Help me decide, new SR5 then add Bilsteins or Trail with KDSS

[Crit Rat]

I'm ready to buy. I think I've settled on the Trail Edition because the KDSS system is quite amazing. The on road handling are quite impressive with this system and of course off road it releases to allow full travel. Truly Jekyl and Hyde for each appropriate situation.

Here's the thing though, I'm not going to be doing hard core offroading. Sure I'll do some trails that require four low and good driving skills, but I'll only be doing that to get to good camping or fishing spots. Off roading is not a passion for me, only a means to an end. I have a 97 SR5 now with Nitto Terra Grapplers and it has been more than adequate for my uses.

So the question is, do Bilstiens 5100's on a SR5 improve on road handling and manners enough to be in the same league as a TE with KDSS? If so then I might consider this route and save some cash in the process. TE is cool but a lot of it is overkill for my needs.

 

[jakehere]

I have an SR5 with new tires and 5100's all around. That with the caster adjustment and tires made a huge improvement over stock. But it's always going to be worth what an SR5 is worth.

A Trail edition will cost more, but will always be worth more and highly sought after some day when you decide to sell. They look awesome, drive better, and I don't think you would ever regret getting a TE but you might regret getting the SR5.

If I had to do it again, I would get the Overland Warehouse front coil overs and possibly the rear shocks only (not new rear coils) and set the front coil overs to around 1" of lift. I always wonder how the Overland warehouse coil overs would ride compared to the 5100's. The 5100's are "ok" - I can totally imagine the OW coil overs riding smoother though.

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Not a fan of KDSS

Here are my 2 pesos worth.... I am guessing ALOT of people will disagree with me.

I am thoroughly unimpressed with the KDSS system after driving with it for 15k miles. It works and does its job fine, but after doing some tests on my own, it doesn't truly let the suspension freely articulate and move independently. I realize that the saving grace of the KDSS is that it handles great, and I do mean great on the road, but the off road performance leaves more to be desired. IMO, Toyota should have done some more homework and done something along the lines of a hydraulic or electronic sway bar disconnect similar to the Jeep Rubicon.

In hindsight, I would have bought an SR5 and done the cosmetic TE conversion. I already took off the frond KDSS sway bar on my truck and am running Fox 2.5" coil overs and the truck runs great. On the other hand, aside from the KDSS, the TE has nifty traction control modes and the crawl control ascent / descent mode which works outstanding. Still as I mentioned before, I would save the money from buying the TE, buy the SR5 4x5 and put a good set of coil overs on it and be done, for less money than you would be spending on a TE.

My thoughts.

Good luck with your purchase! Either way you will be extremely pleased, I smile every time I get in my truck!

PS.... I would have to agree with jakehere, the Bilstein 5100's aren't going to be a huge improvement over OEM, if you are going to do front suspension, save up some more money and pick up some "real" coil overs like the OW's, Icons, Fox, or King. You wont regret that purchase.

 

[jakehere]

SoCalTrail's first hand experience driving the TE changed my mind. I had no idea people actually took KDSS off!

If I had to do it over again I would spend the extra $800 over the 5100's and get this kit: Special Order 2.0 Suspension kit

At the time they seemed too expensive and I was a cheapskate. Looking back now, if you truly plan on keeping the 4R 50K miles or more it's peanuts.

 

[Crit Rat]

I have an SR5 with new tires and 5100's all around. That with the caster adjustment and tires made a huge improvement over stock. But it's always going to be worth what an SR5 is worth.

A Trail edition will cost more, but will always be worth more and highly sought after some day when you decide to sell. They look awesome, drive better, and I don't think you would ever regret getting a TE but you might regret getting the SR5.

If I had to do it again, I would get the Overland Warehouse front coil overs and possibly the rear shocks only (not new rear coils) and set the front coil overs to around 1" of lift. I always wonder how the Overland warehouse coil overs would ride compared to the 5100's. The 5100's are "ok" - I can totally imagine the OW coil overs riding smoother though.

This is good input. I absolutely agree the that TE is going to be worth more in the future and will be very sought after, if just for the rear E-locker alone and of course KDSS.

Good input on getting coil overs with matched springs instead of just new struts and shocks. Makes for an easier install too.

 

[Crit Rat]

Here are my 2 pesos worth.... I am guessing ALOT of people will disagree with me.

I am thoroughly unimpressed with the KDSS system after driving with it for 15k miles. It works and does its job fine, but after doing some tests on my own, it doesn't truly let the suspension freely articulate and move independently. I realize that the saving grace of the KDSS is that it handles great, and I do mean great on the road, but the off road performance leaves more to be desired. IMO, Toyota should have done some more homework and done something along the lines of a hydraulic or electronic sway bar disconnect similar to the Jeep Rubicon.

In hindsight, I would have bought an SR5 and done the cosmetic TE conversion. I already took off the frond KDSS sway bar on my truck and am running Fox 2.5" coil overs and the truck runs great. On the other hand, aside from the KDSS, the TE has nifty traction control modes and the crawl control ascent / descent mode which works outstanding. Still as I mentioned before, I would save the money from buying the TE, buy the SR5 4x5 and put a good set of coil overs on it and be done, for less money than you would be spending on a TE.

My thoughts.

Good luck with your purchase! Either way you will be extremely pleased, I smile every time I get in my truck!

PS.... I would have to agree with jakehere, the Bilstein 5100's aren't going to be a huge improvement over OEM, if you are going to do front suspension, save up some more money and pick up some "real" coil overs like the OW's, Icons, Fox, or King. You wont regret that purchase.

Interesting. From the KDSS design I could see how it could impact articulation if the hydraulic system didn't move out of the way completely. They do have some pretty big sway bars so if they are engaged they would definitely limit things. Also why the on road performance is so good.

I keep wondering why a company hasn't come out with bigger aftermarket sway bars and mounts for the 5th gen. That along with some disconnects would be a poor mans KDSS that might actually be better on and off road.

Good input thanks!

 

[ATL4R]

The ADDCO sway bars will be out next month. Beefier than what is stock. I have no measurements, just a confirmation that they release next month (MARCH 2012).

Now if someone would make some quality disconnects I would have exactly what I want!!

Interesting. From the KDSS design I could see how it could impact articulation if the hydraulic system didn't move out of the way completely. They do have some pretty big sway bars so if they are engaged they would definitely limit things. Also why the on road performance is so good.

I keep wondering why a company hasn't come out with bigger aftermarket sway bars and mounts for the 5th gen. That along with some disconnects would be a poor mans KDSS that might actually be better on and off road.

Good input thanks!

 

[cbielat]

I have a 2011 SR5 with the Overland Warehouse 2.0 suspension set up along with the Light Racing UCAs and 285s. The handling is like night and day compared to stock. I am extremely happy with the results.

 

[Crit Rat]

I have a 2011 SR5 with the Overland Warehouse 2.0 suspension set up along with the Light Racing UCAs and 285s. The handling is like night and day compared to stock. I am extremely happy with the results.

I believe it and thanks for chiming in. Those OW CO's look really nice.

Hmm maybe I'll go the SR5 route and then some Coilovers. More money in my pocket or for mountain bikes is always a good thing.

Cool to hear Addco is going to release bigger sways too.