Hello all, I have been reading a lot on here for the last month or so, so much information, thank you so much!
I apologize in advance for such a long first post.
I never owned a body on frame 4x4 before, never had the finances to allow it! Always drove FWD (like a few generations Rav4 and Matrix). Always been my dream to own a 4Runner. I am now in a position to acquire one, I am so excited.
I love the LC and had decided to go with a Land Cruiser non premium (don’t care for the options and prefer to get 18” wheels) instead of a 4Runner mostly based on looks and figured it was the most capable off road of the two (not interested in the part time 4wd 4runner models).
All of that until, at the last minute, I noticed the 1100 payload on the LC… Once I, my wife and two sons are inside, we pretty much take 800 pounds out of that, left with 300… I was hoping to put rock sliders (probably a 50 pounds differential once the original rails are removed I suppose). I would love to carry more than a few boxes of pop tarts on our adventurous road trips!!!!
Therefore, I decided to look further in the 4Runner, automatically excluding any of the hybrids with smaller pay loads (wow the Trailhunter around 850 pounds!). I really wanted the all-time 4WD because I live in Montreal/Quebec and we get a lot of snow. That leaves me with only the non-hybrid “limited” (in Canada, the limited does not come as a hybrid anyway). It seems the payload is 1400 pounds for that model, a gain of 300 pounds over the LC, not bad.
Once sale taxes are factored in where I live, the “limited” option is 10000$ cheaper for me (Canadian $) however, that is not so much a deciding factor as I was OK with the LC price. You could also argue that you could compare it to the “premium” package since you get real leather and some other upgrades (cannot believe that Toyota does not give the driver’s seat memory settings on a 80000+$ vehicle like the non premium LC).
On to the questions:
To get it more “up to specs” towards the LC (kind of trying to make the Ltd a little more off road capable), I would want to add complete skid plates and rock sliders (TRD front 26pounds, Transmission 12pounds, Transfer case (??50 pounds??), rock sliders 77 pounds = approx. 165 pounds?), so I would be left with about 435 pounds of payload. Does that sound about right?
My #1 reason for getting one of those is the winter driving (hence me wanting the full time 4WD). I have done as much research as I can on the different systems and I have reached where practical knowledge would really help me here. Trying to determine what exactly I am “leaving behind” as far as snow driving going from LC to 4runner Limited.
Considering the following details to try to compare them as closely as possible:
-Both would be equipped with high quality winter tires (mandatory in Quebec, thinking going with the Continental IceContact xtrm) on 18” wheels).
-I would remove that plastic air dam on the 4 runner to enhance ground clearance and approach angle
-4runner would be equipped with skid plates to protect underside against blocks of ice
Here is what I understood from my research, I would appreciate if someone could confirm I understood correctly.
Driving in mild to moderate snow:
I would presume both the 4R ltd and the LC would be “identical” here as they would both be in the regular 4WD mode and whatever regular traction aid is program would kick in as needed.
Driving in heavy snow:
Once I feel the 4R is losing grip, I would switch to 4HiL, center diff would be locked automatically and Atrac would kick in to assist in enhancing traction. With the LC, I could simply go MTS, select “heavy snow” and continue, I could decide to lock center diff if I wanted to or not. I understood that MTS is a more advanced version of Atrac, so I guess and edge for the LC.
Arriving at work and having to park on the side street: I do not have the luxury of a supplied parking spot at work. The side streets in Montreal are INSANE and often are not cleared for 6-7 days, we are talking several inches of snow that will also harden, multiple plow passing, etc. I understand these vehicles are not tanks and there are limitations, but surely it will be better than what I have right now. To get “in” with momentum, it is usually feasible and relatively easy, getting out is the tricky aspect:
With the 4R, I could put it in 4LoL and Atrac will assist (center diff is locked, so harder maneuverability). With the LC, I could put it in 4Lo, potentially try Crawl Control (even if there is no dedicated snow mode on that, but I suppose I would put it in “auto”). I would also have the extra “bonus” of being able to use 4Lo without locking the center differential and have more maneuverability (getting out of the snow banks rarely involves driving straight), alternatively, I could lock both center and rear, not sure if the front bar disconnect would ever be needed in this situation. I guess another win for the LC here.
1. Do I understand the theory behind the two systems properly?
2. In real world usage, would I see a drastic difference between the LC and the 4R ltd for my winter needs? Or we are splitting atoms on the theoretical level here?
3. Am I being worried way too much about maximum payload considering only 3-4 weeks of the year we will be out on vacation / road trip where it could be an issue? Rest of the time, it will be me alone driving around.
I apologize once more for the long post and appreciate any help or feed-back.
Thank you so much for your help.
Martin
I apologize in advance for such a long first post.
I never owned a body on frame 4x4 before, never had the finances to allow it! Always drove FWD (like a few generations Rav4 and Matrix). Always been my dream to own a 4Runner. I am now in a position to acquire one, I am so excited.
I love the LC and had decided to go with a Land Cruiser non premium (don’t care for the options and prefer to get 18” wheels) instead of a 4Runner mostly based on looks and figured it was the most capable off road of the two (not interested in the part time 4wd 4runner models).
All of that until, at the last minute, I noticed the 1100 payload on the LC… Once I, my wife and two sons are inside, we pretty much take 800 pounds out of that, left with 300… I was hoping to put rock sliders (probably a 50 pounds differential once the original rails are removed I suppose). I would love to carry more than a few boxes of pop tarts on our adventurous road trips!!!!
Therefore, I decided to look further in the 4Runner, automatically excluding any of the hybrids with smaller pay loads (wow the Trailhunter around 850 pounds!). I really wanted the all-time 4WD because I live in Montreal/Quebec and we get a lot of snow. That leaves me with only the non-hybrid “limited” (in Canada, the limited does not come as a hybrid anyway). It seems the payload is 1400 pounds for that model, a gain of 300 pounds over the LC, not bad.
Once sale taxes are factored in where I live, the “limited” option is 10000$ cheaper for me (Canadian $) however, that is not so much a deciding factor as I was OK with the LC price. You could also argue that you could compare it to the “premium” package since you get real leather and some other upgrades (cannot believe that Toyota does not give the driver’s seat memory settings on a 80000+$ vehicle like the non premium LC).
On to the questions:
To get it more “up to specs” towards the LC (kind of trying to make the Ltd a little more off road capable), I would want to add complete skid plates and rock sliders (TRD front 26pounds, Transmission 12pounds, Transfer case (??50 pounds??), rock sliders 77 pounds = approx. 165 pounds?), so I would be left with about 435 pounds of payload. Does that sound about right?
My #1 reason for getting one of those is the winter driving (hence me wanting the full time 4WD). I have done as much research as I can on the different systems and I have reached where practical knowledge would really help me here. Trying to determine what exactly I am “leaving behind” as far as snow driving going from LC to 4runner Limited.
Considering the following details to try to compare them as closely as possible:
-Both would be equipped with high quality winter tires (mandatory in Quebec, thinking going with the Continental IceContact xtrm) on 18” wheels).
-I would remove that plastic air dam on the 4 runner to enhance ground clearance and approach angle
-4runner would be equipped with skid plates to protect underside against blocks of ice
Here is what I understood from my research, I would appreciate if someone could confirm I understood correctly.
Driving in mild to moderate snow:
I would presume both the 4R ltd and the LC would be “identical” here as they would both be in the regular 4WD mode and whatever regular traction aid is program would kick in as needed.
Driving in heavy snow:
Once I feel the 4R is losing grip, I would switch to 4HiL, center diff would be locked automatically and Atrac would kick in to assist in enhancing traction. With the LC, I could simply go MTS, select “heavy snow” and continue, I could decide to lock center diff if I wanted to or not. I understood that MTS is a more advanced version of Atrac, so I guess and edge for the LC.
Arriving at work and having to park on the side street: I do not have the luxury of a supplied parking spot at work. The side streets in Montreal are INSANE and often are not cleared for 6-7 days, we are talking several inches of snow that will also harden, multiple plow passing, etc. I understand these vehicles are not tanks and there are limitations, but surely it will be better than what I have right now. To get “in” with momentum, it is usually feasible and relatively easy, getting out is the tricky aspect:
With the 4R, I could put it in 4LoL and Atrac will assist (center diff is locked, so harder maneuverability). With the LC, I could put it in 4Lo, potentially try Crawl Control (even if there is no dedicated snow mode on that, but I suppose I would put it in “auto”). I would also have the extra “bonus” of being able to use 4Lo without locking the center differential and have more maneuverability (getting out of the snow banks rarely involves driving straight), alternatively, I could lock both center and rear, not sure if the front bar disconnect would ever be needed in this situation. I guess another win for the LC here.
1. Do I understand the theory behind the two systems properly?
2. In real world usage, would I see a drastic difference between the LC and the 4R ltd for my winter needs? Or we are splitting atoms on the theoretical level here?
3. Am I being worried way too much about maximum payload considering only 3-4 weeks of the year we will be out on vacation / road trip where it could be an issue? Rest of the time, it will be me alone driving around.
I apologize once more for the long post and appreciate any help or feed-back.
Thank you so much for your help.
Martin
