Actual Ground Clearance

[LCQ]

Since Toyota's current specs on the website leave a lot to be desired, I crawled around and got some ground clearance measurements in a few locations.

Stock LC 1958 edition with stock Yokohama Geolander X-CV GO57 245/70R18 110H.

Front center of metal skid plate (not lowest point) - 8 5/8"
Composite skid cover engine bay lowest point on driver side - 7 13/16"
Crossmember exposed in composite skid - 9 1/4"
Lowest point on rear diff - 8 7/8"

 

[Phillyd2]

Pretty sad but won't impact the majority. Thanks for posting.

 

[GTV]

That's a cool tape measure you've got there.

 

[Oakleyguy]

Thanks for posting!

These clearances would get a nice good boost just from a tire size increase.

245/70/18 -> 31.5" tire.

 

[LCQ]

I didn't take baseline measurements before on some vehicles and wish I had. It'll be handy (at least for me) to see how changes to tires/heavier skids/roof rack/suspension/sag will change things years from now.

 

[Paddler Ed]

In scientific units:

Front center of metal skid plate (not lowest point) - 8 5/8"
Composite skid cover engine bay lowest point on driver side - 7 13/16"
Crossmember exposed in composite skid - 9 1/4"
Lowest point on rear diff - 8 7/8"

Front center of metal skid plate (not lowest point) - 219.0 mm
Composite skid cover engine bay lowest point on driver side - 198.4 mm
Crossmember exposed in composite skid - 209.6 mm
Lowest point on rear diff - 225.4 mm

 

[Pauly]

I missed that the standard “skid plate” was composite until now. Not really a skid plate if it is made of plastic huh? More for aerodynamics?

 

[LCQ]

I missed that the standard “skid plate” was composite until now. Not really a skid plate if it is made of plastic huh? More for aerodynamics?

There are two front "skid plates" on the 1958 edition. A short metal one (~1.3mm thick) between the front radiator support/crossmember and the front LCA crossmember. Then it's composite from there back to about the sandwiched hybrid motor. Transmission pan is exposed, albeit tucked up. The composite one must be for some aerodynamics and gravel deflection. Either way they're not enough. I don't trust the front one with the radiator being so low. Gonna have to putz around on easy roads until they're replaced.

Gas tank has a metal skid for the front half of it. Back half is exposed.

Here's a drive over view from youtube -

 

[Nift250]

There are two front "skid plates" on the 1958 edition. A short metal one (~1.3mm thick) between the front radiator support/crossmember and the front LCA crossmember. Then it's composite from there back to about the sandwiched hybrid motor. Transmission pan is exposed, albeit tucked up. The composite one must be for some aerodynamics and gravel deflection. Either way they're not enough. I don't trust the front one with the radiator being so low. Gonna have to putz around on easy roads until they're replaced.

Gas tank has a metal skid for the front half of it. Back half is exposed.

Here's a drive over view from youtube -

It's interesting to me how the car care nut had a 1958 review unit but a non-stock skid plate on it?



Seems a little disingenuous

 

[APIOQM]

It's interesting to me how the car care nut had a 1958 review unit but a non-stock skid plate on it?



Seems a little disingenuous

Yeah, you gotta be careful for dealer installed options. OP’s vehicle is how it arrives from Japan.

 

[Rednexus]

Pretty consistent with previous generations of stock IFS Toyotas, which means it's about the same or less than a Subaru Outback/Forester and frankly too low for wheeling outside of a rough Forest Service road without lots of dragging.

I am also presuming that it's not hard to get it above 12"+ under the front skidplate with 33s and a lift. I'm around 13" on my 470 with those mods. 5" more ground clearance is huge.