A 2004 Tacoma 4X4 with 265/70-16 tires has a ground clearance specification of 12.0". A 2004 4Runner with the same tires has a ground clearance spec of only 9.1". What is the difference on the 4Runner that eats up 3" of clearance?

 

They are two completely different vehicles.

Different chasis and suspension, etc. The 3rd Gen 4RUnner and 2004 Tacoma are closer together, share more of the same platform, etc. The 2005 Tacoma is again closer to the 4th Gen I believe, but we still have to see what they really share apart from engine, etc.

 

The 4Runner is naturally a heavier vehicle, and as such will probably have a lower clearance figure for the front skidplate than the Tacoma. On the other hand, both would have the exact same clearance under the rear diff - which is the lowest point on both trucks.

Who knows where the measurements are taken. Heck, I have 18.75" under my body seam. That's the clearance I'll claim from now on...

Andreas

 

hehe, i think i have something like 21" under my body seam (truck is level)

-Russell

 

I wouldn't trust that measurement, it seems way too far off. If you think about it, the skidplate and/or rear diff will be the lowest spots on there, and wouldn't really change between a runner and tacoma... Maybe they measured something else.
I go wheeling with my friend (2002 4x4 taco) and my '99 runner, and we can go the same places, we scrape on the same places, etc...

 

Bulldog is right, you should probably compare a 2002 4runner and the 04 tacoma

 

You don't see many mom's getting groceries in a Taco, so I imagine that is the reason for the difference. Heck, my wife can't even get in my 4Runner anymore without a boost. I still like my 4Runner better than my previous Tacos.

 

Closer yet, compare a <2000 4Runner with a Tacoma.

 

The question wasn't really so much to compare two particular brands but more to compare two off-highway type vehicles that have the same size tires. Because of the axel going to the center of the wheel, minimum ground clearance for two vehicles with the same size wheels should be about the same. With a 30-31" wheel (265/70-16) the minimum ground clearance is not going to be any more than about 15" but also shouldn't be very much less. The 12" ground clearance on a taco with 30" wheels seems about right and I just wondered what had been done with the 4Runner to waste an additional 3".

 

I guess they lowered the 4th gen 4runners to make it more stable for the general buyer

 

Again, as mentioned, the current 4Runner is a totally different platform. You might as well be comparing the Tacoma to an Explorer. The 3rd Generation 4Runner is a closer comparison, as also mentioned.

For reference, 4th Gen 4Runners are 9.25" at the rear diff, 3rd Generation 4Runners are 9.5", and I've only measured a couple Tacomas along the way, but they sat at 9.75".

The published value that Toyota puts out seems to be taken somewhere in the neighborhood of the transfer case. There is more to ground clearance than a single measurement taken at one spot.

 

I thought they made the 4th gen wider to be more stable but noooooooo that's not enough . Then they went out of their ways and slammed the godamn thing (well, slightly). The g/c of the rear looks ok but the front is too low - looks like the tires are touching the fenders. Maybe it looks lower because it's bigger.