2016 TRD PRO or 2016 Trail Premium?

[LandCruiser]

Someone already mention it...

If you plan on lifting/leveling your truck higher than the what the Pro offers, buy a TE that way your not wasting your $$ pulling out the PRo suspension.

If you plan on keeping it stock, get the PRO.


Another thing to keep in mind in Hawaii is the recon law. IF you get the pro i don't believe you need to get recon since the truck is built that way straight from factory. If you buy the TE/SR5 and add a small lift you can probably get away driving around without recon but there's always a chance the po po will pull you over ... at least on Oahu. Recon law is stupid there.

WTF, what kind of Commie shit is that?

 

[Borebrotherbore]

WTF, what kind of Commie shit is that?

Yea, from what I can remember, moved away from Hawaii in 2006, anytime you modified your vehicle from stock you have to get it inspected (Recon) which wasn't that cheap.

If you modified your suspension, have to get a recon, got tires bigger then stock, have to get a recon. Got wheels bigger then 1.5 inches over stock, have to get a recon.

They have a limit of 3 inches on a body lift, but no limit on suspension lifts. Your bumper just can't be above a certain height. For the 4runner I think its 33 inches off the ground in the front and rear. Not sure how much lift you need to get your bumper that far off the ground.

 

[Nocturtle]

WTF, what kind of Commie shit is that?

^^^ hahaha.. indeed.

 

[Engineer]

Yea, from what I can remember, moved away from Hawaii in 2006, anytime you modified your vehicle from stock you have to get it inspected (Recon) which wasn't that cheap.

If you modified your suspension, have to get a recon, got tires bigger then stock, have to get a recon. Got wheels bigger then 1.5 inches over stock, have to get a recon.

They have a limit of 3 inches on a body lift, but no limit on suspension lifts. Your bumper just can't be above a certain height. For the 4runner I think its 33 inches off the ground in the front and rear. Not sure how much lift you need to get your bumper that far off the ground.

Two questions, Is this actually enforced and how would they know? For example you could have done the suspension lift and then tires later, but how would they know unless you have to carry around inspection paper work? I am assuming this is just an windshield inspection sticker? :nono:

 

[BrianSD_42]

I'm waiting for the one with a Super Charger!

CREDIT to ... carlomagne

 

[Borebrotherbore]

Two questions, Is this actually enforced and how would they know? For example you could have done the suspension lift and then tires later, but how would they know unless you have to carry around inspection paper work? I am assuming this is just an windshield inspection sticker? :nono:

You do have to carry around the paperwork. The yearly inspection is totally separate form vehicle modification inspections (Which only have to be done one time, unless you modify something else).

I think the fine is a couple hundred bucks too. Cops in Hawaii are all different, on Oahu they are all *******s, I've dealt with Big Island and Kauai cops and they were all laid back as hell.

A lot of the cops on Oahu are ex MP's too, so that is a big reason they are douches. I can remember the first time I seen a Hawaii cop, he was driving around his Mustang Mach 1, as his cruiser, because Hawaii will pay for the cop's vehicle as long as they use it for their job. So most are driving around mustangs or Camaro's and such.

 

[Nocturtle]

You do have to carry around the paperwork. The yearly inspection is totally separate form vehicle modification inspections (Which only have to be done one time, unless you modify something else).

I think the fine is a couple hundred bucks too. Cops in Hawaii are all different, on Oahu they are all *******s, I've dealt with Big Island and Kauai cops and they were all laid back as hell.

To add to this ^^^ All hawaii vehicles require a safety check...basically another tax for owning a car every year... all they do in the safety check is check and make sure all your lights work, headlights at the right height, blinkers , brake light ..brakes work, car runs, and tint %. When you pass you get a beautiful sticker on you bumper stating when it expires.

 

[Natey]

Whatever you choose, please don't give it the Hawaii treatment.

Don't Texasize it either. lol

 

[Bevo]

Don't Texasize it either. lol

Looks like New Jersey plates to me.

 

[neurospeed]

Yeah, the whole recon and safety check thing here on Oahu sucks! That's one major reason I'd rather get the TRD vs the TEP.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

Yeah, the whole recon and safety check thing here on Oahu sucks! That's one major reason I'd rather get the TRD vs the TEP.

2010 TE on Oahu. Toytec 2.5 lift. Not sure if I'm supposed to get a Recon but have not had any issues so far (knock on wood). Lot of friends with lifted Tacomas and no one has a Recon sticker. Stopped for speeding by a really dick cop and the lift and tires never came up. As for safety check, anal gas station in my neighborhood and I still pass. The guy was concerned with whether my tires extended past the fenders. Got a straight edge and checked and said he'd pass me. I have 285s on 8 inch wide, 0 offset wheels with Spidertrax spacers so if the guy would not pass me, I would have gone home and removed the spacers and gotten my safety check and then put them back on.

As for availability of TEP and TRD models it's really tough in Hawaii. Servco has a monopoly on Toyotas. Every Toyota coming to Hawaii goes through Servco. There are independent dealerships on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii but they still get their cars from Servco. For that matter, Servco dominates the entire auto market here in Hawaii. Not sure if it's still true but in the past, Servco did not come under Toyota America. They order direct from Japan. In fact, Servco could have Toyota build special edition models just for them.

Since they dominate the market, they get pretty arrogant and decide how every single Toyota should be configured. We have very little options. Everything is pre-packaged.

Besides that, they are actually a pretty good dealer.

 

[neurospeed]

2010 TE on Oahu. Toytec 2.5 lift. Not sure if I'm supposed to get a Recon but have not had any issues so far (knock on wood). Lot of friends with lifted Tacomas and no one has a Recon sticker. Stopped for speeding by a really dick cop and the lift and tires never came up. As for safety check, anal gas station in my neighborhood and I still pass. The guy was concerned with whether my tires extended past the fenders. Got a straight edge and checked and said he'd pass me. I have 285s on 8 inch wide, 0 offset wheels with Spidertrax spacers so if the guy would not pass me, I would have gone home and removed the spacers and gotten my safety check and then put them back on.

As for availability of TEP and TRD models it's really tough in Hawaii. Servco has a monopoly on Toyotas. Every Toyota coming to Hawaii goes through Servco. There are independent dealerships on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii but they still get their cars from Servco. For that matter, Servco dominates the entire auto market here in Hawaii. Not sure if it's still true but in the past, Servco did not come under Toyota America. They order direct from Japan. In fact, Servco could have Toyota build special edition models just for them.

Since they dominate the market, they get pretty arrogant and decide how every single Toyota should be configured. We have very little options. Everything is pre-packaged.

Besides that, they are actually a pretty good dealer.

Thanks for chiming in. I was hoping someone from Hawaii would. I don't know the recon restrictions and such. I think they still do have a monopoly on toyotas in Hawaii, but they never add a dealer charge on top of MRSP. Just waiting on the TRD to show up, so we can decide on which one to get. I gotta wait till November. They suppose to have a shipment this month, but I haven't heard or saw any.

 

[SFL_driver]

It has more ground clearance hence better approach/departure/break-over angles.

Good input. I just want to correct this little part.
Both the TRD PRO and the TEP have the same manufacturer listed approach/departure angles of 33/26. I only know this because I've been up way too late at night reading everything and anything trying to make the exact same decision as the OP.

 

[ArmedBear]

I recommend getting the one that you think looks good on you.

They are similar enough that you should just go with your gut.

 

[Soonrmagicmike]

On the Trail, I would like to add a more aggressive,mperhaps bigger tire without lifting on the KDSS. Ultimately to look more Pro like since it has the Pro package. Any thoughts or advise?

 

[Honu*]

ahhh car shopping in the islands I am from Maui but moved to mainland a while ago
used to buy from Kaimuki toyota and then have it barged to Maui for my toyota purchases other cars off island at times cause the only good Maui dealer was the Lexus one

All I got from our local Toyota was "it should be here around November". They didn't give my a VIN or anything specific to the T4R. I just put a deposit down. Would you be able to find out which one get allocated to Hawaii? I guess I reserved one vs ordered one.

 

[Zonie Taco]

Sup guys. I'm trying to decide between one of these 2. I've compared the 2 and so far the differences are KDSS, moonroof on the TEP, and wheels, suspension on the TRD PRO. I'll probably off-road 2-4 times a month, nothing too crazy. The price difference is about 2k. I'm leaning toward the PRO because I like the look of it, off-road capability for both are probably pretty similar. I searched this topic and found a little bit, but I want more opinions on which T4R would be the better purchase. I'm sure others have had to choose between these. So please chime in with some opinions and insights and why you chose 1 vs the other.
Thanks in advance

I have a TRD PRO on order, but it's not due till around November.

What type of off roading do you do twice a month? High speed? If so, get the pro and the extended warranty for years of fun. If not get the Trail.

 

[neurospeed]

Not high speed off-roading.

I ended up going with the TRD PRO. Happy with my decision.

 

[neurospeed]

Here it is! Thanks for all your input guys. Really helped me make a decision.

 

[trex9K]

Like many others posting in this thread I went through the same debate. I was leaning towards the TRD because of the beefier stock setup and it just looks so freaking BURLY right out of the box. I was close to placing an order and waiting the 3+ months when I came across a dealer that had a TEP with KDSS. After driving on some very curvy mountain roads I'm really liking the KDSS!