I presently have a 2008 Sport Edition V6 and was considering a trade-in for a 2010 Trail. That being said, my main sticking points are the things missing on the Trail: lack of a Torsen center diff, projector lamps, and LED taillights. The lack of the Torsen center diff will definitely make me more hesitant to put it into 4H. Any owners out there willing to give their input? Thanks!
2010 Trail or 2008 Sport Edition
- Thread starter badburro
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MikesTE
New member
I had an 07 Sport Edition before my Trail and can tell you the Trail is a MUCH better car in every facet. Off road the Trail is amazing, on the road the trail is amazing. I'd be willing to publicly state the headlights seem better than the old projectors. The 4H thing is a good point but I don't think you'd miss it - I'd still use 4H in slippery cases - torsen diff be damned. I promise you won't look back with the Trail - superb truck.
I have a 2003 Sport V8 and a 2010 Trail and I still like the 2003 better even with over 170,000 miles. I like the exterior looks of the Trail better, but that's about it. If I was into off-roading, I'm sure I'd like the Trail (w/ the locker) better. The on-road ride of the Trail sucks in comparison with the 2003 Sport, mind you I do not have KDSS. This truck is way undersprung.
mysticz
Member
The 5th gen trail has some neat features like the crawl control, rear locker and etc. but you can build up your SE with a locker and full suspension for far less then what it cost to upgrade.
I also was going to upgrade to 5th gen trail but I decided I spent so much money and time into my 05 and I did not want to start over again with all the mods and did not feel the change could justify making car payments again, but thats me.
So instead I am doing a conversion on my 2wd to a 4wd.
At the end it all comes down to what you want not what others tell you.
I also was going to upgrade to 5th gen trail but I decided I spent so much money and time into my 05 and I did not want to start over again with all the mods and did not feel the change could justify making car payments again, but thats me.
So instead I am doing a conversion on my 2wd to a 4wd.
At the end it all comes down to what you want not what others tell you.
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Snowfox
New member
You are my hero. Good luck with your conversion.
westwind77
New member
Personally I think the differences/improvements of the new 10' far outweigh different light bulbs. Do you drive around looking at your taillights? Do you seriously care what other drivers see behind you? As far as headlights, the ones on my new 4R far surpass any vehicle I have driven to date, so not one single complaint from me.
I think your only valid reasoning would be the lack of the Torsen, you have to think about how much you really leave it in 4wd in the snow on roads, snowy vs dry patches, (honestly the only reason for Torsen as any other surface will allow slippage) If Torsen is your only sticking point make the jump to the LE, then it is just a matter of pretty bulbs!
LongBallLarry
New member
Make sure you get KDSS if you get the Trail.
Thanks for the info! As of right now, I plan on picking up a Trail tomorrow night after work. Where I live, there are often patches of bare pavement, then snow/ice when headed up to the mountains, so the 4WD is definitely important. I ended up calling the Toyota 800 number and they connected me with a tech rep who stated that you CAN drive in 4H in the trail on drive pavement as long as you DO NOT lock the rear differential without fear of binding or blowing up your transfer case. You can drive in 4H all the time if you wish, according to the tech. He specifically stated that you can drive twisties, park, turn in 4H without fear. 4L with the rear diff locked is where you need to be concerned. I don't know how the 5th gen center diff works, but he says it won't jam.
He told me that they needed to continue to educate the service staff at Toyota dealers so mis-information does not spread. Some techs still rely on old information regarding the differentials/transfer case and drive pavement.
He told me that they needed to continue to educate the service staff at Toyota dealers so mis-information does not spread. Some techs still rely on old information regarding the differentials/transfer case and drive pavement.
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DEKA3
Registered User, A.K.A. "elias"
Interesting points about 4HI. This is totally oppposite of what I have read and have been told. Interesting. Very interesting. I hope its true. :wow:
I agree about the ride. My buddy had his Sienna in the shop and they gave him a new 4Runner as a loaner (which I was very surprised) and when we went out for lunch, I noticed how much worse the ride was on the road. Unfortunately, we didn't get to take it off road because we were only out for lunch.
I think that tech rep is the one who needs to be educated. He's completely wrong and anyone who reads the owner's manual will know that he's wrong. Don't make the mistake of believing one fool who happens to answer phones for Toyota. BTW, the Trail doesn't even have a center differential.
jpowers
New member
Odd, I'm almost positive the card above the driver side visor warns not to drive on dry pavement.
MikesTE
New member
Would all of you agree that using 4HI with a TRAIL on wet road or snowy road at sub-highway speeds would be fine? Last winter I used mine in 4H in these conditions and it seemed no worse for wear at the end of it. Why would somebody WANT to drive in 4H on a dry road - not helping with traction/control anyway... We're not talking an AWD Porsche here.
Snow covered road? Sure. Wet road? Probably not. You should only use 4wd on roads with poor traction, especially when turning. In most cases, wet roads have enough traction that I'd avoid running 4wd on them.
Then again, that's the great thing about having a Torsen center differential. You can put it in 4HI and forget it. Changing road conditions don't matter. So if you're driving on roads with varying conditions (dry/wet/snow) the 4Runner's 4wd system will always give you the traction you need without any worries or any need to manually go into or out of 4wd. It's the best of both worlds...
westwind77
New member
Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! Only on the LE can this be done, NOT the trail or SR5! I hope you got the name and ext of this 'tech' you spoke to so you can go after him for the $$$ it cost you when it does go!
If you do not believe us, try it yourself, drop it in 4HI and make a few turns at the dealership, you WILL feel it. If the sales guy/girl yells at you before that well then, you get even more proof.
I'd like to clarify this statement for some folks.
All 4wd vehicles have a transfer case, meaning its a splitter, than sends power to the front and rear drive shafts, allowing power to the front and rear axles, and then wheels/tires. A fixed transfer case requires an equal number of revolutions for the front and rear driveshafts, that presumably feed axles that have the same gear rations in their own differentials. (Axle Diffs may be locked separately.)
A center differential is a device that allows the number of revolutions of the front and rear drive shaft to differ, based on the distance the front and rear wheels are rolling, which would effect the axle rotation, and thus the driveshaft revolutions.
If the front and rear wheels are moving different distances, but the axle diffs are locked, and the transfer case is fixed, an undue amount of stress will be put on the driveshafts, transfer case, and axle gears, which can be very bad!
Many folks ( in other less educated web-wheeling communities
) speak of center diffs and transfer cases as synonymous with each other, when in fact, they are not.So, if you aren't on a surface that allows your wheels to slip (dirt, snow, ice, K-Y :wow
then keep in 2 wheel drive.I think I got it about right. Please feel free to correct any typos, as this was real quick before a meeting...
X2 absolutely.....do not drive in 4H with an sr5 or trail. A straight line is o.k. IF YOU HAVE TO but once you start making turns you will feel why you shouldnt be doing it.
