4Runner vs. FJ Cruiser

I have an honest question and am hoping for an “education.” I own a 2019 4Runner TRD Pro and recently purchased a stock 2009 FJ Cruiser with 68k on it. When driving them back to back, the FJ handles the washboarded logging roads of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula MUCH better than the 4Runner, what gives? With 32 psi in both sets of tires, the 4Runners rear end dances all over the place despite a very expensive Fox suspension where in the FJ it is barely noticeable. Disappointment is a gross understatement, any ideas?

 

Fox are progressive suspensions, they will daily well but when you start to beat on them hard they might stiffen up a good bit.

You may not have a stock suspension on the FJ, and they might be something like Icons which are digressive, which start stiff but soften up on those kind of driving situations.

Can you identify the suspension of the FJ?

 

Could be softer springs in the FJ, or perhaps the sway bar has been removed.

 

I have a 2020 TRD Pro with 1700 miles and a 2007 FJ with 200,000 miles, the 4 Runner takes the washboard and everything else better than the FJ. I'm not sure why the FJ is better in your case.

 

Were both loaded similarly in this comparison? Aside from the possibilities mentioned above, I could see one being more jumpy if it were empty.

 

Maybe less overhang on the FJ than the 4Runner
Either way you have the BEST 2 SUV's Toyota has made IMHO

 

I had my 08 FJ with off-road package for 200k miles and it rode almost the same as my 18 4runner with bilstein shocks with factory springs.

 

Today I changed the rear shocks (OEM) with Bilstein 5100's. After I purchased the FJ I noticed the rear shocks were leaking so thought it was time. The old shocks were super easy to compress compared to the Bilsteins, so I wonder if they lost their gas charge. I plan to put new Bilstein coil springs/6112's on the front with 2" lift later on. Thank you for the feedback, I appreciate everyone taking the time to reply.

 

Wash boards sometimes need higher speed, like an offshore power boat gets on top of the chop. Lower psi around 20 to 25 helps too. Although I have no experience with the Pro, I'm not sure the OEM Fox pkg is going to perform as well as people hope. Fox and King have great racing shocks, but a system tuned primarily for hwy use will have its limitations. And all systems, even racing platforms take a beating in washboard. Ive lost a few fillings out of my teeth over the years......

 

Definitely! We have some washboard-ish sections on the road to out land up north and it's brutal at regular street pressure!

 

Tires and tire pressure also effect how a vehicle feels on a washboard road.

 

The FJ has a shorter wheel base.

If all else is equal (or similar) longer wheel bases will feel harsher over washboards.

If you took a long bed tacoma over the same washboards and compared it to your 4Runner, your 4runner would feel noticeably better.

 

2019 TRD Pro and 2007 FJ with 140k miles. FJ has new Bilstein shocks. Without a doubt, the 4Runner handles washboards better. My main road is beat to shit and driving the FJ on it at speed is definitely "exciting" to say the least.

 

I just sold my 2007 FJ TRD and purchased a 4Runner TRD Pro. I think you might be noticing the shorter wheel base on the FJ but I still think the Pro with the FOX shocks handles way better. That being said I do look at this photo and wonder if maybe I should have kept the FJ. I do miss it!