Stronger roof 2013?

[Intruder]

IIHS released their top safety picks which includes the 4Runner, but only those built after October 2012. I guess Toyota must have added something to reinforce the roof some more, as that's the only difference I can see in the ratings. Prior to Oct. 2012 the 4Runner only gets an average rating for rollovers.

IIHS-HLDI: Toyota 4Runner

 

[BigredTEX]

One thing I noticed in reading the report is that the curb weight for the 2013 model is 150 lbs less than the 2012 model. Not sure what was done to the 2013 model to increase the crush strength of the roof, which could easily be unit to unit variance, but if you use the 2013 curb weight with the 2012 crush strength it would get a 4.00 rating.

 

[Intruder]

Yeah, the curb weight is lower on the 2013, but the crush force is also higher - 18,866 vs. 18,334. It's also interesting that it isn't a straight up 2013 model change, but one that seems to have been introduced during the 2013 model production run by the way they differentiate them:

Toyota 4Runner
2013 models built after October 2012

Toyota 4Runner
2010-13 models built before November 2012

 

[Jtraskell]

Well it seems to me that the 2010 thru early 2013 are far superior (notwithstanding the lack luster roll over crush test) since they have 150lbs more hardened titanium metal (somewhere) on those vehicles..:thumb:....be safe.

 

[05Rrunner]

This is interesting, I wonder where the weight was saved?

 

[jamesq]

2013 has LESS weight and LESS MPG..

 

[Randyman...]

My 2013 is an (EDIT) September 2012 production date - so I guess I don't have the "Improved" roof design? Any other details on this? Just curious the differences from mine vs a 2013 made in October 2012...

 

[Shogun]

When I was looking on toyotapartsales.com I was trying to figure out what I needed to take the roof rack off. I found the parts but on the roof bracket there is a note for type 1 or type 2. I wonder if it has something to do with the difference in the roof? I have an email in to them to ask which parts I need.

 

[Intruder]

When I was looking on toyotapartsales.com I was trying to figure out what I needed to take the roof rack off. I found the parts but on the roof bracket there is a note for type 1 or type 2. I wonder if it has something to do with the difference in the roof? I have an email in to them to ask which parts I need.

Might just be the difference between the rack for the TE vs the SR5/LE one.