Big Feet + 4Runner = aggggh!

B

BenSD

New member
I have size 13 feet, and there were two things about the 4runner that drove me nuts. First was the air vent right above the gas pedal. The top of my foot would catch on it, which would force me to place my heel further back in a less comfortable position. With my heel closer to me, it forced me to place a lot of weight on the heel. The designers decided to put a hard foam pad the size of a bar of soap under the carpet right there. This block of foam moves around and makes an annoying creaking sound. Today I decided to see what I could do. I removed the foam heel rest, and that helped a lot. However, the air duct was still in the way. Using a mirror, I was able to see how it was held in there (two plastic clips), and was able to pull it out. Now there is plenty of foot space. It's nice to be able to drive with shoes on again. :-)
 
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It's an 04 sport. I have 3 pairs of shoes, and I notice it with 2 pairs. I have my seat back all the way, and as low as I can go (you get a bit more length with it lower), but the tip of my shoe would still clip that vent. There were times when switching between the gas and the brake that my foot would momentarily get tied up on the vent. That's NOT a good thing. In any event, the problem is now solved. I could likely cut off the vent right above the pedal and put the plastic unit back on, but I think I'll be just fine without it.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone else had any problems with that annoying foam block under the carpet? It felt like my heel was resting on a teeter-toter (sp?) whenever I would move my foot.
 
I've never had any problems with the tip of my right foot hitting, but have had problems with the spacing between the brake and gas pedals. They are too close IMO.
 
I am only a 12.5 shoe size but I never had that problem. I just sometimes catch the side of my shoe between the gas and the brake pedal.
 
Mark86 said:
I am only a 12.5 shoe size but I never had that problem. I just sometimes catch the side of my shoe between the gas and the brake pedal.
Click to expand...

Ditto, it depends on which pair of shoes I wear. Haven'n noticed the problem with the foam block, but sometimes have a problem with feet position on long trips. Even with cruise, I can't seem to find a comfortable resting position for the right leg.
 
I have a size 15, never a problem except the gas and brake are way to close, I feel they made it that way for all the girls who drive them, smaller feet:)

The E-brake foot brake could use more room cause I get scratches all on the top of my boots
 
I wear size 13, and most of the time I do not have a problem. But the gas and the brake pedals are too close together. Maybe you need to change your pedals.
 
Big Foot

I'm a girl and also have (approximately) size 13 feet...

just kidding.

I've had the same issue, but only noticed it when I wear a pair of dress shoes that have longer toes (because they get narrower towards the tips). It's a problem I've seen in all my other cars, but before my Runner all my cars were sedans/compacts. I've also experienced it in my brothers explorer...it's just an unfortunate circumstance of being big (or having big feet) I think. In sandals, sneakers or round-toe shoes I am A-OK.

Anyhoo...one reply mentioned 12.5 size feet....do you actually find shoes that size, or go one size up? I'm the same size, but haven't found any store that sells that size, only custom-ordered shoes that cost an arm and a leg.
 
Re: Big Foot

I am a 12.5/13 depending on the shoe.... So I go with a 13 4E and I wear these shoes:
http://www.roadrunnersports.com/cgi-bin/rrs/rrs/ProductPg.jsp?baseProdKey=RRASC720#

From what I know, there are no 1/2 sizes past 11 1/2


4Walker said:
I'm a girl and also have (approximately) size 13 feet...

just kidding.

I've had the same issue, but only noticed it when I wear a pair of dress shoes that have longer toes (because they get narrower towards the tips). It's a problem I've seen in all my other cars, but before my Runner all my cars were sedans/compacts. I've also experienced it in my brothers explorer...it's just an unfortunate circumstance of being big (or having big feet) I think. In sandals, sneakers or round-toe shoes I am A-OK.

Anyhoo...one reply mentioned 12.5 size feet....do you actually find shoes that size, or go one size up? I'm the same size, but haven't found any store that sells that size, only custom-ordered shoes that cost an arm and a leg.
Click to expand...
 
I also wear a 13 but I've never had any problems with the pedals, they're actually much better than a lot of other vehicles I've driven in the past
 
Re: Big Foot

4Walker said:
I'm a girl and also have (approximately) size 13 feet...

just kidding.

I've had the same issue, but only noticed it when I wear a pair of dress shoes that have longer toes (because they get narrower towards the tips). It's a problem I've seen in all my other cars, but before my Runner all my cars were sedans/compacts. I've also experienced it in my brothers explorer...it's just an unfortunate circumstance of being big (or having big feet) I think. In sandals, sneakers or round-toe shoes I am A-OK.

Anyhoo...one reply mentioned 12.5 size feet....do you actually find shoes that size, or go one size up? I'm the same size, but haven't found any store that sells that size, only custom-ordered shoes that cost an arm and a leg.
Click to expand...

Sometimes I get a pair with a size 12.5. Usually I either go up to a 13 or down to a 12. Depends on the brand.
 
I'm only a size 10, (in the foot that is), and I feel cramped in hiking boots which is not a big deal as I always carry a set of driving tennies in my 04 4R but I do think that the footwell is a lil small in comparison to my previous Sequoia and Tundra but I knew that in the test drive...
 
It's been about a week, and I've done quite a bit of driving with the changes in place. Results? Removing that foam footrest solved a great deal of the problem. No longer do I have the annoying creeking feel when I use the gas pedal. Now it feels very solid, and comfortable. The vent itself isn't something that gets in the way during normal driving, but my foot would almost always catch on it while getting into the vehicle, and positioning my foot near the pedal before driving. It would also catch at times when switching to the brake. Something still isn't quite right, but I'm fine tuning the seat/wheel, and getting very close. I have the seat all the way back, and as low as it will go. The steering wheel is low, and fully telescoped. When I recline the seat a tad, it's a nice setup.

Maybe the creaking footrest was just unique to my vehicle, but I'm glad that sucker is gone now. If anyone else has the same problem, do yourself a favor and get rid of that thing. All you need to do is remove the lower gray pannel next to the gas pedal, peel back the carpet, then rip off that foam brick.
 
BenSD said:
It's been about a week, and I've done quite a bit of driving with the changes in place. Results? Removing that foam footrest solved a great deal of the problem. No longer do I have the annoying creeking feel when I use the gas pedal. Now it feels very solid, and comfortable. The vent itself isn't something that gets in the way during normal driving, but my foot would almost always catch on it while getting into the vehicle, and positioning my foot near the pedal before driving. It would also catch at times when switching to the brake. Something still isn't quite right, but I'm fine tuning the seat/wheel, and getting very close. I have the seat all the way back, and as low as it will go. The steering wheel is low, and fully telescoped. When I recline the seat a tad, it's a nice setup.

Maybe the creaking footrest was just unique to my vehicle, but I'm glad that sucker is gone now. If anyone else has the same problem, do yourself a favor and get rid of that thing. All you need to do is remove the lower gray pannel next to the gas pedal, peel back the carpet, then rip off that foam brick.
Click to expand...
How thick is the foam pad you removed? I don't have the problem you did, but gaining a bit of room might be worthwhile.

Thanks!
 
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