Weight Reduction

[Steve Theodore]

even at 400 pounds lighter a 4runner probably still wouldn't be competitive in efficiency and performance to a comparable unibody SUV. weight reduction seems like chasing ghosts for this platform. the more realistic approach would be to minimize weight gain wherever you can when modding (lightweight wheels, aluminum armor/bumpers, winches with synthetic rope etc)

Hoping that everyone reading this thread realizes it's only a day dream. I can recognize the folly in the amount of work it would take to achieve that dream in practice. That being said, it's just the way I operate and I'm hard wired to consider weight reduction and performance in any vehicle that I own. :heh:

 

[rdruss]

Took some more weight off my '03 today, scraped the frame (again) and got another 1/4 lb of rust off it.

 

[Steve Theodore]

Took some more weight off my '03 today, scraped the frame (again) and got another 1/4 lb of rust off it.

That's what we refer to as asymmetrical weight reduction! :bravo:

 

[Nuke]

Probably keeping your speed down will do the most for better mpg. That, plus tire inflation.

This, too. The 4.0 is notorious for fuel mileage dropping like a rock the higher over 60 mph

 

[Charlievee]

ditch the wife and the kids.

And the school bus seats.

 

[JLTD]

This, too. The 4.0 is notorious for fuel mileage dropping like a rock the higher over 60 mph

Yep 50 to 60 seems to be a very good efficiency number… Wind resistance increases with the square of the speed so the more you go up the faster the resistance increases.