Have you actually reached the limits of your 4Runner's capabilities?

When I chose my 2019 SR5 4Runner as my primary do-it-all daily driver and weekend warrior, I knew it was pretty well capable stock, but would need some minor mods to make it completely capable of what I needed it to do.

At the time, it was replacing a 2005 GMC Yukon with 100k miles and a mild lift. I needed it to get me to work every day, 14 miles away on a 2-lane rural highway, in all weather conditions. I also needed it to tow my utility trailer loaded down with a new Honda Pioneer 500 UTV. Total weight of around 2500lbs. I needed it to tow that trailer into the surrounding mountains and up to trail heads.

I also needed it to take me up into the Idaho wilderness on logging roads to elk hunting camp in temps from -10 to 70 degrees.

And the final, and most challenging task, was to take me on a 3300-mile road trip to the Mexico/Arizona border, on rugged, rocky, and steep Jeep trails.

In 22,000 miles of ownership, and in every terrain and atmosphere imaginable, the 4Runner has performed admirably.

The only time the limits of it's capabilities was reached, was when traversing rugged and extreme trails in the Arizona desert. The other vehicles were all lifted 2dr Jeep Wranglers and Polaris RZR UTVs.

My only mods were a 2.5" Daystar spacer lift, 285 Cooper Evolution MT's, and replacing the factory running boards with Tyger running boards.

I encountered a couple of obstacles in which I needed to engage 4HI and turn off TracLok and felt the rear mudflaps scrape on the ground.

The Jeep drivers were amazed at how well the mild 4Runner climbed obstacles. A couple of times, I had wished I had done a 4" lift and 35" tires, but the mild lift and 285s got me through everything with little drama.

Also, in a wash in deep and soft sand, I had tires aired down, 4HI engaged, and still had to keep the RPMs high and speed up to keep from getting bogged down. Closest I came to getting stuck. Couple of hill climbs that day also tested the limits of my 4Runner.







Curious as to if others have ever been in the back country and encountered an obstacle that their 4Runner just couldn't handle. Or perhaps a parameter that the 4Runner couldn't meet.

Maybe an obstacle that was insurmountable in stock form, but after some mods was not a challenge?

In what other ways has your 5th gen 4Runner not been able to meet expectations, and what did you do to modify it to meet those expectations?

 

Encouraging post. I'm very close to doing the Westcott spacer lift and hang with the 265's that came on the Runner. Do you think the 265's would have accomplished what your 285's did? I know that's highly speculative, but had to ask.

 

The biggest limitation to my 4Runner is me, frankly.

I'll try a lot of shit but there is a point when common sense and a predictably bad outcome have me aborting.

I will say I have never had to summon help to extricate myself from something, and the 4Runner has never let me down... this across multiple trips to Alaska (nearly 10k miles each time), cross country US trips, every type of surface from multi-lane freeways at 90 mph to steep rutted trails that are barely wide enough for a motorcycle in 4Lo and locked diff.

It's a great truck stock (with better tires) but it's way more competent and inspires more confidence with a little more ground clearance and a winch and basic recovery gear.

 

Likely true for most of us. Truth be known. Thanks for your input.

 

This. My Runner is my daily driver, so I'm more likely to bail than try something that may damage the rig.

 

I've been stuck once in mud, and twice in rocks. These were all my own fault.

I have gotten hung up in rocks where I just didn't have enough clearance. I got high centered, but was able to back out and take and alternate path.

I've said before that the only real limitations are ground clearance and tires. I would add that the factory skids are not sufficient for regular rock duty, either.

So true! I have backed out of many trails to avoid a recovery situation. Deep mud and puddles with mushy bottoms generally turn me around.

As @catus mentioned, sometimes I avoid things due to the potential for damage. In 10 years, if I'm towing my off-road rig around behind another vehicle, I might be more courageous.

 

Mud, 2x, both my fault (although first time was on the stock HT so maybe I should have escaped with proper tires). But yer only getting through that stuff with a Jeep build that is completely underivable on the road. Too bad all we have locally is mud and mild fire roads.

 

Yeah, mud seems like a better place for a full size or Jeep. Big tires and clearance.

Or, a Sherpa...

 

Got stuck in mud once. I dipped my toes in to see how deep it was and couldn’t back out. Tried everything and just got dug in deeper.

If I had my traction boards would have gotten out on my own. Now I have bigger tires and more recovery gear with winch.

Next time...

 

Haven't been stuck yet. Been having a lot of fun off road with it though.

 

99% the answer would be no.

I'm sure one of those. I bought mine just for the occasional fishing trip and some sand.

 

Still getting used to getting tilted sideways while ofroading. Honestly, I have no idea where the limit is but from inside it feels terrifying and like I am mere moments from imminent death. Lol
I’d get a good lean on, be pretty sure that I am about to tip over any moment - then go outside and look at it and its not nearly as bad lol
I’ve even had a friend guide me over a slanted slope to help me “get comfortable” and I straight up chickened out - and then right after me a turdbox Blazer just drove through at full tilt without any issues
But, I’ve also seen too many Toyota rollovers on YouTube too. So, like most of you all - I am pushing the boundaries a little bit at a time.
Here is a hill in the story where I thought I’d flip over during one of my earliest outings

 

Amazing difference in perceived angle between pic #1 & #2.

 

Yeah. Pretty sure I’ve had plenty more to go - but like I said - from the inside I felt like rollover was imminent

 

Not unlike canyon carving on a motorcycle. Your butt bubble will develop with time and exposure. imo
Or, you'll discover how far you're willing to push the envelope and stay within that comfort zone. And, there ain't a damn thing wrong with that.

 

Well at one boat ramp I launch at they will bring in a huge pile of sand. Could not get up it without 4WD....

 

Oops!

 

Seeing this makes me think a clinometer would come in real handy for peace of mind. My FJ had one and gave me a lot of confidence for a newb. Wish the 4Runner had one from the FJ. There are smartphone apps that will work.

 

Hang a plumb bob from your rearview mirror. KISS

 

I was thinking about this too. Btw, anyone knows what stock 4Runner rollover angle is? And when we figure out - being lifted will inevitably decrease it some.

 

Good question I’d like to know as well.

 

Another reason I'm not keen on a huge roof rack or RTT.

I have an app, but it zeroes out whenever you open it. So, you would have to open it on level ground and leave it open all day. This could suck if you're using multiple map apps while exploring like I do.

 

Took this trail earlier this month on 265 P rated Falken Wildpeaks. Around 6ish minutes I stopped to pull a Nissan Pathfinder up and over two rock ledges. Didn't video that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tPQJo0tDqs

 

285's are pretty much an inch taller than 265's. I have a hard time believing that there are going to be many scenarios you're willing to take your 4R into that a 265 simply wouldn't make, but a 285 would.

 

OP, you'd probably have been better off using 4Low in the sand, if you needed to keep the RPM's up.

IMO, you're better of in 4Low most of the time offroad, unless it's a relatively flat and smooth road where you're trying to run at speed. Otherwise, 4L gives you better control and more torque at the wheels, while potentially being easier on the transmission.

 

Not at all.

Actually, it's pretty funny... I tend to enjoy watching Jeeps doing more extreme wheeling on youtube, and think "no way could my 4R ever do that". Then when I DO watch a Yota video, I'll watch a Taco or 4R lift a wheel and get all tippy on an obstacle the Jeeps would run in 2wd, and think "man these IFS yota's suck!".

Reality is, I barely take mine offroad, and what I HAVE done could have been done in a Subaru. The "trails" here are just infrequently used dirt roads.

I'm actually kind of glad I didn't end up in a Jeep, I'd have built this rockcrawler on 37's, then realize I have no place to use it, lol. Meanwhile, my 4R is great at what I actually DO use it for, which that Jeep on 37's would probably suck at.

And here's an anecdote... Last summer I bought some skids from a guy who had sold his 4R. He explained while trying to keep up with his (heavily modified) Jeep buddies he was taking it into places it had no business being. He said it'll easily go places it shouldn't, he was getting concerned about body damage. So he traded it for a Corolla for a DD, and started building a trail truck/buggy out of a mid 80's Yota pickup to run with his buddies.

 

I suppose if you were in a scenario where you were pushing it with 285's. But, otherwise it just makes things a tiny bit easier. I went with bigger tires for a bigger footprint in sand and more traction.

I believe he was keeping the RPM's up to keep the speed up. I've heard that there's times where you need to stay on the gas and keep moving to not sink in the sand.

I do prefer 4LO in low speed situations, especially when navigating through rocks. But, anytime I'm going over 10 MPH or so I'm usually in S2 or S3.

 

Lol, OK.

 

If you ever get a chance to go to the Glamis Sand Dunes please go, it is definitely an experience you won’t forget. I rode these dunes for 35+ yrs. i was a desert rat for sure, night rides across the dunes, i miss that shit for sure. Some of these vids. do not really show how high some of these dunes are.
https://youtu.be/8JVnYwzAcgs

https://youtu.be/01jlXgGvhg8