Stock 4Runner on trails

[tjnptel1]

I would like to hit some trails in my ORP however I don't have any plans on modifying the suspension or putting rock sliders on it, how capable is it in stock form?

I am still a rookie when it comes to OHV driving. Easy to medium trails, nothing too hard core.

<a href="https://ibb.co/WVNBC4w"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/GHfCm4L/2019-03-24-17-42-54.jpg" alt="2019-03-24-17-42-54" border="0"></a>

 

[willb0125]

Looks like your in Charlotte. I'm a recent transplant to the area and just made my first trip to Uwharrie National Forest last weekend in a 2015 Trail with totally stock suspension, just has Nitto Terra Grappler G2 in stock size and RSG rock sliders. Only did the "easy" trails and had no real issues. The skids got some love here and there due to the "low" ground clearance of the stock suspension and long wheelbase but just had to go slow and find good lines. It was just me and the wife solo, ran in to plenty of helpful people along the way. Overall good experience. And as an extra bonus my wife is now so worried about me damaging the 4Runner she actually asked if there was anything we could do to make it work better on the trails, she actually asked about a lift. Gotta keep the wife happy. R.I.P my credit card!

Not sure how much worse the harder trails are but I was only really limited by ground clearance on the trails I tried.

Go slow and easy and you should be fine as well.

 

[WhiteBoomer04]

Despite my modifications over the years, I still say the 4Runner is immensely capable of running in stock condition. Just keep an eye on clearances and be away of step side rails if you have them.

Getting yourself some serious skid plates, tires, and rock rails will get you places you cannot believe!

 

[tjnptel1]

Looks like your in Charlotte. I'm a recent transplant to the area and just made my first trip to Uwharrie National Forest last weekend in a 2015 Trail with totally stock suspension, just has Nitto Terra Grappler G2 in stock size and RSG rock sliders. Only did the "easy" trails and had no real issues. The skids got some love here and there due to the "low" ground clearance of the stock suspension and long wheelbase but just had to go slow and find good lines. It was just me and the wife solo, ran in to plenty of helpful people along the way. Overall good experience. And as an extra bonus my wife is now so worried about me damaging the 4Runner she actually asked if there was anything we could do to make it work better on the trails, she actually asked about a lift. Gotta keep the wife happy. R.I.P my credit card!

Not sure how much worse the harder trails are but I was only really limited by ground clearance on the trails I tried.

Go slow and easy and you should be fine as well.

Very nice, welcome to Charlotte. How did you decide what trail to hit?

 

[BobsTrail]

You will be surprised on how well it will do on sand and trails. I ran the OEM tires the first 2 years and went on deep soft dune sand and rough dirt trails.

I have gone through a few rock gardens, nothing big, not rock crawling and did OK.

Just remember you have 9.6 inches clearance and watch the surface in front of you. Watch for sharp rocks and rocks that may hit the tire sidewalls. I have a few scrapes on my front skid plate but no damage.

Take it slow and watch the terrain closely.

IMO you should air down for trails, it softens the ride for you and the T4 and gives some traction help. I run 20 psi for trails and 15 for sand. You will need a compressor to air up when done.

Take that thing out and get it dirty. You can go where the 2WD trucks can't go.

 

[Grape Ape]

YouTube

You'll be fine

 

[MossJenks]

Very capable! A lot of people think they need a bunch of modifications for offroading but that's just not the case. Add-ons and modifications just give you marginally better capability and better body protection. I always recommend that people go out stock and them figure out what additions they want to add.

Do consider ditching the steps. It's hard to see exactly what yours are like but if they're not designed to be sliders they're probably attached to the body rather than the frame and also will bend rather easily and get pushed up into the body. In either case you can end up with body damage where without them you would have cleared the object easily.

 

[willb0125]

Very nice, welcome to Charlotte. How did you decide what trail to hit?

I really just did some research to find how the trails were rated and since it was my first trip there decided to go with the simpler trails. Even those required me to stop and get out a few times to find a good line or check what was on the other side of a hill before moving on.

 

[tjnptel1]

I really just did some research to find how the trails were rated and since it was my first trip there decided to go with the simpler trails. Even those required me to stop and get out a few times to find a good line or check what was on the other side of a hill before moving on.

I am sure it is just not us two from the CLT area on this board. Maybe we should all get together and go out on a trail, hopefully teach me a thing or two. :rockon:

 

[Gone2vegas]

Broken Arrow Trail in Stock 4Runner

 

[MeefZah]

Tires are limiting factor way before ground clearance, etc.

 

[4wheelspulling]

Even though I am new here, I have been wheeling for many years. Best advice is the same as others have said. You should learn what your vehicle and you can do with your Stock truck. Then modify if needed! First mod I will on mine, is tires. Second rocker protection/sliders. I love going places in a stock 4x4 and seeing the look on others faces! How did you do that! There are not many vehicles made that can go and do what your stock 4Runner can! Vance.

 

[tls3601]

Tires alone will really unleash a ton of the 4Runners potential. That said we have done some pretty amazing things with stock SR5 with stock tires! I suspect there was some scrapes/damage to body on a stock rig on Broken Arrow! A little lift on that trail is very helpful.

 

[MooseT4R]

We bought our OR in March of last year and headed to Durango area and Moab in August with the only relevant upgrade being tires. We went in to a local Jeep rental spot and I just asked the guy working there if he'd sell me a trail map and be willing to recommend some trails we could do in our stock suspension 4Runner with LT/E tires. He gave us a few places and listed them starting with "Here's where we take stock Jeeps etc. all the time" ranging on to "Don't even think about attempting this without lockers, a lift, a winch and friends". It was a big help to know what we were getting in to. From there it was simple: if we are uncomfortable with the look of it, we don't go any further and turn around. A few times, my wife (the 4Runner owner!) got out to check clearances so we could get a feel for what we could easily cover.

There's a lot of beautiful country to be seen and a stock 4Runner will get you to a lot of it. I'm learning all the time and with every trip.

That said, our next mod will probably be sliders; practical protection that pay for themselves in the first oops.

Oh the two primary things were did were Kennebec Pass near Durango and Yankee Boy Basin near Ouray. They're on Dangerous Roads website if you want to see some pics and videos. Have fun and be safe.

 

[Bugser]

Broken Arrow Trail in Stock 4Runner

That was great!

 

[Greybeardviking]

I’ve just moved back to Fort Bragg/Fayetteville area and decided to take my 2017 SR5 out to UWharrie OHV trails for the last three weekends in a row.

First weekend I was able to get a 1/2 half through most of the of the way through moderate trails with little skid plate scrub on factory Dunlop ATX and completed the easy trails. Mind you it was very try and had not rained in a while so it was dry and my only concern was old ruts and rocks.

Two weeks ago, it was much more so muddy and I’m glad I just got Pathfinder ATs installed the day prior. Had a more difficult time getting through the moderate trails but I was still able to get through the easy trails with no issues.

Look forward to see you out there. I might be out there with weekend with a group.

Uploaded a quick clip of the OHV trail. Very easy portion.

YouTube

 

[MAST4R]

Despite my modifications over the years, I still say the 4Runner is immensely capable of running in stock condition. Just keep an eye on clearances and be away of step side rails if you have them.

Getting yourself some serious skid plates, tires, and rock rails will get you places you cannot believe!

^ That

Very capable! A lot of people think they need a bunch of modifications for offroading but that's just not the case. Add-ons and modifications just give you marginally better capability and better body protection. I always recommend that people go out stock and them figure out what additions they want to add.

Do consider ditching the steps. It's hard to see exactly what yours are like but if they're not designed to be sliders they're probably attached to the body rather than the frame and also will bend rather easily and get pushed up into the body. In either case you can end up with body damage where without them you would have cleared the object easily.

^ and that. I could not agree more. A small lift and good armor relieve stress on normal difficult trails, but they can be done fully stock with care. Beyond those, look at [MENTION=157251]WhiteBoomer04[/MENTION] 's signature line

Of course all that applies to going places, seeing things. Driving OHV parks or very hard and extreme trails is a sport best left to dedicated trail rigs.

One thing to watch for while on fully OEM suspension is that it will dive right over the rock you want to avoid if braking late. It is incredibly soft. For the same reason you can bottom out front and rear very easily on rough desert roads if you pick a modicum of speed, but this is about the Southwest.

Tires alone will really unleash a ton of the 4Runners potential. That said we have done some pretty amazing things with stock SR5 with stock tires! I suspect there was some scrapes/damage to body on a stock rig on Broken Arrow! A little lift on that trail is very helpful.

Not really and no danger to body that I see. We ran it a month after purchase last year and had a minor scrape on the gas tank skid only. We ran it a month ago again, this time with full 3/16 skids and sliders and 1.25" front lift and dragged the sliders a bit and the muffler got scratched as I took a direct line instead of a bit diagonal at the step that is after the circular rock and before the very sharp right turn where you change direction to go towards the Devil Staircase. The Devil Staircase is straightforward unless you somehow manage to fall in the big hole at the start (the wheels "naturally" go where they need due to the width of the trail/location of hole).

Crown King as of this last winter actually has two mandatory spots that are harder than anything on Broken Arrow and one of them will likely mangle the stock skids (I dragged my 3/16 over the step).

 

[Hans Moleman]

Stock SR5

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HeFzmdHsCaw?controls=0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

YouTube

 

[Soupbean]

Trails.....

Even though I am new here, I have been wheeling for many years. Best advice is the same as others have said. You should learn what your vehicle and you can do with your Stock truck. Then modify if needed! First mod I will on mine, is tires. Second rocker protection/sliders. I love going places in a stock 4x4 and seeing the look on others faces! How did you do that! There are not many vehicles made that can go and do what your stock 4Runner can! Vance.

Ditto....!! That’s mostly why we all own Runners

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

Y’all NC folks might want to check out Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. My stock SR5 does just fine there.