Coming to 4Runner from Tundra - Need Advice on Model

Have been in a Tundra and loved it since 2010, but no longer need a pickup truck. Have always liked 4Runners I've rented and ridden in. Ready to make the switch!

Very open on advice on which trim and year to go for.
- Live in coastal Northern CA but like the desert a few times a year. Like rough roads but not into rock crawling.
- Do a long drive to the Midwest once a year, so want a smooth ride on the interstate.
- Even though I am not a big time off-roader, I like the look of a rugged vehicle.
- I have a strong budget but don't like paying a dealer markup... (and hate dealing with dealers in general)

For trim: I'm focused on these two options but open to suggestion:

1. TRD ORP with KDSS and upgrades to suspension, wheels, rack, grille, etc to give it more "Pro look" ..... or....
2. TRD Pro, but with full length aftermarket rack

Bonus Question: Go for the latest model year, or is there a recent year that is a "sweet spot" in terms of features and value? (I can afford new but will go with low mileage recent year if value is there!)

Thank you to all you 4Runner vets for any inputs.

 

Any of the 4R's are going to be solid vehicles. We're you on the Tundra forum?

 

Yes... very helpful crowd over there. Bought a 2022 last March, but just haven't clicked with it. Trying to sell it now on CL

 

Based on these 2 points I would vote for a non KDSS model with regular / more flexible sway bar.

Aftermarket suspension with 2 adjusters will also help on desert type of driving. My ELKA 2.5 with dual adjusters absorbed shocks extremely well. I used softer settings on the dials as I love softer ride. I bet Fox2.5 with dual adjusters would give same good ride comfort. I see Dobinson MRR have 3 adjusters. I've heard good things about BP51 as well.

Edit-
Limited with stock XREAS suspension is the most comfortable suspension on 4runner lineup but I don't know how much beating it can take on the desert type of driving. But I really like the Full time 4wd on Limited especially in Winter. But Limited does not have rear locker like the TRD Models. I think some folks have installed aftermarket lockers on Limited.

If 3rd row is a requirement both SR5 and Limited have that option. I personally love 3rd row option and practically use it when my parents visit me.

Both SR5 and Limited have more load capacity over TRD models as well if extra load capacity is one of your requirements (since you are coming from a Tundra).

 

Yeah the 22 is definitely not my thing. I have a 2020.

 

Traded in my 2008 Tundra in 2016 on Trail Edition. Loved the Tundra but at 170k it was starting to have some issues. I absolutely love the 4runner, and very happy I went with the TE. I do all of my own upgrades so it was the best choice for me financially. I would recommend a Prinsu rack and a utility trailer and you'll have replaced all of the needs you had with a bed, but not sure how to replace the acceleration!! Haven't gone the route of the supercharger, and not sure the $$ justify the results.

 

Pedal Commander does wonders for the 4R.

 

I go with option #2 trd pro. Then get the kdmax tune to help the acceleration.

Enjoy your purchase

 

Anything without xres, they will leak worse than the Lusitania on washboard roads.

Enjoy the new toy!
Cheers
Mike

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! ORP w/o KDSS.

 

Coastal northern California. That says Mendo or north to me. Where? I lived in Eureka for 5 years. I'm not a fan of Mid-City if you are near that area; I actually bought a few vehicles from Grants Pass Toyota in Oregon and was super pleased with them.

Re: your question, if the PRO look is your thing then I would just buy the PRO, add a rack, and be done. If you buy an ORP and then start throwing money at it you will be in PRO range pretty fast. Downside to the PRO is the higher cost of admission and the relative scarcity. Upside is it's cool, and resale is higher. As to model years, newer is better but if you want certain colors you are gong to have to buy certain years (ie Inferno, IMO the best color ever made). I have no experience with KDSS but it already sounds like you'd be redoing a non-PRO suspension so I'm not sure you'd reap any benefits from the KDSS (?).

I've made the "coastal northern California to midwest" and the reverse trek many times in the 4R and even on 285 ATs and a relatively budget lift without KDSS it was a comfortable and pleasant drive, except for every 270 miles when I would get ass raped...

As far as off road / desert goes, any trim will do that nicely, with only a tire upgrade. I spent a fair amount of time in the mountains and also did several trips to the Mojave and DV areas and the 4R was always a unstoppable billy goat. Most recent was 2021, did the Mojave Road:

https://meefzah.smugmug.com/March-2021-Mojave-Desert-trip/

 

If the PRO look is exactly what you want, then go for it. With the PRO, you're paying for better shocks, dual climate control, and some cosmetic things. Otherwise, you can get a better suspension on an Off-road and still save money over a PRO.

It you drive on a lot of rough roads, I might actually go with a non-KDSS ORP or get a KDSS controller to open the valves at higher speeds, and go with a good aftermarket suspension. KDSS doesn't actually improve ride quality. It does reduce body roll significantly in curves, and does seem to improve stability in some situations.

 

KDSS maintains its benefits with aftermarket suspension, but it really depends on what people want out of it.

I still love the extra stability in curves. But, I'm not sure if the added articulation is worth having my front skid so low so far forward. It seems that it should be most beneficial in rocks, but I bash my skid into rocks all the time. So, I sometimes think I'd be better off in a non-KDSS with a sway bar disconnect.

 

Thanks for all the comments... much appreciated and helping me with my decision.
No one has commented on whether there is a certain sweet spot in terms of recent years, or has this grand old design just not changed that much since, say 2019, and it doesn't matter?

May be easier to find used than new...especially with my aversion to dealer markup.

 

People here love to help!

As far as a sweet spot; it kinda comes down to tech options VS safety nannies. The newer ones are getting more safety features, which some members find annoying. But, they come with a better infotainment system, I believe.

The drivertrain hasn't changed, and suspension has changed very little. I fact, I believe the biggest change has been the PRO switching from Bilstein to Fox a few years ago.

 

the only big change was 2020+ you get Toyota safety sense, some models have smart key, and they all get Apple CarPlay. Otherwise mechanically the same. They haven’t changed much and from what I have read the model years are all really reliable. Newer might hold its value more. When I was on the hunt all the 2020+ were a lot more expensive. So I went with a 2018 ORP and will just add an aftermarket headunit.

 

This has been a nuisance on my 22 tundra, but I have been able to turn off the most annoying features (like lane assist - if I want to wander all over the lane then I want to wander!). I like the smart cruise control, panoramic video rearview, and rear cross traffic alert (been hit while backing out of a parking space with my old Tundra). But it is really annoying when I've been driving for three hours and a little steaming coffee cup comes up on the display with a reminder that I might be due for a rest stop. Gimme a friggin break all right.. If my bladder is holding then I'll damn well decide when to stop. Talk about a nanny truck! (ninny?)

 

this is why I like my 18. No Nannie’s. But I plan on adding a Sony 9500es from trail grid pro for better sound and CarPlay.

 

Can't blame you. Not sure what Toyota was thinking, but that thing is hideous!

 

Now wait a minute! Let's not get cruel! The look actually does grow on you and the <22's are instantly looking dated IMHO. Once I color-matched the truly hideous chrome mustache and deleted the other chrome, I can tell you I've had guys drooling over it. It's probably going to cost me over 10K to dump this thing, so don't make me feel like a bigger fool than I am!

 

If you are able, drive a Pro then an ORP with KDSS. Over bumpy roads and higher speed curvy roads. See what you prefer for the handling. I’m glad my ORP has KDSS.

 

Yeah, having a hard time finding a new Pro to drive, or even an ORP for that matter. Most dealers around here have no or little 4R in stock. But good advice, will pursue.

 

I mean, KDSS is nice, but a lot harder to get ahold of sometimes. Sounds like you just need an SR5 or SR5 premium with 4wd. Then use all the money you saved for the add-on bs. Pro's are just mall crawlers. TRDOR/P would work too. When I got my TRDOP, the TRDORP all had 5k in extra packages, so I decided seat heaters and a moon roof weren't worth 5k. I would say if you could find one with kdss, and do not plan to lift it much, get that. Wonderful ride. Not everyone needs a 6" lift and long travel shocks. As far as a sweet spot year, I would just try 2020+ and see if you can find a nice deal there. Having Apple Carplay and Android Auto is super nice. Good luck!

 

KDSS is something I am exceedingly glad to have, but certainly a different strokes for different strokes scenario.
That said, when I lived in Humboldt, considering the roads, I thought it great to have.

Now that I live in Hawaii, I remain quite glad to have it and figure a 2.5-3 inch lift is good enough. That said, pretty amazing how many lifted 4Runners there are around here sporting twice as much of a lift.

Due to the injuries sustained when my first ‘21 4Runner got destroyed after having it for one day, I am only just now getting after going in that direction after spending a pretty hefty amount of money gutting the audio system and needing a DSP to workaround the factory h/u. That said, I cannot say enough just how much joy having a pretty no holds barred audio system brings.

 

ORP + KDSS unless you want to lift it. But my recommendation is #1 mostly stock, I think you'll find a lot of the "rugged" features ultimately degrade performance, unless you are looking for long travel suspension (which you suggest you aren't).

That said, all of the Pro models like nice right out of the box, although you will definitely pay a premium for it.

 

You're in CA? Find a dealer somewhere else that sells at MSRP and fly there, probably cheaper than the markup that seems prevalent in CA.

I'd go TRD-ORP, swap the shocks and coils for Dobinsons and call it good. You'll be way under what a Pro would cost...

I'm trading a 2015 F150 for a 4Runner this month (once it shows up). Love the truck but don't need a truck right now and it has almost 160k miles, it's the last remaining tie to my former (married) life and its just time for something different.

 

Check and see if the auto expo is coming near you anytime soon. Usually Toyota will participate with test drives at these to show off the new models.

I’ve owned a 2016 Limited and currently own a 2020 Pro. The 2 things that I can’t go back to on the 2016 are the nicer/ larger infotainment and radar cruise control on the 2020. I do miss the memory seat function of the limited.

 

Thanks again folks, appreciate all the comments.
Decided to go 2023 TRD ORP, Lunar Rock!
Massive search for three days on phone, across three states... That combo of trim and color is extremely rare and in high demand. One dealer had 20 orders ahead of mine and said I was unlikely to get one this year. Others quoted 6-8 months.
But the harder you work the luckier you get, so I stuck to it and struck gold on the 15th dealer. 400 miles from home. They had two coming in and only one spoken for. Mine will have KDSS, and some other factory/port options. Dealer will switch wheels to TRD black, add skid plate and black emblems. Keeping Falken Wildpeaks for now - will be 95% city driven, rest desert roads, not rock crawling.
Due in about 3 weeks and I am 'cited!

Already shopping aftermarket for rock rails or running boards, heritage grille, new black bumper valences (silver?? really...come on Toyota), and rack upgrades (mine coming without crossbars). This forum very helpful with AM upgrades... but specific recommendations always welcome!

Side note: Have decided to keep the '22 Tundra for now. I went out and drove some '23's and honestly, there is no comparison to the new Tundra in terms of smoothness of ride, acceleration, cabin quiet and comfort, electronics, huge 14 inch display, etc. It is the perfect vehicle for long trips and hauling trailers. I drove a new 4R Pro and the Tundra over the same crappy roads a few minutes apart and there was no comparison. So, I may end up with the Tundra for the heavy work and 4Runner for fun!