wfo9
New member
It may have been a dealer trade or some other fluke. They cannot order them and have it delivered at the port. I'm 100% sure of that.
I would check to see if it actually has it. LOL. The dealers have told people wrong many times....
KDSS on road behavior
- Thread starter Aurora85
- Start date
I would check to see if it actually has it. LOL. The dealers have told people wrong many times....
LandCruiser
New member
It's good, but it will let you drive closer to the limit of what this fat, heavy beast can handle.
mybabydaddy
New member
I must be fluke #2... Bought mine sitting on a lot in DFW. Test drove with and without, liked with... Drove it for a year and a half, put a small lift on it... Works like a champ. Yes, front end still clunks every now and then... Don't give a shiote. Until it drops parts, this thing is a tank. I drive the crap out of it day in and day out. Light off road every now and then, but nothing tough yet.
Still 1000% happy with my choice/purchase.
Good luck on your decision.
wfo9
New member
Maybe things changed in 2014. That is the way it was until the refresh. My guess is dealer trades from out of state, but maybe they started allowing it recently.
It definitely has it. As far as I know, it wasn't a trade, but who knows. I just find it hard to believe its impossible to get one here with KDSS.
1engineer
Moderator
Here's how it works and you can decide for yourself:
Toyota dealers cannot order from Toyota proper. This is ANY Toyota vehicle from the Yaris to the Land Cruiser.
The dealers order from one of 12 Distributors based on geographic location. The dealers CAN NOT order from any distributor, just the one that services their location.
The distributor can only order specific options from Toyota. For example my local dealer cannot order a 2WD 4Runner from their distributor. Some regions cannot order KDSS equipped 4Runners. Call it dumb or stupid but that is the way it is.
Why is it the way it is? How many 4WD 4Runners are going to be sold in South Florida or 2WD in Minnesota?
Dealers can trade each other though and get what they want.
Lastly the distributor offers options or add ons that are region specific. You can't get a Southeast option package in New York.
Danimal
New member
All Land Cruiers have it and some GXs do, too. There are lots of other countries where all Land Cruisers also have KDSS. I think the consistent claims of reliability worries are overstated. Yes, I've seen threads on a couple of forums where someone had a leaky cylinder, or some dealer couldn't work on the system. But you don't hear the guys on the Cruiser forums freaking out about reliability of the 200 series which has been around with KDSS since 2008.
And the reasons for not getting it; reliability worries (see my opinion above), dealer service concerns (go read the Cruiser forums, these guys flush the fluid themselves), and long travel suspension which most don't want or need.
Dan
And the reasons for not getting it; reliability worries (see my opinion above), dealer service concerns (go read the Cruiser forums, these guys flush the fluid themselves), and long travel suspension which most don't want or need.
Dan
ECUDrummer
New member
I'm gonna offer a change of pace and agree with @carlmagne on this one. I have mine lifted with 285s. In the last week it's been to Ocean Isle, Blowing Rock, and almost every interstate inbetween. Handled awesome the whole time.
rdswriter
New member
I didn't realize Trails with KDSS were that difficult to get in the South. I simply went into AutoNation Toyota in Pinellas Park, had them find one (at Arlington Toyota in Jacksonville), negotiated a price, and they drove it to my dealer the next day. Is it really that hard to get KDSS in the South, or does being within 200 miles of the port help? Or maybe AutoNations' buying power helps?
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Kdss is actually quite a simple system, then again this is coming from someone who has worked on 400k IMSA sports cars. It's a very elegant solution to a vehicle dynamics problem. That being said, evaluate your requirements and use cases for your truck and go from there. As an example, mine were:
1. Mild overland lift
2. Roof top loading
3. Towing my race car approx 12 days a year(3500lb load).
4. Daily commuting on the Saw Mill parkway which lets just say I like to test my vehicles on!
I'd suggest you go thorough a similar exercise and that should help you make a good decision as to what options you need on your 4Runner.
Best of luck!
Cheers, James
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
1. Mild overland lift
2. Roof top loading
3. Towing my race car approx 12 days a year(3500lb load).
4. Daily commuting on the Saw Mill parkway which lets just say I like to test my vehicles on!
I'd suggest you go thorough a similar exercise and that should help you make a good decision as to what options you need on your 4Runner.
Best of luck!
Cheers, James
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Blitzkrieg
New member
Drive both a bit aggressively and you will most definitely notice the difference KDSS makes. Yes, it costs $1800 and yes, it's worth every penny IMO.
Source: Me. I am picky about my vehicle and have driven both KDSS and non-KDSS 2015 models.
I don't intend on modifying my $42K vehicle or tearing it up going over 2 ft boulders. If I wanted to do that I'd buy an old clapped out Blazer for $3K and be done with it.
The stock T4R Trail with KDSS can handle anything I care to do and do it well.
wfo9
New member
This just goes to show you how diverse t4r owners are... There are people on here who take off the sway bars and claim it drives wonderful on the road that way... (I don't personally agree with it) but it just goes to show you how drastically different peoples styles of driving and use of their 4runners are.
Although many just can't seem to understand, one size does not fit all....Pretty much everything has pros and cons, it comes down to what is important to you and sometimes those priorities change over the lifetime of the vehicle...
I still question the sanity of those that try to drive an overweight under powered t4r like a sports car on the road, but whatever floats your boat.
LUVDA4RUNNER
New member
There is a big difference w/kdss
I drove both and w/o it too much body roll
I feel kdss limits nose dive w breaking
I love it on mine
I drove both and w/o it too much body roll
I feel kdss limits nose dive w breaking
I love it on mine
Aurora85
New member
thanks again for all the good info. It's not about price, but more availability and for it to be serviced in a gulf coast region dealership.
I think it will be worth the gamble though. Interestingly enough I happened to find a new Nautical Blue Trail in Florida with KDSS..very fair price. I'm trying to find an MGM TE.
I think it will be worth the gamble though. Interestingly enough I happened to find a new Nautical Blue Trail in Florida with KDSS..very fair price. I'm trying to find an MGM TE.
I'm from Plano TX. I wanted a trail with kdss so I went out of state to buy it.
Jay Wolfe Toyota in Kansas city. It was very close to the airport. I flew up one way, they sent a guy to pick me up, and I drove home in my new truck.
Honestly negotiating price with online sales teams is far more pleasant than dealing with the Texas dealers face to face.
Kdss is definitely better on road than stock and better than the limited's Xreas, I liked kdss over the TRD too. I test drove all of them and the roll in corners is noticeably better. I haven't modified the suspension yet but I'm planning to go icon since they seem most compatible with kdss. I think the guys who say save the kdss money and just buy a new suspension are probably right. But without any modification the kdss felt like the best stock option to me. Why not look on here for a kdss to test drive?
Jay Wolfe Toyota in Kansas city. It was very close to the airport. I flew up one way, they sent a guy to pick me up, and I drove home in my new truck.
Honestly negotiating price with online sales teams is far more pleasant than dealing with the Texas dealers face to face.
Kdss is definitely better on road than stock and better than the limited's Xreas, I liked kdss over the TRD too. I test drove all of them and the roll in corners is noticeably better. I haven't modified the suspension yet but I'm planning to go icon since they seem most compatible with kdss. I think the guys who say save the kdss money and just buy a new suspension are probably right. But without any modification the kdss felt like the best stock option to me. Why not look on here for a kdss to test drive?
If you decide to get KDSS, you should try Colorado. "Panhandle North" is how I think you Texans refer to it. :gun6:
It is nearly impossible to find a TE without KDSS here. And I find that very interesting, seeing the mountainous terrain we are blessed with.
If you want more subjective evidence, all the passengers I have driven in my 2016 TE have commented that they can't believe how good the ride is. Not sure if that is the KDSS or just my mad driving skillz.
It is nearly impossible to find a TE without KDSS here. And I find that very interesting, seeing the mountainous terrain we are blessed with.
If you want more subjective evidence, all the passengers I have driven in my 2016 TE have commented that they can't believe how good the ride is. Not sure if that is the KDSS or just my mad driving skillz.
Aurora85
New member
I have been eyeing coming out to the Colorado area as you guys seem to have the most stock of KDSS equipped trucks. I can also hop a flight out there pretty easily vs more remote areas of the country.
Sleeter
New member
I test drove both and went with the KDSS, I have a lift and it drives even better just as other have pointed out. My advise is to test drive both then make a educated decision. I would add that fitting a KDSS equipped T4r is relatively easy, and only slightly harder than a non-kdss.
This comical. The user wfo9 responds to almost every kdss post with a negative comment, basically kdss isn't worth it etc. Clearly there is some jealousy or regret that his doesn't have it. My 2014 TEP has it, and it's lovely on road, the benefits off road are just bonus. Point of this post, KDSS benefits are 90% on road and 10% off. Simply put it is better than not having it. There is a reason it costs 1800$.
blues
New member
You must've missed the memo...
KDSS now officially means "Keep Dissing Suspension System" :bash:
:whipping2
(Truth be told, I've learned a lot from the discussion of the pros and cons of the system and it provides me with info that may become relevant down the road...so I'm actually grateful for the posts.)
