Which will conquer off-road?

Both are bone stock, 4x4 and manual transmissions

I ask because I owned a 95 4runner before my recently acquired X and it seemed to do better. More suspension travel and higher clearance.

Just want some opinions.

If you get the locking rear diff then the 4runner would have the upper hand.

I don't think there was a factory rear locker on the 2nd gen...

To answer the other question, a stuck 2nd gen is probably a bit better in the ground clearance department so it may be a bit better (may drag its ass more, though). The biggest difference would be the driver and tires.

no factory locker on the 2gen 4runners... not sure about the new ones though.

im thinking about a r differ now though.

Ooooh, something I have a little experience with...

The ground clearance of the 4runner is certainly better so I guess I'd give a slight edge to the 4runner for that reason alone. I've wheeled with some xterras but they had some slight suspension modifications and I'm basically stock. With the suspension modifications I give the xterra a slight edge over a stock 4runner because the articulation is slightly better.

But with the same type of suspension mods to the 4runner, it would again gain the advantage. The advantages are slight though, so they're pretty even.

The departure angle of the 4runner sucks so a rear bumper is a must if you don't like body damage. There are more modifications available for the 4runner though.

Oh, and the 3rd gen 4runners have the locker as an option.

where are you guys measuring ground clearance? If I understand toyotas correctly they have a transfercase that hangs below the frame by several inches. They also came with smaller tires (thought the rear pumkin is smaller) making the axle lower to the ground. I would have to say both are similar. Also are we compairing a stock 4run now or when it was produced because give the 4run propensity to sag in the rear over time the X wins the gc question.

Just thoughts

Yup, that tcase crossmember is a pain in the butt, as is the stupid low hanging gas tank. But numbers can be deceiving. The ground clearance of the 4runner at those locations may or may not be higher, but the GC at the body panels is definately higher. I don't know about you, but when I see a big rock in the trail I usually put my tire over it, not straddle it. The first thing that rock hits is the sliders, not the IFS brace, the tcase or the gas tank.

Two tire options were available for the 4runner and the majority that I see are the larger 31 inch option. 32's fit without any modifications and 33s fit with a minor tbar crank, a 1in BL, 1.5 inch lift coil springs in the rear and minor trimming.

The xterra needs to have a factory rear locker option! They add a bunch of other worthless crap on the damn thing, but the locker is probably one of the most important off-roading tools out there spare a winch and sliders.

some day...

It depends who's driving it. It's 95% Driver, 5% vehicle. Mods and the rest are just for looks.

Same driver.

Then which ever you're more comfortable driving.

Some people here will tell you that since the X is 1.5 inches higher or the 4-Runner is 2 inches longer one is better than the other. But 4-wheeling can't be turned into a simple equation. Different vehicles do well on different obstacles and the drivers experience will negate any tiny measurement difference between two vehicles.

4runners tend to be more expensive than Xterra's so with the money you save, buy an ARB.

EXACTLY, this is one of the reasons why I chose The X over the 4runner