Long time lurker with some questions

[Ben_Mueller]

First of all I would like to say that this forum has been an extremely helpful resource as I have been researching new vehicles. At this point I am pretty much sold on a new T4R. It will be my 3rd one having owned a 96 and a 03 previously.

I love the look and options found on the trail edition but had a few questions:

1. Can a trail edition really be found without KDSS? Interesting feature but the value of it would be questionable for my usage I am thinking.

2. The wife has a requirement to have heated seats. I cant believe that this vehicle does not offer them as an option in this trim... Anyways I would likely install heated seats and leather at the same time. Anyone have any opinions on aftermarket leather? I am less then impressed with toyota's factory leather and see this as an option to potentially get higher quality leather in the vehicle.

3. What are people replacing stock tires with? I would likely stay at the stock height but want a more agressive looking tire to compliment the trail editions rugged look.

Thanks for any help!

 

[SeattleMike]

First of all I would like to say that this forum has been an extremely helpful resource as I have been researching new vehicles. At this point I am pretty much sold on a new T4R. It will be my 3rd one having owned a 96 and a 03 previously.

I love the look and options found on the trail edition but had a few questions:

1. Can a trail edition really be found without KDSS? Interesting feature but the value of it would be questionable for my usage I am thinking.

Yes, you can get it without KDSS. However, the on-road ride quality will really suffer without it; the sway bars really tighten up the body roll in turns. Also, the Nav option requires KDSS as part of the package.

2. The wife has a requirement to have heated seats. I cant believe that this vehicle does not offer them as an option in this trim... Anyways I would likely install heated seats and leather at the same time. Anyone have any opinions on aftermarket leather? I am less then impressed with toyota's factory leather and see this as an option to potentially get higher quality leather in the vehicle.

There are better options for leather, and you can have heated seats added by the dealer. I don't think it was an oversight by Toyota so much as a choice based on the intended market.

3. What are people replacing stock tires with? I would likely stay at the stock height but want a more agressive looking tire to compliment the trail editions rugged look.

Thanks for any help!

I got the Duratracs in the heavier load rating and the stock size. They look ten times better than the stockers, IMO.

 

[BFLAN]

I dont think that you will really notice that much of a difference with KDSS on road so much as off road. The system was developed to increase articulation and ride quality off road without sacrificing on road performance. And yes as Seattlemike mentioned you can buy without.

I too do not like the factory Toyota leather. There are many shops that would install aftermarket leather with seat heaters no problem. I ordered leather from Katzkins and am still waiting on it to arrive (already been over a month). Everything I have heard about Katzkins has been good, people are very happy with the quality and fit!

There are many tire choices...Goodyear Duratracs or Wrangler MTR, BFG KM2 or All Terrain, Nitto Terra Grappler or Trail Grappler, Toyo Open Country AT or MT. All good choices, I would go over to your local Discount Tire and talk to them about what is available in the factory size and what will fit your needs and budget.

 

[sandcrawler]

actually, SeattleMike is spot-on re: KDSS. yes, it's great off-road, but on the road it improves and firms up the ride big time. test drive a stock SR5 and then a Trail w/KDSS: no way you won't be able to tell the difference.

having owned on '06 SE w/XREAS, i have to say KDSS offers the best stock suspension performance —on- or off-road—available on the 4runner.

 

[Ben_Mueller]

Great replies, So the consensus is that a non-KDSS trail will drive like an SR5 on road?

I have driven both an SR5 and a KDSS trail and did notice that the trail was a bit tighter. Wasn't sure that the difference was attributed to the KDSS or different swaybars/suspension. Guess I know now

I have my dealer checking on availability of a non-KDSS in either magnetic grey or silver. Not interested in the factory nav.

Anyone have first hand experience comparing the factory leather to something like katskinz? Is there a noticeable difference in quality one way or the other?

 

[1traildriver]

I'm pretty sure it is possible to get a TE with KDSS and no Nav, it depends on the region I am lead to believe. I know that when I bought mine it was all or nothing (KDSS w/Nav or none...). There are people out west getting TE's with just the KDSS and having troubles finding them with the Nav option as well. Check this forum for more answers to this and have all the ammo you need when you go to the dealer. I can tell you that I wish I would have known about this site before I bought my truck. I would like to have the KDSS and have no real good justification for the Nav system.

Also, some members here have hammered their dealers to swap out the tires before taking delivery, or working with a discount tire dealer to trade the stock tires before driving it off the lot (as mentioned above). This seems like the best option for better tires if you can make it happen. Again I wish I would have read the postings here before buying because my dealer insisted they couldn't do that. Now I will be looking to craigslist my stock tires...

 

[Ben_Mueller]

I'm pretty sure it is possible to get a TE with KDSS and no Nav, it depends on the region I am lead to believe. I know that when I bought mine it was all or nothing (KDSS w/Nav or none...). There are people out west getting TE's with just the KDSS and having troubles finding them with the Nav option as well. Check this forum for more answers to this and have all the ammo you need when you go to the dealer. I can tell you that I wish I would have known about this site before I bought my truck. I would like to have the KDSS and have no real good justification for the Nav system.

Also, some members here have hammered their dealers to swap out the tires before taking delivery, or working with a discount tire dealer to trade the stock tires before driving it off the lot (as mentioned above). This seems like the best option for better tires if you can make it happen. Again I wish I would have read the postings here before buying because my dealer insisted they couldn't do that. Now I will be looking to craigslist my stock tires...

Yeah I feel pretty lucky to be reading up on all this good stuff before I actually pull the trigger. Up here in MN there are several KDSS TE's with no nav. In fact toyota's site does not allow me to build a TE with nav for some reason... Who know's... I am going to try my hardest to get exactly what I want within reason! After all that is one of the best perks of buying a new car

I will have to look into getting the tires swapped at the dealer or at discount tire...