Future purchase...struggling between TE or SR5

[4Surfin]

Sorry I thought the thread was about a TE vs SR5. Not about voiding a warranty.
If want to be safe don't mod your truck until warranty is out, simple. No matter what if you add mods you run the risk of someone not honoring the warranty.

my whuuuuu was in reference to why you think a lever does anything more robust than a dial and why you think you cant have benefits of KDSS with a lift. As for the warranty... BS mod away. If you aren't cutting crossmembers and doing obvious hacks then the burden of proof is on the dealership

 

[amicalola-man]

A mechanical shifter takes the electronic components out of the equation. Less electronics=less issues. It really depends on what the OP purchased the vehicle for, I mean if it's a weekend warrior shouldn't really matter or if the OP doesn't plan to keep it long then worries either. However, if he wants to drive it till the wheels fall off, then the mechanical shifter will last longer.
As for the KDSS, maybe my post wasn't clear, I don't honk it's worth the money. Some lifts are not recommended with it, and if I'm not mistaken the boss system he referred to is one of then.
Totally agree on the warranty, besides you don't buy something to go off-road and play and then worry about warranty anyway. If something breaks that's when buy the upgrade.

 

[NuclearN8]

The mechanical shifter a dial 4wd systems use the same electrical actuators in the transfer case.... and since those are what tend to stick with lack of use, reliability is the same with the same frequency of use.

 

[Jetboy]

The mechanical shifter a dial 4wd systems use the same electrical actuators in the transfer case.... and since those are what tend to stick with lack of use, reliability is the same with the same frequency of use.

The lever version does not have any servos in the transfer case.


The lever eliminates the actuators. That's the point of the lever. Its really the other way around. The electric version eliminates the levers from a case designed to be lever actuated. The electric version is the same case with actuators bolted on externally where the mechanical levers should be. It is a mechanical case first that is modified to make electric. Not the other way around. And that's a good thing. With the dial version you can still strip off the servo and mechanically engage it in the field just like the e locker. If you go places you might need to do that its important. Its also important because you don't have to pull the transmission and t case to fix one like most domestics. So its a lot cheaper.

Possibly you're talking about the front diff disconnect? I've had both transfer cases and neither has ever had a problem. The front diff disconnect on earlier models was known to have issues often at high miles. Mine needed a cleaning at about 210k. Now that its electric rather than vacuum its probably more reliable. I believe this is the same system on both trail and sr5 and the most likely place to have issues, but not usually for a few hundred thousand miles on either one.

 

[1engineer]

Sorry I thought the thread was about a TE vs SR5. Not about voiding a warranty.
If want to be safe don't mod your truck until warranty is out, simple. No matter what if you add mods you run the risk of someone not honoring the warranty.

I know you are only one year old but that statement is patently false. If you lift your truck and the radio goes out guess what: Warranty will cover the radio lol. Now if you lift your truck and the CV boots screw up? Yeah, that will depend on the dealer. Don't make blanket statements that someone might misconstrue as being true.

 

[4Surfin]

The lever version does not have any servos in the transfer case. Lets try to keep facts accurate for the new guy.


The lever eliminates the actuators. That's the point of the lever. The electric version is the same case with actuators bolted on externally where the mechanical levers should be. It is a mechanical case first that is modified to make electric. Not the other way around. And that's a good thing. With the dial version you can still strip off the servo and mechanically engage it in the field just like the e locker. If you go places you might need to do that its important. Its also important because you don't have to pull the transmission and t case to fix one like most domestics. So its a lot cheaper.

Possibly you're talking about the front diff disconnect? I've had both transfer cases and neither has ever had a problem. The front diff disconnect on earlier models was notoriously bad at high miles. Now that its electric rather than vacuum its probably more reliable. I believe this is the same system on both trail and sr5 and the most likely place to have issues, but not usually for a few hundred thousand miles on either one.

which is why I WHUUUUUU to his comment about it being more robust. Id does the same thing, just in a different way

 

[1engineer]

A mechanical shifter takes the electronic components out of the equation. Less electronics=less issues. It really depends on what the OP purchased the vehicle for, I mean if it's a weekend warrior shouldn't really matter or if the OP doesn't plan to keep it long then worries either. However, if he wants to drive it till the wheels fall off, then the mechanical shifter will last longer.
As for the KDSS, maybe my post wasn't clear, I don't honk it's worth the money. Some lifts are not recommended with it, and if I'm not mistaken the boss system he referred to is one of then.
Totally agree on the warranty, besides you don't buy something to go off-road and play and then worry about warranty anyway. If something breaks that's when buy the upgrade.

Again. Search Automatic Disconnecting Differential. When you pull your lever there will still be solenoids working or else you won't have 4WD.

 

[BLACK-FL4RUNNER]

I was hesitant about the rotary 4wd knob instead of the lever at first also.
Then after some research, they have been using a knob in the 4th gen since 2003 with no issues. lol

As advertised, it's good practice to engage 4wd once a month to keep everything "freed" up and working correctly.

Back to the original posters question - Get whichever one is available and with the best price! You can't go wrong with either.

eace:

 

[amicalola-man]

Ok fair enough I should have clarified, I assumed someone who would be adding additions to their vehicle would understand the difference between what could and couldn't void a warranty. If the component that fails can be linked to the modification that was added then you run the risk of the dealer not honoring the warranty.

I guess we can agree to disagree about the 4wd systems. I guess Toyota engineers and jeep engineers all have it wrong. The Manual shifter is just for cosmetics and no added durability when it comes to off roading applications. For a weekend warrior, it really won't matter. If someone is wanting a truck to use as a DD for now then turn it into a trail rig, I say go with the trail. The OP wanted a trail and simply pointing out the reasons why I picked one over the SR5.

 

[hangman]

Mine was through a credit union, this year, awesome credit, and it was around 3%.

A lot of places that advertise 1.99% are also charging you fees where if you add them to the loan amount as if they were interest and compute a straight interest rate over 5 years, you're back up to 3.5 or 4% (*cough*Toyota financing*cough*).

Works if you can convince yourself it's still 1.99%, I guess.

I have a 1.49% rate through DCU. No fees, nothing. Already had an account with them, but it was free to start. Also have no fees for checking, no minimum balance, and a ton of other useful benefits. They're not doing the promo any longer, but rates are still at 1.74% for up to 65 months.

 

[amicalola-man]

Perhaps I should approach it this way, if you were to pick one or the other to be more resilient. Which one? On trails in Colorado which is where the OP is from, you can get stranded in the high country and I would rather put my well being in the most fail proof system I can get. Robust= sturdy in construction, therefore the manual level is more robust than the electric knob.

 

[<<<<]

Even if I drove on paved roads daily I'd still get Trail. Limited and SR5's are nice but too civil for my taste.

 

[1engineer]

Ok fair enough I should have clarified, I assumed someone who would be adding additions to their vehicle would understand the difference between what could and couldn't void a warranty. If the component that fails can be linked to the modification that was added then you run the risk of the dealer not honoring the warranty.

I guess we can agree to disagree about the 4wd systems. I guess Toyota engineers and jeep engineers all have it wrong. The Manual shifter is just for cosmetics and no added durability when it comes to off roading applications. For a weekend warrior, it really won't matter. If someone is wanting a truck to use as a DD for now then turn it into a trail rig, I say go with the trail. The OP wanted a trail and simply pointing out the reasons why I picked one over the SR5.

I have had two now ('10 SR5 and '12 TE) with the lever and they were fine. I have one now ('15 SR5P) with the dial and it is fine. The limited has full time 4WD and it is fine. As a matter of fact 2WD with traction control is fine in 98% of applications! Unless you want to whip out some obscure data from Toyota (you can't) showing that the dial actuated 4WD fails more than the lever actuated one then you are just wasting screen space with your opinion. I will say the ADD does have a small share of problems if you care to go search the FJ site. If nothing else you might learn a bit about how our 4WD works.

 

[amicalola-man]

I have had two now ('10 SR5 and '12 TE) with the lever and they were fine. I have one now ('15 SR5P) with the dial and it is fine. The limited has full time 4WD and it is fine. As a matter of fact 2WD with traction control is fine in 98% of applications! Unless you want to whip out some obscure data from Toyota (you can't) showing that the dial actuated 4WD fails more than the lever actuated one then you are just wasting screen space with your opinion. I will say the ADD does have a small share of problems if you care to go search the FJ site. If nothing else you might learn a bit about how our 4WD works.

Fair enough, I don't have data nor would anyone else on these newer models. I never said the dial system was junk or wouldn't last. I'm just saying that between the two I'd put my money on the manual lasting longer. I'm not sure why the pissing match to prove your side, AGAIN the OP asked the members about the two trim levels and what to go with when he was planning to wheel his truck. Hence, my opinion on this matter is just as valid as someone advocating the SR5.
I don't know why its so hard for a straight answer about if one or the other had to be chosen for durability... What would it be?
Sure 2WD would work most the time, I'm sure most of us use our runners in 2wd more than 4wd. The difference is when you need the 4wd to work, you need it to work flawlessly. The only reason most automakers are moving away from the lever to the dial is user interface. Once the dial system has been field proven over time, then I will think about changing my mind. Opinions are what drive a market, obviously I'm not the only one with the opinion of preferring a manual over dial or else they wouldn't make.

 

[jroll09]

What is all this BS about a TE being hard to find. Mountain States Toyota off of 58th ave in Denver had 6 unsold TE with KDSS 2 weeks ago. I think 4 are left. They were mostly red ones with a few silver ones.

 

[jroll09]

What is all this BS about a TE being hard to find. Mountain States Toyota off of 58th ave in Denver had 6 unsold TE with KDSS 2 weeks ago. I think 4 are left. They were mostly red ones with a few silver ones.

I stand corrected. They have one left. A red one for 37,000

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I stand corrected. They have one left. A red one for 37,000

I guarantee you that one will be gone by Monday.

Do an AutoTrader search:

Toyota 4Runners for Sale in Englewood, CO 80111 - Autotrader[TOYOTA[4RUN[4RUN|Trail^4RUN|Trail+Premium]][]]&modelCode1=4RUN&searchRadius=300&showcaseListingId=400327324&showcaseOwnerId=42237177&startYear=2015&trim1=4RUN|Trail&Log=0

There are exactly 10 TE's within 300 miles of Denver. ;-)

 

[jroll09]

I must have been in TE heaven when i bought my LE. 4runners in general seem to be rare. 2 weeks ago we bought the only blue 4runner period in the state.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I must have been in TE heaven when i bought my LE. 4runners in general seem to be rare. 2 weeks ago we bought the only blue 4runner period in the state.

They are rare commodities in the Mile High City at this point.

I'm not trying to be superfluous or facetious when I say I talked to numerous dealers in February when I bought mine and they all told me the same thing: We will tell you when we have one coming in and highly recommend you put a deposit down if you really want one because they are generally spoken for before they hit the lot or the day after they are off the truck.

I bought mine right off the truck. Nobody test drove it. Nobody farted in it. She had a mere 4 miles on the ODO.

 

[amicalola-man]

Ehrlich Toyota in Greeley has three, but they are the TEPs.