Looking at getting Platnium Trim, need some thoughts on eventually turning it into an offroader

[bhavc]

Hey guys, looking to get into a Platnium Trim as a family vehicle for my wife and I. My wife is pretty adamant on getting a vehicle thats not too harsh of a ride as a BOF vehicle and so i think the AVS system helps here but at the same time, i really want a vehicle that i can eventually turn into an overlander. 95% of our driving is going to be on suburban/city roads so i think the platnium trim would make the most sense here but at the same time i know that the AVS is an expensive system to get rid of. I dont think ill ever turn this into a rock crawler but even if i do, i wouldnt mind paying for getting rid of the AVS maybe 5+ years from now. What im really just trying figure out is if its even possible/is this even a good idea. I know the fulltime 4wd + center locker should make this relatively capable as is but if this is just an overall bad idea i think id start looking at other trims or maybe even another vehicle

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[Dead Horse]

Personally, I think the Limited/Plat trims ride worse than the Off-Road oriented trims.

Might be the suspension, but it also might just be as simple as sidewall height.

 

[Josalbrec6G]

Agreed, I test drive the platinum and the ORP and Trail hunter seemed more stable, less bumpy and quieter. Test drive them all for sure

 

[xp0nex]

If you don’t care for a rear locker and already have plans for aftermarket suspension I would be looking at an SR5.

IMO, you’re paying the extra $$$ for the AVS system and makes zero sense to spend more $$$ to rip it all out.

 

[bhavc]

If you don’t care for a rear locker and already have plans for aftermarket suspension I would be looking at an SR5.

IMO, you’re paying the extra $$$ for the AVS system and makes zero sense to spend more $$$ to rip it all out.

I think the thing here is that id still get use out if the avs for a few years before i rip it out

 

[NotApplicable]

I don’t think there’s any reason to remove the AVS system. Put on some AT tires with thicker sidewalls and you’re good to go. My limited rides great on 265/60R20 ATs.

For my use case (and it sounds like yours), FT4WD is 1000% more useful than a rear locker. The slightly upgraded interior materials, laminated glass, and better headlights are cherries on top.

 

[sstarrx2]

I think most people will tell you the SR5 ride the best of all trims. No matter which one you buy you can change to meet your needs.

 

[bhavc]

I don’t think there’s any reason to remove the AVS system. Put on some AT tires with thicker sidewalls and you’re good to go. My limited rides great on 265/60R20 ATs.

For my use case (and it sounds like yours), FT4WD is 1000% more useful than a rear locker. The slightly upgraded interior materials, laminated glass, and better headlights are cherries on top.

This is kind of what im leaning towards. If im not rock crawling the creature comforts are much better on this trim pretty much inline with the LC 250 premium while being almost 15k cheaper. Some good at tires seems like all i really need

 

[Nodak]

if you want to convert a plat/limited into a off roader with better aftermarket stuff, i would suggest a SR5 or ORP at most.

the stuff you will have to rip out and replace on a plat/limited will be $$$ loss more so than doing it on a SR5 (that wont have those items/system you need to rip out) or maybe a ORP if you need some of those creature comforts.

plat/limited are really geared to being a pavement princess mostly. they can do mild off roading but that is probably the extent of the safety i would push them in my opinion

 

[NotApplicable]

if you want to convert a plat/limited into a off roader with better aftermarket stuff, i would suggest a SR5 or ORP at most.

the stuff you will have to rip out and replace on a plat/limited will be $$$ loss more so than doing it on a SR5 (that wont have those items/system you need to rip out) or maybe a ORP if you need some of those creature comforts.

plat/limited are really geared to being a pavement princess mostly. they can do mild off roading but that is probably the extent of the safety i would push them in my opinion

In my opinion this take is wrong. You have to do very little to the Limited/Platinum to end up at an objectively capable off-road rig.

• The FT4WD system is what they put in LCs, GXs, LXs, sans rear locker which is only necessary for the most technical of certain types of off-roading; the brake-based slip limiting technology is incredible these days.
• Limited/platinum have a whopping 0.3” less ground clearance than OR/ORP, immediately resolved with a new set of tires (which is probably advised in any case because the stock Dunlops and Yokos are objectively terrible)

A Limited/Platinum with nothing more than a new set of tires is WAY more off-road capable than to classify it as a pavement princess, in my opinion.

I think this characterization is warped by the abundance of completely overbuilt (both from factory and by mods) rigs floating around these days. The idea that you need 35”+ tires, lockers, disconnecting sway bars, etc. etc. in order to venture off pavement to more than a “mild” degree is insane. Decent tires (of any size), decent clearance/angles, and a two-speed transfer case will get you through more than what an overwhelming majority owners will ever throw at these things with ease.

If you are in the (vanishingly small) minority of buyers who will legitimately tackle these extreme, technical, and specialized types of trails/obstacles that absolutely require the above technologies, there’s nothing that needs to be ripped out of a Limited/Platinum that doesn’t also need to be ripped out of a SR5 - wheels, shocks, rear differential. AVS is such a minor thing compared to X-REAS etc of prior years when it comes to removal.

But I also am of the opinion that 90% of the people who do those upgrades do them for cosmetic reasons first and maybe only. Hence the obsession with stance and tire poke that make the rig less agile on-trail, lifts that add no functional ground clearance, red recovery points that will never be used, HITCH RECEIVER SKID ATTACHMENTS, etc etc.

The truth is that if someone is looking for a pavement princess capable of only the most mild off-roading, any 4Runner is not a good choice. It makes many compromises for the large amount of off-road capability it offers in all trims.

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