4runner vs the new Ford bronco

I have had very good luck with 4WD and 3 peak snow rated AT's. That said, I would LOVE to see what a 4runner with snow tires is like.

My Scion TC with Hakkapliittas is probably better in the snow than a 4×4 with lesser tires. If I was that far north, and had the means, I would surely get a set of snow tires for the 4runner.

 

Well, I have read this entire thread today, start to finish. The funny thing about it is this. 99% of people that buy brand new four runners don’t even use them off road to their full potential. Most that do take them off road consider off roading to be gravel and dirt forest roads that most two wheel drive trucks could drive on. I take mine off road a few times a month, and more in the fall and winter. I have never been stuck. I have used the rear locker a few times, and it works well. Never used the winch, never used my traction boards. Stock size tries on it.
But everyone talks about how much more capable the Jeeps are, and how better the Bronco looks on paper. And, you can get 35’s.......! The reality is, most people that buy the Bronco, or the Rubicon Jeep, dont or won’t take them off road. I see the Jeeps everyday with 37” tires on them driving down the road. Not a scratch on em. Not even any dust in the fender wells. Ultimate mall crawlers driven by middle aged women hanging their feet out the doors.
I’ll stick with reliability, good highway driving, comfort, and all the off road chops I’ll ever need. When I do get stuck, I have a winch. I don’t need 35” tires. I don’t even need a front locker. If I needed all that, I would build a dedicated rock crawler, and trailer it to the off road park. You can have your 35” tires. I’ll keep my factory sized 31’s, and know it will get me there and back home.
Just my opinion....

 

I totally agree with you, Arky73. Stock tire size is important for me, as I don’t want to regear. I’ve gone bigger tires without regearing, on a Tacoma back in the day and it was a mistake I won’t make again. My 4 Runner is my only vehicle, so it needs to do civilian duty most of the time, including VIP trips to the airport etc, so a rough, hard running, jacked up rig won’t work for me. Even though I don’t off road every day, I treasure those trips, and want a reliable, comfortable vehicle that I don’t need to worrry about. My 4 Runner ORP is definitely that vehicle. It is mostly stock, but because I wheel alone, and sometimes with my wife, I put a winch on it for peace of mind. I have only used the winch once so far, to help someone else who ran off an unmaintained winter road in a snow storm. I felt sorry for them, as it was the middle of nowhere, and they couldn’t get a tow truck to pull them out. I have made a few subtle mods, good tires, a roof rack, a rear bumper, but if you saw my 4 Runner at a first glance, it looks bone stock. It runs smooth and fast on the big highways, and goes anywhere I want to take it off road. Totally classy, reliable and bullet proof.

 

It’s like lifting one 3” to fit 285/70’s. They are 32.71” tires. The stock size 265/70 is 31.61”. Is one inch tire size gonna help enough off road to justify the expense, wear and tear, and decrease in fuel mileage? No. Do they look better, yes, they look better with a lift and tires. Not worth it to me. I cant imagine a half inch of ground clearance making that much difference off road. Although it does help approach angles! I had a few Toyota trucks, an 87 and a 91 model, and had 31” tires on them. I took those trucks places I never thought they would go, and a lot of places my friends Jeeps wouldn’t go. I pulled several old CJ’s out of mud holes. Guess I’m just old and set in my ways.

 

I generally agree with your sentiment, but you don't need a 3" lift to fit 285's. I have 285's on a 1.6" lift.

Your speedometer and mileage are actually more accurate with 285's vs the stock 265's. Check GPS and/or speed sensors while you're running 265's. You'll find that you're about 2mph off with 265's. 285's correct this and end up being dead on.

Lastly, 285's won't be an additional strain on your drivetrain or mpgs if you're mindful of weight. My 285's came in at 42lbs each. Not sure what the stock Dunlops are because I couldn't find their weight listed, but I doubt they are significantly lighter. 42lbs was the lightest 285 I could find and they feel very close to stock while driving.

 

Guilty as charged. I took my 4Runner out last week to go huckleberry picking and it did great. The side steps did scrape on a couple of obstacles, so instead of spending $800 on rocksliders, I spent $100 on a 2.5 lift and $600 on 33" tires. Admittedly, I added the lift and bigger tires more for looks rather than actual utility, but I do actually go off-road out in the Idaho mountains and a bit of lift and bigger tires does come in handy. For truly tough trails, I have a UTV that is lifted with bigger tires and a winch.

I try to do mods that have more utility to them, but also add to the looks of my vehicle. As a single guy, chicks dig 4Runners. They really dig modified 4Runners. LOL.

 

Is this like when I read in a video game magazine when I was a teenager that chicks dig guys with good hand eye coordination? Or is this a real thing?

 

I went 2.3 in front and 1.5 in back. One of the reasons I lifted it was to get the front skid off the ground. I constantly hear the argument that lift doesn't increase ground clearance. This is only somewhat true. Of course it doesn't raise your rear axle, but it does lift your front differential, which is one of the lowest points on the truck. As you mentioned, it also improves approach, breakover, and departure angles, which are also important.

If I wasn't constantly hitting the front skid on things, I might have stayed stock. My goal was to do less lift and more tire, but then I read about what it takes to run 34's. I also realized that I should probably regear if I went much bigger than 33.

As far as wear and tear, this will also come down to driving style. I'm generally very easy on the gas and brakes. It will still go through wheel bearings a bit faster I'm sure, but not enough to be concerned about.

And , yes, I do like the look of 285's. But, the bigger footprint was a factor in my decision as well. I thought about skinnies, but my rims are too wide for 255's (9").

Agreed! But, what 285's are that light? I thought the Toyo p-metric 285's at 46 were light. I'm on C's at 55# and the difference from my 265 KO2's is really not bad.

 

It must be real,you saw it on the internet!

 

Firestone Destination A/T's P285/70/17

 

For those of you with deep pockets, and would like to have a super charged V-8 Bronco
https://youtu.be/-eQsudKZL-s

 

Hard pass on that...

 

$30k for a V8... hell no!
In a few years it will be an $8k option just like a S/C for a T4R. It is way to early to get even a concept of the sales levels.

 

Agreed on the front ground clearance! I believe Toyota rates these at 9.6, that's gotta be a lie. I recently installed a set of RCI steel front skids on mine, and while I was doing something else I noticed that the front seemed really low. Got out a tape measure, and I have barely 7.5 in from the skid to the ground with stock tires.

So while I don't really want to lift it, I feel like I have to just to get the stock rated ground clearance. I'm thinking I'm going to do a 2 inch front, and 1 inch rear, along with 255 75 17s. Those tires will fit stock, however they are a hair taller than the stock 265 while being a little narrower, and potentially weighing less depending on which brand.

Sure 285s look cool, but I really don't want the added rolling resistance and the decrease in gas mileage. This is my daily driver, and I actually get really good mileage with it right now. I'd like to keep that. I don't do anything radical off-road, I would just like to have more ground clearance than a Subaru, haha.

 

The Subie's though! I have seen some gnarly outbacks

 

You're not wrong! There are some of them out there that wheel harder than most 4Runners, haha.

 

I saw a group of Subarus coming through my favorite trail here in Wisconsin. Those guys did not give a SHIT about their cars! I couldn't believe how they just rammed them through some obstacles.

 

I've read that the new Land Cruiser will be smaller, more off road capable, and less expensive. A Land Cruiser slightly smaller than the current model would be ... the same size as the 4Runner? What if the new 4Runner is slightly smaller than the current model, making it more like an FJ/Wrangler/Bronco? Having a 4Runner, LC, and Sequoia going from smaller to bigger, less expensive to more expensive seems to make more sense.

 

I hope they don't make the 4Runner smaller. I really like its current size.

 

I would like it if Toyota could make more storage in the current/ next gen vehicle. Make the subwoofer area in the non-limited ones with a hatch or padding to prevent rattle. I know we have a sunroof but a second area for sunglasses would be a welcome addition...
I am not a vehicle designer but I would think you could squeeze a but more storage space than the center console that is a giant whole even with the organizer...
I believe the size is perfect and I am 6'4".
Rant over.

 

I use that area to hold WD40, duct tape, a dog dish, and some other stuff. Things do tend to rattle around and fall out, though.

You have a place for sunglasses? I have to store mine on the driver's door armrest.

 

I keep extra oil & towels in there. Anything our GSD won't go after. This is why I would like a door.
No, it is my wife's DD. My sunglasses are in the glove box! LMAO

 

SR5 has a spot for sunglasses in/around the area where the TRD Off Road crawl control and terrain select dials would be.

 

Then I do not understand the skids, especially steel, weight is almost as important as the tires in the gas milage game.

 

You can use the resources you will need to maintain your Ford and invest them on a 4Runner....you'll come ahead on the long run....

 

Stay away from it...nothing but dozens of recalls the first five years........and after 5 years......1,000 of $ for repairs after 50,000 miles. All of the glitter gone.......

 

Besides, why get the Bronco when you can get something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_qGCzGR-74

It's much cooler -- and if my prior Land Rover is any guide, it will have the same lack of reliability

 

If Ford acquiesces to demand and offers the Sasquatch package with a manual trans, it will definitely be attractive. Of all the US vehicles, Ford has the most going for it.

 

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/09/09/ford-bronco-raptor-spy-photos/
Now a Raptor Bronco...

 

If they had offered the 5.0 V8 as an available engine I’d be interested. But...Ford overall is the best American brand in my opinion. If I were going to buy American again that’s what I’d be looking at. But, then again...maybe it says something that I currently own an F-150, have a 4Runner on order and I’m not even considering the Bronco as an option.