Ride Quality between models

[Lsuwhodat]

I searched but could not come up with a good search term to find anything....

I previously had a 2011 SR5 2wd. It rode pretty rough (of course) for my wife. I did the Billstein shock swap and it did get better unfortunatly it was flooded and we had to get rid of it. We bought a Pilot Touring....

Fast forward a few years. We miss the 4R. I have been looking again but my wife is used to the better ride of the Pilot. She likes the rugedness of the 4R. Wahtever. So.... With all of that said have the suspensions bene upgrarded enough in the SR5 model to eliminate the nose dive of the early gen 5s? Should I be looking more at a Limited or a model with KDSS? I dont necessarilly need a Limited however I would like 4wd. Thoughts?:lookout:

 

[Lsuwhodat]

....and again this would be my wifes car so she will not let me mod it from day 1.

She alss understands its on a truck platform so even the limited will still be fairly rough all things considered.

 

[Lsuwhodat]

I also underrstand KDSS is mostly for off road but I am thinking it may improve the ride quality on road a tad?

 

[Jimbo]

The limited will have X-REAS and full time 4WD.

The X-REAS is supposed to improve cornering, but not sure how it compares in ride comfort to standard shocks.

The full time 4WD won't affect ride quality, but will def change how the truck handles in less than full traction situations, rain especially. You aren't supposed to use actual 4x4 modes in anything other than constant low traction situations. (snow, mud, sand...)

 

[SlickTRD]

I also underrstand KDSS is mostly for off road but I am thinking it may improve the ride quality on road a tad?

Quite the opposite, KDSS is for sway control which give it a better on-road quality. KDSS makes the 4R sway from side to side less when making turns.

 

[Gecko]

Limited is pretty plush, IMO. The TRD Pro also has a reputation for great ride quality.

A 4,400 lb body-on-frame SUV with a decent amount of suspension articulation and tires with some sidewall should ride pretty well no matter the trim level. I am surprised that she found it rough before.

Unibody SUVs are smooth also, but do not wear as well as BOF over time, in my experience. Suspension components are more prone to wearing out and getting harsh than they are on BOF, IMO.

Not sure how you use vehicles, but ten years after purchase, I'd guarantee that a 4Runner will be more forgiving, smoother and nicer to drive than a Highlander or Pilot.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

The Limited with the xreas suspension corners really good but it rides harsher than an SR5. I have no experience with a Pro or Trail. I wish my Limited had a softer ride. You will probably never reach the plush ride of a Pilot in a 4runner.

 

[Lsuwhodat]

Thanks guys. Its not so much the roughness but the nose dive that she didnt like. I added the Bilsteins to my 11 and cant remember if it helped or not, because we only had it for a short while before it was flooded.

I have always owned Jeeps so the rough ride comes with the territory. My thought process with KDSS is that the upgraded sway bars, etc may help "beef" up the motion in the suspension. Off Road different Story of course.

I guess I may just have to drive the different models and see.

 

[The Waco Kid]

I've driven all 3 and you can see what I ended up with. KDSS is ultimately what sold me. The Limited was nice due to all the extra features, especially the cooled seats, but the overall ride was nicer in the Trail/TRD Off road with KDSS. I imagine the Limited would have been better if it had 17" rims vs the Lowprofie 20's.

 

[BassTRD]

When I was shopping for the 4runner, I was shopping between the SR5 and the TRD Off-Road models. I test drove the TRD Off Road with KDSS, and the handling, and ride comfort was night and day compared to the SR5. I haven't felt that nose dive feeling unless I slam on the brakes which I've had to do once, but I'm sure you'd feel that with any car when you need to slam on the brakes.

I'd definitely have your wife test drive the TRD Off Road with KDSS and the SR5, and see how she likes it.

 

[Lsuwhodat]

I've driven all 3 and you can see what I ended up with. KDSS is ultimately what sold me. The Limited was nice due to all the extra features, especially the cooled seats, but the overall ride was nicer in the Trail/TRD Off road with KDSS. I imagine the Limited would have been better if it had 17" rims vs the Lowprofie 20's.

:thanks:

 

[Jemplyr77]

Probably going to get a lot of differing opinions here based on each individuals preference/experience. I have a LE and it is extremely smooth to me; however, I came from a Tacoma which was pretty harsh I thought. Just my .02.

 

[MrGainzz]

Go with the Ltd since the Xreas was specifically designed for pavements and you said your wife would drive it which makes it a perfect vehicle for her.
I wanted to recommend the 2019 TRD Pro because you are most likely leaving it stock and the new fox suspension is excellent on road and off road ,but it’s probably not worth it to your wife since it’s an “off road rig”.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Thanks guys. Its not so much the roughness but the nose dive that she didnt like. I added the Bilsteins to my 11 and cant remember if it helped or not, because we only had it for a short while before it was flooded.

I have always owned Jeeps so the rough ride comes with the territory. My thought process with KDSS is that the upgraded sway bars, etc may help "beef" up the motion in the suspension. Off Road different Story of course.

I guess I may just have to drive the different models and see.

The limited does not have nosedive like the SR5.

 

[Toffees]

I searched but could not come up with a good search term to find anything....

I previously had a 2011 SR5 2wd. It rode pretty rough (of course) for my wife. I did the Billstein shock swap and it did get better unfortunatly it was flooded and we had to get rid of it. We bought a Pilot Touring....

Fast forward a few years. We miss the 4R. I have been looking again but my wife is used to the better ride of the Pilot. She likes the rugedness of the 4R. Wahtever. So.... With all of that said have the suspensions bene upgrarded enough in the SR5 model to eliminate the nose dive of the early gen 5s? Should I be looking more at a Limited or a model with KDSS? I dont necessarilly need a Limited however I would like 4wd. Thoughts?:lookout:

Unless you find one used or want to travel (or have it shipped), you're in the market for a Limited, which maybe is the right choice for you.

The TRDOR with KDSS is the other option for good on-road driving, but Gulf States doesn't keep these (as I'm aware), but maybe you can find one in Mobile or Pensacola if SE carries them.

The LE has XREAS, but it also has AWD (FT4WD), which is something which may give you or your wife peace of mind.

Obviously, neither are necessary, but unless you want to spend immediately on suspension upgrades for better on-road driving, these are the two setups that will probably fit you best.

 

[Toffees]

The Limited with the xreas suspension corners really good but it rides harsher than an SR5. I have no experience with a Pro or Trail. I wish my Limited had a softer ride. You will probably never reach the plush ride of a Pilot in a 4runner.

Is that with stock 20s?

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Is that with stock 20s?

My stock 20" tires at 32 psi ride better than my 275/70/17 KO2 BFG load range E tires at 39 psi. If I run them at 32 psi the ride is about the same. Handling and cornering is about the same with either tire. I would think a load range C tire or P tire would ride better.

 

[Toffees]

My stock 20" tires ride better than my 275/70/17 KO2 BFG load range E tires at 39 psi. If I run them at 34 psi the ride is about the same. Handling and cornering is about the same with either tire. I would think a load range C tire or P tire would ride better.

I've never run E tires, but I think moving to 17" tires made an improvement over the 20" Geolanders in regards to "harshness"

 

[Swipter]

I have both a Limited and an sr5. The Limited does corner flat due to the xreas but the sr5 rides much better, stock. I test drove a kdss off road before the sr5 purchase, with my wife in the truck, and it was worst roughest riding thing I have ever been in. She even commented that she could not ride in it, it was so bad.

 

[docsnavely]

I traded in a 2015 LE for a 2018 TRDP in August of this year. My perception of having the LE for 3 years and now being in a pro is that the pro has a softer feel but due to the slightly higher stance and the trail suspension, I take corners more cautiously now.

The limited on the other hand with its lower profile 20s, X-REAS, and full-time 4WD was a road warrior's dream. It would corner beautifully, had much less nose dive with braking and had a smoother ride on the road. It was, however much less comfortable on trails than the pro is.

It all depends on your desires and plans for the future.