Limited/Platinum trims' off-road capability?

[Luisdifc]

Hi. I am new to the forum. I want to get a 6th gen 4runner, I am leaning towards a Limited version. I don't do much off road but I am wondering if the Limited and Platinum versions are capable of handling mild off-road despite not having MTS, locking rear diff and the 20 inch wheels? I did read that the Limited has a limited-slip center differential can someone explain what that is to me please?

Looking forward to any comment/advice.
Thank you!

 

[bandit67]

Locking center differential means you can lock front and rear axles engaged so you have traction to all 4 tires.

Limited and Platinum will handle mild off-road just fine, as they have over 8" of ground clearance. The front air dam is the lowest point, and is easily unbolted. The tires don't provide much protection to the 20" rims getting scraped on rocks, nor do they provide a whole lot of off-road traction, being a quiet highway tire. But outside of deep rutted, muddy, or rocky trails, they'll handle dirt roads/trails just fine.

 

[Luisdifc]

Locking center differential means you can lock front and rear axles engaged so you have traction to all 4 tires.
Limited and Platinum will handle mild off-road just fine, as they have over 8" of ground clearance. The front air dam is the lowest point, and is easily unbolted. The tires don't provide much protection to the 20" rims getting scraped on rocks, nor do they provide a whole lot of off-road traction, being a quiet highway tire. But outside of deep rutted, muddy, or rocky trails, they'll handle dirt roads/trails just fine.

Thanks!

 

[FWTBT]

IF the 6G Limited is essentially the 5G Limited but with the new engine and trans....

Yes, in fact it's much more off-road capable than most AWD SUVs. This 4WD system is superior to AWD systems because of the locking center differential, and because many AWD systems are actually FWD with a delayed -- and partial -- activation of the rear wheels only when the fronts slip.

The Limited's full-time 4WD is an absolute tractor in comparison. It has the on-road advantages of AWD in that it responds to slippery conditions automatically, without the driver having to engage it, but it does so more quickly and symmetrically while also allowing for traditional tractor-like 4WD behavior when you lock the diff.

Also, the Limited comes with a low gear, which multiplies torque for scrambling over obstacles, something very unusual in an AWD SUV. And it has ATRAC, which apportions torque between wheels within an axle.

And it has substantially more ground clearance than most AWD SUVs.

These advantages don't matter much on smooth dirt roads and light snow. But if you get into a jam off road, get stuck in a rut or mud pit, or encounter especially bad weather, the 4Runner will prove much more capable.

Again, this is all based on the 5th Gen. I'm sure much of that carriers over to the 6G, but to me the jury is still out on whether Toyota compromised the new gen in some ways.

 

[Luisdifc]

IF the 6G Limited is essentially the 5G Limited but with the new engine and trans....

Yes, in fact it's much more off-road capable than most AWD SUVs. This 4WD system is superior to AWD systems because of the locking center differential, and because many AWD systems are actually FWD with a delayed -- and partial -- activation of the rear wheels only when the fronts slip.

The Limited's full-time 4WD is an absolute tractor in comparison. It has the on-road advantages of AWD in that it responds to slippery conditions automatically, without the driver having to engage it, but it does so more quickly and symmetrically while also allowing for traditional tractor-like 4WD behavior when you lock the diff.

Also, the Limited comes with a low gear, which multiplies torque for scrambling over obstacles, something very unusual in an AWD SUV. And it has ATRAC, which apportions torque between wheels within an axle.

And it has substantially more ground clearance than most AWD SUVs.

These advantages don't matter much on smooth dirt roads and light snow. But if you get into a jam off road, get stuck in a rut or mud pit, or encounter especially bad weather, the 4Runner will prove much more capable.

Again, this is all based on the 5th Gen. I'm sure much of that carriers over to the 6G, but to me the jury is still out on whether Toyota compromised the new gen in some ways.

Wow thanks for the detailed response!

 

[FWTBT]

Within the wide range of AWD systems out there, Subaru has a good one. It is always active, with substantial torque going to both the front and rear at all times. It uses a mechanical limited slip coupling to join the front and rear axles. The "limited slip" part means that torque gets distributed front and rear automatically and mechanically based on the amount of traction at each end. And it means you can turn the front wheels on dry surfaces (aka normal driving) without binding the drivetrain. The limited slip differential accommodates the mechanical changes that you induce when turning the wheels. It's also "symmetrical," meaning that there are equal-length drive shafts between the wheels, which should lead to more even application of torque.

Having had a bunch of Subarus over the years, I can tell you that it works well. It's a very effective way of getting power to all four wheels, and it requires no driver intervention. Plus, because it's always active it responds more quickly than the "AWD" systems common to most other crossovers, which tend to be based on FWD family car platforms with an offset driveshaft to the rear that engages only when the front wheels slip. Their approach increases fuel economy because there's less friction in the drivetrain. But it may not work quite as well when you need it. And it tends to be based more on electronic sensors than a mechanical process based on simple physics. So all else being equal it's more complex and less reliable.

In some cases, however, the automatic shifting of torque in a limited-slip setup can work against you. It can lead to spinning a wheel that's not providing traction. This is where a system like the full-time 4WD of the 4Runner comes in. It acts just like the Subaru system in normal driving, which is great 99% of the time. But because you can also lock the center differential to force exactly half the torque to each axle, you've greatly increased the likelihood that you can get the car out of a sticky situation.

In theory, the best AWD/FWD systems are those with an EV motor at each wheel, since a computer can apportion exactly the right amount of torque to each wheel to deal with whatever situation you're in. ICE systems have to add additional mechanical and/or electronic wizardry to get a similar effect, often by selectively applying the brake to a wheel that is slipping so the torque on that axle gets sent to the other wheel instead. It works, but it's less elegant.

Still, as a bit of a fan of machinery over computers, I really like systems such as the 4Runner's. They work great and have proven very reliable in the real world.

 

[Nodak]

the older subaru legacy's had a locking center diff button (i had a 2010 3.6R legacy awd with this)

The 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R is a midsize sedan with all-wheel drive (AWD) and a 3.6-liter flat-6 engine. It has a five-speed automatic transmission and a planetary gear-type variable torque distribution (VTD) system

so the statement of the 4R 4wd being better than awd is mostly technically correct.

edit : in referencing the limited 4R's primary use (most i know never saw dirt so they never go past 4HL)

i personally never have engaged 4L on my 2014 4R in 11 yrs (yes i know sad)

 

[Nodak]

also remember audi had 2 different awd, the quattro and haldex

the haldex awd were very inferior awd system as they were part time awd vs the quattro's