More 4x4 Schooling, Please or How is this possible?

[DavidBAz]

How is it possible that a Toyota 2WD PreRunner = 4WD goodness?
I've read about the tuning and the suspension and
other things beyond my comprehension. From Edmunds

The PreRunner provides the look and suspension of the four-wheel-drive trucks sans the actual four-wheel-drive running gear, while the X-Runner features modifications that enhance on-street performance without giving up much utility.

How can 2WD=4WD?
Anyone know the "X-Runner Double Cab"?
Is a PreRunner the way to go for Arizona fire roads and the like?
Is there less maintenance/things to go wrong?
What is the on-road ride like?
Thank you all, again.

[DaveJames]

sans the actual four-wheel-drive running gear, if it doesn't have the 4wd system don't confuse the ability to go off road the same way

[WVShooter]

Put it some of the places I've driven thru and it would still be there.

[Chris Upchurch]

Higher ground clearance but not 4 wheel drive. It would probably get you more places than an average sedan (perhaps even more than a sedan with all wheel drive) but not as many as a high clearance vehicle with 4 wheel drive.

[dave72]

rear limited slip

[Vaporware]

A 2WD like you describe is just a 2WD truck. Prerunner setups usually have a lift kit, slightly larger than stock tires and either a limited slip rear diff and/or a locker. They have some advantages in certain situations. They are lighter, less complicated, generally get better gas milage, and have better on-road manners than their 4WD brethren. For things like firebreaks and gravel roads and even some desert terrain, these are not a bad choice.
That said, they are not on a par with a 4WD when it comes to certain rugged terrain. If you decide to go that route do yourself a major favor and get a winch as well. A pre runner with a winch and an eye to keeping out of trouble will get you a lot of places pretty handily.

-Vapor

[m18]

Prerunners are built to cover desert terrain at high speed. They're real purpose is to pre-run a track so the driver can get a feel for the course before the actual race (desert racing), and also as a chase vehicle... though they've gained popularity as fun/sport in themselves. They don't really need 4x4 because of the speeds they cruise at, and so they usually don't have 4wd drivelines as that's unnecessary weight and more parts to break. The suspension systems designed for prerunners are generally different from your average rock crawler/offroad vehicle... while your average offroader will need to flex the suspension at times, these machines need to be able to absorb rough terrain at high speeds and not fall apart. Generally, you'll find that prerunners have extremely long travel shocks and springs (or coilovers), put a greater importance on proper bumpstopping, have at least a shock hoop if not a full cage, etc.
I took a look at the article you linked to, and it's just a dumb sales pitch. They're using the popularity of the "prerunner" title to attract customers and up their sales... like places around here selling stock/mildly upgraded Jeeps and saying they're "ready to crawl on the rocks."

Recommend you mute the sound for these...
An average offroad truck needs to handle this (note the lack of significant suspension travel):


A prerunner needs to be able to handle stuff like this (the last vid gets pretty good around 40sec and onward):

[Elkhunter]

I might point out that a 4WD isnt really a four wheel drive unless you use lockers.

The primary design feature of a differential is to allow the two drive axles attached to the same differential to rotate at different speeds so that it can turn, the bad side effect of this is that when a tire loses traction it tends to get all the power.

This is why 2 WD's seem to get stuck so easily, but I assure that even a 4 WD can get stuck, hence the reason for a lift, which allows bigger tires, which gives more ground clearance under the axles, BUT not nearly as much as one might think. You need a 2 inch increase in tire size to gain 1 inch of axle clearance. Which in the practical side of the real world isnt much, you need to see 3 to 4 inches of axle clearance to really see much of a difference, which translates to a whopping 6 to 8 inches in tire size increase.

This of course translates to a much heavier tire which of course puts more stress on your drivetrain, it also requires longer shocks, more fender clearance and a beefier drive train to handle the added stress. You lose turning radius and articulation as a result of these changes.

You have far more to gain from taking the factory issued street slicks off and putting on a decent tire, such as a BFG mud T/A and learning to drive better, it isnt just about mashing the gas pedal to the floor and hauling ass, although there are some occasions where that is your only remaining option.

Another change that a vehicle can benefit from is swapping out the ring gears, changing gear ratios applies more low speed power to the wheels, also using an air locker can be an enormous advantage at just the right moment. When you have an air locker installed you can change the gear ratio at the same time, its a 2 for 1 deal what works out quite nicely in your favor.

I had a stock toyota SR5 that had a factory lift which allowed 32 inch tires under it, it came stock with 4.56 ratio instead of the standard 4.10. The thing was an absolute beast in nasty terrain, it was very very rare to get it stuck.

Another comparison at the same time that I had a Jeep Cherokee sport with only slightly oversized BFG mudders on it (235 75r 15's) my ex brother in law had a built jeep CJ5 with lift, big tires and hot engine. My Cherokee had more ariculation, better turn radius, better traction, better gas milage and covered rougher terrain easier. The one and only place that he had an advantage was in deeply rutted roads that would high center my vehicle and this was only when there was no other option but for me to go straight through it.

[wweverett]

With enough speed you can get a greyhound bus to go anywhere you want. To go slow you need 4x4.


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[NateR]

The Toyota Tacoma Prerunner is in the same class as my Mazda B3000 Dual Sport - it's a 2wd truck that comes with a factory lift kit and more aggressive looking all terrain tires. It looks the part, but it's not a true off road vehicle. As Chris pointed out, the extra ground clearance will take you places that most cars can't go, but that just means you'll be further from AAA when you get stuck. :)

N