Where does Toyota measure ground clearance?

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RockyMtRunner

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How/where does one measure ground clearance?

I downloaded a pdf off of the Toyota website with the specs for my 2000 4Runner. Toyota states my rig's ground clearance should be 11" with the optional 265/70/16 tires. Well, my rear differential is not nearly that high off the ground, so I would like to know exactly where Toyota measures the undercarriage to come up with their ground clearance specification. Their figure seems a little bit misleading.
 
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Who can help?

I don't think Toyota is trying to mislead anyone. I am an off-roading newbie who simply doesn't know the standard way one should measure ground clearance, whether a Jeep, 4Runner or whatever. I just don't see how the measurement could be the rear differential (always much lower) because one can often choose a line that fits the rear diff between or around the larger rocks, or it keeps its clearance when the rear tires climb. The reason I would like to know how/where to officially measure my rig is because I have a 4X4 Trail book for Colorado that uses "ground clearance" figures as one criterion for whether or not one's rig can handle a given trail without high likelihood of damage.

I really love my rig; it's stock, but it's already taken me up and over and down and through some obstacles I could never have imagined, though I'm sure more experienced drivers would snicker at what looks challenging to me. I know I have a lot to learn and this forum has been a huge help.

Does anyone know how to "officially" measure ground clearance?
 
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If I were to take a guess, I would say the lowest point on the front. Makes sense, since it will be the first thing to make contact with anything.
 
I always thought ground clearance was measured from the lowest hanging part of the truck. Basically meaning the differential.
 
Re: Who can help?

RockyMtRunner said:

Does anyone know how to "officially" measure ground clearance?
Click to expand...

If you insist on simplicity it means the lowest point on the undercarriage, but...

Ground clearance is a general idea and there are different clearances. The ones that come to mind are (1. clearance between the wheels (2. clearance around the midway point (front to back) and (3. clearance under the doors. Of course, something hanging way down in an unusual spot would have to be considered, too.

1. Has to do with, say, how big a rock you can run straight over.
2. Has to do with how sharp a hill you can roll over or how high a ledge you can handle.
3. Has to do with how big a rock you can take a tire over and how far you can lean sideways.

If I had to simplify, I would call a stock 4th gen about 8 inches of ground clearance 'cause there are a lot of spots towards the front that are 8 inches high. That just meets the clearance standard of what the National Park Service means when it posts a sign recommending a "high clearance vehicle". Numbers 1 and 2 are kind of week in the 4th gen (2 a little less so) but with the sidesteps removed, 3 is pretty good and can often make up for much of the weakness in 1 and 2.

Then there are the overhangs in the front and back...
 
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Toyota is very misleading in their stats...take it with a grain of salt. Your 2000 4runner's lowest point is the rear differential pumpkin, which is about 9.5" off the ground (this was true on my 2002 4runner). It's hard to straddle a rock and avoiding the rear diff at the same time because the pumpkin is dead center. (In comparison, in the TLC/LX, the rear diff pumpkin is slightly off-centered to the passenger side.) Toyota actually measured the 11" from ground to the side rocker panel, which is actually higher than the frame even! This is why Toyota quotes different ground clearance height for 2wd and 4wd models despite having the same tire diameter (and thus same rear differential). This has been a major criticism of Toyota by other manufacturers who quote minimum ground clearance. Toyota is simply fudging their data to make it look good.

For 4th gen 4runners, the lowest point is probably the front suspension because of it's car-SUV crash compatibility requirement.

Another example...take a look at breakover angle for 4runner. In 2003, it was officially 22 degrees...now, it's 24 degrees (with hitch) and 28 degrees without hitch. Same tire size. Same underbody. I can almost tell you for sure that 4runner does NOT have 28 degree of breakover angle! To have 28 degrees breakover, you need to have a wheelbase of about 100" (aka Land Rover Discovery SII) or jack up air suspension to max height (aka Range Rover). And the underbody of the 4runner is not as clean as the Discovery or RR.
 
In the factory shop manual, depending on model, the "vehicle height" is measured as 10-11" by model to the center of the front camber adjustment bolt, to the ground. Mine is just 10.5"

Could that be what they are talking about?
 
I believe Toyota measured to the t-case on the 3rd Gens. A somewhat odd place, though it is one of the lowest hanging things in the middle. It is right at 11" for 2000s, as is the gas skid. No other part is in the 11" neighborhood. The rear diff, as Thai mentioned, is the lowest point at 9.5". Still, the 4Runner and Toyota's other trucks/SUVs were/are still far superior in this department at all ground clearance points compared to other manufacturers.

I've apparently not seen the book you speak of. Very odd that they would use specific ground clearance measurements as criteria. Get the Massey/Wilson series and Charles Wells' books, which are the standard guides, and by far the best.
 
Also remember that '99s and part of the 2000 year used 1" taller coils and the size diff is really noticeable compared to the later years.
 
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