Trail/Off Road with KDSS to ‘19 Pro

[Quentin]

Has anyone gone from a Trail/TRDOR with KDSS to a ‘19 Pro? I really enjoy the flat cornering from the thick sway bar setup on my Trail but the shock and spring setup is a bit harsh and unsettled on broken pavement. The Fox dampers on the Pro sound intriguing as a jack of all trades setup. Does anyone have opinions on how the two suspensions compare? How are the on road manners of the Fox suspension? Does it smoothly roll over the broken pavement or transmit some harshness like my trail does? What about cornering? Does it stay relatively flat like the KDSS allows?

Disclosure: the suspension isn’t the only reason I would make the vehicle change. I like the voodoo blue and a few other things on the Pro. If the suspension is pretty good everywhere, that could be icing on the cake.

TIA


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[YellowSnow]

:snacker:


And away we go....

 

[slprciv]

Just changing the suspension and tires on the Trail/Off Road would make it at least equally or better setup then the stock Pro depending on which aftermarket setup you get.

 

[20164runner]

I just swapped from a 2016 trail to the new pro. IMO it has a little more body roll but overall I would say the fox setup is awesome. I was worried about how it would handle but I feel like the pro can still take curves just as well. Slight nose dive when you get in the brakes.
As for the bumps it's a day and night difference. I changed my trail shocks from stock to Bilstein pros and it was better. Going from kdss with the Bilstein to the pro with fox I think the fox is superior. If you were to put the fox setup on your trail/TRDor then it will probably be better than the pro.

 

[YellowSnow]

I just swapped from a 2016 trail to the new pro. IMO it has a little more body roll but overall I would say the fox setup is awesome. I was worried about how it would handle but I feel like the pro can still take curves just as well. Slight nose dive when you get in the brakes.
As for the bumps it's a day and night difference. I changed my trail shocks from stock to Bilstein pros and it was better. Going from kdss with the Bilstein to the pro with fox I think the fox is superior. If you were to put the fox setup on your trail/TRDor then it will probably be better than the pro.

Interesting, so in your opinion based on having owned both, the Trail/OR with a capable stage one suspension upgrade from the likes of King, Icon, Radflo etc., is more capable and performs better than the significantly higher priced Pro?

 

[Quentin]

:snacker:





And away we go....

I’m specifically asking about the on road handling. It is a valid question that seems to get little play in reviews even though they live on the road 99% of the time.

I also have no intention of swapping suspensions. I like the overall package of the Pro and if it doesn’t handle like a sloppy mess on the road, I’d be game to spend the money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Quentin]

I just swapped from a 2016 trail to the new pro. IMO it has a little more body roll but overall I would say the fox setup is awesome. I was worried about how it would handle but I feel like the pro can still take curves just as well. Slight nose dive when you get in the brakes.
As for the bumps it's a day and night difference. I changed my trail shocks from stock to Bilstein pros and it was better. Going from kdss with the Bilstein to the pro with fox I think the fox is superior. If you were to put the fox setup on your trail/TRDor then it will probably be better than the pro.

Thanks for the feedback. I might have to mosey on down to take a test drive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Offwidth]

Put 6112 on the second notch, and 5100 rear with Eibach 1” lift springs, TRD pro wheels with better rubber, maybe 275/70, and you will have a better riding suspension than pro. Kdss works, including off-road.

 

[Quentin]

Put 6112 on the second notch, and 5100 rear with Eibach 1” lift springs, TRD pro wheels with better rubber, maybe 275/70, and you will have a better riding suspension than pro. Kdss works, including off-road.

I have no plan to lift or go bigger on tires. I already have Terra Grapplers in stock size on my TE and they are a good compromise between on and off road.

I’m just looking for a stock to stock on road comparison. I’d be pretty happy with the capability of either truck in stock form off-road (once I swapped out the trail’s stock highway tires, of course).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Offwidth]

I have no plan to lift or go bigger on tires. I already have Terra Grapplers in stock size on my TE and they are a good compromise between on and off road.

I’m just looking for a stock to stock on road comparison. I’d be pretty happy with the capability of either truck in stock form off-road (once I swapped out the trail’s stock highway tires, of course).

That is not much of a lift at all, and it is easier and cheaper to do than swapping cars. And it is better.

I did not like Pro ride, compared to kdss at all. Like at all. Was a now brainer to me to order 2019 Off road premium.

And Kenwood stereo I just put in with Focal speakers and a bit of dynamat all around laughs in the general direction of JBL. With proper Apple CarPlay.

But it seems you have your mind set already.

 

[YellowSnow]

That is not much of a lift at all, and it is easier and cheaper to do than swapping cars. And it is better.

I did not like Pro ride, compared to kdss at all. Like at all. Was a now brainer to me to order 2019 Off road premium.

And Kenwood stereo I just put in with Focal speakers and a bit of dynamat all around laughs in the general direction of JBL. With proper Apple CarPlay.

But it seems you have your mind set already.

It amazes me how much more people are willing to pay for shitty 17x8 wheels, black badges and mediocre Fox stage 1 suspension.....so glad I went with a Trail with KDSS.

 

[20164runner]

Put 6112 on the second notch, and 5100 rear with Eibach 1” lift springs, TRD pro wheels with better rubber, maybe 275/70, and you will have a better riding suspension than pro. Kdss works, including off-road.

It won't be better riding. It put the Bilstein setup on my trail with kdss and the pro suspension is better.

 

[20164runner]

It amazes me how much more people are willing to pay for shitty 17x8 wheels, black badges and mediocre Fox stage 1 suspension.....so glad I went with a Trail with KDSS.

Yes because the trail suspension is SO good. They have tiny ass shit shocks plus the nose dives so bad when you get on the brakes and body roll. The kdss is your saving grace. You need to upgrade the suspension to compete with the pro ride quality.

 

[billnourse]

If ride quality is the reason for the swap, why not just get a take-off Pro suspension for around 700 from someone that didn't like the Fox, and upgrade the KDSS Off Road. They you should have the best of both for a hell of a lot less than the difference between the Pro and the Off Road.

If looks is the issue as well, you can badge an Off-Road to about what a Pro is for not too much. The Pro wheels are not a plus because they are 17x7 and not rated for bigger tires. If it is one of the colors, then you are about stuck with the ridiculous price of the Pro.

Just an option. Your mileage may vary.

Bill

 

[Tejas]

I find it hilarious how every time one of these Pro vs XXXX threads comes up, how many non-Pro owners crawl out of the wood work to bash on them. We are all here as fans/owners/enthusiasts of the 4Runner platform so regardless of the trim package and subsequent suspension why would someone piss all over another's truck just because of its color/badges/shocks/etc.?

I opted to not get KDSS, it certainly has its place and it'll be on the 200-series we are buying here soon, but I have also seen a lot of issues with it as the system ages, it's not the perfect solution like some on here like to believe. Can someone buy a Trail/TRD OR and make it an overall better performing truck than a stock Pro, well duh, how many times must we beat this dead horse? Some people don't want to modify beyond stock, some simply want a certain color, or the top tier package, or better resale value, or maybe they just like the badges and wheels more, who TF cares. At the end of the day it's their money, their time, their vehicle and ultimately their individual happiness. Your opinion means diddly-squat and no matter how great one thinks their less expensive Trail/TRD OR with KDSS and/or modified aftermarket suspension is, nothing will ever make it a Pro when it comes time to sell, like it or not that's the reality.

Buy whatever makes you happy (that includes the SR5) and let the haters run their mouths.

 

[tlzkaasen]

I find it hilarious how every time one of these Pro vs XXXX threads comes up, how many non-Pro owners crawl out of the wood work to bash on them. We are all here as fans/owners/enthusiasts of the 4Runner platform so regardless of the trim package and subsequent suspension why would someone piss all over another's truck just because of its color/badges/shocks/etc.?

I opted to not get KDSS, it certainly has its place and it'll be on the 200-series we are buying here soon, but I have also seen a lot of issues with it as the system ages, it's not the perfect solution like some on here like to believe. Can someone buy a Trail/TRD OR and make it an overall better performing truck than a stock Pro, well duh, how many times must we beat this dead horse? Some people don't want to modify beyond stock, some simply want a certain color, or the top tier package, or better resale value, or maybe they just like the badges and wheels more, who TF cares. At the end of the day it's their money, their time, their vehicle and ultimately their individual happiness. Your opinion means diddly-squat and no matter how great one thinks their less expensive Trail/TRD OR with KDSS and/or modified aftermarket suspension is, nothing will ever make it a Pro when it comes time to sell, like it or not that's the reality.

Buy whatever makes you happy (that includes the SR5) and let the haters run their mouths.

Amen Brother!

OP asked a good question that turned into a sh!t-storm.

 

[jrandom]

Original test platform for the TRDP had KDSS. Most of us suspect it was removed due to costs (while also diminishing trim differences with the Trail), some say otherwise.

Stock OR/Trail does indeed come with sh!t CO’s and rear shocks but it is also a wearable, easy to replace/upgrade. I have mixed feelings about the stock ride, it is great in corners, it is comfortable in most conditions, nose dive is terrible (don’t forget crappy stock tires also amplify this effect as they deform under heavy load transfer). Having added premium suspension, the ride is an order of magnitude better, although the truck is heavy and the way the weight is balanced seems to be the issue with nose dive, while improved it still happens.

TRDP comes in some nice colors (one of the OP’s reasons for upgrade) Painting a truck to match your tastes is far more expensive than upgrading suspension. So if you want the color, just do it.

There is also the option of simply replacing current trucks stock suspension with new TRD Fox.

I would take all our opinions with a grain of salt and just go out and do some test drives, or find a rental and rent one for a week.:

 

[YellowSnow]

Yes because the trail suspension is SO good. They have tiny ass shit shocks plus the nose dives so bad when you get on the brakes and body roll. The kdss is your saving grace. You need to upgrade the suspension to compete with the pro ride quality.

Who says I’m running oem suspension....

 

[jrandom]

...17x8 wheels...

I believe they're 17x7

 

[YellowSnow]

I believe they're 17x7

Indeed....even more worthless