TRD's w/ KDSS - Lower Ground Clearance???
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mteolus
New member
Yes. TRD Pro 9.5 inches, TRD OR w/o KDSS 8.5 inches, TRD OR with KDSS 8.0 inches.
The vehicle doesn't actually sit lower than a non-KDSS OR, but the front skid has to drop down an inch to avoid the KDSS.
I installed a 3 inch lift on my KDSS and got 4" of lift so now I sit at 12".
The vehicle doesn't actually sit lower than a non-KDSS OR, but the front skid has to drop down an inch to avoid the KDSS.
I installed a 3 inch lift on my KDSS and got 4" of lift so now I sit at 12".
Jetboy
New member
Need to go measure at the dealer side by side.
TRD Pro skid fits on KDSS model. So no question that same ride height = same clearance as TRD Pro.
KDSS area is not the lowest point on the front skid plate.
So... unless KDSS models have shorter front springs... they should be about the same as other models. Springs have changed numerous times throughout the 5th gen production model years. I do not know what changed between years. Earlier KDSS models had different springs left/right and different shocks from the non KDSS. I think now they are the same left/right and same shocks as non KDSS. So it may be year specific.
This is a KDSS skid plate. Where would you say is the lowest point?
Do you think that point is lower or higher than this non-KDSS skid?
Mutant138
Banned
Be interesting to read where those numbers are from.
This is false. It only appears lower because the skid plate the non kdss skid covers less going toward the front of the vehicle.
Have a look see yourself.
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thennen
New member
The only number I’ve ever seen in Toyota’s documentation is 9.6”. I believe that’s every 5th Gen 4Runner, but maybe they state that KDSS is lower somewhere. I think the rear diff is the low point.
johnbt
Member
2019 Toyota 4Runner Strengthens Legacy in 35th Year | Toyota
"All four-wheel-drive models offer a generous 9.6 inches of ground clearance. All 4Runner models come with a full-size spare tire."
layball:
:laugh:
"All four-wheel-drive models offer a generous 9.6 inches of ground clearance. All 4Runner models come with a full-size spare tire."
layball::laugh:
progress4m
Member
x2 on that!
thennen
New member
I'm sure you're correct regarding ground clearance measured at the skid - gotta assume you are since I have no first-hand experience. I think the 9.6" of ground clearance Toyota claims is measured from the lowest point on the vehicle. I don't believe the skid plate is the lowest point on a 4Runner, but I may be wrong. I think it's the rear diff.
MAST4R
New member
Honestly, [MENTION=118321]Jetboy[/MENTION] 's insistence made me doubt my own measurements from last fall, but the nearby dealer had no KDSS vehicles right now on my way back!
I am pretty sure, like you, that Toyota does not measure ground clearance at the skid plate but rather at the rear diff both because it is 9.6 there and because the lowest I have measured on brand new SR5 and my brand new TRD non-kdss was 9.2 at the skid plate under the oil pan.
There was a thread by a guy in, I think, Denver who posted about being very disappointed at measuring 1" less than advertised after delivery of a KDSS 4R but I cannot find it.
EDIT: found it, confirmed, 8.6 vs 9.6 exactly as I measured it last spring.
Nowhere near the advertised ground clearance
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thennen
New member
Gotcha. Thanks for looking up the info. I don't have KDSS, and I won't be wheeling in the near future, but good to know for future discussions. And other guys on here may appreciate knowing. Probably other automakers make similar measurements.
Front skid extends further but not lower. Still hit front valance first for approach. This is with RCI aluminum skids.
I have no idea how you got your numbers. KDSS bar sits higher off the ground than many other bits.
And it improves articulation and road manners by a lot.
SierraMare
Member
My 2015 KDSS Trail had 9.00” minimum clearance at the skid. I put in a 2” lift and got clearance at the skid plus some.
mteolus
New member
I measured mine after I bought it at the lowest part of the front skid. 8". That's how I know. Exactly where that was on the skid plate, I can't remember. Regarding the 8.5 for an non-KDSS OR I was basing this on posts I have seen on this forum for those that own one. Regarding the 9.5 for TRD PRO, I based that off of many posts saying the front end suspension on the TRD PRO gives an additional inch.
And I think I read the TRD Pro front skid plate will fit on a KDSS equipped OR. It doesn't.
And I think I read the TRD Pro front skid plate will fit on a KDSS equipped OR. It doesn't.
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Jetboy
New member
TRD Pro skid fits on KDSS models. No problem. Mounts to exactly the same mounting spots as it does on other models. If clearance was an issue - KDSS skid would be exactly the same as every other model with the same front suspension height.
TRD Pro skid is about 1" higher than the differential skid (which is the lowest point on all models). So is the KDSS skid. You can see here how the KDSS skid is level with the front lip of the differential skid behind it. Then the differential skid is stamped and drops approximately 1" further.
You can also see that visually pretty well here on a non KDSS model:
Or a KDSS model
You can see that the lowest point is the diff skid cover. Which is shared across the board.
That is consistent with the fact that the cross member directly anterior to the differential is about 1-1.5 inches lower than the front cross member.
As far as I can tell - there's only one possibility for this confounding information. Toyota makes two different KDSS models. One that has a low skid plate that I've never seen - they must not sell in the western USA, and one with a higher KDSS skid plate that they do sell in the western USA that these photos are of. Or... it's not actually lower.
Also - with some careful rock crawling you can smooth out that differential skid stamping for a little extra ground clearance! Free!
TRD Pro skid is about 1" higher than the differential skid (which is the lowest point on all models). So is the KDSS skid. You can see here how the KDSS skid is level with the front lip of the differential skid behind it. Then the differential skid is stamped and drops approximately 1" further.
You can also see that visually pretty well here on a non KDSS model:
Or a KDSS model
You can see that the lowest point is the diff skid cover. Which is shared across the board.
That is consistent with the fact that the cross member directly anterior to the differential is about 1-1.5 inches lower than the front cross member.
As far as I can tell - there's only one possibility for this confounding information. Toyota makes two different KDSS models. One that has a low skid plate that I've never seen - they must not sell in the western USA, and one with a higher KDSS skid plate that they do sell in the western USA that these photos are of. Or... it's not actually lower.
Also - with some careful rock crawling you can smooth out that differential skid stamping for a little extra ground clearance! Free!
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mteolus
New member
TRD Front Skid Plate 5th Gen 4Runner, 5th Gen 4Runner KDSS Skid
So in other words, it does not fit, but of course you can modify it if you want to. That means metal cutting.
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Thai
Elite Member
FWIW, my Lexus GX 460 ground clearance is 8.1”.
I have NEVER trusted Toyota’s numbers because they fudge a lot. When i had my 2002 4runner, Toyota quoted 11” ground clearance......trust me, it was NOT even close to that! Toyota has always been loose with their claims.
Lexus, on the other hand, has always been conservative with their numbers.....and generally real to life.
I have NEVER trusted Toyota’s numbers because they fudge a lot. When i had my 2002 4runner, Toyota quoted 11” ground clearance......trust me, it was NOT even close to that! Toyota has always been loose with their claims.
Lexus, on the other hand, has always been conservative with their numbers.....and generally real to life.
Jetboy
New member
Yes. It does require cutting. If you can't cut a KDSS skid - offroading is definitely not for you.
The cut skid was also the first TRD Pro skid on the OG TRD Pro:
Also the KDSS skid isn't really made for harder trails either. Mine lasted one trail trip. But I do like the design - so I made a custom steel version - also required metal cutting:
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