Best 4Runner for Baja

boodabill

boodabill

New member
I'm new to SUVs but was told that the 4Runner is the choice for traveling down to Baja, doing some off-loading, washed out roads, and for beach access.

For about 6 months, I will be doing a lot of traveling, and camping in remote locations. This means hours on paved roads as well as unpaved, lots of sand, heat, and salty surf air.

Which is the best 4runner for sandy, bumpy Baja roads and beaches? For my purposes, what are the pros and cons of the SR5 Trail and Limited?

For example, I have ruled out leather seats and dark colors because of the sun and sand...

Thanks everyone for your help!

Bill
 
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any really.. some would say the trail is the best.. but an sr5 or limited will do anything you want.. i would definitely upgrade the tires and at least just level the front end
 
boodabill said:
I'm new to SUVs but was told that the 4Runner is the choice for traveling down to Baja, doing some off-loading, washed out roads, and for beach access.

For about 6 months, I will be doing a lot of traveling, and camping in remote locations. This means hours on paved roads as well as unpaved, lots of sand, heat, and salty surf air.

Which is the best 4runner for sandy, bumpy Baja roads and beaches? For my purposes, what are the pros and cons of the SR5 Trail and Limited?

For example, I have ruled out leather seats and dark colors because of the sun and sand...

Thanks everyone for your help!

Bill
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This sounds like my usual routine. I have a 2011 Trail Edition and I feel as if it does a great job on all terrain. I've got well over a 1000 miles of beach driving...looking for surf/fishing and more than double that on dirt roads. I've yet to get stuck on the beach (probably due to technique/experience), not to say that it's impossible, but the 4runner performs exceptionally well in soft sand (even with stock tires). I will say that the stock suspension is a little "soft" for baja roads and washed out dirt roads especially when traveling at higher speeds. In my case, once I upgraded my suspension, it was almost like driving a completely different vehicle.

I do have a the dark grey/black interior and yes there's sand everywhere, and yes, it's hot as hell in the summer. At first I did my best to keep the sand to a minimum, but after 10-15 surf trips, camping on the beach, sleeping in the back, and my dog...I gave up and let it go. If I'm on the highway and I roll the windows down, it's like a sandstorm inside the vehicle.

In my opinion, if I could do it all over again, I would have gotten a bare bone limited/sr5 4runner and with money I saved...modded the hell out of it. BUT, I do love the way the Trail looks.....that's how I ended up with one. I would definitely do your research and speak with the more senior guys on the forum, those with Trails and limited/sr5 T4R. No matter what, if you're looking at a T4R, you're looking in the right direction, they're purposefully built and freakishly reliable. I hope this helps! :surfer:
 
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boodabill said:
I'm new to SUVs but was told that the 4Runner is the choice for traveling down to Baja, doing some off-loading, washed out roads, and for beach access.

For about 6 months, I will be doing a lot of traveling, and camping in remote locations. This means hours on paved roads as well as unpaved, lots of sand, heat, and salty surf air.

Which is the best 4runner for sandy, bumpy Baja roads and beaches? For my purposes, what are the pros and cons of the SR5 Trail and Limited?

For example, I have ruled out leather seats and dark colors because of the sun and sand...

Thanks everyone for your help!

Bill
Click to expand...

To Baja, through Belize... all the way to Patagonia...? First-gen FTW!

Defrag, AND Ruined Adventures did more than most 4Runner owners could only dream of in the simplest of 4Runners.

:)
 
depends on how much "comfort" features you want. For me an SR5 Premium 4x4 w/nav is TITS! all the other stuff in the LE and TE are just a waste of money IMO
 
J-BlickPhoto said:
In my opinion, if I could do it all over again, I would have gotten a bare bone limited/sr5 4runner and with money I saved...modded the hell out of it.:
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for you responses, they all have good points. I simply want to think it out a bit before plunking down my life's savings on a 4Runner.

I'd be interested in buying stock model then modding it. Which suspension and tires do you suggest? Smoothness and quietness are my too top priorities.

I test drove an SR5 and was no happy about how much bounce I had to take going over a simple, small yellow speed bump. Is my solution to this the KDSS or what? KDSS seems like a must.

And yes, I do want it all: to drive in comfort and be able to do some serious off-roading, at about a 70-30% ratio. I am spoiled since I once borrowed someones high end Land Rover so I have that as a reference point. But that's more like driving in a living room. Seats do matter to me, but I can tolerate sand.
 
boodabill said:
Thanks everyone for you responses, they all have good points. I simply want to think it out a bit before plunking down my life's savings on a 4Runner.

I'd be interested in buying stock model then modding it. Which suspension and tires do you suggest? Smoothness and quietness are my too top priorities.

I test drove an SR5 and was no happy about how much bounce I had to take going over a simple, small yellow speed bump. Is my solution to this the KDSS or what? KDSS seems like a must.

And yes, I do want it all: to drive in comfort and be able to do some serious off-roading, at about a 70-30% ratio. I am spoiled since I once borrowed someones high end Land Rover so I have that as a reference point. But that's more like driving in a living room. Seats do matter to me, but I can tolerate sand.
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If you want it all you can have it all. Buy a stock SR5 and add about $10-15K for King or Icon suspension, UCA's, Long travel kit, skid plates, front and rear bumpers, tires and rack. That will get you started. There are several here who have done just that. You seem like a nice guy so here are a few links to get you started:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/107831-5th-gen-build-threads.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/92594-modifications-write-ups-quick-links-faqs.html

There is nothing you are asking that has not been done time and time again. Read through these build threads taking special note of [MENTION=74569]SOcalTRAIL[/MENTION] and [MENTION=49966]mikey's2010SR5[/MENTION] and [MENTION=77684]WarnerD9[/MENTION] as they have modded for the desert. They have done a great job with their 4Runners. Good luck and report back after spending $50K for a new truck and mods. Be sure to post some pics.
 
All-Terrains are good for a balance of comfort and off-road capability. See what ties those two couples used to go all the way to Patagonia. If they made it to the edge of America on those tires, these must be good

boodabill said:
...plunking down my life's savings on a 4Runner.
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Get manual transmission. That way most mechanics in remote places can fix them more easily. Third-gens is a good value, you can still get those with manual transmission (I believe Toyota stopped making manual tranny 4Runners in 2001), would leave you enough cash for mods, and you would not feel too bad if it gets dented or scratched where you're going. I believe the 99 has the best stock ground clearance. Besides, why take a newer vehicle to Baja with all that's going on there?

I test drove an SR5 and was no happy about how much bounce I had to take going over a simple, small yellow speed bump...
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SUV suspensions are designed to be stiff to handle heavy load. If you're the only one in the vehicle, you would feel those bumps. Bring gear or a few buddies and try again.


...I am spoiled since I once borrowed someones high end Land Rover so I have that as a reference point.
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You're looking for the wrong truck then
Can't really expect comfort similar to a Range Rover on a real off-road vehicle. Also you'd need a repair crew, and bodyguards if you're taking a Range Rover to places you want to go. :)

DannyLlama said:
Is that you that went on the epic trip in the attached Links??!!
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I wish, man. :) Awesome trips, huh?
 
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Nice links, very inspirational! And everyone, thanks for your responses.

I'm a Toyota person, not looking at anything else. I'd just like to have some comfort for the long drives-- I'm not as young as the people who made the Patagonia drive! :)

I thought that that the newer 4runners made some substantial improvements in terms of handling bumps: KDSS, newer chocks, multiple, networked computer control systems?

I will be weighted down with several saxophones, camping gear, food/water/shelter and most of my worldly possessions. I'm selling everything and off on an adventure!

Having said that, it's a valid point to go old gen vs. new for the maintenance...now I've got even more research to do. If I can afford it, does it make practical sense--for more reliability--to go maxed out Limited 2014 for Baja? I'm not a mechanic and I like the 2-year maintenance that Toyota provides on new cars. I just don't want any problems with old 4Runners banged around god knows where for 6-10 years; yes, they can be repaired, but it's kind of hard to find a mechanic in the desert. :)

By the way, many Mexicans and gringos alike are driving expensive, new SUVs in Baja. I will be mostly in Souther Baja, where it's much safer.
 
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I have been going to Baja for years, while breakdowns can be part of the journey, I'll take the car payment and reliability nowadays. Having changed a lot of flat tires in Baja I would suggest taking a look at the Cooper ST/Maxx tires, they have chip resistant compound, they are pretty much made for desert washboard and they are good freeway performers too, nice balance. That and a dual battery system and I would say you are good to go. I have the Trail and a lift for Sierra off-roading, but in my experience clearance is not as big of a deal in Baja, especially as the roads have gotten better and better over the years, it is more about sand and washboards, there are washouts you might be crossing but you are not likely to do the kind of climbing that the Crawl Control and a lifted Trail serve so well, maybe go for the extra comforts of the Limited? Of course a winch never hurts, and the BudBuilt hidden winch mount is a nice low-pro solution for mounting.
 
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bernardmwrangle said:
I have been going to Baja for years, while breakdowns can be part of the journey, I'll take the car payment and reliability nowadays. Having changed a lot of flat tires in Baja I would suggest taking a look at the Cooper ST/Maxx tires, they have chip resistant compound, they are pretty much made for desert washboard and they are good freeway performers too, nice balance. That and a dual battery system and I would say you are good to go. I have the Trail and a lift for Sierra off-roading, but in my experience clearance is not as big of a deal in Baja, especially as the roads have gotten better and better over the years, it is more about sand and washboards, there are washouts you might be crossing but you are not likely to do the kind of climbing that the Crawl Control and a lifted Trail serve so well, maybe go for the extra comforts of the Limited? .
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Thanks, Bernard. Very helpful input.

I did test drive the Limited and they have done an amazing feat of engineering. You are driving on 20 inch wheels above everyone, in a chassis that easily can make a u-turn in a city, and drives like a large car, not a boxy boat. Awesome! :) The Limited i drove was a 2013 with the KDSS etc and did not lift me off the seat going over bumps like the SR5 Premium did sans KDSS. If bumps were on the right side, i didn't even feel them.

I can get an Trail with KDSS, with option to upgrade later. I think I'm good to go. The Toyota certified used cars might be ok, with 1 year Toyota Care and 7 wear power train warranty, and 1 year parts warranty.

I like to think that I am a fearless offroader and damaged two Camry's going to hot springs in California. It's taken me time to achieve the 4Runner mentality. :)
 
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bernardmwrangle said:
That and a dual battery system and I would say you are good to go.
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If I have a second battery installed, doesn't that void the warranty? What about a jump starter or just a second battery stored in back. I tend to be careful about not using power when the car is not running...
 
My pops is looking at retiring down in baja. Every other vehicle down there is a 4Runner for good reason. That said I'd really recommend going with a 4th-gen with the v8, they have the least problems, you'll save some money, and not stick out like a sore-thumb driving a brand new rig. I agree with bernardmwrangle, flat tires are the biggest issue. Considering the majority of roads are unpaved I'd go with the strongest set of MT tires you can get, such as the Coopers, Toyo MT's or Goodyear MT-Kevlar. One consideration though is how easy it is to get replacements for said tires down there, I haven't looked into this yet. If you're set on a 5th gen. I'd go SR5 or Trail (with preference for the Trail), simply for the fact that the XREAS on the limited's may cause unnecessary problems that you probably won't want to deal with in baja.
 
boodabill said:
If I have a second battery installed, doesn't that void the warranty? What about a jump starter or just a second battery stored in back. I tend to be careful about not using power when the car is not running...
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Based on what I have read here on the forum, the dealer would have to prove that your mod caused a problem before they can deny repairing something under warranty. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/130428-how-do-mods-affect-warranty.html

The dual battery install I did with the IBS (no, irritable bowel syndrome was not included fortunately) system did not really implicate much other wiring, pretty self contained system. It sure is nice to have the ARB Fridge wired directly to the Aux battery when you are parked in a remote location for a week, and knowing you have backup for starting, and being able to monitor the levels.
 
I would definitely consider installing a better roof rack. I would also get at least one spare wheel and tire beyond the factory spare.
 
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