2014 4 Runner Ground Clearance - ?

[94 Newbie]

All ( relative term ) these post on the '14 Runners has me wondering - they show the ground clearance as 9.6", and the 3rd Gens w/ the larger tire size have 11" - stock height.


Does the new Runner have bigger diffs, or a lower transfer case, or ?????????




Seems weird that it would have decreased.


Just one of those thoughts ...




Thanks !


Britt

 

[jynx]

Do they measure that from the lowest point? Could be shock mounts or something like that. Also what tires are they using on the '14? I have noticed the newer suv's seem to be coming with lower profile tires which would = less clearance.

 

[jcardona1]

SR5 and Trail models come with 265/70/17. Limited has 245/60/20

 

[southerntaco98]

Do they measure that from the lowest point? Could be shock mounts or something like that. Also what tires are they using on the '14? I have noticed the newer suv's seem to be coming with lower profile tires which would = less clearance.

U could get some 30" wheels for it and that will put u up there like this :

 

[SIZZLE]

^ that makes a statement. LOL!

 

[jynx]

Hahahahahaha

but seriously.... hahahahahahaha, sorry just couln't do it.

Ok, back on topic, I will measure around under my 3rd gen and see where that number comes from. I am running 265's but should be able to find the low point

 

[94 Newbie]

Now I am really confused !

I measured last night with a small ( 16 oz ? ) water bottle and a tape measure. The lowest point that I could easily ( lazily ) find was the drain plug on the rear axle, so I used that as the low point.


I got a measurement of 9.6 , more or less.


This is with the upsize factory tires of 265/75R-16.


So -


maybe like the towing rating that dropped ( 4700 under the SAE standard for '14 vs 5K for the 3rd Gens ) , the old clearance rating was exaggerated ?


Or, they measured on the front axle for the 3rd gens, and the rear for the 5th ?


My take.


Britt

 

[SIZZLE]

Where did you get 11" of ground clearance for a third gen? I think the culprit here may be faulty info on the third gen.

 

[94 Newbie]

From a '00 sales brochure.

Where did you get 11" of ground clearance for a third gen? I think the culprit here may be faulty info on the third gen.

I paid the $ 5.00 and saved a copy earlier, but at any rate - see this link, go below the color galleries, and View the '00 brochure, and the 4th page from the right is the spec pages.


For grins, I just checked the '98 brochure - same info. It may well be a typo, but ?


Britt

 

[chill will]

Ground clearance on the 3rd gens are measured from the bottom of the tranfer case. Now to get accurate comparison the measurements has to be from the same points. 1st gen & 2nd gen have higher clearence. Then there was a decease with the 3rd gen and even a lower clearence with the 4th gen.

 

[jynx]

Makes sense, more of a high center thing then an actual legit clearance.