2021 Nightshade vs TRD Pro

Hi guys, title says is all.

I have offer to pay $4k and get my hands on TRD Pro. My question is - Is it worth spending that much more, or can I put that money to improve the Nightshade.

Planning to go once a month for off-roading with kids (primarily OHV trail)

Any kinda civil comments/suggestions are welcome

 

The reason I have a Limited is its easy for my wife to drive no having to switch back and forth to 4wd (since its full time 4wd) in winter time. Having 7 seats is added bonus when my parents fly to my house.
Limited / Limited Nightshade requires bit of work to make it serious offroad like getting 17in wheels and tires. A mild lift.

Buying Pro has its own good things as well. Like special colors, good suspension from factory.

I do have a TRD Offroad as well with mods that better than a stock TRD Pro.

 

If you value the AWD you can't beat the Limited. For 4k you won't make the Limited as capable as the Pro due to lockers, crawl control and MTS, which you don't have the option to add (lockers you can but $$).

Personally, stick some nice looking tires on the Limited and rock it like it is. It's a beatiful truck in Nightshade and it's great as is. By the time you need the fancy gadgets you'll be in a pretty solid obstacle. You can trail ride plenty with open/open 4Lo and ATRAC.

Also, for what it's worth the suspension on the Pro is really good, but it's only 1" lifted in front and 0" lift in rear so you're really not getting much. You'll need to do some mods to get it up there. We did it with a friends 2020 AG Pro and it wasn't too bad, but just letting you know that stock Limited vs stock Pro isn't really a height difference.

 

When I checked front lockers for mine mid last year I got 2 options to choose from.

1. Harrop e-locker - $1500 estimated (part + labor)
2. ARB air locker - $2500+3000 (depending on the compressor) estimated (part + labor)

So I would assume if the OP wanted locker both front + rear the cost would fall around 4K mark.

But definitely have to spend for lift, wheels and tires first.

Then full skids + sliders would cost another good amount of money.

 

I don't anticipate taking on very difficult trails, being a newbie, but you never know I am leaning towards keeping Nightshade, as most of my driving is going to be around city and highways, and based on all the readings done so far, Nightshade would be better suited for that.
I definitely prefer the TRD 17" wheels over the factory 20" ones, so that's one thing I am going to get done in next few months if not weeks. I asked my dealer to swap and he refused clearly, stating he cannot sell the Nightshade ones as new.
Any recommendations on where to get the TRD wheels from, and which tires to put on for daily driving ? Also, where can I offload the Nightshade ones, other than eBay ?

 

Keep the night shade. Spend the $4k on wheels and a lift

 

I got a Nightshade due to mostly on road driving, as most people do, and I wanted the Limited options. Also, wanted the 7 seat option for same extended family seatings needs occasionally. I love my truck, people compliment it all the time. As for the off 20” wheels, I think they look sick. For winter, I got 17” gloss black wheels and aggressive snows, also looks very TRD like for the season. Can’t go wrong with either option though!

 

I drove both. I think the pro rides better but I don’t like super stiff feeling suspension. The pro will not feel as good to you around corners if you like how yours handles. Otherwise interior is mostly the same except you get air conditioned seats which is one thing I would love. Based on the kind of off-roading you say you’ll do id bet your nightshade will do just fine without any lift or money in the suspension. Maybe just a second set of rims and tires if you wanna keep the 20’s scratch free. Most stock 4 runner suspensions are more than capable for most situations. This is all my opinion and everyone’s needs are different.

 

Chose the nightshade over the trd pro last night. But also I'm a pavement princess

 

So I just got the call that the Nightshade arrived on lot. I am planning to pick up probably on Sat.

 

Welcome from Arizona!

 

If your dealer has any options to swap the 20in wheels to 17in wheels it would be awesome. (Atleast I personally like 17s better)

 

wasn't a huge fan of the 17in wheels which leaned me towards the limited as well.

 

I can understand.

Fun fact, in Limited all wheels (including spare) are alloys vs others the spare is a cheap steel wheel. Even I didn't knew until I removed them.

 

Dealer flatly denied my request for swapping Nightshade ones with TRDs. I will get 17" eventually.

 

TBH I am not sure what that means haha but My Tacoma had TRD wheels that I assume were the 17inch rims but for some reason the 4runner made them look smaller so I opted for the 20inch wheels

 

For add ons it's not too hard, but that's a factory installed item so it's unlikely to remove. The best they could do it make a deal for the wheels at a discount and swap em.