What is a trail version and is it worth it?

[Big Murth]

Trail vs. ??

I went with my '14 Trail, essentially because I wanted the "lever-activated" transfer shifter instead of an electronically-controlling dial that is featured on the SR5 (and the Limited with it's AWD-Torsen system)....I didn't care for the prospect of an electronic malfunction and causing me to be stuck in or out of 4WD. My first 4WD was a brand new '73 Land Cruiser Wagon FJ-55, and I guess I like simplicity------also, the Trail had the rear locking differential which I think will save my bacon one of these days. All the other stuff, like crawl control, etc.,?....I've not yet even tried them. Mine's non KDSS, primarily because I couldn't wait and the 14's were drying up, and I opted for the Premium package because I felt that represented a great value. I test drove a 5th Gen the morning I arrived at the dealership with my trade-in---glad I've never driven one with KDSS because "ignorance might be bliss":wtf: I'm waiting for the Bridgestone Highway rubber to wear off, but in the meantime, I've got Budbuilt Beefy Step-sliders, and have ordered the Shrockworks front bumper. I'm getting 20+mpg in town, and on a recent trip to Oregon and 3500 miles, my wife said it was better than her Lexus RX400h, for long trips. Don't know that I'll lift it like some of the guys here have, as this is also my go-to-see-clients rig, so Mild instead of Wild rules the day (and fairly stock 4Runners do more than fairly well offroad--this is my fourth 4R):rapture::hello

 

[E-ROCKER]

I went with my '14 Trail, essentially because I wanted the "lever-activated" transfer shifter instead of an electronically-controlling dial that is featured on the SR5 (and the Limited with it's AWD-Torsen system). also, the Trail had the rear locking differential which I think will save my bacon one of these days.

I agree.
I also wanted a TE because of the locking rear diff and manual lever activated 4x4 shifter. I had an FJ Cruiser that I wheeled hard for 6 1/2 years and it did not have KDSS so I wanted my TE without it. Went to my local dealership and asked to see a trail. Sales guy showed me a Limited floor model and I said "that's not a trail". So he takes me outside and shows me a 2013 2 wheel drive SR5 and I said "that's not a trail". He shows me 3 others that are also Sr5's. So they did'nt have any TE's and they start looking at all the dealerships to find me the TE I am looking for (during this process another sales guy keeps calling it a "trail blazer, wtf?".
So in the end they traded one of their SR5's to another dealer that had a TE w/KDSS and I recieved it the very next day without even taking it for a test drive.
After adding suspension and wheeling it quite a bit I am a pretty big fan of the KDSS, on road and off it feels much better than my FJ Cruiser ever did with sway bars removed.

Some of these sales guys should just not say anything at all since they seem to misinform a lot of people. Imagine if went in there not knowing what I wanted or the differences in 4Runner models.

 

[Jhalko]

I went with my '14 Trail, essentially because I wanted the "lever-activated" transfer shifter instead of an electronically-controlling dial that is featured on the SR5 (and the Limited with it's AWD-Torsen system)....I didn't care for the prospect of an electronic malfunction and causing me to be stuck in or out of 4WD.

I hate to disappoint you but it's not fully mechanical. [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] and others have discussed this in the past. There is still electronic input when you pull that lever.

 

[1engineer]

I hate to disappoint you but it's not fully mechanical. [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] and others have discussed this in the past. There is still electronic input when you pull that lever.

Lol these guys are in for a surprise when I A.D.D. it up...

 

[Dario]

I hate to disappoint you but it's not fully mechanical. [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] and others have discussed this in the past. There is still electronic input when you pull that lever.

I think when people say mechanical they really mean manual.

To the original poster, it's hard to say if it's worth it. I recently bought a Limited because it's the wife's car and she liked the limited better. (I'm now realizing the TE we test drove likely didn't have KDSS so I'm not sure she got a fair comparison between the two. No matter - she loves her Limited.)

I would absolutely prefer a TE with KDSS to a Limited. If it were my truck that's what I likely would have purchased. I like AWD and am used to having it. But I would give that up for the other features and better clearance of the TE. So what's more important to you? AWD and a (arguably) more comfortable ride? Or something more ready and capable to go off road?

I would take an unmodified Limited into the dirt cautiously, assuming it had reasonable tires. I would take an unmodified TE into the dirt with no hesitation.

 

[E-ROCKER]

Lol these guys are in for a surprise when I A.D.D. it up...

"These guys" Look, I completely understand the way it works. Was just saying I bought mine a TE so I could have the "manual shifting lever" instead of the goofy looking "knob".

 

[Jhalko]

I think when people say mechanical they really mean manual.

I would absolutely prefer a TE with KDSS to a Limited. If it were my truck that's what I likely would have purchased. I like AWD and am used to having it. But I would give that up for the other features and better clearance of the TE. So what's more important to you? AWD and a (arguably) more comfortable ride? Or something more ready and capable to go off road?

I liked both, bells and whistles and capability, there isn't anything a Stock Trail can do that a slightly modified LE couldn't. A little more clearance for approach and departure and a locker and you are set (assuming you are like me and swapped out the 20" wheels for no cost). This is an old thread that was revived so I'm sure OP has long since found what was right for him though.
[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] always says I paid $2k for a suspension I ripped out, but I look at it that I paid about $4k for smart key, real leather, 3rd row, and full time 4wd Much easier to change suspension than add 3rd row and a center diff. It's only money right? Haha.

 

[Jhalko]

"These guys" Look, I completely understand the way it works. Was just saying I bought mine a TE so I could have the "manual shifting lever" instead of the goofy looking "knob".

Who are you calling knob?

:behindsofa:

 

[Masaro]

Went to my local dealership and asked to see a trail. Sales guy showed me a Limited floor model and I said "that's not a trail". So he takes me outside and shows me a 2013 2 wheel drive SR5 and I said "that's not a trail".....

It's sad when you go to a dealership, any dealership not just Toyota, and you know more about the cars than the guy that is trying to sell you a vehicle. Even sadder is that this happens most of the time.

 

[Dario]

I liked both, bells and whistles and capability, there isn't anything a Stock Trail can do that a slightly modified LE couldn't. A little more clearance for approach and departure and a locker and you are set (assuming you are like me and swapped out the 20" wheels for no cost). This is an old thread that was revived so I'm sure OP has long since found what was

True. Lifted LE with different wheels and a rear locker is pretty close to a Trail. And it has AWD. However it does't have KDSS, which looks pretty decent for off-road.

I just noticed you can get a Trail with KDSS and TRD suspension if you want. Not sure how TRD components compare to aftermarket. But I thought it was interesting that a TE can also be a TRD.