Why I love my SR5 - STOCKER

[Ron4RNevada]

SR5 LOVE
I bought her on December 10 2015. She had 32K on the odometer; had originally been sold in New Jersey with probably never having seen an off-road trail. She’s Pearl White (not very exciting but easy to find parked in the desert) is stock except for the package that adds the moon roof and upgraded power seats.
The day after I bought it I took it off road. The second day I got rid of the stock Dunlop’s and put on a set of Toyo Open Country LT265/65-17 MT E rated. Now it will go anywhere. At the moment she has about 56K on the odometer. The tires have still about 12mm of tread; they and the truck’s part time 4wd, Atrac and the experienced driver can pretty much handle anything.
We have done about forty documented treks in the dirt in the past 18 months. I do not plan to do any modifications at all so far. This set up is just about perfect for my needs.
I think the ’10-’13 Fifth gen SR5 is the perfect rig for northern Nevada terrain.
The Limited, Trail and Pro are just too much bling for my needs – I bought a truck; what do I want with X-rease and KDSS? If I had a rear locker I can’t really imagine it being much better than lo range and A-Trac. Besides I’ve found that lockers just tend to break axles when used wrong. The terrain stuff just helps those who have a 4x4 and have no experience.


Now I'll add my latest adventure from yesterday:

160602-4R-Trek-307 Nightingale-Sahwave June 2 2016
Left Fernley and went north to Nixon (Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation) Left the paved road there and proceeded north up the Winnemucca (dry) Lake Valley. From there crawled up Coyote Canyon until reaching the top of The Nightingale Mountain Range.
Crossed the Sage hen Valley (east) until reaching the top of the south end of the Sahwave Mountain Range. There are a bunch of WWI and WWII Copper Mines there. From there headed north until reaching Juniper Pass, which crosses between the Sahwave and Juniper Peak Ranges.
Went west down the pass until reaching the junction of the Stone House Canyon Trail,. There were lots of wild horses, donkey and tame cattle. Went around the north end of Lake Winnemucca until reaching NV 447; then due south back to Nixon.
Total trek today was 130 miles of which 50 miles was off road and low range.

160602-4R-Trek-307 Nightingale-Sahwave June 2 2016
Left Fernley and went north to Nixon (Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation) Left the paved road there and proceeded north up the Winnemucca (dry) Lake Valley. From there crawled up Coyote Canyon until reaching the top of The Nightingale Mountain Range.
Crossed the Sage hen Valley (east) until reaching the top of the south end of the Sahwave Mountain Range. There are a bunch of WWI and WWII Copper Mines there. From there headed north until reaching Juniper Pass, which crosses between the Sahwave and Juniper Peak Ranges.
Went west down the pass until reaching the junction of the Stone House Canyon Trail,. There were lots of wild horses, donkey and tame cattle. Went around the north end of Lake Winnemucca until reaching NV 447; then due south back to Nixon.
Total trek today was 130 miles of which 50 miles was off road and low range.

Near Russel Peak - Winnemucca Valley

Black Warrior Peak - Truckee Range

Nache Peak = Nightingale Mts

Looking down Coyote Canyon

Crossing Sage Hen Valley - climbing to the copper mines on Sahwave Mts

Benchmark on Sahwave

copper mines from WWI and WWII era

Mine tracks

leaving mines - there's a bug on windshield

running north along crest of Sahwave Mountains

He just sat ther until I got within about twenty feet

Heading across a pass and then down Stone House canyon in Nightingale Mountains

wild horses

wooden cabin and corral in Stone House Canyon

wild donkeys

Mount Limbo - Selenite Range

 

[wsgoat]

Looks like an awesome place for a 4Runner.....thanks for post the pics up!

 

[MisplacedTexan]

My only question is....

Did you go down that ladder?

 

[karmatp]

I agree about the SR5, it is a perfect vehicle. My last truck was a 2014 TRD Off Road 4x4 that had a rear locker. I never needed to use it. 4L and ATRAC is flat out amazing, it got me through everything. When I was looking at 4runners, the SR5 was exactly what I was looking for.

 

[jrandom]

The tires have still about 12mm of tread; they and the truck’s part time 4wd, Atrac and the experienced driver can pretty much handle anything.

Didn't said "experienced" driver smack last 4runner into pole in parking lot? :biggrin1:

Sorry couldn't resist!

Glad you like your new ride. Great pics too

 

[Blue15]

Fun looking trip. But your SR5 has more bling than my TE. You have a functioning sun roof like the pro, I only have a non functioning hood scope.

 

[redkat]

You have a functioning sun roof like the pro,

Pro has no sunroof, FYI.

 

[Pencil]

Ron, you're making me wish I still lived in Reno

 

[wanderMT]

Thanks for posting Ron - as always, a pleasure.

 

[Frisco]

Looks like an awesome place for a 4Runner.....thanks for post the pics up!

I'm going to have to put that on my list of places to visit. Did you have to pay to offroad there?

 

[Mello03]

I'm going to have to put that on my list of places to visit. Did you have to pay to offroad there?

Nevada is one of those places where you can literally take a fire road off a major road and find yourself miles away from civilization in BLM land. I could ride my dirt bike from my garage, hit some trails, and ride into the desert for hours with no signs of civilization. It's an awesome state in that regard.

 

[RedMagik]

Nevada is one of those places where you can literally take a fire road off a major road and find yourself miles away from civilization in BLM land. I could ride my dirt bike from my garage, hit some trails, and ride into the desert for hours with no signs of civilization. It's an awesome state in that regard.

Yup, there is a whole other side to Nevada that is beautiful that most people never get to experience. It's where I fell in love with Overland style roaming, driven some bigger rigs like a Powerwagon and Raptor out there but the Tacos where always the best match for some of the places you find yourself in. Looking forward to taking a trip with the wife in the 4Runner to go show her some of the trails we used to get lost on.

 

[titan34]

Nice!

 

[budguy207]

Not trying to start a flame war here, but you brought up KDSS and the locker. You might not need it yet, but if you ever drive your tr4 on the street, KDSS would make it better, and if you ever go off road and DON'T disco the sway bars, a KDSS truck would give you more articulation. I own a '14 trail premium with KDSS and I will concede that ATRAC almost makes the locker pointless but don't hate on the KDSS trucks, it's simply better. BTW, my wife drives a '14 limited with XREAS and I assure you when we take her t4r over mine, I miss that flat cornering.. Nice truck though!

 

[Ray Dunakin]

This is why I love Nevada!!

I can't wait until my next trip. Currently scheduled to take it at the end of July, but may have to postpone it a bit depending on my wife's health.

 

[1engineer]

Not trying to start a flame war here, but you brought up KDSS and the locker. You might not need it yet, but if you ever drive your tr4 on the street, KDSS would make it better, and if you ever go off road and DON'T disco the sway bars, a KDSS truck would give you more articulation. I own a '14 trail premium with KDSS and I will concede that ATRAC almost makes the locker pointless but don't hate on the KDSS trucks, it's simply better. BTW, my wife drives a '14 limited with XREAS and I assure you when we take her t4r over mine, I miss that flat cornering.. Nice truck though!

Ha. Ron has been going off road as long as I have been alive. Pretty sure he can take a Camry places most can't take their 4Runner. He sorta knows what he is doing.

 

[Chsbrgr]

Rear locker was a must when I was shopping for a new rig. I agree, with 4lo and atrac, I don't use the locker. Almost done wearing out the factory tires, lots and lots of off road, don't think I have ever spun a tire.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

Wow! Most responses I've ever gotten on a post!

No, I rarely go down in mines - but sometimes.

Those that have lockers - try going up same challenges without engaging it
You will be very surprised.

the right tires; lo range and A-Trac is amazing.

My old Land Rover DiscoveryII had the same system (except for solid front axle and a bit more clearance) so I've had years of experience with it. Also the Discovery broke a lot more.

This post was just a bit in answer to so many about the Trail, Pro and Limited. The SR5 needs a bit more respect.

Also - Armoring and lifting aren't really necessary if you are careful about the challenges over 10 inches tall.

 

[wfo9]

Agree, stock sr5 with some tires is all most people really need. It will go pretty good.

BUT....if you are doing actual challenging trails (not dirt roads) what many call jeep trails... It's not going to cut it in that configuration. The most limiting factor is the approach, departure and break over angles. If you are on terrain that does not have challenging angles... you are golden.

ATRAC is pretty good, but still no replacement for a locker in extreme conditions. There are places where it completely fails and a mechanical lock does it with ease. Extremely steep loose climbs are the first thing that come to mind, but there are several others. Mud is another situation that jumps out, but it's never easy to deal with in a big heavy truck with small tires.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

Agree, stock sr5 with some tires is all most people really need. It will go pretty good.

BUT....if you are doing actual challenging trails (not dirt roads) what many call jeep trails... It's not going to cut it in that configuration. The most limiting factor is the approach, departure and break over angles. If you are on terrain that does not have challenging angles... you are golden.

ATRAC is pretty good, but still no replacement for a locker in extreme conditions. There are places where it completely fails and a mechanical lock does it with ease. Extremely steep loose climbs are the first thing that come to mind, but there are several others. Mud is another situation that jumps out, but it's never easy to deal with in a big heavy truck with small tires.

I'm not a fifteen year old kid anymore - I started the extreme stuff in a 1935 Dodge panel truck (two wheel drive, 4 speed manual, 225 cu in flat-head six, 700/16 8 ply nylon Seiberling mud tires). Now at 75 I have nothing to prove - The stock '13 SR5 goes everywhere I want to go with ease.