5th Gen 4Runner Trail Premium - What's your Experience?

[borfoo3]

The y pipe doesn't cause it to throw any codes since you've eliminated the cat? I really like the looks of the exhaust just was interested in that. How does it sound?

No codes or CEL. Driven hard, 4wd and all..

The 4runner exhaust goes like this:

headers -> Cats + sensors -> stock y pipe (with pre-cats) -> rest of exhaust and muffler.

So cats and o2 sensors do not 'see' the difference of eliminating the pre-cats (which sound confusing as they are more like post-cats) which I've been told are mostly there to pass cold engine start emissions tests.

 

[RobS10]

I've had mine for slightly over a year. I'm sitting in my office surrounded by boxes of suspension components that I'm planning to install in the next few weeks. I wanted to give it a year and see what it was capable of out of the box--- I'm glad I did.

The softex wears great. Passengers rave about it. Some days I tell them it's not real leather, some days I just keep my mouth shut. The softness really seems to fool a lot of people. Wet microfiber cloth does the trick. Dog hair doesn't seem to be attracted to it at all.

I haven't had experience with a lift and KDSS just yet, although I'm in the camp that doesn't really care if it leans a bit. I don't have the inclination to run around my vehicle with a tape measure, and my driveway is uneven to begin with. It if leans, I'll back it in and it will lean the other way.

KDSS is amazing on the highway. A month in to ownership I had to swerve around an animal at highway speed and my passenger (a car guy) went on and on about the lack of body roll. It was pretty amazing actually. I believe the benefit is just giant swaybars at highway speed. It's VERY nice having that stability on the road though.

I get poor mileage with E rated 265 BFG KO2's. 16-17 mpg. I can't get anywhere close to 18-20+ that people on this forum seem to be getting with skids and roof racks and stadium lighting on their rigs, and I drive like an old lady.

Had an odd noise at highway speed that was intermittent.... like a windy day would set it off. It was the plastic clips that hold the aprons in the wheelwells. 5 minute fix, never came back.

No electrical or mechanical issues-- and more importantly, it comes out of 4x4 when I throw the lever.... No more staring at a blinking green light on a dash waiting for a vehicle to come out of 4x4. The ADD takes a second to engage/disengage, but it's very quick.

likes:
The sad look on a highlander owner's face when you roll that back window down.

Dislikes: Oil change is a rigmarole. I have 8 free ones with the dealer, so I guess I won't be changing oil for a while.

Overall a very happy owner. I take this vehicle everywhere. There's no stopping it, except for my clearance, which has not really been an issue for me

"The sad look on a highlander owner's face when you roll that back window down." My favorite line LOL!
We have a 3rd Gen and frantically searching for a 5th Gen to replace my old '84 Dodge Power Ram before something else breaks. Thanks for the info!

 

[RobS10]

We have a '99 SR5 and used it for a lot of camping trips, but HATE packing all the gear in like some kind of OCD puzzle every time. I was initially looking at a 1st Gen Sequoia, but they're hard to find without a gazillion miles on them now, and as a Daily Driver in San Francisco, it would be a much bigger PITA to park. Our 4Runner is cake.
Looking forward to a second 4Runner in the family, one that's easier to pack! One consideration I noticed...the slide out Cargo tray would be nice, but limits my choices in the used market. Does yours have one, and if not, is the offset in floor height when the 2nd row seats are down a problem?

 

[Kobe_590]

good so far, my dashboard dimmer isn't working though

 

[JoeBand]

We have a '99 SR5 and used it for a lot of camping trips, but HATE packing all the gear in like some kind of OCD puzzle every time. I was initially looking at a 1st Gen Sequoia, but they're hard to find without a gazillion miles on them now, and as a Daily Driver in San Francisco, it would be a much bigger PITA to park. Our 4Runner is cake.
Looking forward to a second 4Runner in the family, one that's easier to pack! One consideration I noticed...the slide out Cargo tray would be nice, but limits my choices in the used market. Does yours have one, and if not, is the offset in floor height when the 2nd row seats are down a problem?

i bought my used '16 TEP just over a month ago, with 74,000 miles on it. super clean, super tight vehicle. spent 2months looking for one, and was pretty dialed into exactly what i found. wanted KDSS, no 3rd row (due to the lost 2" of inside space).

coming from a '00 3rd gen (bought 15 yrs old w/ 155k miles) it's a bigger vehicle, much more plush, more refined, but still handles great off road.

the slideout tray is so-so. it doesn't extend all the way back to the rear seats, so if you push stuff all the way back, it can hang up when pulling the tray out. it does all lie flat with the seats down and sleeps well.

overall really happy with the change, and i know that my 3rd gen went to a high school kid for his 1st car, and he's loving it. so... win-win.

 

[AlumniCU]

How does the faux leather seating seem to be holding up/wearing?
- Looks brand new on my 2015 with 28K miles.
Has your lift affected KDSS negatively or caused a bad lean?
- No. Toytec installed 3” OME lift, put spacer on passenger front and recalibrated KDSS.
What's your MPG with 33" tires or close to that size?
- 255/80 17 Wildpeaks, so narrower 33” and mileage is about the same at 16 mpg.
Any odd noises, particularly at highway speeds?
- None
Any electrical or mechanical issues?
- None
Personal likes, favorites and dislikes?
- Rock solid, wish had come stock with CarPlay at the time.
Overall experience and happy owner?
- Could not be happier. Great on and off road. Very pleased to have KDSS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cytronus]

Update since it's been a while....

How does the faux leather seating seem to be holding up/wearing?
- Still looks brand new on my 2016 with 50K miles. Slight whitish color on the passenger seat bottom from my sister having worn a lot of sunscreen on her legs. It wouldn't come out.
Has your lift affected KDSS negatively or caused a bad lean?
- Still has a lean at times, other times not. I ordered the KDSS spacer kti from Treaty Oak Offroad, will be installing in the next month or so.
What's your MPG with 33" tires or close to that size?
- 33" BFG KO2s + about 1200 lbs of added stuff, 13 MPG
Any odd noises, particularly at highway speeds?
- None
Any electrical or mechanical issues?
- Only one issue...the OEM Panasonic battery got a hair line crack in it from all the rough trail runs and leaked battery acid down around the radiator metal frame and took the paint off there. Had to sand it and repaint it. Now have a sealed Odyssey battery so that won't happen again.
Personal likes, favorites and dislikes?
- Rock solid, wish for some of the '20-'22 model year features, like the electronic lift gate, PSI per tire indicator, larger screen, better steering wheel controls.
Overall experience and happy owner?
- Could not be happier. Great on and off road. This will no doubt become a legendary vehicle, if not by now.