To Trail or not to Trail

[KCcarguy]

Looking at your signature I am confused by your statement. Are you saying if you had purchased a trail you would not have modded anything?

Good point. What got me modding in the first place was the terrible handling of the SR5. Then, as we often see here, things got a bit out of hand, lol.

I'm still not finished and at this point. The thing i hate most about the SR5 is the ground effects. I'm frustrated at the fact I have to chop/ remove/ replace the rocker trim just to mount sliders. And I hate the rear bumper that blocks access to recovery points. To make it worse, there are no good commercially available steel rear bumpers for the 5th gen. So, I'll probably end up doing a TE conversion down the road which is big $$$

I know I'm probably a little more or a perfectionist than the average guy. But if I were to do it over again I'd buy a TE add an OME lift, tires, sliders, skids and be done.

If you want to go crazy and spend big $$$ building a 1 of a kind 4r i guess the SR5 is a good choice. But if u want tO iust have a nice looking off road ready rig with minimal add ons the TE is the way to go for sure.

Now... If for 2014 toyota gives the SR5 the cleaner styling of the TE (like our lucky brothers up north) it might be a different story.

 

[1engineer]

Good point. What got me modding in the first place was the terrible handling of the SR5. Then, as we often see here, things got a bit out of hand, lol.

I'm still not finished and at this point. The thing i hate most about the SR5 is the ground effects. I'm frustrated at the fact I have to chop/ remove/ replace the rocker trim just to mount sliders. And I hate the rear bumper that blocks access to recovery points. To make it worse, there are no good commercially available steel rear bumpers for the 5th gen. So, I'll probably end up doing a TE conversion down the road which is big $$$

I know I'm probably a little more or a perfectionist than the average guy. But if I were to do it over again I'd buy a TE add an OME lift, tires, sliders, skids and be done.

If you want to go crazy and spend big $$$ building a 1 of a kind 4r i guess the SR5 is a good choice. But if u want tO iust have a nice looking off road ready rig with minimal add ons the TE is the way to go for sure.

Now... If for 2014 toyota gives the SR5 the cleaner styling of the TE (like our lucky brothers up north) it might be a different story.

Or you could do like I did lol. My TE is nice. My SR5 was nice. If everyone here was honest they would agree 99 point something of the time they could get by with a Subaru or a Pilot or a Highlander. I use mine as a "multi purpose tool" to do everything from going on vacation to hauling 447 lbs of flat stone yesterday on my sliding tray. I also haul my bike, pull the occasional dual axle trailer and take it off the beaten path so to speak. The 4Runner, in any model except 2WD, is capable to take you to more places than your courage or common sense will allow.

 

[JohnnyT]

Or you could do like I did lol. My TE is nice. My SR5 was nice. If everyone here was honest they would agree 99 point something of the time they could get by with a Subaru or a Pilot or a Highlander. I use mine as a "multi purpose tool" to do everything from going on vacation to hauling 447 lbs of flat stone yesterday on my sliding tray. I also haul my bike, pull the occasional dual axle trailer and take it off the beaten path so to speak. The 4Runner, in any model except 2WD, is capable to take you to more places than your courage or common sense will allow.

Are you sure it was 447 lbs and not 446 or 448? Definitely 447?

 

[1engineer]

Are you sure it was 447 lbs and not 446 or 448? Definitely 447?

It was five flat 2" thick stones. I know because they weighed it as you pay by the pound for this stuff. Using it to make tables for my deck.

 

[JohnnyT]

It was five flat 2" thick stones. I know because they weighed it as you pay by the pound for this stuff. Using it to make tables for my deck.

Nice.

 

[b_w.]

I picked up a SR5 late last year and the only thing I wish I had was the rear locker. Already put on skids and sliders, will do uspension eventually which I would on a TE too, and maybe a locker in the future. When I hit the trails I dont feel my truck is lacking at all compared to the TE's. I saved almost $10,000 CDN going with the SR5.

 

[SirWilliamGoes]

Or you could do like I did lol. My TE is nice. My SR5 was nice. If everyone here was honest they would agree 99 point something of the time they could get by with a Subaru or a Pilot or a Highlander. I use mine as a "multi purpose tool" to do everything from going on vacation to hauling 447 lbs of flat stone yesterday on my sliding tray. I also haul my bike, pull the occasional dual axle trailer and take it off the beaten path so to speak. The 4Runner, in any model except 2WD, is capable to take you to more places than your courage or common sense will allow.

Haha. U haven't seen where I take my Tacoma and what I do!? I don't go off road always but when I do its balls to the wall.

As for the dealers saying this and that, I'm the dealer!!!! SET. (Southeast Toyota) does not bring in many 4runner te's as a matter a fact only 3% are te most brought in are mag gray and blizzard pearl. They read the stats, see what sells and bring in the numbers accordingly. I think the main reason that te's don't sell is cause not too many folks want to take a 40k vehicle off road thus making the off road specific features not that intriguing however I'm the guy that says "you told me this is what it is meant for and I'm going to do it!!"

 

[LandCruiser]

I looked at SR5s and for a few dollars more I bought the Trail...

It's more than a rear diff

-KDSS
-Sunroof
-better seats
-better instruments
-LCD thing and backup camera (camera is cool for hitching trailers)
-multi-terrain selector
-downhill assist
-MANUAL t-case
-looks better
-comes with some trail armor and the front bumper fascia is higher off the ground
-FJC wheels

 

[WarnerD9]

I bought a TE, definitely like the looks more. If you an on lifting or modifying I'd say you're better off with an SR5, adding lockers and a few trim pieces. KDSS is expensive up front and a pain to modify.