rd guy in the group and getting the dust from the two 4x4s up front"

But here is another image when I was alone doing Schnebly Hill Trail into Sedona and look at all the dust... its almost worse.
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGZp7ySSfrg/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Trying to blend in with the trails of Sedona Arizona</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Crusader4Runner (@crusader4runner) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-08T16:52:03+00:00">Jun 8, 2016 at 9:52am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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So is everyone's 5th Gen collecting the same amount of dust...? Please dont say "its because you have a black 4Runner" unless you OWN a black 4Runner.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

It's that vortex affect. If you stuck it in a wind tunnel you would see a swirl in the back. Some vehicles do it worse than others depending on the body shape, the air deflector on the back, etc..

 

[1engineer]

I've explained this several times. One of them is this thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/184091-keeping-rear-window-clean-help.html.

Anytime you have a vehicle with decent ground clearance and combine that with a vertical rear end you will get dust . All the dirt comes from the tires and the low pressure area caused by the vehicle traveling over dirt. It gets pulled up off the road and when the back of the moving vehicle gets to the suspended dirt it then gets sucked right up to the back.

Only solution in a full length mud flap that is within an inch or so of the ground. That's it.

 

[salong53]

Complete speculation here:

Hypothesis 1: Looking at that 3rd gen and the FJ in your first pic, I seriously doubt either of those had much emphasis placed on aerodynamics, other than the rear spoiler thing on the 3rd gen. I'd suspect like [MENTION=29011]Blitzkrieg[/MENTION] said, the 5th gen has been aerodynamically designed to create a vortex in its draft to reduce drag, causing dust to stick to the tailgate.

Hypothesis 2: You need to wax your 4runner.

 

[SteadFAST 4Runner]

I've explained this several times. One of them is this thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/184091-keeping-rear-window-clean-help.html.

Anytime you have a vehicle with decent ground clearance and combine that with a vertical rear end you will get dust . All the dirt comes from the tires and the low pressure area caused by the vehicle traveling over dirt. It gets pulled up off the road and when the back of the moving vehicle gets to the suspended dirt it then gets sucked right up to the back.

Only solution in a full length mud flap that is within an inch or so of the ground. That's it.

<iframe src="//giphy.com/embed/tOi1wgtQiI5a0" width="480" height="268" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/tOi1wgtQiI5a0">via GIPHY</a></p>

ok... i guess I have to live with it. I have read a few of your other posts and I know you are giving sound advice.

 

[TejasRunner]

I've explained this several times. One of them is this thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/184091-keeping-rear-window-clean-help.html.

Anytime you have a vehicle with decent ground clearance and combine that with a vertical rear end you will get dust . All the dirt comes from the tires and the low pressure area caused by the vehicle traveling over dirt. It gets pulled up off the road and when the back of the moving vehicle gets to the suspended dirt it then gets sucked right up to the back.

Only solution in a full length mud flap that is within an inch or so of the ground. That's it.

Another example is my 2014 Corvette. A lot of grass and dust sticks to the backend and it never sees mud or water.

 

[bimrunner]

It's that vortex affect. If you stuck it in a wind tunnel you would see a swirl in the back. Some vehicles do it worse than others depending on the body shape, the air deflector on the back, etc..

I loved aerodynamics! That was perhaps one of my fav courses until I fell in love with econometrics... lane:

 

[T5RUNNER]

It's because that awesome "air blade" or whatever you call it from the 3rd gen and all other 90s SUVs cost a 1/10th of an mpg, so they got rid of it and replaced it with a stupid "spoiler" that does nothing but hit the top of my garage door. AGRHHH GET OFFF MY LAWN

 

[Dalko43]

Holy snikes OP! You're driving your 4runner on dirt roads and, low-and-behold, it gets dirty!

Quite honestly, I think it looks better that way...it means the SUV is getting used the way it was meant to be used. But if it makes you feel better, just wash it off and put some fresh wax on every now and then and you'll be fine.

 

[CoolMax]

Yup, and the dirt that gets in the space between the lip of the hatch and beginning of the rear bumper.:dizzy:

 

[SteadFAST 4Runner]

Holy snikes OP! You're driving your 4runner on dirt roads and, low-and-behold, it gets dirty!

Quite honestly, I think it looks better that way...it means the SUV is getting used the way it was meant to be used. But if it makes you feel better, just wash it off and put some fresh wax on every now and then and you'll be fine.

I dont mind it getting dirty, but it is excessive compared to other vehicles... when I close the rear tailgate on the trail there is an explosion of dust everywhere... you have to duck and cover.

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Coming from driving Isuzu Troopers for the past 30 years, I too have noticed that the dust build up on the rear of the 4Runner seems excessive. The Troopers all had a wind deflector that directed the wind down over the rear window area, and kept the dust from accumulating as badly as it does on the 4R.

Instead of a wind deflector, the 4Runner has that thing that sticks out over the rear window which is apparently meant to reduce drag by creating a vortex. Probably saves about .0001 gallons per mile but of course with today's excessive regulations the manufacturers are forced to cut wherever they can.

The dust on the rear doesn't bother me as much as the dust inside. I don't know about anyone else but on my Nevada trip I was getting an excessive amount of dust in the cab despite always keeping the windows tightly closed and the A/C set on "recirculate".

 

[SteadFAST 4Runner]

Does running a roof rack help with eliminating dust on the rear of the vehicle? Any feedback from someone with a roof rack?

 

[Seattle206]

Sure does. Notice how clean my rig is after 5 hours through dusty dessert roads?

 

[1engineer]

Does running a roof rack help with eliminating dust on the rear of the vehicle? Any feedback from someone with a roof rack?

The dust and dirt does not come from the top. It comes from the bottom! Read my post! And no, putting a wind deflector instead of a spoiler has no effect on dirt on the back end.

 

[Chsbrgr]

Please dont say "its because you have a black 4Runner" unless you OWN a black 4Runner.

"It's because you have a black 4Runner" (see signature) :jk:

 

[T5RUNNER]

The dust and dirt does not come from the top. It comes from the bottom! Read my post! And no, putting a wind deflector instead of a spoiler has no effect on dirt on the back end.

False. What do you think the wind deflector was for? It took clean air from the top to displace dirty stagnant air from the bottom. Just look at the pic.

 

[1engineer]

False. What do you think the wind deflector was for? It took clean air from the top to displace dirty stagnant air from the bottom. Just look at the pic.

Whatever you say. It couldn't be that he had opened and closed his hatch recently right before the pic now could it... look at his bumper.

Also you need to let me know how your wind deflector works at low off road speeds.

 

[Dalko43]

I dont mind it getting dirty, but it is excessive compared to other vehicles... when I close the rear tailgate on the trail there is an explosion of dust everywhere... you have to duck and cover.

I've driven the 4th gen 4runner quite a bit, so I realize there is more dirt accumulation on the 5th gen.

Still though, this whole conversation is quite silly. You're driving your 4runner on dirt roads; it's going to get dirty. Just clean it off every now and then and you'll be fine.

 

[K12pilot]

I just spent 2 weeks in Maine with my runner. 4 mile dirt road into the woods to the cabin, the rear collected fine dust & dirt like no other truck I have owned which is no big deal, IF driving at road speeds would clear it off. NOT!!! 1800 mile trip. I didn't open the rear window until I completely rinsed it off including the window tracks & I still have dust creeping out onto the bumper.

Stupid aerodynamics if ya ask me.