Fortuner - Handling Safety Issues

[Dif]

Fortuner owners who experience difficult handling on gravel, especially on corrugations, please post your experiences here.

Some may have fitted accessories (Tyres/Suspension) that overcame the problem. Please advise of such measures.

Hannes and I are busy with Toyota SA. Some other Fortuner owners (not members of the forum) are also involved in discussions with Toyota with whom I have active contact.

Take this serious - several Fortuners have rolled.

I heard several comments on the subject but only Hannes and I communicate on the subject frequently.

If you are afraid to exceed 60-70km/h with your Fortuner on gravel due to the handling of the vehicle you might have a problem.

[Uys]

Running standard suspension with 267/75R16 BFG AT's. No problems at all. Car is stable even at high speeds on gravel roads, with or without trailer.

[Biscut]

When stability issues surrounding the fortuner first came to light (the simulated roll over test performed with a hilux), I was critical of "tainting the Tuna with the same brush as a Hilux". Reason being that I run a stock standard setup (suspension and tyres) and have never experienced any problems. I have driven quite a bit of dirt roads at speeds exceeding 80km/h, some with a trailer and some without.

Sorry I cannot assist, but eagerly follow, this thread.

[japiedc]

I don't own a Fortuner but a friend of mine's wife rolled her's on a gravel road. I have driven some on gravel, there is definitely a problem. Now I must say as a farming community we drive dirt roads every day and you get so many surfaces that the one guy may think his is fine and on another surface he might have big problems.

[navman]

I think the answer would be for it to have a rear lsd

[Hannes P]

Someone gave feedback stating that he changed his tyres to BFG's and still had the same problem after that (gatswaai) . I could not find the info. Whoever knows about it or have seen the comments, pse supply me the info of the person. Thx - Hannes

My Fortuner handles well on gravel. Have not had any problems yet, with or without Trailer. I have fitted OME and Goodyear Wranglers.

My questions though, how many of these vehicles were the 4x2 version?
Was 4H (centre Diff) engaged when on the gravel road?
What speeds were these vehicles doing? Can't expect to be doing 120km/h just because you are in an SUV, and not a bakkie?

It just seems strange that most of the Fortuner owners I have encountered, has not had this problem!! So, is it driving technique or a bad vehicle??

[Dif]

Originally Posted by Arie

My Fortuner handles well on gravel. Have not had any problems yet, with or without Trailer. I have fitted OME and Goodyear Wranglers.

My questions though, how many of these vehicles were the 4x2 version?
Was 4H (centre Diff) engaged when on the gravel road?
What speeds were these vehicles doing? Can't expect to be doing 120km/h just because you are in an SUV, and not a bakkie?

It just seems strange that most of the Fortuner owners I have encountered, has not had this problem!! So, is it driving technique or a bad vehicle??

Hi Arie.

It occurs in both 4x2 and 4x4 models.
4H was not engaged. The Torsen diff should work better than 4H.
Both Hannes and my vehicle "broadsides" on a straight road from 60km/h. I never exceed 100km/h on gravel with any vehicle.

With all due respect. The people mentioned lives on farms in the Boesmanland. If anyone knows how to drive gravel it is them. Those farmers now leave their Fortuners on the "dorp" and refuse their wifes to drive them on gravel at all!

I'm also familiar with bakkies (Hardbody, Toy SFA & Cruiser) on gravel. They all beat the Fortuner's handling as they are predictable. I.e. press the accelerator in a turn and your behind will come out etc. Not on a straight line under low throttle.

Also, this is my second Fortuner - Why did my previous model not do the same?

I suspect the solution lies in the suspension and tyres. This thread is there to attempt to assist us to eliminate the issues.

Thanks for the info!

[FortunerDude]

I have driven from Ceres to deep into the Tankwa. It was 150km's of gravel road, and had absolutely no problem.

Centre diff was not locked, fully loaded. We did over 100km/h. I drive a standard 4l petrol 4x4.

Dif, hopefully this thread does help eliminate this issue, and all Fortuner owners deserve the issue to be sorted out. I will be following this thread to see what comes out.

Keep us posted on the developments with Toyota.

I was merely trying to say that this seems to be an "intermittent" problem with Fortuners, and not a general issue as I have not encountered anyone with this problem. Granted, i have only met/spoken to about +-30 Fortuner owners through the forum and work, and there are many more on the road. I just get concerned that the Hilux issue is creeping over to the Fortuner and painting the two vehicles with the same brush..

Have you still got the standard tyres?

[Dif]

Arie.

I received a "replacement" set of General Grabbers from Toyota on 27 June to test and report on. The problem however persists. I filed my report with Toyota on 14 July and now await an answer.

The farmers with the problems have tried other brands (Duelers) and even sizes (245/70/16) to no avail.

This thread is also topic specific. It only applies to Fortuners and only to gravel road driving.

The Fortuner Caravan towing and Hilux issues are totally different and won't help here.

[Dif]

Just another example from the other thread similar to this topic to confirm the problem exists:

Originally Posted by Picks

I agree with Rampie, the tyres makes a huge difference. This weekend myself and a friend went hunting his Fortuner got BFGoodrich All Terain and he towed a quadbike there was no way I could keep up with him on the dirt with my Drifter (std wilderness tyres) and previously the Fortuner with it's standard tyres couldn't keep up with me. Guess my next move

I spoke to these community members and the Fortuner in question was "upgraded" with BF Goodrich tyres and rear Air Springs.

[Uys]

Dif, het julle al probeer vasstel wanneer die karre met die probleem gebou is? Ek het myne maart 2008 gekry. Miskien moet ons by mekaar kom en bande ruil. Dan toets ons joune met die BFGs en myne met die Grabbers.


Uys

[Dif]

Uys.

Goeie plan.

Miskien moet jy eerder met Hannes Pretorius reel. Julle is albei darem in P'town en hy ken 'n goeie "toetspad" in die ooste.

H2F, that sounds like a good idea. This is a concerning matter.
I might not be experiencing this problem, but others obviously are.

[jonoB]

Originally Posted by Arie

I just get concerned that the Hilux issue is creeping over to the Fortuner and painting the two vehicles with the same brush..

Have you still got the standard tyres?

Yes, i agree. A friend of mine has both fortuner and hilux D4-d's. He fitted michelin A/t's on both, both are 265's. The fortuner does not do that "gatswaai" anymore, but what he does say, is that the hilux is no different. on a trip back from breede we has very bad corrugations. The hilux kicked the back out several times under acceleration and braking. This is with a good load on the back. i cant compare my bakkie to his as i have upgraded leaves and shocks. He told me that he cr@pped himself under braking! He says the acceleration was easy to manipulate and handle, but nonetheless irritating! He will be upgrading the shocks to OME nitrochargers soon and will let you know the outcome. By the way, the acceleration problem on the fortuner is almost nonexistant, but the braking is still something he worries about, especially on corrugated roads. The standard tyres on the hilux are cr@p, so the first smart mod would be to fit better tyres?

[Uys]

Dis goed so.

Ek sal met Hannes reel. Maar more middag ry ek Swaziland toe tot Sondag. Ek gaan my eie "toetse" doen op plekke terwyl julle suckers in die kantoor sit .......

Hannes: Kan ek en jy bymekaar kom die naweek na die een - waar toets jy? Ek het gedink aan die verlenging van Atterburry - verby Farm City?

Uys

[Dif]

Originally Posted by jonoB

The fortuner does not do that "gatswaai" anymore, but

Hi JonoB.

If I understand you correctly he in other words had the "gatswaai" problem with Fortuner prior to the tyre change?

In his case I accept tyres made all the difference on the Fortuner.

Thanks for the comment.

Originally Posted by Dif

Hi JonoB.

If I understand you correctly he in other words had the "gatswaai" problem with Fortuner prior to the tyre change?

In his case I accept tyres made all the difference on the Fortuner.

Thanks for the comment.

That is possible, and might explain why I have not had any issues. I fitted Wrangler AT when I bought the vehicle

[jonoB]

Yes, with the general grabbers, now with the more aggressive tyres it is a lot better. But the hilux is another story. But im pretty sure that after the shocks have been done it will be a dream vehicle! They are pretty soft sprung and the damping not too great. So with the stiffer shocks and better damping i think it will be 100%!
But what i find strange is that there is a large percentage of fortuner owners that have not experienced this problem! It bothers me....
Could there be factory faults with the shocks? Perhaps the shocks are overheating and not performing properly? Just drawing a wild card...