How capable is a non-lifted T4R?

[Woz1976-MT]

I had prior off-road experience (as a passenger) with a guy who was very experienced and drove a '78 FJ40 (350ci, custom differentials, custom transfer case, relocated fuel tank, 35-inch? tires, very big lift). I've research the history of the FJ and 4Runners, and have always been impressed.

What DOES surprise me are the number of supposed off-road/truck gurus running around who either don't know of the 4Runner's history/capability, or that they don't believe it.

 

[el_kab0ng]

What DOES surprise me are the number of supposed off-road/truck gurus running around who either don't know of the 4Runner's history/capability, or that they don't believe it.

That's part of the inconspicuous allure that attracted me to the T4R in the first place. I'm not one for showy obnoxiousness and enjoy the respect I get from fellow 'runners who don't need to see a bunch of mods to appreciate what I have.

 

[Lakers]

A big reason I went with the lift is because I definitely needed the extra clearance for some obstacles out here in CO, and because when I run 15-18PSI I lose a decent amount of that same height that I just added.

 

[Ray Dunakin]

I will probably be getting a lift on mine, for two reasons:

1. I already have a rack, ladder and sliders, and plan to add a bumper and upgraded skids. So I'll need to upgrade the suspension to handle all that weight.

2. A little bit of lift never hurts, and already have reason #1 to justify doing it.

 

[Technoplasm]

ill put it to you this way

https://youtu.be/Jyge6fuXjbc?t=8m46s

As we can see from this expert level off-roading, you can do anything with a good spotter

 

[LandCruiser]

I use mine mostly as an expedition vehicle since the old Land Cruiser gets used for actual rock humping.

The front end is just way too low for a 4 x 4, and has obviously been done with fuel economy in mind rather than actual off-road use.

A good lift with some upgraded coils also lets you haul a lot more in the vehicle and still keep its highway manners , I've overloaded the stock suspension and it's frightening .

Also, good off-road tires make trail driving much easier, anything is possible with the stock set up, but it becomes progressively easier to more aggressive you get.

 

[Orbital Debris]

I did the White Rim trail in a stock suspension Limited. 265/70/17 tires, no lift. I think it was very capable. I had a few scratches on my skids and tail pipe, but not anything bad.

 

[FourEyedWilly]

I use mine mostly as an expedition vehicle since the old Land Cruiser gets used for actual rock humping.

The front end is just way too low for a 4 x 4, and has obviously been done with fuel economy in mind rather than actual off-road use.

A good lift with some upgraded coils also lets you haul a lot more in the vehicle and still keep its highway manners , I've overloaded the stock suspension and it's frightening .

Also, good off-road tires make trail driving much easier, anything is possible with the stock set up, but it becomes progressively easier to more aggressive you get.

I agree here. My eye opening experience wasn't even off road. My wife and I took a couple friends and gear up to Lake Arrowhead. The stock suspension left way too much to be desired. As with the 4Runner, the Tacoma and the Tundra both seem to come with tires that appear too small and the nose is always pointed at the ground. So yes, looks and handling facilitated me lifting my rig. Looks damn good in the parking lot now. :shocked:

 

[el_kab0ng]

A good lift with some upgraded coils also lets you haul a lot more in the vehicle and still keep its highway manners , I've overloaded the stock suspension and it's frightening .

If you did this but didn't upgrade your brakes, you're not really any better off. Having something as simple as a full load of passengers oftentimes exceeds stock braking performance (by design as manufacturers don't always expect you to have a full boat). I wouldn't put much faith in a lift if you plan to roll heavy without also addressing the braking situation.

Just my .02.

 

[atalarico]

My 97 Limited was stock with Geolander A/T-S load E tires and a factory locker. I used it a few times on what are probably TrailDamage rated 3-5 roads here in Colorado before I lifted it. I scraped my trailer hitch a few times, but had no clue what I was doing and still never really scraped anything else.

I have a lot better, but always improving, skills of picking lines off-road these days, but I did put on a 3" lift about a year and a half after getting my 4Runner. The lift is brilliant when you make a mistake that might have scraped something important because honestly we all screw up sometimes. It also floods a bit in Denver, so lifts are fun for that too, but 3" isn't making a huge difference there.

Oh, and I'll admit that some of my appeal to the lift is purely cosmetic too! After having it for 5 years I know to tell people that are interested in lifting their rigs that they will be spending a lot more money on any wear items connected to their suspension in any way shape or form. It's just what it is, so accepting that as the price of admission is important.

 

[Geezer81]

In my SR5 4x4, with limited wheeling experience....

it has gone everywhere my buddy with a stock JKUR has gone. Armor would be a nice to have due to lower clearance but LIFTING is not all that critical for most of us mall crawlers.

LIFT = Nice to have, not a got to have
Skills = Must have

Enjoy

 

[boxtree619]

Other than the native 4WD system and MT/AT tires, how capable is a non-lifted T4R? I would assume VERY capable in most conditions, but wanted to get the conversation started here to see where everyone's head was at with it.

From my personal experience, my TE has done everything I've asked of it so far with just the 4WD and stock tires, but I also acknowledge that my off-roading has been limited to occasionally crappy roads and flat/level driving off trail.

I could see myself ultimately getting MT/ATs (maybe some K02s), but have no intention of lifting my KDSS enabled ride as I don't completely see the value in doing so if I never plan to rock climb or get crazy with crossing rivers and what not.

I found my 4Runner to be very capable with the original all-season tires and no lift. I took it to places where normally only guys with lifted vehicles would go. There were quite a few places where the stock skid plates scraped on some of the more technical trails I've been on that I know I could have gone through without issue if I was only an inch or two higher. But if you're careful that's should pretty much be the extent of damage. I've also scraped my passenger side running board against a ledge once, but that was an error from my end.

I alleviated the minor scraping problem eventually with Bilstein 5100's and FJ springs, but if I didn't mind the occasional scrape here and there every once in a while, I would have just left it as is. You can definitely go far on some technical trail with proper experience and in the most difficult of positions, a good spotter.

 

[LandCruiser]

If you did this but didn't upgrade your brakes, you're not really any better off. Having something as simple as a full load of passengers oftentimes exceeds stock braking performance (by design as manufacturers don't always expect you to have a full boat). I wouldn't put much faith in a lift if you plan to roll heavy without also addressing the braking situation.

Just my .02.

The stock brakes will handle a slight weight bump. Swapping out the calipers and rotors then reprogramming the brakes costs a lot of money and yields dubious results, since overheating and fade aren't an issue--unless someone wants to drive a truck loaded with elk bits, rifles, and camping gear like an M4 through the Tetons.

 

[5ontheFloor]

Just took my TE out on some trails last weekend and I was very impressed with what my truck was able to do. All I've done to my truck was replace stock tires with 275/70/17 BFGs after a couple flats. Clearance was a problem but that was remedied by being patient, having help of a good spotter and overcoming my own mental blocks.

 

[PWD4R]

Just took my TE out on some trails last weekend and I was very impressed with what my truck was able to do. All I've done to my truck was replace stock tires with 275/70/17 BFGs after a couple flats. Clearance was a problem but that was remedied by being patient, having help of a good spotter and overcoming my own mental blocks.

And a winch lol!
But really as long as you understand limitations you can do a lot of things without damage.
Tires are some of the most important things imo.

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[RuggedRunner]

I did hell's revenge in my '99 with 32" all terrains and stock suspension other than a 1.5" rear lift. I bypassed all the hard obstacles though...I made it out alive and hardly any scraping (with a spotter). I did break a shock though...probably should have listened to the sign that said "experienced drivers only" lolz oh well I'm alive and now I know how capable my truck is.

 

[jwkilgore]

Slightly different answer from above.

Stock:
TE or TRDP: Very capable. Easily as capable as a stock JKU.
Post-'14 SR5: Still quite capable with ATRAC, but hampered by lack of rear locker.
Pre-'14 SR5 and Limited: Low slung plastic severely limits approach and breakover angles; this is greatly helped by even a mild lift. I forcefully removed my front air dam on the trail before installing my lift, and one of these days I won't be able to snap my rear bumper cover back into place after a hit. I still have to remove rocker trim and running boards before going off road.

 

[5ontheFloor]

Slightly different answer from above.

Stock:
TE or TRDP: Very capable. Easily as capable as a stock JKU.
Post-'14 SR5: Still quite capable with ATRAC, but hampered by lack of rear locker.
Pre-'14 SR5 and Limited: Low slung plastic severely limits approach and breakover angles; this is greatly helped by even a mild lift. I forcefully removed my front air dam on the trail before installing my lift, and one of these days I won't be able to snap my rear bumper cover back into place after a hit. I still have to remove rocker trim and running boards before going off road.

Hehe I'm partial to the TE bc that's what i drive. I always seem to forget about other models and years included in "5th gen"

 

[Bodie the Dog]

Just tested this yesterday

I've driven a 2nd gen for years, but recently upgraded to 2016 Trail Premium. I revisited all my old haunts this summer/fall, and was bummed that my 2nd gen had better clearance. I just got the Revtek 3" lift for my new 4runner (stock 31" tires) and am stoked that I did.

Having a lift gives you more flexibility to pick a line. It probably saved my ass big time yesterday, when I was in a really bad spot facing potentially thousands of dollars in body damage and tow fees. (Sliding backwards down an icy hill on a curvy, tree-lined road, while in 4 lo, 10 miles from pavement.) I was able to escape by driving over a boulder that I know I couldn't have cleared without the lift.

So if you can afford it, hell yeah get a lift. And I'm going to get bigger tires when these wear out.

 

[DriveT4R]

Spent 15 years in Africa in a stock land cruiser. It would go more places than most people nerves. Taking your time to pick a good line or look for alternate route around an obstacle make a huge difference.

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