High Speed and Crosswind Stability Sr5 vs TE vs L?

[zznalg]

Greetings. I'm considering a Gen 5 T4R and do a fair amount of highway driving. I am wondering if there is a significant difference between the SR5, TE and Limited in terms of high speed stability especially in crosswinds. I need my vehicle to not blow across a lane in a strong gust of wind. I prefer not to be blown around when passing a semi at 85. Do the suspension hardware differences between the 4R models make a difference?. Wheel and tire setups can also make a difference. So, I'm wondering about people's experiences.

In the Southwest, the interstates often move 85+mph. Also, wild crosswinds are the norm in the Spring (45mph with gusts to 65 are common). For points of vehicle comparison, I've owned a gen 3 T4R which was not good in high speed crosswinds; a current gen Tacoma which was fine; and a current gen 4 door Wrangler Sport which splits the difference. I need better highway stability than the Wrangler. If any version of the Gen 5 4R is as stable as the Current Taco (4 door TRD) I'd be happy. Are any of the gen 5 4Rs better on the highway than others? I'd greatly appreciate people's opinions on this. I am aware of feature and off-roading differences between the models so don't require info on these. Thanks very much!

 

[1engineer]

If you want the most crosswind stability DO NOT BUY a higher profile vehicle like an SUV. It's very simple: The higher the side area and the lower the weight gives you more instability in the wind. Get in an unloaded Sprinter van and try to keep it on the road. Get in a fully loaded Sprinter van and it's fine.

If you have a boxy SUV you will get some instability due to crosswinds. I cannot make it more clear. A pickup truck does not have the side area of a SUV. A passenger car does not have the side area of a pickup. A sports car does not have the side area of a passenger car, etc. Believe it or not a bicyclist has some of the worst problems in a crosswind! High area and low weight. So, if you want the least amount of instability, buy a Porsche or something.

Now, if you HAVE to have an SUV and are worried about crosswinds, buy a CUV like the new Pathfinder or something that's curvy and directs the wind.

If you HAVE to have a 4Runner, the TE and LE handle the wind better than the SR5 off the lot because of different suspension. The SR5 will do just as good with the addition of good tires and Bilstein 5100 shocks. These are the same type of shock that comes on the off road package of the Tacoma and Tundra. If that's not good enough add skidplates, front and rear steel bumpers and a winch and put new suspension under it. The added weight + the stiffer suspension would give you the best possible 4Runner in crosswinds. Still not as good as a car though.

 

[philsey]

When my SR5 was new, I was not happy with these characteristics:
1. Wandered about on the highway.
2. Susceptible to cross winds on the highway.
3. Softly sprung and brake dive.
4. Rake (esthetic).

I believe 1. and 2. were corrected by an alignment and getting the caster set to 4*. 3. and 4. were greatly improved by a set of Bilsteins. I also replaced the oem tires with Conti passenger tires which I run @ 34#. My 4R is now dialed-in perfectly to my taste, and is strictly a DD. No clue as to how a new SR5 might handle.

I drove a new TE a few weeks ago, and the handling/road manners is firm and well-planted - noticeably better than my SR5. Were I to buy new, it'd be the TE - part for handling, part for style.

No experience with the LE.

 

[JayceeP]

.......For points of vehicle comparison, I've owned a gen 3 T4R which was not good in high speed crosswinds; a current gen Tacoma which was fine; and a current gen 4 door Wrangler Sport which splits the difference. I need better highway stability than the Wrangler. If any version of the Gen 5 4R is as stable as the Current Taco (4 door TRD) I'd be happy. Are any of the gen 5 4Rs better on the highway than others? I'd greatly appreciate people's opinions on this. I am aware of feature and off-roading differences between the models so don't require info on these. Thanks very much!

Speaking as someone who just came from a 4-door Wrangler Unlimited, the 4Runner is exceptionally better on the highway and around town not only for stability and smoothness of ride, but also noise which is clearly an issue in windy conditions. I find the 4Runner very quiet compared to the Wrangler (I had hard-top, never used the soft top). I test drove both the SR5 and Limited and felt the same consensus for both, but overall you will experience a floaty ride in the SR5 and more of a planted feel with the Limited due to the sport XREAS suspension. Nose dive is quite noticeable in the SR5 when braking. I bought the Limited because it was a brand new leftover 2012 and paid under invoice for it. Also, general reviews from car connection etc state that SR5 has a choppy highway ride (but not the Limited). Of course, coming from a Wrangler nothing would probably be as choppy as that anyway, so take that into consideration. Good luck!

 

[zznalg]

Great responses ! Please keep them coming. One question: on the TE, is there any suspension advantage/difference on the highway compared to the SR5 when the TE is not equipped with the KDSS? Thanks.

 

[eddiebx]

Great responses ! Please keep them coming. One question: on the TE, is there any suspension advantage/difference on the highway compared to the SR5 when the TE is not equipped with the KDSS? Thanks.

I think the non-KDSS TE would handle on the highway very similar to an SR5 since it's lacking the thicker sway bars of the KDSS equipped TEs. I believe the shocks/springs are all the same thing between the two. It's the LEs that have the XREAS shocks which are different.

 

[Auntie Soshul]

I've only had my bone stock SR5 for 2 months, so I may not be the best source, but I've never experienced nose dive or instability. I'm taking it on the highway and in the WV mountains this weekend, though, and may be able to provide a better initial opinion after that. After driving Jeep GCs for 15 years, I can say the 4Runner is definitely quieter and smoother.

 

[crunchcity]

I've only had my bone stock SR5 for 2 months, so I may not be the best source, but I've never experienced nose dive or instability. I'm taking it on the highway and in the WV mountains this weekend, though, and may be able to provide a better initial opinion after that. After driving Jeep GCs for 15 years, I can say the 4Runner is definitely quieter and smoother.

Internet forums can sometimes have a tendency to exaggerate/embellish/amplify topics the way it comes across in this format. :blabla:

Loved my SR5, I noticed the nose dive most at slow speeds rolling up to a stop sign for example and hitting the brakes with a bit of force.

 

[Newf4R]

Here's my 2 cents.... Had my SR5 now for 5 months. Live on an island off the East coast of Canada in cold miserable weather. Do a ton of highway driving, all day, every day. We experience some pretty severe windstorms a few times throughout the winter (150-190 km/hr) winds.... Can't complain... They are how I make money!! Never really experienced any high wind driving until just recently though... I don't go anywhere until they're done and the mess needs cleaning up. Went to the East Coast of the island which is as far out there you can get on this continent and ran in to some severe wind... Never looked up what the speeds were, but defiantly 120km/hr plus... I worked like a dog to keep myself straight on the highway!!! Two hands locked on 10 & 2!

The moral of the story is... 4Runners don't work we'll with crosswinds! But I still wouldn't trade it in...

 

[Bay33saw]

I have a 12 LE and here in the Sierra Nevada's we get some pretty high winds 70 MPH + in the spring, like Newf4R says the runner is in essence a brick with wheels so no matter what you get your going to have some movement, unless you want too open all of the windows while driving and then you should be OK.:lol:

 

[fraggy]

With my experience, the 5 gen seems to be more impacted by cross winds that then 4 gen sport. I owned both. I test drove all 3 5th gen models, and purchased the limited because to me it seems more stable. The trail was second. This is not a scientific evaluation, meerly an opinion of someone who has some experience with all of them.

 

[Auntie Soshul]

Internet forums can sometimes have a tendency to exaggerate/embellish/amplify topics the way it comes across in this format. :blabla:

Loved my SR5, I noticed the nose dive most at slow speeds rolling up to a stop sign for example and hitting the brakes with a bit of force.

Point taken......and illustrated. As a noob, just trying to contribute what little I've experienced and to fit in. Not quite there yet, apparently.

 

[rigtec]

Point taken......and illustrated. As a noob, just trying to contribute what little I've experienced and to fit in. Not quite there yet, apparently.

I've read several of your posts and have enjoyed what you have contributed to this forum thus far. "Keep up the good work!!"

rig, cheers :thumb3:

 

[badhabits]

I found that better tires and suspension will help a SR5 with stability the thing that probably made the most difference was an alignment by someone who knows what they are doing. Not necessarily the dealership. I had my done at a shop where in the employee parking area were 2 GX470s, a third gen 4R, and 2 Tacos. Needless to say it was done right. While this will not improve the aerodynamics of the truck it will defiantly give you better control in all conditions.

 

[Semi-Hex]

I drove to Arkansas last October (?) when the hurricane was brewing and I do remember being tossed around quite a bit while going through Texas and Oklahoma. My rig was stock back then. (Trail) Now, with tyres and shocks, it is so much better.

 

[JB.]

I'd be inclined to guess the LE due to the full-time 4WD.

It's not uncommon for 4th gen mulit-mode owners to comment on the stable highway feel when in that mode.

 

[zznalg]

Trail it is.

I purchased a 2013 TE today! I drove it back to back with the LE (as well as a 2014 Grand Cherokee) and preferred the Trail. On the hwy at 95 mph, it was smooth, quiet and stable. Winds were pretty light -gusts to perhaps 25mph. The ride felt smoother than the LE to me; but that could possibly be due to tire pressure. In any case, I'll write a proper post tomorrow about my new 4Runner. Suffice to say, I'm extremely pleased. Thanks to all who shared their thoughts and experiences in this thread.