Thats what they all say, including me :behindsofa:
I had no intention of continuously working on my truck. I have recently finally accepted the fact that it's a part of my life lol.
I have a strong feeling that that will happen to me once I do get the truck. I'm already saving several build threads for mods that I would like to see on my truck. And I imagine once I actually get it on the trails, I'll only want to do it more.
Well, any of the vehicles you mentioned would work fine for your descriptions (SR5, TE, Taco... shoot, even a highlander for your use cases). With the SR5 you can always add a bunch of stuff and get it sort of close later (suspension, armor... you get the point). One word of caution: if you want to save money, do not hang around here....
You know, I actually did look into a Highlander because of the cargo space and the 4WD, but from what I've read here it doesn't seem to handle well off road so I passed it up. I suppose it would be great for everything else I need, but for the off road part it might not be the best. Have you had a Highlander?
What [MENTION=89562]bimrunner[/MENTION] said - and:
From what your needs are describing, a non-premium trim 4x4 SR5 or TE would be the lowest $ cost option.
If you haven't already, I'd say go drive an SR5 and a TE (including a KDSS equipped TE) and see how you feel.
Here's my suggestion:
Go to the local dealership and test drive a Limited, then a TE with KDSS, then a TE and finally an SR5.
Given your post, I'd say any of these (SR5, TE or TE w/KDSS or LE) will handle your needs quite nicely and it will really be up to which one you feel most suits your overall needs.
I've already test driven the TE with KDSS, but I couldn't compare the feel to any other one. The guy was getting too pushy about running a credit check even though I told him I was just looking and wasn't ready to buy, so I just left.
But that is a plan, to test drive all of them.
I guess if you are not getting into technical offroading you're probably are not going to install any serious mods. Then in my opinion you're better off buying a Trail since it has factory rear diff locker and basic skid plates. Unpaved roads in the woods sometimes can get quite nasty and Trail is a little bit better for offroading in stock configuration. Better camping spots tend to be in places where roads are not passable by minivans and crossovers : )
I can't really say much about KDSS, lots of people like it though. As far as I understand KDSS gives you less side lean on roads so you can take turns on higher speed. Offroad it gives you better articulation which is nice for uneven terrain and you can handle off-camber situation a little bit easier.
There's no difference in part-time 4x4 between SR5 and Trail, just keep in mind that you shouldn't use 4x4 on dry paved roads and you need to drive in 4hi at least 10miles per month to keep transfer case lubricated. Full time 4x4 is better in my opinion, but I don't really like Limited edition because of price, 20" wheels and too much chrome, although it can be corrected (except the price of course ).
Speaking of SR5 I have it for over 4 years now and I'm very happy with comfort on long trips and offroad trails / old logging roads, I don't think that Trail is dramatically better, but if I'm to buy 4Runner today I would probably look at Trail first.
I don't see why Taco can't fit your needs, you could put cap with roof rack on it for kayak and surf board. If you really not going to drive anything worse then gravel/dirt roads with occasional puddle you might take look at Highlander as well, it's a nice vehicle but not for my needs : )
Bottom line is that you should test drive all of them few times to see what you like better.
The Taco is actually where I started my search for a 4x4 and I still really like it. The price is really great and they're just as versatile.
Do any of the Taco packages offer those items you listed for the Trail Edition? I think it'd be better to have them, rather than buy a less equipped package then realize I need it and have to mod.
I see the op is in the Los Angles area so I assume you would be off roading in the desert. I used my old 03 4runner many years in the desert before the Trail models were ever available. With a small lift and off road tires they work great. The atrac in all models will pull you over a lot of obstacles. It acts similar to a locker in that it puts the brake on on the tire that is in the air and has no traction. There are times a locker would be helpful but from my experience a lot of Trail owners will never use the capability. For one they do not want to get there vehicle dirty, in the desert it will be covered with major dust inside and out. There is also a possibility of paint damage from rubbing against desert shrubs unless you want to stop all the time and cut the branches down. The main problem I see is a lot of new owners have little experience get scarred and intimidated on major climbs, steep drop offs at the edges, crossing washouts, long rocky sections etc. A friend of mine bought a new Jeep Rubicon several years ago and wanted to go off road with us. We started him out on some easier trails. He later complained that he did not need to use his lockers. We took him on a harder trail and he was freaked out and did not want to climb the hill. On another occasion his wife was with him and she freaked out at even the medium trails. in other words the Trail is often more capable than the driver. An SR5 with a lift and decent tires is very capable. Stock height in the desert and all you will do is be dragging the undercarriage over rocks and the stock tires are to easily punctured. I will take a lift and good tires over a locker any day in the desert.
I'm wanting to explore everywhere, desert and woods.
Those are some good points. I think I just have this idea that I need the best of the best, even though I may not use it and I would probably be happy without all the extras. Although I would like to gain some skill. I've heard of schools or training locations where they teach how to use your own vehicle. I have a friend who bought a Wrangler and she told me about some schools in Northern California where they have trails designed for training. I was thinking about doing some of that so I could actually learn how to use my truck and maybe extremely slowly get into more technical roads or trails.
When I was shopping for my 14 4Runner I was torn between the Trail or the SR5. I drove both and have friends with both. I had a 2010 SR5 that was more than adequate for the type of driving I was doing at the time (city only). When I started shopping I had plans of more adventurous driving. After comparing the Trail and the SR5 it came down to price. I could get the SR5 and do a complete suspension overhaul that would make it in many ways better than the stock Trail for not much more than the stock Trail.
I knew from my last 4Runner that the suspension was way to soft for my liking and would get replaced and after driving the Trail I found it wasn't much better. I also disliked several of the aesthetic aspects of the Trail. I'm not a fan of.....
- interior color (I like and wanted the beige interior)
- hood scoop: a non functional hood scope is pointless to me besides being a place to start a bug collection.
- the silver colored bumper covers
At the end of the only thing I really wanted is a locking rear differential but I can always add that later. I now have my SR5 at a position that it is more than competent on the trail and on the street. At the end of the day you have to decide if you really need all the extra on the Trail or if the SR5 will work (you can always add the things you want later).
What was included in your complete suspension overhaul?
I wish I could start like that with an SR5 and add on things later, but I don't consider myself much of a mechanic to really look into specifics of mods. Only way I would do that is if I could find a really good shop in Los Angeles that focuses on 4x4. But like I said, I'm new at this so haven't really looked around for the best shop.
I was in a similar situation in terms of not dropping 40k and still getting something that fit my needs (and have slowly modified it to fit my needs as I use the truck over the past 2.5 years). I didn't even drive a trail or LE because I knew they were out of my budget. I got an SR5 with convenience package (heated side view mirrors, power seats, extra 120V plug in the trunk, and moonroof) along with the auto dimming rear view mirror with backup camera and all weather floor mats. That's it, no fancy systems like KDSS or XREAS to worry about or fix or delete if I modded it (mind you before I joined the forums I had no idea what those systems were, how they affected modification, or what modification entailed lol).
I got mine new with 59 miles on it for $34,000 (sticker was $36k) and got an excellent loan rate through TFS and it's worked wonderfully. We have hunting dogs that we take backpacking, to the beach, stand up paddle boarding on the lake and the truck does it's job. Got neoprene seat covers to save wear and tear on the seats and life is good.
If you're budget conscious on it, find a base model SR5 and save you money. You can put new shocks and tires with the money you save (yes, I'm totally being a mod enabler here). I didn't think the tires were bad but they're not great and didn't realize it till I out new ones on last week same with suspension.
Anyway a long winded my two cents here, but the main takeaway is stick to the budget and don't put yourself in a tight spot over premium items and just enjoy the truck for what it is and worry about and mods later if you even see that you need them, you may not. It's a wonderful vehicle that I plan to keep for 10-12 years (love Toyota reliability).
Just reading through these comments I'm actually slowly getting convinced that an SR5 is more for me. If I start getting more serious about off-roading, I could just come back here and do research on what to add. It seems like I can survive without KDSS.
Thanks to all of you for your comments. I still have some time before I go for the purchase, but now I think I have a better idea what would work for me.
