Drove 1100 miles this weekend.. Uggh

This 2019, Limited, is not a vehicle that is happy over 75.. And it definitely shows its wind tunnel designed body over 80.. It was windy and the vehicle just floated allot due to wind, crappy Vietnamese non stock tires. Only 60000 miles, but 75 and under it did alright.
Yeah, I know it was designed for real highway speeds, but, it definitely could use better suspension, tires, sway bars etc...

 

I guess it depends on what you're used to, but I'm very comfortable to about 85-90, aside from the horrendous gas mileage at that speed. The stock shocks are pretty mushy, though, so maybe an aftermarket replacement would help.

 

I'm surprised by this. My Limited sees a lot of I10, and I try to stick around 80 for best results. Yes, gas mileage is horrific, but I didn't get the 'runner for commuting.

 

I was on I10/I95.. When the wind came, it was dodgy. Fuel economy keeps oil companies happy..
I am definitely going to look into better tires, maybe urethane ( comparable ) sway bar bushings and end links... Suspension will be changed when it gets close to 100K. I did replace the front sway bar end links, as one was ripped when I got it.
I am used to a Corvette, with a z07 suspension in my 93. It was Doug Rippie Motorsports stuff throughout. Apples to Oranges.
My other cars are nothing special, Mazda 3/Ford Focus and Mercedes GLK 350.
I love the 4runner, just needs a little attention..

 

They're definitely not sporty. Even most CUV's will probably feel more planted at higher speeds, just due to the higher center of gravity and soft stock shocks. But, being a Limited, you should have X-REAS, which should help, unless the shocks are getting tired.

I will say that mine feels more stable since the Bilsteins. And, I've heard the same from others after swapping out suspension. If long highway trips are going to be a regular occurrence, that might be justification for an early suspension replacement.

 

I have been looking at the Bilstein set up.. Which ones are you running?

 

6112/5100. I went with medium springs up front and heavy in back due to the amount of constant weight. The front feels better than the rear, which I think could be due to the 5100's not being valved to match the springs in back.

 

I will buy pre assembled with shocks to match, just to avoid my OCD. Did you raise the front at all?

 

I'm lifted 2.3/1.5". Even so, it feels very good at highway speed (*to me, keep in mind I came from 2 other 4runners and a Tacoma).

 

Okay, I am looking at leveling it with the Bilstein suspension, that is all.. I have an issue my garage, so I am limited, no pun intended.

 

If you're closer to stock weight, you'll probably get better results than I did in back. Don't get me wrong; it's fine on the road. It just gets a bit bouncy when I get aggressive off-road.

 

It's shaped like a brick fam.

 

My last cars were the c7 stick shifting grand sport @ a wj grand cherokee as my shit kicker. Lease was over on the vette so I got the 4runner to replace both. I know the feeling. Sadly my sports car is now my wife's 07 4 cylinder automatic honda accord.

 

I also drove 1100 miles in my 4 runner Wed - Sunday. 255/75 r17 KO2’s. Highway speed usually 74 MPH. A significant amount of 2 lane. 50-60 MPH also. I don’t like taking faster on the highway for any other reason than Fuel economy. Have not noticed any other concerns at 80MPH. Fuel economy was just over 20 MPG for the trip. (21 Up, 19 Back. I think wind direction had something to do with it.

 

I guess I'm used to it.Let me explain in a way I explain to a non 4Runner owner and see if my experience is different from yours.

I normally make steering adjustments regularly in windy conditions and those steering inputs are not one finger adjustments as we had with our electronic power steering vehicles we had in the past but now since I'm used to it don't feel uncomfortable at all. Its not like holding tight with both hand with 9-3 position. I was relatively relaxed one hand resting on door and other on center console holding the steering with fingers. The recent long trip about an year ago was closer to 1000miles return trip. (We stopped our trips for now due to expecting new baby, and now having a new baby). Passing Wyoming we did face lot of wind where the overhead boards said we could face wind gust upto 75mph.

I had load E tires in the past and didn't like it. Then I have done some long drives with Load C tires and this recent trip was on standard load tires. The ride was pretty comfortable. It was my dogs first long trip and slept without any complains / whining. As for swaybars I have standard sway bars (non KDSS) so it was a soft smooth sail.

Not sure how to get better suspension for on pavement as with my experience stock XREAS was my preferred suspension for on road. Even the expensive suspension I had did not perform well on pavement as XREAS. But offroad its completly different animal. Especially on washboards, dirt roads, rough forest roads driving at medium speed.

I also wonder if your alignment is good. When I got my TRD Pro new it felt like the vehicle is not smooth or not coasting freely kind of feeling. I paid my own money (not going back to dealership) I used my regular trusted 4x4shop for an alignment and I felt it drove much smoother right-away.

And, yes I understand your question is more on the Limited where the 4WD system is different where the front shaft spin all the time. I don't know if that contributes to little less smoother feeling as I have never taken the Limited for interstate driving. So cannot say anything on that. We prefer to take the part-time for long interstate drives.

 

Alignment, hmm.
I guess that should be looked at.. Just use OEM specs, or is there a magic set of numbers recommended.

 

Honestly I'm not sure what alignment specs my 4x4 shop (Toyota specialized 4x4 shop) used. At the time if was a stock TRD Pro with stock size tires.I think they normally go for high caster and not too much tow. But keep a little bit of tow. When I ask why, the shop told me on IFS vehicles the tires will move ever so slightly outwards. So they keep a little tow inwards.
Hopefully some one with better alignment knowledge can comment here.

 

If anything, just ask them to max out the caster, as this should help it feel more stable on the highway. As far as camber and toe, I think anything in spec should be fine.

 

No issues for the many years I've had mine in the 80 plus mph zone ‍♂️

 

I keep it at 70-75. The limit around here is 65 and I’m not in a rush to get home and cope but also the truck feels labored at 80 or more.

 

Yes, this truck is very weak in the torque/Hp department. I could not believe how many times on I10 it had to downshift to maintain speed while in cruise control..
Magnuson Supercharger is definitely something this truck could use.

 

It helped my Tacoma for sure. It didn’t make it fast but it helped to have some get up and go.

 

I'd like to know how the stock tires last you 60k. Thats what we should be talking about.

 

I am sorry, they arent stock. I bought the vehicle used and they put these cheap Vietnamese branded tires on here. They arent horrible, just not a name brand we all know and have lots of data on.
Sailun Terramax HLT

 

When doing 75-80+ mph, do you guys run in S4? I’m wondering if it’s actually easier on the engine in S4 if the wind is blowing and you’re driving higher speeds.

(For the same reason you run S4 when towing)

 

I dont. Never thought of doing it. But doesnt it just keep in 4th gear? That would just raise the rpms up? Correct?

 

I do, sometimes. I actually almost never use D when I have the 295's on. What's funny is that it will actually downshift less at lower speeds because it's not fighting the wind so much. And, the gas mileage doesn't seem to be any worse than using D, because it would be downshifting nonstop anyway.

 

Yes, but it won't be downshifting nearly as much, so I think it's easier on everything.

 

agreed, time to dump those tires. I run Falken WP 285/70/17 and do a lot of turnpike driving 75-85 mph. Smooth as butter and very little road noise. Get more noise from that damn Yakima rack than the tires.

 

Bilsteins all the way. I run 6112’s with 600 lb coils in front at 2” lift. Eibach T13 coils at 1.5” in rear with 5100’s.