New Buyer: Ride Height for Loading / Unloading

[mattr]

Hi guys, I did a forum search but couldn't see this being asked before.

I'm shopping right now for a 4Runner, my wife is leaning towards a crossover like the Highlander but I really don't like the look of them and would like the utility of the 4runner more - I've always wanted a 4runner. Our roads are snow and ice covered for most of the year and we are pretty active year round. I also had an FJ Cruiser a few years ago that I really loved. After having an Audi for the last few years and throwing a ton of good money after bad, I'm looking to get into a vehicle we can keep for a long time.

Long story short: My wife is short, we have 2 kids in car seats. I'm worried that she's going to find it tough to lift them up. We test drove about a year ago a Tundra and it was a no go for this reason. Anyone have any experience with this? Any options (running board, etc.) that might help me stay out of crossover land? Anyone have both the Tundra and the 4Runner and can speak to the differences in the height for loading and unloading?

Thanks for taking the time to help and offer opinions.

 

[Engineer]

Test drive the Limited trim, it has Full Time 4x4, and you can get rigid running boards (for all trim levels). I also believe there is or at least was an option for power folding steps. They are expensive and I have no idea if they come down lower then the rigids but it would not suprise me if they did. Good luck with your hunt.

 

[1engineer]

Happy wife = happy life. 4Runners, because of the body on frame and being built for off road use, sit up pretty high. Doing everything from pulling down the rear lift gate to close, loading stuff in the back, getting in to sit and getting tiny humans into and out of the back seat is not as easy as a crossover. Get the Highlander and enjoy life.

 

[Okki]

The stock ground clearance is 9 inches if I recall correctly. If you are keeping this vehicle for the long haul, keep in mind that kids will not be in car seats for very long. That said.. having a shorty-but-cutey myself, I understand the height question/concern. There are several nice running boards (including automatic ones) that are pretty good. I believe there is even a pretty robust one out there that may offer some rock-slider type protection. A search on the forum here should turn that up pretty easily.

The running board should help with the current situation of lifting car seats and help once the kids start climbing in themselves.

Beyond that, it's a capable vehicle that will easily do double duty as mall-kid-hauler and weekend-explorer vehicle.

Try to go testdrive one with factory running boards and see how she likes it. The heated seats in the Limited helped sell it to my wife.

Just keep in mind, if it is her daily driver, than it's in your best interest to remember "happy wife = happy life" :tea:

Good luck with the purchase!

Okki

 

[The Waco Kid]

Hi guys, I did a forum search but couldn't see this being asked before.

I'm shopping right now for a 4Runner, my wife is leaning towards a crossover like the Highlander but I really don't like the look of them and would like the utility of the 4runner more - I've always wanted a 4runner. Our roads are snow and ice covered for most of the year and we are pretty active year round. I also had an FJ Cruiser a few years ago that I really loved. After having an Audi for the last few years and throwing a ton of good money after bad, I'm looking to get into a vehicle we can keep for a long time.

Long story short: My wife is short, we have 2 kids in car seats. I'm worried that she's going to find it tough to lift them up. We test drove about a year ago a Tundra and it was a no go for this reason. Anyone have any experience with this? Any options (running board, etc.) that might help me stay out of crossover land? Anyone have both the Tundra and the 4Runner and can speak to the differences in the height for loading and unloading?

Thanks for taking the time to help and offer opinions.

Running boards make a world of difference. I'm 6'1 and I consider it a tall step in. We also have a Ram 1500 in the family with running boards (much taller vehicle), and they make it so much easier... even more so than the runner (which does't have boards).

But that's my opinion. Nothing beats real world testing. Take your wife with you to the dealer and look for one with running boards. Have her get in and out and see if it's something she likes.

Good luck!

 

[mattr]

Happy wife = happy life. 4Runners, because of the body on frame and being built for off road use, sit up pretty high. Doing everything from pulling down the rear lift gate to close, loading stuff in the back, getting in to sit and getting tiny humans into and out of the back seat is not as easy as a crossover. Get the Highlander and enjoy life.

With a username like 1engineer, I would not have expected a different reply - I'm surprised you didn't shift me to a Sienna as in reality that is probably the most practical and functional option. I do appreciate these inputs and think we will look at both since we're at a dealership anyhow - the new vehicle would be my daily driver, so it would be rare that my wife would be loading kids alone - but I do want to consider it and I think once we have a bigger vehicle it's likely my wife would end up wanting to take it out more. I think a Highlander or Sienna are probably in the future in addition to a 4Runner.

Test drive the Limited trim, it has Full Time 4x4, and you can get rigid running boards (for all trim levels). I also believe there is or at least was an option for power folding steps. They are expensive and I have no idea if they come down lower then the rigids but it would not suprise me if they did. Good luck with your hunt.

I just found a video on the automatic ones, they do look nice, I imagine they should / could go lower since they don't need to worry about ground clearance. I'll have to see if these are available on the limited in Canada - they don't seem to show them as a standard or optional feature on Canada website.

The stock ground clearance is 9 inches if I recall correctly. If you are keeping this vehicle for the long haul, keep in mind that kids will not be in car seats for very long. That said.. having a shorty-but-cutey myself, I understand the height question/concern. There are several nice running boards (including automatic ones) that are pretty good. I believe there is even a pretty robust one out there that may offer some rock-slider type protection. A search on the forum here should turn that up pretty easily.

The running board should help with the current situation of lifting car seats and help once the kids start climbing in themselves.

Beyond that, it's a capable vehicle that will easily do double duty as mall-kid-hauler and weekend-explorer vehicle.

Try to go testdrive one with factory running boards and see how she likes it. The heated seats in the Limited helped sell it to my wife.

Just keep in mind, if it is her daily driver, than it's in your best interest to remember "happy wife = happy life" :tea:

Good luck with the purchase!

Okki

Thanks - I think the running boards are going to be a must have - and yes happy wife = happy life so I'm just pretending I have close to 50% influence here.

Running boards make a world of difference. I'm 6'1 and I consider it a tall step in. We also have a Ram 1500 in the family with running boards (much taller vehicle), and they make it so much easier... even more so than the runner (which does't have boards).

But that's my opinion. Nothing beats real world testing. Take your wife with you to the dealer and look for one with running boards. Have her get in and out and see if it's something she likes.

Good luck!

Really good to know, I imagine the Ram 1500 and Tundra are in line, so hopefully the 4runner with the running boards would do the trick. We'll definitely have to test drive and bring a 30lb weight with us to toss in and out

 

[Bilbo]

I have the automatic running boards. When extended the top of the step is 11.5" in the front and 12" in the back.

Yes, they were expensive, and I wanted to buy without them. However, they have turned out to be very handy, they have a good look when tucked out of the way, and (best of all) my wife loves them because they pop out to greet her when she climbs aboard.

 

[1engineer]

With a username like 1engineer, I would not have expected a different reply - I'm surprised you didn't shift me to a Sienna as in reality that is probably the most practical and functional option.

Hey, I have compassion what can I say. I was trying to let you keep just a tiny bit of dignity...

When my children were young I went through three minivans. A Chevy Astro 4X4, A Toyota Sienna AWD and my favorite, a Honda Odyssey! There is no more practical vehicle than a minivan with a drop down DVD player.

 

[Swarty]

Explorers are good looking these days...

 

[Whiplash Willy]

How "short" is your wife? I am 5'11" and my wife is 5'7". We find the 4runner to be at a perfect height for getting kids in and out. It is actually easier to get them in and out of the 4runner, then it was with her old 2004 Honda Accord, because you don't have to bend down. For us, the 4runner's height is at a really good level, to where we can stand up straight, and get them in and out.

We have a 3yr old, and Twin 1yr olds. The Twins are in "Infant" seats (Removable seat where base stays in vehicle) and the 3yr old is in a forward facing convertible seat. Both styles are easy to get them in and out of the 2nd row. I use the 3rd row for one of the twins seats, and it just barley fits, but it works well, and is relatively easy for me to get in and out through the rear.

I got MetalTech OPOR sliders, and my 3year old is able to easily climb in and out of the 2nd row, and into her seat, and loves doing it! Most running boards and sliders that stick out a bit should allow your wife and kids to get in and out of the 4runner.

What you really need to do is take your carseat(s) to a dealership, and install them/test them in different configurations and see how it will work for you. Before I bought my 4runner I spent about 2 hours at the dealership making sure all of the seats would fit right, and would be accessible. I am sure you could find one on the lot that had running boards on it too. Yea, a mini-van would be easier to get them in and out of, but then you would be driving a mini-van. It doesn't take that much more effort to get them in and out of the 4runner. I am able to drive what I want to drive, at the cost of a slight inconvenience, but it works for me, and to me its worth it.

I understand 1E's comment about "Happy Wife, Happy Life" but honestly, are wives really ever truly happy? She may be happy about you getting a CUV or Minivan over the 4runner, but she will probley just find something else to complain about....All it will take is just one improper response to her "Do I look Fat in this?" and all those points you gained by getting the CUV or Minivan will be lost...

 

[flatspin]

Having a height challenged family myself, everyone has to jump up a bit to get into the 4Runner. I see it as a health benefit.:wink2:

My running board don't stick out far enough to be used. They may be adjustable but as they are now, they are worthless. I do need to check on this.

I'd be concerned about the automatic ones getting all iced up. Anyone up north have those?

 

[Mistaken]

Explorers are good looking these days...

This is what we got my wife since she didnt like the height of the 4runner. They look good and are nice vehicles. Definitely a smoother ride than my 4runner.

 

[mattr]

Explorers are good looking these days...

This is what we got my wife since she didnt like the height of the 4runner. They look good and are nice vehicles. Definitely a smoother ride than my 4runner.

I believe what I read and I do think the Explorer is a great choice. The Sport is especially interesting. I'll admit I still have an old stereotype and PTSD from my early 90s Ford that I just can't get past.

How "short" is your wife? I am 5'11" and my wife is 5'7". We find the 4runner to be at a perfect height for getting kids in and out. It is actually easier to get them in and out of the 4runner, then it was with her old 2004 Honda Accord, because you don't have to bend down. For us, the 4runner's height is at a really good level, to where we can stand up straight, and get them in and out.

We have a 3yr old, and Twin 1yr olds. The Twins are in "Infant" seats (Removable seat where base stays in vehicle) and the 3yr old is in a forward facing convertible seat. Both styles are easy to get them in and out of the 2nd row. I use the 3rd row for one of the twins seats, and it just barley fits, but it works well, and is relatively easy for me to get in and out through the rear.

I got MetalTech OPOR sliders, and my 3year old is able to easily climb in and out of the 2nd row, and into her seat, and loves doing it! Most running boards and sliders that stick out a bit should allow your wife and kids to get in and out of the 4runner.

What you really need to do is take your carseat(s) to a dealership, and install them/test them in different configurations and see how it will work for you. Before I bought my 4runner I spent about 2 hours at the dealership making sure all of the seats would fit right, and would be accessible. I am sure you could find one on the lot that had running boards on it too. Yea, a mini-van would be easier to get them in and out of, but then you would be driving a mini-van. It doesn't take that much more effort to get them in and out of the 4runner. I am able to drive what I want to drive, at the cost of a slight inconvenience, but it works for me, and to me its worth it.

I understand 1E's comment about "Happy Wife, Happy Life" but honestly, are wives really ever truly happy? She may be happy about you getting a CUV or Minivan over the 4runner, but she will probley just find something else to complain about....All it will take is just one improper response to her "Do I look Fat in this?" and all those points you gained by getting the CUV or Minivan will be lost...

This makes me feel much better. I think in the grand scheme of things that if I'm buying for the long term I'm better to go with a 4runner that I'll like for 10 years, then something I'll despise and want to ditch in 3-5 to replace with another new vehicle once the kids are older.

Having a height challenged family myself, everyone has to jump up a bit to get into the 4Runner. I see it as a health benefit.:wink2:

My running board don't stick out far enough to be used. They may be adjustable but as they are now, they are worthless. I do need to check on this.

I'd be concerned about the automatic ones getting all iced up. Anyone up north have those?

I'd be interested in this too, a lot of the time I come home with 100lbs of ice bridging from my wheel wells, I would worry about how that would work.

 

[Mistaken]

I believe what I read and I do think the Explorer is a great choice. The Sport is especially interesting. I'll admit I still have an old stereotype and PTSD from my early 90s Ford that I just can't get past.

Yeah, its tough not to call it the "Exploder".

It is a great vehicle for my wife. She likes it better than her Fusion that we traded in, since it sits higher up, has all the little bells and whistles (headed/cooled seats and a heated steering wheel) and is capable in the snow. Not much more that she could ask for.

 

[bythehour]

My 5'2" wife found the running boards on the LTD fine for ingress/egress.

My bigger concern was the lift over height of the rear hatch, especially with the 3rd seats and higher floor. Time will tell.

 

[Mcmojoe]

Not sure if you bought your car yet, but I am 5'11.5 and I used to have a murano. Many time I would hit my son's head (not hard) trying to put him in the car seat. 4runner is the prefect height for me. Now my wife on the other hand, she is 5' and the other day she was very happy that she was able to put my son in the car seat. I think she uses the running boards. So you can get it to work. I hate crossovers and glad I have a 4runner right now. Also helps that my wife used to drive a pathfinder. So she likes the 4r better than the murano.