Confused.. Ground clearance ORP vs PRO

[Trek11]

Hello Everyone,

Im new here, but a long time lurker who just purchased a 2019 ORP that came with only 8.6'' in ground clearance. After purchasing, I went back to the dealership and measured all the 2019 ORPs in KDSS and non KDSS. They all had a measurement of 8.6-8.75'' in clearance. The KDSS and non KDSS were both the same in height. The measurement was taken in the back on the front skid plate. That said, the TRD Pros came in at 9.6''. Anyone know how or why the clearance is a full 1'' higher in the Pro? I know it has the fox suspension added to it, but the tires are the same size, which leaves me confused. Given that the vehicles are virtually identical and the tires are the same, shouldn't this equate to the same ground clearance?

 

[GripT4R]

doesn't the Pro have a 1" lift?

 

[Trek11]

I believe it does. I've read that a lift doesn't have any impact on actual ground clearance and that only tires can raise one's ground clearance. I could be wrong though...

 

[Jetboy]

Pro front coilovers are 1" taller. Rear is the same on all of them.

All models share very similar frames with the same cross member that is the low point in the front - where you measured. A 1" lift in front would result in the same ground clearance as a TRD Pro.

On IFS the lift does change the static ride height - meaning more ground clearance as measured at the skid.

A typical lift that does not change the control arms or the mounting points (not long travel or bracket lift) does not change tire fitment size on IFS. If it fits with a 3" lift - it also fits stock height.

With about a 2" lift and 33" tires I have about 12.5 inches at the front skid. It's lower by at least 1 inch at the the differential skid behind the engine skid where they are all the lowest point up front. I don't know exactly what the measurement is there. Just to give you an idea of what type of clearance gain you might find from some fairly mild lift options. You can see why so many of us put a small lift on. Also you can see in the second picture that the rear differential ends up as the low point pretty quickly.

 

[Rightside Up]

1” lift as stated.

 

[Trek11]

Oh wow that's good to hear! Would anyone happen to have a link, brand or items required in order to make this happen? How much in cost for parts and installation? I'm looking to raise it an inch in the front.

 

[TEujunga]

Try taking a look around the forum -- there are literally hundreds of threads devoted to lift options. Use the search function at the top of the page.

Here are a couple to get you started:

5th Gen 4Runner Lift Buyers Guide

Another Bilstein 5100 question

 

[llDemonll]

doesn't the Pro have a 1" lift?

yes, this is correct

 

[GripT4R]

I highly recommend spending a few days and reading through these 5th gen forums. You will learn a lot, and get many ideas for things you may be interested in doing.

I have been researching lift kits for the last 3 weeks, I think I finally found what setup I want to go with. I have also found numerous other ways to spend money on my 4Runner in those same 3 weeks...

trail4runner.com is also another good resource for information with actual reviews, and fairly detailed installs on those same parts that were reviewed.

youtube is also another good resource for watching product reviews, or just learning things.

 

[Trek11]

Awesome. Appreciate all the feedback.

 

[euser]

The skid plate isn’t the limfac on ground clearance, it’s your rear diff. You’re not getting any real world benefit out of raising the skid above the lowest point on the vehicle. 1” will mostly level it and looks good though.

 

[CavPro]

The skid plate isn’t the limfac on ground clearance, it’s your rear diff. You’re not getting any real world benefit out of raising the skid above the lowest point on the vehicle. 1” will mostly level it and looks good though.

Then take all the air out of the tires on the trail and it's even lower.

 

[jhguth]

The skid plate isn’t the limfac on ground clearance, it’s your rear diff. You’re not getting any real world benefit out of raising the skid above the lowest point on the vehicle. 1” will mostly level it and looks good though.

the front skid in stock form is the lowest point, and it's wider than the diff. the front skid is the thing you will hit the most offroad

 

[badattitude]

I believe it does. I've read that a lift doesn't have any impact on actual ground clearance and that only tires can raise one's ground clearance. I could be wrong though...

This is true for a solid axle but not for Independent Suspension. Front of T4R is IFS.

 

[Jetboy]

In the rocks - I hit everything, and the progression in terms of both impact frequency and frequency of getting hung up is something like this:

Front skid
Sliders
rear bumper
Transfer case skid
gas tank skid
rear differential
rear lower control arms
rear shocks
rear lower control arm mounts on the frame rails
front bumper/fairlead mount (only once have I had a rock so steep and tall that I hit into it hard enough to pinch cut my winch rope with the fairlead) - rarely is the front bumper an issue and it's never been an issue on the sides where I see the "high clearance" cutouts. I think those vehicles must be on different types of terrain than me because I've never had any issues with clearance there.

I think a small lift in the front like the TRD Pro really is the most bang for your buck in terms of adding a good bit of extra clearance for not a huge cost. I'm also curious if Toyota has lowered the front on the non-TRD models some. The front springs have changed part numbers over the years. I really have no idea how we'd know if the 2014 front spring was actually 1/2" taller for example. Without a side by side test collecting all of them for comparison.

 

[MAST4R]

In the rocks - I hit everything, and the progression in terms of both impact frequency and frequency of getting hung up is something like this:

Front skid
Sliders
rear bumper
Transfer case skid
gas tank skid
rear differential
rear lower control arms
rear shocks
rear lower control arm mounts on the frame rails
front bumper/fairlead mount (only once have I had a rock so steep and tall that I hit into it hard enough to pinch cut my winch rope with the fairlead) - rarely is the front bumper an issue and it's never been an issue on the sides where I see the "high clearance" cutouts. I think those vehicles must be on different types of terrain than me because I've never had any issues with clearance there.

I think a small lift in the front like the TRD Pro really is the most bang for your buck in terms of adding a good bit of extra clearance for not a huge cost. I'm also curious if Toyota has lowered the front on the non-TRD models some. The front springs have changed part numbers over the years. I really have no idea how we'd know if the 2014 front spring was actually 1/2" taller for example. Without a side by side test collecting all of them for comparison.

Here is how it goes for me:

Fully stock height:

1/ Front skid, front skid, front skid, very often if typically minor hits with RCI (lowers ground clearance vs stock but 3/16 steel).
GAP
2/ Transfer case skid: often
3/ Rear pax side lower control arm bracket skid
4/ all others
5/ sliders

With 1.25 front and no rear lift BUT the Dobinsons front springs are also 10-12% stiffer and much, much less willing to dive over rocks. So it is not just about clearance, the stock springs are unacceptably soft, which also means less comfortable.

1/Transfer case skid: often
GAP
2/ Rear pax side lower control arm bracket skid
3/ all others
4/ sliders

With 1.25 front and 1" rear:

1/ Transfer case skid: often
2/ rear LCA bracket skids
3/ all others

I am all set at 1.25/1 lift with the armor I have.

Again, probably the extra 1" makes the difference at 3mph and under but at any speed, at least 10mph and up, it is the stiffer springs that prevent the hits.

I will change the shocks from stock though (the new ones are sitting at home...)