Trail edition not recommended for lift?

[3wbdriver]

Hi all. Sorry to resurrect an older thread, but it's what came up when I did a search. I'm new to the forum, and brand new to the 4runner. I bought a 2014 Trail Edition last week, and have been thinking about a mild 2 or 3" lift, with no real change in tire for the moment. Mostly research for now. But literally every lift kit I have been able to find specifically states "Not for the Trail edition". Have we ever come up with a definitive answer for this? I understand the Trail has all these electronic gewgaws and whatchamacallit's, but why would a simple short lift mess with them? I'd appreciate any response specifically about this. I caught the gist of the MM Act, so I'm not going there.

 

[jam23r1]

Hi all. Sorry to resurrect an older thread, but it's what came up when I did a search. I'm new to the forum, and brand new to the 4runner. I bought a 2014 Trail Edition last week, and have been thinking about a mild 2 or 3" lift, with no real change in tire for the moment. Mostly research for now. But literally every lift kit I have been able to find specifically states "Not for the Trail edition". Have we ever come up with a definitive answer for this? I understand the Trail has all these electronic gewgaws and whatchamacallit's, but why would a simple short lift mess with them? I'd appreciate any response specifically about this. I caught the gist of the MM Act, so I'm not going there.

god this came back from the dead lol good job on the search!!! but yes the lifts are working fine on the TE Runners. someone will chime in soon who as a TE.

 

[WODWorldWide]

Hi all. Sorry to resurrect an older thread, but it's what came up when I did a search. I'm new to the forum, and brand new to the 4runner. I bought a 2014 Trail Edition last week, and have been thinking about a mild 2 or 3" lift, with no real change in tire for the moment. Mostly research for now. But literally every lift kit I have been able to find specifically states "Not for the Trail edition". Have we ever come up with a definitive answer for this? I understand the Trail has all these electronic gewgaws and whatchamacallit's, but why would a simple short lift mess with them? I'd appreciate any response specifically about this. I caught the gist of the MM Act, so I'm not going there.

The toytec ultimate will ask if it's kdss equipped or not when selecting your kit. Only the trail has kdss so that's one option of many different options of lifts. Just select the kdss option when buying accessories. (That is if you bought the kdss option)

 

[Intruder]

I bought a 2014 Trail Edition last week, and have been thinking about a mild 2 or 3" lift, with no real change in tire for the moment.

No point in lifting it if you aren't going to change the tires. The purpose of a lift is to fit a bigger tire.

And yes, you can lift a TE with KDSS up to about 3" without having to do any major modifications like extending brake lines.

 

[Jeremy556]

No point in lifting it if you aren't going to change the tires. The purpose of a lift is to fit a bigger tire.

And yes, you can lift a TE with KDSS up to about 3" without having to do any major modifications like extending brake lines.

Slightly improved approach, departure, break-over angle, less dragging of the undercarriage, plus stiffer springs and damping for less bottoming out.

*Last part of that is based on aftermarket replacement suspension, not spacers.

 

[Intruder]

Slightly improved approach, departure, break-over angle, less dragging of the undercarriage, plus stiffer springs and damping for less bottoming out.

*Last part of that is based on aftermarket replacement suspension, not spacers.

Yeah, what I meant was that you're not raising the lowest part of your truck - the rear diff - without larger tires. Lots of people seem to forget about that.

 

[3wbdriver]

Lol! Thanks for the replies. Strangely enough it was a Bing search and not one of the forum that led me here. I am a member of dozens of forums, but it never dawned on me to look for a 4runner specific one.

I do plan a minor wheel/tire upgrade in the near future, but I can afford a lift now to get ready for it. I was at the dealer getting the oil changed in my Tundra when I was sucked in by a SR5 4runner with 3" (Helix?) lift and tire/wheel dealer upgrade. I test drove it and was happy with the handling, but the $7,000 price tag for the upgrade put me off. I walked the lot and found a better base equipped Trail edition for $7,000 less on the sticker and no lift. Bye bye Tundra, hello Trail. So I want to work up to the lifted version at my own pace and price. It just seemed like everywhere I looked they had that "Not for the Trail" qualifier, and I wanted to know why. As a first time question in here I really do appreciate the replies. :biggrin2:

 

[jam23r1]

Lol! Thanks for the replies. Strangely enough it was a Bing search and not one of the forum that led me here. I am a member of dozens of forums, but it never dawned on me to look for a 4runner specific one.

I do plan a minor wheel/tire upgrade in the near future, but I can afford a lift now to get ready for it. I was at the dealer getting the oil changed in my Tundra when I was sucked in by a SR5 4runner with 3" (Helix?) lift and tire/wheel dealer upgrade. I test drove it and was happy with the handling, but the $7,000 price tag for the upgrade put me off. I walked the lot and found a better base equipped Trail edition for $7,000 less on the sticker and no lift. Bye bye Tundra, hello Trail. So I want to work up to the lifted version at my own pace and price. It just seemed like everywhere I looked they had that "Not for the Trail" qualifier, and I wanted to know why. As a first time question in here I really do appreciate the replies. :biggrin2:

wow 7k for a lifted sr5 over msrp wtf????? no way for 7k you could lift, tires and armor and an air locker.

 

[Jeremy556]

It just seemed like everywhere I looked they had that "Not for the Trail" qualifier, and I wanted to know why.

They are ignorant. Probably a hundred, or more, on this board have lifted TEs, myself included. I'm running Icon extended travel coilovers with LR UCAs on a KDSS TE.

SR5 and regular TE have the exact same suspension. TE with KDSS has different swaybars. Limited has XREAS which are hydraulically connected shocks.

 

[eddiebx]

Lol! Thanks for the replies. Strangely enough it was a Bing search and not one of the forum that led me here. I am a member of dozens of forums, but it never dawned on me to look for a 4runner specific one.

I do plan a minor wheel/tire upgrade in the near future, but I can afford a lift now to get ready for it. I was at the dealer getting the oil changed in my Tundra when I was sucked in by a SR5 4runner with 3" (Helix?) lift and tire/wheel dealer upgrade. I test drove it and was happy with the handling, but the $7,000 price tag for the upgrade put me off. I walked the lot and found a better base equipped Trail edition for $7,000 less on the sticker and no lift. Bye bye Tundra, hello Trail. So I want to work up to the lifted version at my own pace and price. It just seemed like everywhere I looked they had that "Not for the Trail" qualifier, and I wanted to know why. As a first time question in here I really do appreciate the replies. :biggrin2:

Congrats on the purchase! I don't think anyone asked you this yet but...does your TE have KDSS or not? If not, then you're really not limited to anything in particular because it would be pretty much identical to an SR5 suspension (so basically whatever suspension you see an SR5 can handle, your TE w/o KDSS can handle just fine as well). If it does have KDSS, then like [MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION] said, a mlid lift should be A-OKAY

EDIT: I believe KDSS only starts to get in the way when you want to go a lot higher and/or if you're trying to get into long travel suspensions.

 

[GrantK]

But literally every lift kit I have been able to find specifically states "Not for the Trail edition".

I have a 2012 TE with KDSS and have an ICON stage 6 suspension upgrade on mine. As far as I know, the 2014 TE with KDSS is the same suspension and there is no reason you couldn't use an ICON system on it, with or without KDSS. Others have put other lift systems on TEs with and without KDSS. If you continue your (nicely done) searching here you find lots of lifted 5th gen Trail Editions and don't forget, there are lots of people here to answer questions.

*** Word of warning ***
Regardless of what lift system you decide on, warn the shop that installs it or if you do it yourself, be EXTRA, EXTRA careful not to put ANY stress on the front ABS cable (and it doesn't have much excess length to it). If you so much as look at it cross-eyed the thin wire will break inside the insulation and you will have a devil of a time fixing it!!! If it breaks your dash error lights will light up like a Christmas tree. It's happened to many people here already.

Have fun with your baby. Oh yea, I almost forgot...
:worthless:

 

[STX4Runner]

I can believe that they wanted $7K more for the lifted one. A Toyota dealer here in San Antonio had several lifted Tundras last time I went in for service. They wanted if I recall at least $10K more just for putting on the lift, tires, wheels and bumpers. You could easily buy the stock truck and do all those mods plus more for less money. Especially because these were just front spacer and rear lift block lifts.

 

[3wbdriver]

*** Word of warning ***
Regardless of what lift system you decide on, warn the shop that installs it or if you do it yourself, be EXTRA, EXTRA careful not to put ANY stress on the front ABS cable (and it doesn't have much excess length to it). If you so much as look at it cross-eyed the thin wire will break inside the insulation and you will have a devil of a time fixing it!!! If it breaks your dash error lights will light up like a Christmas tree. It's happened to many people here already.

Have fun with your baby. Oh yea, I almost forgot...
:worthless:

Thanks for that heads up! Mine doesn't have the KDSS or GPS. Otherwise it seems to have everything else.

On top is the eye candy that sucked me in. On the bottom is what I bought. I got it at North Park Toyota in South San Antonio. I'm working on a rig about an hour south of there. We don't need front plates in Louisiana so I'm already going to get a new front lower valence. They drilled 3 nasty looking holes in this one to hang that plate holder on it. I do have a bug shield, vent visors, and a Nfab step bar already ordered. Small steps. :

 

[c2one]

Thanks for that heads up! Mine doesn't have the KDSS or GPS. Otherwise it seems to have everything else.



On top is the eye candy that sucked me in. On the bottom is what I bought. I got it at North Park Toyota in South San Antonio. I'm working on a rig about an hour south of there. We don't need front plates in Louisiana so I'm already going to get a new front lower valence. They drilled 3 nasty looking holes in this one to hang that plate holder on it. I do have a bug shield, vent visors, and a Nfab step bar already ordered. Small steps. :

I know the parts manager that works there. They get all their lifts, wheels and tires through 4wheelparts (which they charge big $$$ for installs). Couple of other local Toyota dealerships do the same.

These dang stealerships... SMH

 

[STX4Runner]

^^^That's the dealership I was talking about previously! I really like their service department, but they (like all dealers) rip you off if you buy something with a lift, tires, wheels, etc. Good to see they have at least a couple of trail editions. Every time I go for service I look, but this being Texas and San Antonio in particular, they always have acres and acres of Tundras, some Tacomas and about 10 4Runners; all of which are SR5s and Limiteds and about half of which are 4x2 :-(

 

[STX4Runner]

Thanks for that heads up! Mine doesn't have the KDSS or GPS. Otherwise it seems to have everything else.

On top is the eye candy that sucked me in. On the bottom is what I bought. I got it at North Park Toyota in South San Antonio. I'm working on a rig about an hour south of there. We don't need front plates in Louisiana so I'm already going to get a new front lower valence. They drilled 3 nasty looking holes in this one to hang that plate holder on it. I do have a bug shield, vent visors, and a Nfab step bar already ordered. Small steps. :

Welcome to South Texas! I guess the Eagle Ford Shale brought you here. Who knows how long it will last, but I hope you enjoy your time here. At least it's better than being in North Dakota!

 

[3wbdriver]

Welcome to South Texas! I guess the Eagle Ford Shale brought you here. Who knows how long it will last, but I hope you enjoy your time here. At least it's better than being in North Dakota!

Yes it did, and thanks for the welcome. I've been down here off and on for the last 3 years, with a year in NM for good measure. I hope it lasts at least another 5 years so I can save up a nest egg for retirement! I may be PMing you in the near future to get an idea of where in this area I can go play with this thang on those rare times I get a day or 2 off. I'm not a hardcore 4wheeler, but I do like to get out and get dirty on occasion. :eyebrows:

 

[CowboyTaco]

Thanks for that heads up! Mine doesn't have the KDSS or GPS. Otherwise it seems to have everything else.

On top is the eye candy that sucked me in. On the bottom is what I bought. I got it at North Park Toyota in South San Antonio. I'm working on a rig about an hour south of there. We don't need front plates in Louisiana so I'm already going to get a new front lower valence. They drilled 3 nasty looking holes in this one to hang that plate holder on it. I do have a bug shield, vent visors, and a Nfab step bar already ordered. Small steps. :

You got the better end of that deal.

 

[BigredTEX]

When I bought my '12 TE the dealership had already installed an OME lift, XD wheels and 33" tires and LR UCAs. TEs are extremely difficult to locate here in Texas and I was planning to do these same mods anyway, so I didn't have an issue with the mods already being done, except for the price the dealership was adding to the overall price of the truck. I have a good friend who is the SW Region GM for 4Wheel Parts. Before sitting down at the negotiating table I called him and gave him the mod details to price out for me. He called me back 20 minutes later and quoted $3,500 out the door, while the dealer was wanting $8,000. Given that info I was able to get the dealer (reluctantly) down to $4,000, even though the 4Wheel Parts price for me was essentially an employee discount.

The good part is that all of the mods are covered by the same vehicle warranty. I've had one of the UCAs replaced beyond the 12 month manufacturer warranty. The dealer covered parts and labor.