How does a Tundra or a 4Runner compare off-road...

[FourthGenHatch]

...to say a Jeep Wrangler or Cherokee?

I was thinking about getting a Jeep Cherokee. However a friend of mine made a good point. I am a student in T-TEN which is an auto technician training program sponsored by Toyota. So I work at a dealership part of the time (not yet but soon enough). So if I work on Toyotas and work at a dealership I'm sure I might be able to get a good deal on a Toyota. So my friend said to check them out.

I know that Jeeps have front and rear solid axle which is supposed to be good for offroad because of the awesome articulation they have. I want to get into offroading soon. However not so much rock climbing but maybe just some trail stuff. I'm not sure of the suspension set up of the Toyotas (I was under a 4Runner today but never even noticed :o).

So any info you can give me would be great. Thanks.

Also I drive a Honda Civic now and I'm damn sure the technology of the Japanese is more similar than a Honda is to a Jeep, so that is a plus. Another is im damn sure a Toyota is more reliable than a Jeep. And if it breaks oh well I am a mechanic for Toyota (soon enough) so parts would be cheap.

[JeremyH]

Jeeps are awesome off road! I cant say anything about Yota's. As for working on the two....DC made it simple to work on a jeep.....hell a monkey could do it.

You'll also find a TON more lifts for a jeep.

My vote is get a damn jeep.....they can be had a HELLUVA lot cheaper than a yota.

[FourthGenHatch]

Ha, figures I find a Jeep guy here!

Yeah their price is what entices me also. I can get a 2001 for under $10k. A 2001 Tundra or 4 Runner would cost me like $20,000 (which I don't have) which would mean I would have to get like a 1992 or something.

[JeremyH]

Well......it really depends on what jeep you are trying to compare the truck to. As of 1997 (like mine) Jeep went to coil springs (TJ's) at the four corners.....which flex like a mad man! However, they are expensive to lift and to put new axles under (since most of the trucks you would want one from are leaf sprung).
1995 and before (no jeeps produced in 96) are called YJ's or CJ's and they are all leaf sprung. These are cheap (~$1000-$5000) and are quite easy to lift (SOA can be done for about $12) and are mostly setup to install new axles (a buddy and I just swapped a 14 bolt under his jeep for $35). However, leaf springs dont flex as well as coil springs.
If you want to put a BIG ass lift on with some BIG ass tires....I'd go with a YJ. If you just want to run 33's or 35's I'd go with a TJ...

Hope this helps.

EDIT--if you end up getting a TJ, make sure that you find one that has a Dana 44 rear axle...it is much stronger than the 35 that was standard in the YJ and common in the TJ. It'll let you wheel with bigger tires and not hafta worry about snapping an axle shaft.

[FourthGenHatch]

Well I'm planning to get an XJ because I need the cargo room and backseat, which isn't not much in a Wrangler.

[JeremyH]

Originally posted by FourthGenHatch
Well I'm planning to get an XJ because I need the cargo room and backseat, which isn't not much in a Wrangler.

HeHe....I know whatcha mean.....I pulled my rear seat and built a trunk for the jeep.

Well, XJ's are great to wheel! Coils up front for flex, leafs in the back for stability! Just make sure to put some armor on it so you dont thrash the body.

[FourthGenHatch]

Yeah Toyotas are nice but I think I really have my heart set on the XJ. Plus JEEP is the OG of off-roading.

[robinhood150]

Ok, I can't let the jeep guy do all the influencing :p

What year toyota are you looking for? If you get anything older than 85 then it has a solid front axle, with the 85s being the most coveted because it has the axle and fuel injection. You can do some pretty gnarly rockcrawling without a solid axle. Throw in front and rear lockers and a second transfer case and you will walk all over a stock jeep. If you don't care about body damage then you can do the rubicon in a stock 3rd gen (it has the factory rear locker), it won't be easy, but you can do it.

However, it sounds like you don't need a solid front axle if you're not going to rockcrawl. A solid axle is only really needed for the hardcore trails where the SA will help keep you from flopping. Keep in mind that a 4runner will accept 32in tires without a lift and 33s with a 1in body lift. Some of the 3rd gen 4runners came with a factory rear locker. This was offered from 98-2000.

The majority of people get toyotas for the reliability. Jeeps are much more likely to break down and if this is going to be a daily driver then that should be a consideration. When comparing a stock jeep to a stock 4runner, then the jeep will have a slight advantage off road because of the SA and LSD. But, put a locker in the rear of the 4runner and everything is evened out. I've done trails in my (practically) stock 4runner that would scare the average person. Check out my webpage for pics www.robinhood4x4.com , check out the movie in this thread: http://yotatech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16618 . If you're going to be doing trails harder than you see there, then you'll need a SA, otherwise it won't matter.

The jeeps have a heck of a lot more power than the toyotas though, so if you like to drive fast or tow a lot, then the jeeps win. My 4runner is the slowest vehicle in the world, but it gets me to where I'm going every time. Edit: the 3rd gen 4runners can be had with the supercharger so that evens out the speed and towing thing. I've seen a SC 5speed 4x4 with locker for about 18k or so.

[Darren]

Steve, it's a good thing you chimed in here. This thread got out of hand real quick!

Correction about the 4Runner lockers: they were also available on the 1996-7 models.

As for the price, you get what you pay for, and there is a reason behind it. Jeep might be cheaper in the short term, but . . .

That's all I'll add for now. He's on his way to getting an XJ and there's no reason to exhaust this any further.