Lowest point..6 inches?
- Thread starter JosephD05
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
dingo
New member
I would imagine though that if something were that close to the inside of my tire I would either just roll over it or avoid it. But yeah, I've wondered about that myself. I guess that's the marketing department for ya. Make it sound as good as possible - "Features 9 whole inches of clearance! Ahem *cough* except for the that part which is actually lower but don't look at it".
Thai
Elite Member
Yeah, that spot is too close to the wheel...therefore, if your rear axle flexes, then that part also flexes with the tire. Thus, most people would not count that part as the lowest point. Most ground clearance figures measure from the lowest point at the midline of the vehicle.
The 4runner's ground clearance is effectively 8.3".
The 4runner's ground clearance is effectively 8.3".
Thai
Elite Member
JosephD05 said:
I think that you have it backwards. The front skidplate is about 8.3" at the lowest point while the bottom of rear axle pumpkin is around 9.3-9.5".
My old '02 4runner had a listed ground clearance of 11"!! I was so happy until i actually measured it. The lowest point was 9.5" (rear axle pumpkin)...the 3rd gen 4runner did not have to abide to the government's crash regulations (as does the 4th gen 4runner)...therefore, the 3rd gen's front skidplate was much higher. Anyway, the 11" was at the rocker panel...ABOVE the frame height!! What a load of crap! Toyota is so imaginative with their specs.
Rocky_taco
New member
No one is lying
The specifications for how to measure a vehicle, ground clearance, shoulder room, etc. etc. etc. etc. are specified in SAE paper SAE J1100 Motor Vehicle Dimensions. I don't recall the exact procedure to measure ground clearance, but it is entirely possible that it isn't measure where the shock is. The way that people "lie" is by knowing J1100 and changing the design such that there is an indentation or something where the measurement is taken thus giving a technically true answer but misleading.
The specifications for how to measure a vehicle, ground clearance, shoulder room, etc. etc. etc. etc. are specified in SAE paper SAE J1100 Motor Vehicle Dimensions. I don't recall the exact procedure to measure ground clearance, but it is entirely possible that it isn't measure where the shock is. The way that people "lie" is by knowing J1100 and changing the design such that there is an indentation or something where the measurement is taken thus giving a technically true answer but misleading.
Thai
Elite Member
JosephD05 said:
I doubt that Toyota is the only one that fudges data. I do know that Jeep does not fudge their data based on personal experience with them. Their ground clearance and angles make sense. I think that Hummer numbers are legitimate too. I don''t know enough about the other manufacturers to tell you. I can tell you that Toyota fudges data frequently, while Lexus data is accurate. Weird, isn't it??
Where is the lowest point on my 4R (06 Sport V8 4x4) to measure at ? Is it the rear pumpkin ?? It looks like it on my truck,so is that where you got the 8.3" ?
Personally I dont think Toyota fudges anymore than anyone else does . They all fudge on HP , TQ , ground clearance , gas milage ect.... I have found Toyota to be the most honest of any of the trucks I've had .
OK its 2am , I'm out under the truck and the lowest point ( rear diff.) measures exactly 9.5" , In the front I can only find 9.25" for the lowest. I do have the up sized 265.70/17 tires , no lift.
I cant remember what my brochure said about clearance , I thought it was around 9 or 10.
I find my milage to be more than accurate,about 1mpg more than the sticker with a lead foot and 265/70 tires , not counting in the additional milage traveled because of the bigger tires..
I really don't see the inaccuracy here.
Personally I dont think Toyota fudges anymore than anyone else does . They all fudge on HP , TQ , ground clearance , gas milage ect.... I have found Toyota to be the most honest of any of the trucks I've had .
OK its 2am , I'm out under the truck and the lowest point ( rear diff.) measures exactly 9.5" , In the front I can only find 9.25" for the lowest. I do have the up sized 265.70/17 tires , no lift.
I cant remember what my brochure said about clearance , I thought it was around 9 or 10.
I find my milage to be more than accurate,about 1mpg more than the sticker with a lead foot and 265/70 tires , not counting in the additional milage traveled because of the bigger tires..
I really don't see the inaccuracy here.
Last edited:
Thai
Elite Member
Falls, a stock 4runner's front skidplate is lower than 9". See page 2 where Mr. L remeasured: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18373&highlight=ground+clearance
The ground clearance of the front skidplate at it's lowest point is 8.3". Lexus states it correctly on the GX470, which is identical to 4runner at frame/suspension level.
And guess why a 4runner 2wd ground clearance is "8.7" while 4wd is "9.1"?? This shows you that the lowest point is NOT the rear axle because both 2wd and 4wd models have the same rear axle and tire diameter. It's because the front suspension is lower in the 2wd model by a smidge. And it is clear that Toyota and Lexus do not use the same way to measure ground clearance.
Another example? According to Toyota's brochure nowadays, the 4runner has a 28 degree breakover angle. In 2003, the brochure states 22-23 degree (forgot which number). How does a 4runner increase by 5 degrees without changing anything over the years?? And do you know how hard it is to get 28 degree of breakover angle on a vehicle like a 4runner (midsize SUV)??!! You either have an extremely short wheelbase (see Land Rover Discovery Series II...100" wheelbase) or air suspension to jack your car up (see Range Rover). Remember, not even the Jeep Rubicon has 28 degrees of breakover! Oh no, only the 4runner and FJ Cruiser. My G500 is only 25 degrees. Yet, i can clear stuff that my friend's (TEXGX) GX470 with KDSS cannot.
It's all about the way to measure things...and don't get me started with how Toyota claims a 4runner/FJ can go through 28.5" of water...many FJ owners have found out the painful truth of this inflated stat. And different manufacturers measure slope capability differently...some does it with a full load, some does it without.
The ground clearance of the front skidplate at it's lowest point is 8.3". Lexus states it correctly on the GX470, which is identical to 4runner at frame/suspension level.
And guess why a 4runner 2wd ground clearance is "8.7" while 4wd is "9.1"?? This shows you that the lowest point is NOT the rear axle because both 2wd and 4wd models have the same rear axle and tire diameter. It's because the front suspension is lower in the 2wd model by a smidge. And it is clear that Toyota and Lexus do not use the same way to measure ground clearance.
Another example? According to Toyota's brochure nowadays, the 4runner has a 28 degree breakover angle. In 2003, the brochure states 22-23 degree (forgot which number). How does a 4runner increase by 5 degrees without changing anything over the years?? And do you know how hard it is to get 28 degree of breakover angle on a vehicle like a 4runner (midsize SUV)??!! You either have an extremely short wheelbase (see Land Rover Discovery Series II...100" wheelbase) or air suspension to jack your car up (see Range Rover). Remember, not even the Jeep Rubicon has 28 degrees of breakover! Oh no, only the 4runner and FJ Cruiser. My G500 is only 25 degrees. Yet, i can clear stuff that my friend's (TEXGX) GX470 with KDSS cannot.
It's all about the way to measure things...and don't get me started with how Toyota claims a 4runner/FJ can go through 28.5" of water...many FJ owners have found out the painful truth of this inflated stat. And different manufacturers measure slope capability differently...some does it with a full load, some does it without.
qballjr13
New member
Thai said:
Not that an inch will get you much but this site shows it at 27.5" of water. (Under Section 1 - Limits and Capacities)
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/minisite/fjbulletin/index.html?section=3.2
Also, do you think alot of these guys were just going too fast into the water that is close to the depth limit to begin with? Just curious
greasefingers
New member
Since there are a couple of variables involved a loaded vehicle or unloaded, X-reas suspension or not, skid plates, etc, then the only way to precisely figure out ground clearance is to simply get under there and measure it.
Thai
Elite Member
qballjr13 said:
Well, you see, the 4runner does NOT have a breather tube on the rear axle. Therefore, if you ford a stream or mudhole where it is higher than the top of the rear differential pumpkin, then there is a chance of contamination. This is why the rear breather tube modification is so popular among Toyota SUVs/trucks.
I just went out and remeasured , my back pumpkin is at 9.5" , I measured at the skid plate where there are embossed parts of the skid plate that hand down a little lower and yes I measured incorrectly , it was 5/16" less than my orig. measurement.
I measured with a caliper not a tape measure. Then layed it on a ruler to double check.
I honestly have no idea what Toyota even claims for the 4R for clearance , but thats the stuff I've got.
I would bet my last buck that you will not find a brochure or whatever that specs out a vehicle where the truth is not stretched.
No one even knows how the mfg's even come up with these #'s and where they measure from.
I measured with a caliper not a tape measure. Then layed it on a ruler to double check.
I honestly have no idea what Toyota even claims for the 4R for clearance , but thats the stuff I've got.
I would bet my last buck that you will not find a brochure or whatever that specs out a vehicle where the truth is not stretched.
No one even knows how the mfg's even come up with these #'s and where they measure from.
JB.
New member
Falls said:
Falls, did you scoot under from the side or just front and back. Get a tape measure and lock it just under 9 inches. Scoot under from the side and start sliding around the tape measure up in the front skid plate area. It will hit somewhere. If it doesn't, the 32" REVOS must be significantly taller than 32" KOs.
The Revos are not going to be any taller.
I've been under the whole truck 2x and am really not concerned for a 1/4" or whatever to climb under it again . The tape measure will be less accurate than the caliper was .
It gets me where I want to go , thats all that really matters to me. I dont want to get into a pissin match over it so I'll call it 8+" and be done with it.
By the way I went front to back .
I've been under the whole truck 2x and am really not concerned for a 1/4" or whatever to climb under it again . The tape measure will be less accurate than the caliper was .
It gets me where I want to go , thats all that really matters to me. I dont want to get into a pissin match over it so I'll call it 8+" and be done with it.
By the way I went front to back .
Last edited:
You will not find anything that is 8.3" off the ground under my G. The angles are all wrong too (on the conservative side). But, that's another rant for another time.
Thai
Elite Member
Falls said:What does the brochure claim we have ? I could not find my 06 brochure.
We all need to go back and demand lift kits to bring them up to the advertised specs
For the 4runner, the brochure states 9.1" ground clearance. For GX470, it's 8.3".
Toyota 4runner website: http://www.toyota.com/4runner/specs.html
Lexus GX website: http://www.lexus.com/models/GX/detailed_specifications.html
Toyota states, "Ground Clearance", while Lexus states, "Minimum Ground Clearance." This alone may explain the difference. Toyota may use some arbitrary point while Lexus uses the lowest point.
