My last Xreas question.

[juneau92]

This week I test drove a Sport with Xreas, and an SR5 without Xreas, to see what difference I could feel. Tire pressures were checked prior to test drives. Both were 2wd vehicles, though I plan on getting a 4x4 V8. The Sport was V8, the SR5 was V6, if this makes any difference.

Count me as one who could definately notice a difference between the two, with the Xreas vehicle having superior handling qualities on the road, as compaired to the vehicle without Xreas.

At one point, though, while driving in parking lot, there were a few large speed bumps I had to drive over. With the Xreas equipped vehicle, it was like driving over a boulder, *major* bump, almost a jolt, over each speedbump, almost as if it didn't have any shocks at all. I could definatly feel the extra stiffness of the Xreas suspension here. The vehicle without Xreas took the bumps much more smoothly, but was a little bouncy, as most cars are.

This brings me to thinking. I know the Xreas does well on the road, I've now seen that for myself. But how does it perform offroad? I'm trying to imagine driving on perhaps some wash-boarded dirt roads, or on some of your basic non-maintained rocky, bumpy roads. Seems as though you might be in for a mighty rough and uncomfortable ride.

So, my question is, for those of you who have Xreas 4Runners who get off the main road now and then, how have you found the Xreas suspension handling to be?

Thanks now very much for your replies.

 

[mole177]

x-reas offroad?

nothing is comfortable when you're going offroad. (not just unpaved, but with rocks and other stuff you crawl over.)

x-reas will limit your off-road capability since you wont be able to go with a higher lift that non x equiped 4R's have.

 

[toybox]

I think speed bumps are a unique situation especially if you DON'T take them at an angle and hit them straight on with both front wheels. I always try to take them at an angle and the bumps are not nearly as abrupt or jarring. Off road the same, I would never take a straight bar type obstacle straight on and would try to do one wheel at a time......and this is where the xreas will work well even off road.

 

[spyne]

I've been off-road in my X-REAS 4Runner on several occasions (usually in a party with lifted and locked vehicles) and it's never been a concern. Ground clearance has always been my limiting factor, not the X-REAS. As long as I could clear an obstacle, the 4Runner would keep up with the best of them.

If you ever plan on lifting the truck, stay away from X-REAS, if not, you'll love the improvement in handling.

 

[Falls]

A lot of people here do 3" lifts with Xreas and it gives them plenty of clearance without problems. Its a coil spacer type of lift.

I have mine stock except bigger tires , I go off road as often as possible and never has an issue .

Get the Xreas , it is a great feature IMO.

If your buying a truck to build for off road then go with an SR5 since they dont have it and it will be easier to modify.

 

[JB.]

So, my question is, for those of you who have Xreas 4Runners who get off the main road now and then, how have you found the Xreas suspension handling to be?

Off road, I almost always air down which makes a big difference. Never driven a stock non-XREAS though. XREAS is, among other things, supposed to help resist bottoming out, which, especially at stock height, is a big help at some speed on dirt roads.

 

[boston_kevin]

XREAS was mostly aimed at improving on-road manners, not off-road capability. XREAS, off-road, really isn't a factor to help or hurt you, but it adds one potential point of failure if a line breaks (I don't know of anyone who has had this happen off-road). If you plan to lift, XREAS is a limiting factor for your lift options.

 

[cjm5027]

I have never drivin a 4runner without the xreas but i have been offroad quite a few times with my v8 limited with xreas. i have never had a problem with flexing or anything, the xreas actually probably saved me from rolling a few times. As for driving down a washboard...yea its REAL bumpy. I drive on the beaches in NC during the summer and people not taking down their tire pressure causes a "washboard" effect in the ruts from their tires spinning and you can def feel it. Overall im happy with the xreas because im a fast aggressive driver and it keeps me in control.

 

[juneau92]

You guys are great. Thanks so much for helping me out with your replies!