Just bought a 2012 Limited in Arizona

[robtmc]

Probably due to the stone reliable operation of my 2007 Sport, have not hung out here much. Did my VSC off mod, installed a V-8 towing hitch and it has all been flawless.

Living on an island with most all off-roads "no-trespassing", the old 07 did duty only as a boat hauler and general excellent driver. Absolutely outstanding to the point that any other vehicle is out of the question.

Anyway, we bought a small house in Arizona and needed a vehicle to have there for visits. After considering a Tacoma, which would have been a tight squeeze in the tiny garage......We thought about shipping my 07 4Runner over from Hawaii, or buying something there.

After the rust issues the Hawaii 07 presented me with (factory skid plates were like tinfoil thick sheets of rust) we decided to get an Arizona car. A 2012 Limited fit our parameters for age and mileage and we are sealing the deal.

This darn car is so well equipped it is crazy. It is not a Trail, but not needed. No ghetto motorized running boards, thank God.

My biggest question is about the 20" wheels/tires:
Curse/blessing/no issue considering only infrequent off road stuff?

Has KDSS that was replaced under warranty which I will deal with if it comes up.

 

[Black4RunnerL]

Probably due to the stone reliable operation of my 2007 Sport, have not hung out here much. Did my VSC off mot, installed a V-8 towing hitch and it has all been flawless.

Living on an island with most all off-roads "no-trespassing", the old 07 did duty only as a boat hauler and general excellent driver. Absolutely outstanding to the point that any other vehicle is out of the question.

Anyway, we bought a small house in Arizona and needed a vehicle to have there for visits. After considering a Tacoma, which would have been a tight squeeze in the tiny garage......We thought about shipping my 07 4Runner over from Hawaii, or buying something there.

After the rust issues the Hawaii 07 presented me with (factroy skid plates were like tinfoil thick sheets of rust) we decided to get an Arizona car. A 2012 Limited fit our parameters for age and mileage and we are sealing the deal.

This darn car is so well equipped it is crazy. It is not a Trail, but not needed. No ghetto motorized running boards, thank God.

My biggest question is about the 20" wheels/tires:
Curse/blessing/no issue considering only infrequent off road stuff?

Has KDSS that was replaced under warranty which I will deal with if it comes up.

Purchased just about the same here in EP Texas. What did you pick it up for if you don't mind. I paid $27k last month for a 2013 limited 4x4 with 69k on it.

Concerning the tires, we put Toyo Open Country tires on them for now and hit the trails in CO, it performed just fine although it needs a lift and taller/wider tires for the tougher trails for sure. I am looking to go Eibach pro lift 2.5 inch and 17 inch rims with bigger tires once the lift kits come back in stock.

 

[MAST4R]

You do not need bigger tires for CO on trails a Limited will see, and a small lift like 1" is plenty for Ouray-Silverton; not technically needed.

HOWEVER, when it comes to AZ, 20" wheels are crazy. I don't know what kind of driving you have in mind--use the Charlie Wells guide to AZ 4x4 trails, the latest edition--but this is the Sonoran desert, same as Baja.

So you want 17" wheels and if you are in the SW parts of the state especially you also want Baja style tires, either what I have or KO2s (D or E load) or an MT with a 3-ply sidewall and extra tread plies. If using anything less make sure you have a matching spare and not a street tire for spare.

With 20", you can probably get away around Sedona where the trails are low range and short and on forest roads which are mild but on anything in the desert those will be a pain IMO.

Now, if the offroading is really going to be infrequent, you can probably get away on 20" and a good tire but be careful with psi and speeds. I don't air down under 28 anyway if I anticipate any higher speeds. That would be more of an issue on 20" wheels.

EDIT: the Limited comes with X-reas, not KDSS. Is it X-reas that you mean?

 

[robtmc]

Now, if the offroading is really going to be infrequent, you can probably get away on 20" and a good tire but be careful with psi and speeds. I don't air down under 28 anyway if I anticipate any higher speeds. That would be more of an issue on 20" wheels.

EDIT: the Limited comes with X-reas, not KDSS. Is it X-reas that you mean?

Guess I was thinking of my 2007 with that goofy linked shock arrangement. It works, thankfully has not crapped out, do not want to dump that amount of coin into what is primarily a daily driver.

Need to read up on this X-reas, new to me, figured it was about the same thing, just a new marketing term.

Wife would not go for serious off roading, just reasonably smooth unpaved stuff with maybe a stream crossing, etc. My brother has a Wrangler i can borrow if I want to crawl around.

 

[MAST4R]

Guess I was thinking of my 2007 with that goofy linked shock arrangement. It works, thankfully has not crapped out, do not want to dump that amount of coin into what is primarily a daily driver.

Need to read up on this X-reas, new to me, figured it was about the same thing, just a new marketing term.

Wife would not go for serious off roading, just reasonably smooth unpaved stuff with maybe a stream crossing, etc. My brother has a Wrangler i can borrow if I want to crawl around.

The thing in AZ, well-maintained dirt roads aside, is that the terrain in the central and southern sections is always "serious" for suspension and tires even when it is very easy for driver and vehicle overall.

This is not true in UT or CO. Yard per yard, UT and CO terrain is low-challenge for suspensions and tires.