TRD / SR5 capability comparison?
- Thread starter Tony31
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meder24
New member
There is lots of discussion on the difference between trims on this site.
Below is a link to a thread that lists the primary differences between the trims.
This is for the 2015 models, but you do not indicate what year you are searching for.
5th Gen Features/Models/Differences
Below is a link to a thread that lists the primary differences between the trims.
This is for the 2015 models, but you do not indicate what year you are searching for.
5th Gen Features/Models/Differences
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Jetboy
New member
Rear locker and KSSS are the big highlights. If you don't know what a locker is, you're probably not going to go where you need one. KDSS was a must have for me. Ymmv. Test drive one with and one without KDSS. It's night and day difference. See if you want it.
mteolus
New member
TRD Off Road and Pro versions have Crawl Control and rear lockers. That makes it more capable off road than the SR5 or the Limited. Just watch some YouTube videos of someone using Crawl Control vs. not having it. That's really the biggest difference. KDSS is also a feature on the Off Road (does not come with Pro) that is designed to enhance its off road capability by giving it more articulation at lower speeds.
Jetboy
New member
Crawl control is actually a very useful feature for people new to offroading. It's also a get out of jail free card in the sand. I rarely go where it's sandy and have never been stuck in my 4runner in the sand. It's ideal for my wife behind the wheel. And twice I've found it to find a solution where I couldn't in wet rocks.
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This.
Whippersnapper02
Senior Member
WAT4R
New member
Not quite right... it's designed to enhance on road handling while still allowing for articulation off road.
mteolus
New member
So are you saying that KDSS does not allow for more articulation off road?
Been going through this same discussion a lot.
The rear locker isn't super important, I can always add one after-the-fact if I want. Crawl control and MTS aren't must-haves but could be nice if/when needed.
KDSS is the thing that keeps pulling me back to Trail/Off-Road. I want that on-road handling aspect without sacrificing off-road. Still baffles me why Toyota kept the XREAS on the limited instead of going with KDSS when they stuck it on all the GX's and LX's...
The rear locker isn't super important, I can always add one after-the-fact if I want. Crawl control and MTS aren't must-haves but could be nice if/when needed.
KDSS is the thing that keeps pulling me back to Trail/Off-Road. I want that on-road handling aspect without sacrificing off-road. Still baffles me why Toyota kept the XREAS on the limited instead of going with KDSS when they stuck it on all the GX's and LX's...
Cadesun
New member
Correct, I really notice the KDSS at highway speed in corners where the body does not roll as it does without it. It also helps on washboarded dirt or gravel roads. After changing over to a KDSS model, I don't think I would ever go back.
That said, it is my wife's DD and my vacation toy so if you are mostly looking to go off-road maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal.
Bumbo
New member
While I think crawl control is interesting, I don’t think it’s necessary. Personally I think it actually takes away some of the fun factor when going out and wheeling.
One thing I learned in my years of being on the trail and in the deserts, there is no replacement for good ole fashion seat time and driver skill. That said, I can see why it appeals to a lot of people who may be new to the sport. I used to get stuck a lot when I was new, especially in the sand, now I become a lot better.
Lots of hard lessons, having to dig my truck out with a shovel for 2-3 hours helps accelerate the learning process. You learn what not to do pretty fast. It’s poor technique that got me in trouble in the first place, crawl control is not going to fix that.
I didn’t buy my 5th gen for an off-road rig, I have my 4th Gen for that, but if I did with the intention of going crazy on mods, I would probably buy the SR5. KDSS needs to come out anyways for LT, lockers I would add when I did gearing, and crawl control is just another electronic things to break over time. Simplicity in a true off-road rig is a beautiful thing.
One thing I learned in my years of being on the trail and in the deserts, there is no replacement for good ole fashion seat time and driver skill. That said, I can see why it appeals to a lot of people who may be new to the sport. I used to get stuck a lot when I was new, especially in the sand, now I become a lot better.
Lots of hard lessons, having to dig my truck out with a shovel for 2-3 hours helps accelerate the learning process. You learn what not to do pretty fast. It’s poor technique that got me in trouble in the first place, crawl control is not going to fix that.
I didn’t buy my 5th gen for an off-road rig, I have my 4th Gen for that, but if I did with the intention of going crazy on mods, I would probably buy the SR5. KDSS needs to come out anyways for LT, lockers I would add when I did gearing, and crawl control is just another electronic things to break over time. Simplicity in a true off-road rig is a beautiful thing.
WAT4R
New member
It does allow for more articulation off road in the sense that if it wasn't there with the KDSS heavy sway bar, there wouldn't be much articulation happening. Now whether there's a measurable difference of a few mm over non KDSS, I dont know.
Jetboy
New member
There is an increase in articulation off road as well. And more importantly balance. It actively balances weight among the tires. It's a somewhat effective implementation of the holy grail of offroad suspension design (forced articulation). It's more than just soft sway bars. There's a lot of information on this forum about it. If you search you'll find more than you probably ever want to know. In the video below ("current Prado = non KDSS 4Runner, "New Prado" = KDSS 4Runner). You can see how significant the difference is.
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mteolus
New member
Exactly, therefore it increases the off-road capability of the 4Runner vs. the SR5. For that matter even the Pro. But it does limit the amount of lift you can put on it and it does weigh quite a bit. I got mine for the increased off road ability, but the on road benefits are good too.
If you consider the re-sale value of the Trail/TRDOR/Pro models compared to the SR5, then the additional features and capability are essentially free. Better to have and not need than need and not have.
Plus... HOOD SCOOP.
You will forever have an inferiority complex about your SR5 when you get passed by another 4runner with their hoodscoop. They ARE looking down on you.
Plus... HOOD SCOOP.
You will forever have an inferiority complex about your SR5 when you get passed by another 4runner with their hoodscoop. They ARE looking down on you.
