What are Stock 4Runner Off Roading Capabilities

[Eddie420]

I'm going to be doing the Mojave Road trail next weekend with co workers with their Land Rovers and wanted to know what to expect of my fully stock 97' 4Runner Limited . This will be my first time off-roading ever so I don't know what to expect. Should I be good on clearance with stock height ? Any Tips ?

 

[Sean K.]

I'm going to be doing the Mojave Road trail next weekend with co workers with their Land Rovers and wanted to know what to expect of my fully stock 97' 4Runner Limited . This will be my first time off-roading ever so I don't know what to expect. Should I be good on clearance with stock height ? Any Tips ?

Do you have the rear e-locker?

 

[Mark_BC]

If you have the e-locker then the next thing limiting you will be the running boards eating up ground clearance. Then, the trailer hitch hitting on departure angle. But regardless you will be pretty capable.

You'll probably be asked to tow the Land Rovers out as they break down.

 

[gonzo97]

Do you have the rear e-locker?

Assuming that he has 4X4, he should, being that it is the Limited edition. That rear locker will help a lot if you get into any sticky situations.

 

[GSPRunner]

Assuming that he has 4X4, he should, being that it is the Limited edition. That rear locker will help a lot if you get into any sticky situations.

Not all Limited's had the E-locker. Either way he should be fine on Mohave Road.

 

[absalom]

Stock 3rd gens with an Elocker are amazingly capable out of the box. Shockingly so. Just be sure to air down to 15 psi, it'll make your whole experience much safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable.

 

[JayRolla]

Rear e-locker, disconnected front sway bar and removed side steps can do some crazy stuff.

Airing down is always a good idea but losing ground clearance kind of sucks when you on stock lift.

 

[TXLX1]

Tires and lockers will take you a long way. If no locker, positioning the vehicle properly and good throttle control will do wonders also. Stay steady on the gas stick, jab your heel in the floor and go!

 

[Scramble]

I'm going to be doing the Mojave Road trail next weekend with co workers with their Land Rovers and wanted to know what to expect of my fully stock 97' 4Runner Limited . This will be my first time off-roading ever so I don't know what to expect. Should I be good on clearance with stock height ? Any Tips ?

What kind of tires to you have? If you have bald HWY tires don't bother going out.

 

[Chuckles89]

What kind of tires to you have? If you have bald HWY tires don't bother going out.

Hey now, I went wheeling with an XJ with a welded rear Dana 35 and almost bald street tires and it did surprisingly good ound:

 

[JayRolla]

Hey now, I went wheeling with an XJ with a welded rear Dana 35 and almost bald street tires and it did surprisingly good ound:

Yeah because he got big tires. Welded diff and suspension. Stock rig on bald tires won't do much.

 

[Sean K.]

Yeah because he got big tires. Welded diff and suspension. Stock rig on bald tires won't do much.

He didn't say 35s....he said a Dana 35 rear axle.

As for bald tires....depends on the tire and where you're wheeling. I've seen bald street tired rigs in Moab work just as well as new aggressive "offroad" tires.

Some tires have a softer durometer as they wear....BFG Reds don't really get sticky until they are half tread and they just keep getting better until they are completely bald.

 

[Chuckles89]

Yeah because he got big tires. Welded diff and suspension. Stock rig on bald tires won't do much.

He didn't say 35s....he said a Dana 35 rear axle.

As for bald tires....depends on the tire and where you're wheeling. I've seen bald street tired rigs in Moab work just as well as new aggressive "offroad" tires.

Some tires have a softer durometer as they wear....BFG Reds don't really get sticky until they are half tread and they just keep getting better until they are completely bald.

Yeah, he had 30x9.50 street tires. He got stuck quite a few times, but so did everyone else. He had a 3" lift and it sat about like a stock 99 4Runner. My friends' cheap Jeeps really surprise the crap out of me

 

[BunBun]

4Runners are amazing I've seen locked rigs have trouble on things my stock 4runner can tackle no problem. Lockers tires lift can all help but its the driver that makes the difference in my opinion

 

[Sean K.]

Lockers tires lift can all help but its the driver that makes the difference in my opinion

At certain extremes of each vehicle's capabilities, that's true....but I know complete novices can drive really capable rigs up some nasty obstacles....almost entirely due to how well the rig is built (with appropriate spotting).

 

[Black798]

At certain extremes of each vehicle's capabilities, that's true....but I know complete novices can drive really capable rigs up some nasty obstacles....almost entirely due to how well the rig is built (with appropriate spotting).

I was always told its 10% vehicle and 90% Driver
Ive seen a totally stock Toyota pickup follow a dual locked chevy 1/2 ton on 33s up quite a bit of stuff

 

[thegipper]

I remember wheeling many years ago in AZ with some friends. A Hummer (H1) was completely stuck and had to get pulled out. We were in my buddies Z71 with big tires and a lift and he couldn't make it up the pass either.

While we were standing around, two guys in a bone stock XJ (Jeep cherokee) with bald ass city tires came driving up to the Hummer, stopped and looked for a second, and continued on up the entire pass without any issues. We couldn't believe how easy they made it look.

I agree a lot of it is the driver but the rig itself is just as important. I'd say 50/50.

 

[Sean K.]

I was always told its 10% vehicle and 90% Driver
Ive seen a totally stock Toyota pickup follow a dual locked chevy 1/2 ton on 33s up quite a bit of stuff

What people don't take into account is the level at which one is participating. It largely depends on the magnitude and difficulty of the trails and the level to which a vehicle is modded or designed...as well as who you're comparing yourself to.

There are trails here rated 5+ where a buggy is pretty much mandatory as are 1 Tons with 39" or bigger tires....anything less than that is likely to incur a LOT of damage regardless of who's driving it.

 

[Sean K.]

I remember wheeling many years ago in AZ with some friends. A Hummer (H1) was completely stuck and had to get pulled out. We were in my buddies Z71 with big tires and a lift and he couldn't make it up the pass either.

While we were standing around, two guys in a bone stock XJ (Jeep cherokee) with bald ass city tires came driving up to the Hummer, stopped and looked for a second, and continued on up the entire pass without any issues. We couldn't believe how easy they made it look.

I agree a lot of it is the driver but the rig itself is just as important. I'd say 50/50.

True enough....in Moab for example, most of the more well known obstacles really favor long wheelbase. Even if you have a very well built buggy with less than 105" wheelbase, you may struggle a LOT more than even a moderately modified extracab Taco.