Limited trim as offroad rig

Hi all. New member here so please pardon any stupid questions and the long winded post. I currently have a 3rd Gen Tacoma that I use for work 5 days a week and the wife has an Accord. Here's our sitch, we'd like to build up an offroad rig, but can't really do it on my daily driver Tacoma. We're thinking of changing gears and trading the Accord in on a 4runner. My wife barely drives so the gas mileage and expensive large/offroad tires would be less of a concern than if I were to do it to my Tacoma I put 15K miles on a year. Another perk of the 4runner instead of the Accord would be in a pinch I could use one of those hitch cargo baskets to work out of the 4runner in the event my truck was in the shop. All seems like a perfect idea except for one hold up. My wife hates driving big trucks. Her accord has all the features imaginable and she uses them everytime she drives. I've managed to sell her on the limited trim with its parking sensors front and rear, heated and cooled seats, etc. But I'm just wondering how well a limited 4runner would do as a dedicated offroad rig. Do they make front and rear steel bumpers with cutouts to retain the factory parking sensors? How would the heated and cooled seats work through some carhartt seat covers? Is the Full Time 4WD system on the limited with "locking feature" a true locking center differential? What considerations would there be if I wanted to add a rear air locker? How hard/expensive is it to remove all the plastic trimmings on the door sill? For anyone that reads this all the way through thankyou for your time.

 

You'll get a handful of opinions here, so make sure you poke around and get a full set. Here are some of my thoughts.

LE owners are a dedicated bunch, they won't let you sell short its capabilities.

I don't think I've seen anything of the sort and I think you would have to cut out and install the sensors yourself. Probably not a terribly difficult project if you've got the skills.

No idea

LE is a beast, and the Torsen center differential offers a true "AWD" feature the other 4Rs don't have. You can install a rear locker like what ARB sells just like any SR5 owner.

Most I've seen either wrap it in vinyl or plastidip it black to get rid of the chrome. If you want the rocker panels gone, that's easy to do; you can replace with a different rocker trim that gives you better clearance or roll without them entirely.

You should also consider the nature XREAS suspension if you're considering lifting/buying an LE. (It doesn't lift well)

 

Thanks for all the information @Toffees .
Why would the limited (LE?) be harder to lift than any other trim?

 

Not harder to lift, since most lifts require a new suspension. The old stuff gets pulled off and thrown in a box or whatever you desire. But the XREAS, because they are cross linked, are sensitive and easily damaged when removed. You certainly can (and should) try to keep them intact and save or sell if you remove, but a broken XREAS link makes that pair useless. Plus, since XREAS are expensive, and they're part of the cost of the LE, some feel it's throwing money away to remove and replace, but really if you're modding, you're throwing money away one way or another, so just enjoy and make good choices.

 

Ah got it. Thanks for the info I didn't know about all that. I'll have to read up on thatsystem. Thanks! .

 

LE trail rig ftw
Very capable once you ditch the OEM 20s.

 

+1 LE Mae

 

Oh, forgot about these. My recommendation/what I did, was pick up a set of Trail/ORP 17"wheels from someone who got TRD or aftermarket wheels.

 

Yep I had ditched mine within 500 miles of new iirc lol. It would be great if you can find someone who has decent tread on their OR or trail that doesn't care about 4 wheeling and would trade straight across.

 

Much easier to just buy an offroad or pro model. Otherwise you will have to fool with shit

 

^ don't listen to that hater lol.

Limited is great out of the box as long as you swap out the 20s and street tires for a 17/AT tire.

 

True but of they outfitted a pro with limited features I would have bought one. Love my orp but missing ventilated seats. Cure is to lean in one direction after eating tacos

 

I am jealous of the ventilated seats. Do they make much of a difference?

 

In Texas, ABSOLUTELY!!!!!

 

We have fun taking our limited off-road but yes there are annoyances to modifying it. X-REAS makes lifting difficult, lots of after-market bumpers need custom mods to fit, lots of extra chrome, etc... But damn if I don't love my a/c seats

 

I’m not a fan of the black wheels but I like your rig with the TRDs

 

What all have you done to your Limited? I see you have the TRD wheels on there, which look awesome, but did you lift it at all?

Thanks!
Jake

 

@Agent_Outside would be a wealth of knowledge on a LE trim for adventure

 

That's gorgeous! Probably the best looking LE I've seen.

 

A lifted Tacoma’s gas mileage is probably still better than or the same as a stock 4R lol. Love that old powertrain though.