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I can't say I've ever ridden in a Highlander or Ridgeline, but it won't stop me from saying that is hogwash in my experience. My 2008 TRD Offroad rode terrible on washboard with the OE suspension, that is 100% true. Borderline uncontrollable or maybe worse.
However, our Forester rides OK on washboard, honestly probably is better than a stock Tacoma, so that's probably not all that different than any other IFS/IRS quasi-SUV. But my old '91 with full OME heavy rode pretty well and my Tacoma with FOX really does float over washboard. I have to think your Taco must be damped or sprung wrong.
Front rides great with Camburg coil overs (basically rebadged Race Runners) Rear is full OME Dakar HD's/Nitro Charger shocks, which I always felt the front and rear are a bit mismatched (and well it is)...as the rear tends to skate around...probably be better with some emulsion shocks back there. But only marginally better. Be nothing like my buddy's LT/Linked Prerunner...that thing is like peeeeeanuuuuut butter....smoooooth. He also has thrown a ton money at it too, and long hours in the shop fabricating.
Was going to break down and buy some emulsion shocks for my truck, even better thing to do would probably ditch the awful leafs altogether and link it....
...or IRS.
...but I am kinda over the whole truck thing, really just need it get the trail toys to the trail head. Kinda why I have looked at Ridgelines, the Tacoma rides like crap on the street since it is setup stiff for hauling loads..I did have it set up soft with a set of 5 leaf Deavers there for awhile, but you can't haul anything...I broke those. So why not get something like a Ridgeline or CUV that is enjoyable 90% of the time it is being used.
As what physcle was saying...pretty hard to beat a UTV now, those are ready to go right out of the box. Don't see a point in heavily modding a pickup. Majority of my moto buds now have them, even some of the hard core rock crawler friends, gave those up and now running UTV's.
I dunno, I find exploring the back country in a truck/SUV a bit annoying...to get the truck to perform like a UTV, quad or bike, you have to throw a crap ton of money at... I am talking full on prerunner, which basically ruins it for the street, my buddy trailers his with a F350. Like everything else...where do you stop? Some guys are fine with stock...others like middle of the road...some need a trophy truck. I can't afford a trophy truck, so I do dirt bikes...which are relatively cheap in comparison.
I would think it's not just IRS vs SA. ALL suspension components play into it. Put the same level shocks on your Forester (if such thing exists), and I would venture to guess it would ride better.
There is, venture to the rally forums... sky is pretty much the limit.
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