SR5 vs Trail 4x4 system

T

tomcraw

New member
I'm wondering in what situations the Trail edition's extra 4x4 features are useful (or necessary really) compared to the SR5.

I live in Texas and this will be my everyday commuter. On top of that it will be our family road-trip vehicle. We camp often and I have family in Colorado and we are there 1-2 times per year.

Here is what I would use the 4wd system for:
1) Beach in Texas
2) high-clearance roads in Big Bend/Guadalupe Mountains
3) old logging roads and trails in Colorado Rockies - in summer and snow-covered

Basically will only use the 4wd as a means to get to a destination - not for the the purpose of offroading in general. I did plenty of that back in the day with an '87 Pathfinder and got it out of my system.

Basically I would prefer a loaded SR5 (leather, 3rd row) vs. the Trail but I wanted to fully understand the 4x4 features I was giving up.
 
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tomcraw said:
I'm wondering in what situations the Trail edition's extra 4x4 features are useful (or necessary really) compared to the SR5.

I live in Texas and this will be my everyday commuter. On top of that it will be our family road-trip vehicle. We camp often and I have family in Colorado and we are there 1-2 times per year.

Here is what I would use the 4wd system for:
1) Beach in Texas
2) high-clearance roads in Big Bend/Guadalupe Mountains
3) old logging roads and trails in Colorado Rockies - in summer and snow-covered

Basically will only use the 4wd as a means to get to a destination - not for the the purpose of offroading in general. I did plenty of that back in the day with an '87 Pathfinder and got it out of my system.

Basically I would prefer a loaded SR5 (leather, 3rd row) vs. the Trail but I wanted to fully understand the 4x4 features I was giving up.
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+ 1 for Guadalupe Mountain! I hiked up that mountain exactly one year ago and loved it. :dancin:

I plan to go to Zion, Yosemite, and Olympic in May.

anywhichwayz, I can't offer any sound advice/information...but G'luck on your purchase!
 
tomcraw said:
I'm wondering in what situations the Trail edition's extra 4x4 features are useful (or necessary really) compared to the SR5.

I live in Texas and this will be my everyday commuter. On top of that it will be our family road-trip vehicle. We camp often and I have family in Colorado and we are there 1-2 times per year.

Here is what I would use the 4wd system for:
1) Beach in Texas
2) high-clearance roads in Big Bend/Guadalupe Mountains
3) old logging roads and trails in Colorado Rockies - in summer and snow-covered

Basically will only use the 4wd as a means to get to a destination - not for the the purpose of offroading in general. I did plenty of that back in the day with an '87 Pathfinder and got it out of my system.

Basically I would prefer a loaded SR5 (leather, 3rd row) vs. the Trail but I wanted to fully understand the 4x4 features I was giving up.
Click to expand...


1)some have suggested that you just need to lower your psi in the tires for driving on the beaches. so the sr5 should do.
2)havent driven those areas but what is your definition of high-clearance? if you're driving stock i'd say the trail might be of more benefit because of the higher approach and departure angles that come stock with the truck.
3)i've put mine on logging loads around my area in just 4hi and had no problems. many of them were washboards. some hadn't had a grater through in years and some where completely decomissioned. with careful driving i could get around with no problems.

do you plan on modifying the truck? lift, tires, etc? or plan on driving it stock?

mines a daily driver so for now its remaining stock but down the road it'll definetly get a lift and a few other doo dads :D

i'd say the fully loaded sr5 should be more than enough for you to get around, with the exception of number 2 because i'm not familiar with the terrain.
 
tomcraw said:
I'm wondering in what situations the Trail edition's extra 4x4 features are useful (or necessary really) compared to the SR5.

I live in Texas and this will be my everyday commuter. On top of that it will be our family road-trip vehicle. We camp often and I have family in Colorado and we are there 1-2 times per year.

Here is what I would use the 4wd system for:
1) Beach in Texas
2) high-clearance roads in Big Bend/Guadalupe Mountains
3) old logging roads and trails in Colorado Rockies - in summer and snow-covered

Basically will only use the 4wd as a means to get to a destination - not for the the purpose of offroading in general. I did plenty of that back in the day with an '87 Pathfinder and got it out of my system.

Basically I would prefer a loaded SR5 (leather, 3rd row) vs. the Trail but I wanted to fully understand the 4x4 features I was giving up.
Click to expand...

Mind if I ask which dealers you are working with? I live in Austin and had a hard time getting a good price. I finally went with San Marcos and worked out a good price with Andrew the internet manager. Good luck.

If you really want leather you can always get a TE and have the Port install leather in it....

The TE actually has more features than the SR5 and if you add the leather the interior will be just as nice as a SR5 with Premium minus heated seats.
 
bradj said:
Mind if I ask which dealers you are working with? I live in Austin and had a hard time getting a good price. I finally went with San Marcos and worked out a good price with Andrew the internet manager. Good luck.
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I drove the black Trail they have at Champion a couple weeks ago, I'm not too encouraged with the possibilities there due to lack of 4x4's hardly ever being on the lot. The Trail's down here all seem to have KDSS+Nav which puts them out of my price range.

This week I am in Denver and the wife and I drove a loaded SR5 at Stevinson in Aurora. My parents live up here so it would be easy dealing with them.

Basically I've decided I'm not paying more than a couple hundred over invoice so I'm going to shop around until I get the deal. My current car runs fine, I'm just buying the 4runner because I want it, so I can afford to wait.
 
jca21 said:
1)some have suggested that you just need to lower your psi in the tires for driving on the beaches. so the sr5 should do.
2)havent driven those areas but what is your definition of high-clearance? if you're driving stock i'd say the trail might be of more benefit because of the higher approach and departure angles that come stock with the truck.
3)i've put mine on logging loads around my area in just 4hi and had no problems. many of them were washboards. some hadn't had a grater through in years and some where completely decomissioned. with careful driving i could get around with no problems.

do you plan on modifying the truck? lift, tires, etc? or plan on driving it stock?

mines a daily driver so for now its remaining stock but down the road it'll definetly get a lift and a few other doo dads :D

i'd say the fully loaded sr5 should be more than enough for you to get around, with the exception of number 2 because i'm not familiar with the terrain.
Click to expand...

I don't know on #2, I've just seen them on the map :) I've driven some decomissioned roads in Colorado too, I can't imagine they are any worse than those. Basically just ruts and washouts - it hardly ever rains out there so it wouldn't be muddy, plus its rocky (limestone).

I will drive it stock at first - extra cash will go into a Yakima/Thule rack and carrier for family road trips. Won't get it lifted but would eventually upgrade to a more aggressive tire.
 
tomcraw said:
I don't know on #2, I've just seen them on the map :) I've driven some decomissioned roads in Colorado too, I can't imagine they are any worse than those. Basically just ruts and washouts - it hardly ever rains out there so it wouldn't be muddy, plus its rocky (limestone).

I will drive it stock at first - extra cash will go into a Yakima/Thule rack and carrier for family road trips. Won't get it lifted but would eventually upgrade to a more aggressive tire.
Click to expand...

sounds basically like what im doing as well.

some of the roads here are friggen terrible and the TE has had no problems getting through it. had to lock the rear diffs once on a decomissioned road but that was it.


Personally, i'd get a TE if i were you. the stock performance of it will be much better off road than the sr5. especially with ground clearance, approach angles and departure angles.


better to get the TE than buy and sr5 and regret not buying a TE right? :party:
 
If you have the money to spend for fun get the TE. But really if you "need" the features of the TE you really should not even be driving in the rain.
 
If you see a TE that you like in Denver I would get it because if the KDSS and Nav is out of your price range than you won't be able to get one in the Texas area without that. I've seen by the TE inventory and heard that the Toyota Distributor in our area doesn't receive TE withouth Nav and KDSS.

SR5 4x4 are also a bit tricky to get in Texas but I have seen a few around.

If you see a classic silver SR5 around town thats me. Good luck on yours..
 
jca21 said:
sounds basically like what im doing as well.
especially with ground clearance, approach angles and departure angles.
Click to expand...

Ground clearace is the SAME across all trim lines, 9.6".

Approach/departure angle (degrees) SR5 & LE 25/24

Approach/departure angle (degrees) TE 33/26
 
bradj said:
If you see a TE that you like in Denver I would get it because if the KDSS and Nav is out of your price range than you won't be able to get one in the Texas area without that. I've seen by the TE inventory and heard that the Toyota Distributor in our area doesn't receive TE withouth Nav and KDSS.

SR5 4x4 are also a bit tricky to get in Texas but I have seen a few around.

If you see a classic silver SR5 around town thats me. Good luck on yours..
Click to expand...

Did you look into ordering one? I'm wondering how much extra I have to pay to get them to order one. If I get the SR5 it will have the 3rd row which is near impossible to come by.
 
This a plastic piece issue. The front and rear bumper covers are differenton the SR5 and TE because the SR5 has more coverage it decreases off road angles.
 
tomcraw said:
Did you look into ordering one? I'm wondering how much extra I have to pay to get them to order one. If I get the SR5 it will have the 3rd row which is near impossible to come by.
Click to expand...

Champion Toyota was pretty on the ball with placing a dealer preference which can be a little bit faster than ordering.

San Marcos also put out a dealer preference for me and thats who I finally got mine from. They put in the dealer preference request on Jan 30, didn't get the allocation in early FEB but did get in late FEB. Took delivery early MAR. Andrew there was good to work with and beat Champions price by about 700. I got Round Rock to come about 1500 off sticker as well.

For 4x4 3rd row you might have a hard time getting a hold of that around here. Champion is part of a big dealer network and may be able to source it easier than others.
 
No TE w/Nav in Calif

I'm still amazed there are no TE's with KDSS & Nav for sale here in So. Calif. On the other side of the coin, it appears to be just the opposite in other areas of the country (TX). Salesmen here are completely clueless as to how to get one, and many believe you can't get a TE w/Nav. Has anyone in Calif. had any luck getting a TE w/Nav?
 
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