'Limited' not recommended for Off-Road?

[devildog92]

Hello All,

I tried to look for this in other threads but came up short, so I hope you can help me.

Before I begin, I must tell you I am a mechanical and 4R novice, so please keep the laughter to yourselves.

I was looking at buying a 4R Limited to add to my L/C and my wifes SR5 Premium, but was told by the salesman, who otherwise seemed pretty knowledgeable, that its not recommended to take a 4R Limited moderate-to-hard off-road, and that they are more liable to break. I don't know if this is accurate, and if it is, why it is. I like all the amenities that the Limited has, but the Trail Premium does have my attention.

My best guess is because it doesn't have trail options like skid plates, but there has got to be more to it. He would not elaborate why he made the comment, just that its not built for off-road. Next, I thought that it had to do with full-time 4wd vs PT 4wd, but being new to 4Rs I am at a loss. I know there are diff shocks and suspension components on the TP vs the Limited, but why would he say that? Got to be more to it than skid plates and a few suspension pieces.

I bought my wife the SR5 Premium 4wd, and its great...I have to have one for myself.

Your help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[T5RUNNER]

That salesman was probably selling Hondas last week and probably hasn't even read the brochure. It may have dumb 20" wheels but it's still a 4Runner. The Trail is the most optimized for off-road use, but the limited is still far more capable than most other SUVs.

 

[Jeremy556]

That salesman is like most all salesmen, clueless. Looking at the underside, you would be hard pressed to tell a TRD Pro from a Limited.

 

[proimion]

Don't depend on what any salesperson tells you. Get the official brochure, scroll down to pages 18-19, and 23, and see the differences for yourself. http://www.toyota.com/content/ebrochure/2016/4runner_ebrochure.pdf

You'll see that all 4Rs come with skid plates. However, I think it is fair to say that the Trail is better equipped for offroad with traction control devices like MTS, Crawl Control, and Rear locker. Plus 17 instead of 20" wheels. But that doesn't mean the Limited can't do "serious" off road. But the Trail does have an edge in this area. Downside of course is that Trail is missing all the creature comforts like Auto Climate.

You should read about MTS and Crawl and see if it fits your needs. Also, you should consider KDSS since that is only available on Trail.

then just for fun, ask the salesperson if you "need" KDSS for "serious" off-roading and report what is said back here.

If all I wanted with 4R was traction in the snow, then I would have gotten the Limited. But I did want to go on some trails, so Trail it was. I've used MTS and Crawl several times in my short tenure with it, and they are very cool.

 

[Cymon]

If you don't think Limiteds can off road check out this thread by [MENTION=107460]Magnetic4R[/MENTION]unner .

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/215361-magnetic4r-limited-transformation.html


The two things most will advise is get rid of the 20" wheels so you can run higher profile tires and the front bumper clearance is a little lower reducing you're approach angles. Other then that same as an SR5 off road except you get full-time 4wd and x-reas suspension for on road performance.

There are a ton of forum members on here that have Limiteds and take them off road extensively.

 

[SR5Bart]

Waiting for [MENTION=106242]Miguelon[/MENTION] to show up.............

 

[Cymon]

Waiting for [MENTION=106242]Miguelon[/MENTION] to show up.............

Lol...

Here is one of his threads for an appetizer...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/163653-2014-unlimited-mods.html

 

[philsey]

Hmm. Perhaps did this guy happen to have TEs and SR5s on the lot, and no LEs?

You're best served by knowledge when buying a vehicle. Many salespeople have /gasp/ ulterior motives when doling out 'information'.

Stick around here, you'll learn a lot. There's a lot of info up in the stickies section, including a "how to search..."

Oh, and don't go back to that DB.

 

[Jhalko]

Limited's Rock!

 

[Runn4est]

LE owner here. Pretty much stock, and we've taken it off-road without issue. Some of the builds mentioned in this thread are pretty extensive -- Awesome, but extensive.

If you are worried about whether a mostly stock LE is capable, it still is. As most others have stated, get rid of the 20's (unless you are following in miguelon's footsteps), throw on some AT tires and take it out to see what it can do. You won't be disappointed.

 

[Gecko]

Consider that Toyota also uses full time 4x4 in the Land Cruiser - the most off-road durable vehicle they've ever built. (granted, it does have KDSS)

As others here have said, the large wheels and low profile tires are the biggest problem, but that's easy to fix.

 

[Kennyr44]

I was around car salesmen for 25 years as a tech. Let me say almost all of them were complete morons. If their lips were moving they were lying. Like a presidential candidate. Maybe 10% of them were good guys who had any knowledge about the cars they were selling. Even that 10% would twist the words to say anything they thought it would take to sell you. Very tough profession to make a buck in.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

The salesman has some points. The ground clearance is lower. The 20" wheels mean they're more susceptible to damage when on the trail. There is no armor. Out of the box the trail, well, is designed for the trail. That said, if you're on T4R, you most certainly won't be keeping an LE stock.

I have an LE and have trimmed my rockers, swapped to a TE front, sold my 20s for 17s, and will be getting a new rear bumper and armor eventually. It will be just as ergonomical on the trail as a TE plus it gives me all of the creature comforts as my DD.

Bone stock though you'll have no problem with moderate trail riding so long as you take it slow. That said, I did destroy my LE front bumper my first time out due to low clearance so take that for what it's worth.

Plus in LE you can get the nautical blue / redwood combination which is just tits.

 

[mybabydaddy]

Agreeing with everything already stated... Only real limiting (stock) factors on a LE would be the 20 in wheels and the running boards... Both of which are easily remedied. Even with those on, an LE will do a great deal plenty off the pavement. Keep googling... Lots of guys on here with LEs.


2014 TEP w/ KDSS / Bilstein 5100s (front at 1.75) / Cornfed 1 inch rear spacers / 265/70 Nitto TG G2s / FN Cntrsteer Type X / RCI Front skid / Yakima Cross bars / NFab Steps

 

[Jhalko]

The salesman has some points. The ground clearance is lower. The 20" wheels mean they're more susceptible to damage when on the trail. There is no armor. Out of the box the trail, well, is designed for the trail. That said, if you're on T4R, you most certainly won't be keeping an LE stock.

I have an LE and have trimmed my rockers, swapped to a TE front, sold my 20s for 17s, and will be getting a new rear bumper and armor eventually. It will be just as ergonomical on the trail as a TE plus it gives me all of the creature comforts as my DD.

Bone stock though you'll have no problem with moderate trail riding so long as you take it slow. That said, I did destroy my LE front bumper my first time out due to low clearance so take that for what it's worth.

Plus in LE you can get the nautical blue / redwood combination which is just tits.

The "ground clearance" is the same, you are referring to the body panels hanging low. That front bumper in the 14+ LE is stupid low, not even getting to the braces look. The only armor difference is if they are still putting the half skid on the gas tank, otherwise the LE has skid plates?

 

[RaisedByWolves]

The "ground clearance" is the same, you are referring to the body panels hanging low. That front bumper in the 14+ LE is stupid low, not even getting to the braces look. The only armor difference is if they are still putting the half skid on the gas tank, otherwise the LE has skid plates?

Correct - good call. Same clearance I was referencing the body kit. No front skid

 

[Toffees]

The salesman has some points. The ground clearance is lower. The 20" wheels mean they're more susceptible to damage when on the trail. There is no armor. Out of the box the trail, well, is designed for the trail. That said, if you're on T4R, you most certainly won't be keeping an LE stock.

I have an LE and have trimmed my rockers, swapped to a TE front, sold my 20s for 17s, and will be getting a new rear bumper and armor eventually. It will be just as ergonomical on the trail as a TE plus it gives me all of the creature comforts as my DD.

Bone stock though you'll have no problem with moderate trail riding so long as you take it slow. That said, I did destroy my LE front bumper my first time out due to low clearance so take that for what it's worth.

Plus in LE you can get the nautical blue / redwood combination which is just tits.

I was looking for that but couldn't find one with all the options I wanted, but am very satisfied with the Gray/Redwood. Although I'm now convinced that every color looks good with the Redwood, so there's that.

 

[Toffees]

The "ground clearance" is the same, you are referring to the body panels hanging low. That front bumper in the 14+ LE is stupid low, not even getting to the braces look. The only armor difference is if they are still putting the half skid on the gas tank, otherwise the LE has skid plates?

Not that I've crawled under to inspect, but my paper brochure tells me the SR5 and LE have the same skid setup, depending on whether it's 4x2 or 4x4.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Not that I've crawled under to inspect, but my paper brochure tells me the SR5 and LE have the same skid setup, depending on whether it's 4x2 or 4x4.

You're correct. TE offers more stock protection.

 

[Runn4est]

Correct - good call. Same clearance I was referencing the body kit. No front skid

My LE absolutely has a front skid -- I'm not sure what you're talking about...

Crappy pic, but you can pretty clearly see the skid continuing to the front.

I had a half fuel skid, though.