Making A Change - Built JK to Trail???

[03_4x4Runner]

As I said the Jeep will run circles around a mildly modified 4runner. It will not touch one off road with mods like you have on your Jeep. They are not even in the same class. A 4runner will be draging on the bottom, one wheel in the air a lot of times and to big to fit other times. On the road the 4runner wins big time though. On some of our trail rides when there were Jeeps and 4runners we had to turn around at times because of a section the 4runners could not go through. This is a pain if you are close to your destination at the end of a long ride and have to backtrack to find a way for lesser vehicles to get through and in the desert there are times there is no easier way and you go back to where you started many hours earlier. We try to limit our rides to vehicles that we know will make it although things change a lot depending on how much rain has washed things out.

 

[GoBlueBradW]

My Sahara is modified it has front and rear arb lockers, dana44 in the rear, 2.5 OME suspension lift 1.25 inch body lift, long arm, anti-rock, SYE, on and on. so I know how capable a Jeep is. You are right an modded Sahara does not have lockers etc ... my question is simply has anyone compared apples to apples as far as same trails?

Sorry probably hijacked this thread:nerd:

As previously stated my neighbor who has a TE and I have gone out together and wheeled several different times. There really isn't an area that the TE run equally with the JK simply because of cog, tire size and overall ground clearance. That said, the TE is an extremely capable vehicle and is more than enough for most peoples wheeling trips.

 

[kbaum11]

Thanks for your responses. I really like my Jeep and 4runner trail my 4runner is more my daily driver, boat towing, and fishing/hunting rig I love my Toyotas have owned them for 30 years still have a 99 Landcruiser. my Jeep is kinda my toy used as a toad behind my truck camper, my convertible or "motorcycle", and vehicle to explore not a Daily driver. there are very few trails that I go on that I would not attempt with my 4runner if I wanted to, it is a more muli-purpose vehicle.

 

[Gerdo]

As I said the Jeep will run circles around a mildly modified 4runner. It will not touch one off road with mods like you have on your Jeep. They are not even in the same class. A 4runner will be draging on the bottom, one wheel in the air a lot of times and to big to fit other times. On the road the 4runner wins big time though. On some of our trail rides when there were Jeeps and 4runners we had to turn around at times because of a section the 4runners could not go through. This is a pain if you are close to your destination at the end of a long ride and have to backtrack to find a way for lesser vehicles to get through and in the desert there are times there is no easier way and you go back to where you started many hours earlier. We try to limit our rides to vehicles that we know will make it although things change a lot depending on how much rain has washed things out.

I will hang with any Jeep that is comparably built as my 4runner. (32s-33s, rear locker, 4" lift). I'll run level 6-7 trails all day long. I will tell you that Jeepers will usually push their rigs thru harder obstacles than a comparable year 4runner, especially newer years. This is due to a body that is less prone to damage due to proximity to the trail. On steep trails, like in Moab, The 4runner is less prone to lifting the front wheels due to the longer wheelbase. The 4runner is incredibly capable, beyond what most people believe is possible.

It's difficult to directly compare the two due to the differences (wheelbase, track width, weight, SA, engine power, engine electronics/controls, CG, etc). Each is going to do better in some circumstances, the other in different circumstances.

I will add that a Jeep (wrangler) can be built up bigger, easier, with more off the shelf parts to make it WAY more capable than a 4runner could be without major modification.

 

[Stifler]

This is due to a body that is less prone to damage due to proximity to the trail.

One reason (besides the hamster wheel) that I got rid of the JK was the whimpy double walled sheet metal they went through. Having to nusert all body armor was laughable. but I agree I would run my jeep into a tree without 2nd though.... 4runner, no can do

 

[Greg_Canada]

I will hang with any Jeep that is comparably built as my 4runner. (32s-33s, rear locker, 4" lift). I'll run level 6-7 trails all day long. I will tell you that Jeepers will usually push their rigs thru harder obstacles than a comparable year 4runner, especially newer years. This is due to a body that is less prone to damage due to proximity to the trail. On steep trails, like in Moab, The 4runner is less prone to lifting the front wheels due to the longer wheelbase. The 4runner is incredibly capable, beyond what most people believe is possible.

It's difficult to directly compare the two due to the differences (wheelbase, track width, weight, SA, engine power, engine electronics/controls, CG, etc). Each is going to do better in some circumstances, the other in different circumstances.

I will add that a Jeep (wrangler) can be built up bigger, easier, with more off the shelf parts to make it WAY more capable than a 4runner could be without major modification.

:fro:

Jeeps have not used that axle combination since around 2005 and even then most 4.0 engines had Dana 44s.

But they used them for ALL of eternity before that.

not true at all.... 35/30 was the most common combo in the TJ unless you upgraded the rear to a 44 and the RUbis had 44s. the JKs have 44/30 in everything except the rubi

:bluejump:

I have owned both a 4runner and Wrangler for many years. In my opinion my 4runner lifted 3 inches is about the same as a stock Wrangler 2 door in capability in the desert. At stock height in a 4runner you will be dragging on a lot of rocks and hitting the bumpers going threw washouts, ruts etc. If you are talking about a 4 door Jk then they would be more like a 4runner I would think. The 2 door Wrangler smaller size make it very easy to manuver and see out of. The Wrangler give you a lot more confidence off road. It seems to go over things easily that makes you very nervous in a 4runner. I guess a lot of it is being afraid to damage the 4runner. In the 4runner we spend to much time trimming tree branches and moving rocks were in the Jeep we just bash threw. I gave my Jeep to my son earlier this year and bought a new Avalon to do my long trips in. My 4runner is mostly for off road and around town now. I may be joining an off road club here in the future and the 4runner will not get the job done on the harder trails. I will most likely be going to a 2013 Jk. They finally put a decent engine in the Jeeps again in 2012.

imp: Well said.

As I said the last TJs were made in 2005 or 2006 and most later Sahara TJs had dana 44 rears. I think the JKs came out in 06 or 07.

I'm talking about wranglers in general, not just the newest and greatest. The old ones all had to be upgraded so this didn't happen:

My Sahara is modified it has front and rear arb lockers, dana44 in the rear, 2.5 OME suspension lift 1.25 inch body lift, long arm, anti-rock, SYE, on and on. so I know how capable a Jeep is. You are right an modded Sahara does not have lockers etc ... my question is simply has anyone compared apples to apples as far as same trails?

Sorry probably hijacked this thread:nerd:

:withstupid: You make no sense. I'm not comparing modded to modded.

 

[GoBlueBradW]

http://totalfreek.com/files/2010/10/ORTT-Axle-Tool-300x225.gif[/IMG]

And I am sure if I Google searched I could find a pic of a 4runner with a broken axle as well. The fact is that my vehicle that is on 37's is on the factory Dana 30 with only a Sleeve and C Gussett and I have been on every trail on Moab without any issues. The factory D30 is more than capable of running a 33-35" tire without having an issue. You should probably do a little more research before starting to jump on people with what you believe is factual.

 

[Stifler]

it all comes down to the skinny pedal

 

[Gerdo]

it all comes down to the skinny pedal

And not using to much.

 

[Gerdo]

:fro:

I'm not sure what your trying to say!

 

[Greg_Canada]

And I am sure if I Google searched I could find a pic of a 4runner with a broken axle as well. The fact is that my vehicle that is on 37's is on the factory Dana 30 with only a Sleeve and C Gussett and I have been on every trail on Moab without any issues. The factory D30 is more than capable of running a 33-35" tire without having an issue. You should probably do a little more research before starting to jump on people with what you believe is factual.

You're probably a better driver then most, but, how many should i find you?

STOCK TIRES!

You know it's so bad, when they make a tool to get you back home incase you snap something, LOLOLOL

I'm not sure what your trying to say!

I just enjoyed your post.:bravo:

 

[evomind]

Lets face it, serious offroaders are more likely to wheel a jeep. There is a small percentage of 4 runners who actually wheel so there will be a ton more on line pics of broken jeeps on the trails.

 

[Greg_Canada]

Lets face it, serious offroaders are more likely to wheel a jeep. There is a small percentage of 4 runners who actually wheel so there will be a ton more on line pics of broken jeeps on the trails.

Agreed on that part.

The only rear axles i've seen breaking in a toyota, are the diffs in the fj cruisers... don't know why per se. Stock yota rear axles are typically good to 37's.... front birfs / CV's are good to 33's.... I'm sure you can find lots of those broken on 35+'s...

 

[GoBlueBradW]

Agreed on that part.

The only rear axles i've seen breaking in a toyota, are the diffs in the fj cruisers... don't know why per se. Stock yota rear axles are typically good to 37's.... front birfs / CV's are good to 33's.... I'm sure you can find lots of those broken on 35+'s...

Why dont you go start a new thread instead of clogging up mine with information that has nothing to do with my post? Also, do not put words in my mouth as I never stated that I was a better driver than most I simply stated factual information on the way my JK is equipped. Move on

That said, I spoke with my neighbor last night and we will be heading out this evening to drive his TE with the Ultimate Lift so I can see how it rides and drives. I am very interested to see just how different it will be in coparison to my JK. I would also like to find a 4Runner in my area that is equipped with Icone Stage 2 so if anoyone wouldnt mind taking me for a ride let me know!

 

[DannyLlama]

:nicethread:

I enjoyed reading this thread. Hats off to all the jeep owners though, really sounds like they are quite capable wheelers.
Lots of good comparisons on this thread that I have not read elsewhere, minus the ^ cat fight

 

[GoBlueBradW]

:nicethread:

I enjoyed reading this thread. Hats off to all the jeep owners though, really sounds like they are quite capable wheelers.
Lots of good comparisons on this thread that I have not read elsewhere, minus the ^ cat fight

Ha, it has turned into that hasn't it. I guess that is waht happens when you get two guys in a room that are fans of two different vehicles. Hopefully, sometime soon I will see what all the fuss is about. I am looking forward to driving my neighbors TE. I'll keep everyone posted.

Who has Icon Stage 2 and can give driving impressions?

 

[Gerdo]

You are going to love the comfort of the 4runner over the JK.

 

[Greg_Canada]

Why dont you go start a new thread instead of clogging up mine with information that has nothing to do with my post? Also, do not put words in my mouth as I never stated that I was a better driver than most I simply stated factual information on the way my JK is equipped. Move on

LMAO a true jeeper, you throw him a compliment and he spits in your face!!!!

 

[GoBlueBradW]

Well spent most of my Saturday morning at a dealership driving and negotiating on an SR5 and a TE. I must say that I am really impressed as to how the stock suspension on each handled on the road, washboard and on the dealers "rock crawling area" (if you call it that). I really liked the TE and the way that you can select the terrain that you are on as well as the look. They didn't have a single 2013 but were definitely pushing the 12's hard so I will most likely end up with a loaded gray TE by the end of this week.

 

[GoBlueBradW]

LMAO a true jeeper, you throw him a compliment and he spits in your face!!!!

We must really be misunderstanding one another. That said, I would truly like to hear your thoughts on going from my JKU to a TE.