In comparing my GX to my Dad's 4th Gen 4Runner they are pretty much identical from the frame down. Even which holes in the frame are threaded and which are not. The GX does have some suspension differences in the shocks and springs that we all know about.
This is the first time I REALLY wheeled the GX. Having a locking dif is still so much nicer than just ATRAC. You just can't crawl really slow with ATRAC and that's how you avoid damage. Comparing like for like, the GX seems to have better departure angle than the 3rd Gen 4Runner which had a long butt. Eventually enough lift makes departure angle less important as the rear is just higher than the obstacle. In Moab though there are lots of long tight ascents and a couple of times the FJC with aftermarket bumpers would hit where I didn't. Possibly I actually had a bit more lift as I could cheat and raise the rear suspension in addition to my normal lift but they had 33's and I have 32's. There were no stock height FJCs; they had lifts too. Maybe those after market bumpers hang low or sag the truck too much.
In either case I didn't take the GX on Golden Spike as I knew I would be hitting everywhere on the bumpers even with the frame receiver hitch to help fend things off. Low hanging armour trumps high hanging plastic. LOL My wife would have killed me. Instead I traded off driving my friends '85 4Runner with dual elockers and dual xfer cases. Walk in the park for that trail. The FJCs did really well too though. It's cool that they come elocked.
Here's a fun pic of my old truck on Golden Spike. It was locked front and rear on 33s.
This is the first time I REALLY wheeled the GX. Having a locking dif is still so much nicer than just ATRAC. You just can't crawl really slow with ATRAC and that's how you avoid damage. Comparing like for like, the GX seems to have better departure angle than the 3rd Gen 4Runner which had a long butt. Eventually enough lift makes departure angle less important as the rear is just higher than the obstacle. In Moab though there are lots of long tight ascents and a couple of times the FJC with aftermarket bumpers would hit where I didn't. Possibly I actually had a bit more lift as I could cheat and raise the rear suspension in addition to my normal lift but they had 33's and I have 32's. There were no stock height FJCs; they had lifts too. Maybe those after market bumpers hang low or sag the truck too much.
In either case I didn't take the GX on Golden Spike as I knew I would be hitting everywhere on the bumpers even with the frame receiver hitch to help fend things off. Low hanging armour trumps high hanging plastic. LOL My wife would have killed me. Instead I traded off driving my friends '85 4Runner with dual elockers and dual xfer cases. Walk in the park for that trail. The FJCs did really well too though. It's cool that they come elocked.
Here's a fun pic of my old truck on Golden Spike. It was locked front and rear on 33s.
Last edited:
