what off-road capacity do I need?

[pauldavis]

Um, SR5 stands for Sport Rally 5 speed so it is obviously the best off road choice. Doing Rally stuff is way more hard core than "trail" stuff and TRD Pro just stands for Professional Turd. Toyota just took took out the "u" and giggles every time someone buys ones. They laugh really hard when some buys a brown one. Plus the SR5 is the only one with a third row... think about it! It is so the Trail and Pro drivers have a ride after they get stuck.

 

[Cheers!]

No. The limited offers a 3rd row.

It's the one that is best. Only released in limited batches to preserve the model's awesomeness.

 

[pauldavis]

But it even says it is Limited in its name?! Meaning it is limited in what it can do...

 

[look171]

The SR5 is way more capable off road truck then my lil' old 4 cylinder Toyota 4WD truck from 1985, That truck's been all over the desert out here. Oh sure, its been stuck many times, but that was all my fault. I learn how to drive with that little thing. It took many years of screwing around and exploring how to get over things. Its had an open diff. There are tricks to over come that. From what you described, my lil' will fly through it, so getting a new SR5 will be fine. That's what I do with my truck now. No more beating up vehicles.

 

[Deuskid]

What state are we talking about here OP?

I live in NY, and the most extreme, legal roads/areas you can drive would be doable with a SR5.

SR5 will suffice for for 95% of the situations you will encounter, even out west. And considering that your end goal is to get to a suitable parking spot to then get out and hunt, I don't see the SR5 as a compromise or step down from the Trail in this situation.

Trail does give you a locking diff. Someone else mentioned wider wheels too, though I'm not sure on that myself. Locking diff is great and definitely gives you some added confidence for some of the more technical driving you might encounter. But then again, picking the right approach and using a little more gas can probably get the SR5 over similar terrain.

To sum it up, I've seen Crazy subaru owners take their low-clearance, AWD, no low-range Outbacks up some ridiculous jeep trails....granted they're crazy and likely see some serious repair bills, but the SR5 is more than capable of getting through most of the terrain you will or might even potentially see.

I'm in MO, the St Louis area but hunt away from the city.

 

[Deuskid]

Or a hitch-mounted cargo carrier.

^

This is exactly how I plan to haul in my deer. This year I used a friends OLD explorer [a real explorer] and dragging them into the cargo area was a pita.

Hitch-mounted cargo carrier is the way to go!

 

[Deuskid]

My vote is get what you want/like, either trim will be sufficient. I can imagine an important feature when hunting in a colder climate may be heated seats, so that may be a priority to you over a locker.

Do want heated seats and will install aftermarket if the trim level I choose doesn't offer them. Not going to be locked into a certain trim model only because of heated seats tho.

Far easier to add heated seats than switch out a drive train, imho.

 

[Ammomac]

i'm not far from you in CoMo - had my runner a year now - I would have kept my FJC if it would have had heated seats/mirrors

coming from the FJC the crawl, locker, and the manual transfer case lever along with the heated seats/mirrors were mandatory (personal preference)

I looked all around mid-Mo for a trail and stumbled on to an unclaimed TRDP and it filled the bill.

For whatever reason I have yet to find a trail model on a lot here in over 2 years of drive bys

Any trim level will do what you've asked for so now its just finding the one that has the options

 

[phillyd2]

If you can't off road the SR5 then try more harder :yo:

 

[wfo9]

The SR5 is way more capable off road truck then my lil' old 4 cylinder Toyota 4WD truck from 1985, That truck's been all over the desert out here. Oh sure, its been stuck many times, but that was all my fault. I learn how to drive with that little thing. It took many years of screwing around and exploring how to get over things. Its had an open diff. There are tricks to over come that. From what you described, my lil' will fly through it, so getting a new SR5 will be fine. That's what I do with my truck now. No more beating up vehicles.

LOL, that old 1985 will walk circles around pretty much any 5th gen off-road..... The problem with all these newer trucks is that they have way too much ground pressure. And most users make that problem a bit worse by adding lots of additional weight.

 

[Jetboy]

Do want heated seats and will install aftermarket if the trim level I choose doesn't offer them. Not going to be locked into a certain trim model only because of heated seats tho.

Far easier to add heated seats than switch out a drive train, imho.

You probably already know this - but if not - the choice between heated seats or not is really the choice of whether you want the sunroof. I believe across the board if it has a sunroof it will also have heated seats. If not, it has neither. I originally wanted to add heated seats and katskins to a base trail, but a trail premium was what I ended up with due to supply availability and my desire for a white one.

There's a few other things like mirror lights on the premium too, but it's basically sunroof, fake leather, and heated front seats.

 

[cjacob316]

Do want heated seats and will install aftermarket if the trim level I choose doesn't offer them. Not going to be locked into a certain trim model only because of heated seats tho.

Far easier to add heated seats than switch out a drive train, imho.

For me, the only way I would get leather, is to get it conditioned, so the Limited would be on my list above the premiums. I can see a lot of advantages to you getting a Limited. Conditioned leather for those warm summers, heated leather for the cold winters, full time 4wd for most days hunting and the ability to go into 4lo when needed. Also the smart key system would be nice while hunting so you wont have to dig keys out to get back into your truck with your hands full or gloves on.

 

[Dalko43]

Or a hitch-mounted cargo carrier.

I've considered getting something like that for my own hunts. Is there the potential to get into tongue load issues with that kind of setup?

Tongue load for the 4runner trailer hitch is something like 500lbs I believe.

If the metal carrier and animal carcass exceeds that weight, is there a potential for problems, or am I misinterpreting the tongue load restriction?

 

[jwkilgore]

I've considered getting something like that for my own hunts. Is there the potential to get into tongue load issues with that kind of setup?

Tongue load for the 4runner trailer hitch is something like 500lbs I believe.

If the metal carrier and animal carcass exceeds that weight, is there a potential for problems, or am I misinterpreting the tongue load restriction?

Yes, it's possible, but unlikely. The carriers weigh between 35 (aluminum) and 100-lbs (super heavy-duty steel). Most good ones have a 500-lb limit, which matches the vertical limit on the 4Runner. Being conservative and subtracting the weight of the carrier from the load limit, even a steel one leaves you 400-lbs for deer.

Assuming you field-dress (you do not want bacteria-filled guts stewing inside the carcass for the drive home), that easily leaves room for two large deer. Or three little southeastern whitetails. Or even one really massive trophy northeastern whitetail or northwestern muley (again, field dressed to reduce weight). You may get into weight trouble if you try to transport an elk or moose, but I don't think either of those would physically fit on a cargo carrier.

Basically, if you can get it to physically fit on the carrier, weight shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Seattle206]

I've owned my SR5P for a year now. I was in the same boat as OP, except I just wanted any model 4Runner and didn't know the TE or TRDPro models existed at the time. I should have done research first. I just went straight to the dealer and wanted a reliable SUV that had the best price, which was my T4R!

If I could go back I'd get a TEP w/o KDSS only because of the hood and the valance pieces. I think extra plastic trm makes the body look "complete". Useless, yes, decreases approach/departure angles and risk getting hung and ripped off but looks cool! Now I'm purchasing all the TRDP plastic trims just so the bumpers don't look so naked. Oh, and the creature comfort features are a must for me.

I don't have use for a locker, or haven't yet since I owned my rig. If I need one then I'll add an ARB locker to it, another excuse to have a nice onboard air system installed. My SR5 is very utilitarian and takes me to all my outings w/o hesitation. I don't do any hardcore, rock crawling, scape up my skids/body type of four wheeling. I do hit lots of forest roads/mounds and trails when I go fishing/hiking that your typical AWD Subaru or any CUV won't be able to access.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Honestly, go check out all 3 models and spend some time looking at each. I little bit of reading on the Toyota brochure will give you the highlights and you can decide which is best for you.

IMO from your use description any model will fill the bill for what you are looking for. I have a 2015 TE, My sons wife has a 2015 SR5 and I have looked at the Limited quite a bit. All fine vehicles just subtle differences.

The Trail with KDSS is definitely the model to go with if you want all the offroad goodies but from your description of what you will use the vehicle for the SR5 should be more than adequate.

I should note if you get a chance to test drive a KDSS Trail, do so. There is a distinct difference in handling on road as well as off.

 

[Quentin]

Honestly, go check out all 3 models and spend some time looking at each. I little bit of reading on the Toyota brochure will give you the highlights and you can decide which is best for you.

IMO from your use description any model will fill the bill for what you are looking for. I have a 2015 TE, My sons wife has a 2015 SR5 and I have looked at the Limited quite a bit. All fine vehicles just subtle differences.

The Trail with KDSS is definitely the model to go with if you want all the offroad goodies but from your description of what you will use the vehicle for the SR5 should be more than adequate.

I should note if you get a chance to test drive a KDSS Trail, do so. There is a distinct difference in handling on road as well as off.

I put my KDSS trail through the motions today on a twisty WV backroad. It isn't my FR-S, but it is quite tidy for a 4700lb BoF SUV.

 

[Deuskid]

I put my KDSS trail through the motions today on a twisty WV backroad. It isn't my FR-S, but it is quite tidy for a 4700lb BoF SUV.

The other vehicle in my garage will be a Mazda ND. I'm think'n when I want to zoom zoom it'll be the choice. When I want to fish or hunt, 4Runner for the win.

YMMV

 

[Quentin]

The other vehicle in my garage will be a Mazda ND. I'm think'n when I want to zoom zoom it'll be the choice. When I want to fish or hunt, 4Runner for the win.



YMMV

I enjoyed the ND that I test drove. The wind noise with the top up combined with the fact that WV really isn't convertible friendly made me not regret my FR-S. Plus, I can haul my bike and 3 year old in the FR-S.

 

[Ezlife45]

But the Limited comes with push button start and ventilated seats...:hatsoff: