Finding a premium ORP with KDSS isn't easy.

I've been in the market for a 2020 ORP premium WITH KDSS. Considering this nifty sway bar gadget is ONLY available on the ORP you would think more people want it. Its a deal breaker for me as it drives like a completely different vehicle. Every dealer I've called in upstate NY does have ORP premiums but without KDSS. Grrrr!

I know lifts are limited but I don't care. Just a leveling spacer and some aggressive tires are all I'm looking for.

 

I have KDSS on mine, and for sure it would be a deal breaker for me as well, now that I’ve experienced how it works. You can still get a couple of inches of lift with it, and if you need more than that you’re better off in a dedicated rig anyway. My 4 Runner is my only vehicle, and it does double duty for civllian purposes and needs to be fast, smooth, safe and comfortable on big highways as well as having off road capability.
Hang in there, runner fan 82, I’m sure one will reveal itself eventually, somewhere!

 

If you really cant find one just remember if you change your plan to include upgrading the shocks and springs to add a lift this will help the ride of a non KDSS 4runner considerably. I test drove all 3 and preffered the Pro upgraded suspension over the KDSS and the non kdss ones I drove. Of course its all personal preference but something to think about.

 

When I purchased my 4runner in January of this year, the salesman told me that there would be fewer KDSS equipped vehicles available in 2020.

 

wonder why when its such a popular addition.

 

Forgive my ignorance on the matter, but is there a way to tell if it's equipped? Purchased my '18 ORP back in March, and haven't really had time to mess with it other than driving to and from work.

 

Look underneath at the sway bar. Should also be on your sticker it was extra $.

And worth every penny.

 

It’s a light on the bottom right hand corner of the dash when you first start up.

 

I have a 2020 Venture with KDSS. I went with this set up over the PRO based on several test drives. I had to order the Venture and wait. The process was a pain. Mostly due to the lack of customer service and follow up from the dealership. The dealership wants to sell you what’s on the lot. It’s a business. I get it. It is just not customer friendly. If I had to do it all over again I would still get the same ride but would have gone through a different dealership.

 

I might be the only one on this, but I don’t like the kdss. You could use that money saved towards a good lift/suspension.

just my two cents.

 

I don’t think that you are the only one. Otherwise there would be a higher demand and Toyota dealerships would bring more into the states.

 

But a good lift w/KDSS is even better.

 

I like my KDSS and would get it again.

I am pretty sure you can order a Runner the way you want it.

 

Eh, to each their own.

 

As others have stated, expand your search.

Back in Oct 2019, I set out to purchase a new 4Runner - first I looked at used ones with the options I wanted and found them within 250 miles of me to be slightly ($2000-$4000) less than the price of a new one with 30K+ miles on the odometer, so I changed my criteria to include a brand new one with 4 must-have criteria

• 2019 TRD ORP (now last year's model, without all those 1st model year 2020 electronic nannies)
  
• KDSS
• sun roof
• within 1000 miles of where I live

Color didn't matter, other options would be negotiated with a firm $0 since I didn't want any other options. I emailed dealers, asked for quotes from online car sales sites, and kept searching. Like others above have stated, lots of no responses, some sales crap trying to sell a different vehicle, some automated spamcrap emails, and just a couple of eager sales people.

I finally found a Barcelona Red one exactly spec'd as above on a dealer's lot with under 10 miles on the odometer. I contacted them immediately and started a conversation with a very reasonable salesperson. We came to terms on a price and did the paperwork back and forth electronically. They agreed to hold the vehicle based on our paperwork and the fact that I could be there in less than a week to pick it up.

Then we negotiated a trade in on the vehicle I would drive to them to pick up my 4Runner. They offered a fair market valuation (not excellent, but not terrible) based on what I knew that vehicle was worth and what it's depreciation looked like.

The following weekend I drove 951 miles out there and 951 miles back just missing some snow storms (lucky me since the OEM Dunlops I found to be utter crap in snow, slush, and ice once I got it back home).

So yeah, expand your search and be firm on what you are looking for, you'll likely find it. Around where I live, the majority of new 4Runners for sale are Limiteds.

 

Vehicles with KDSS as an option (if you believe Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_Dynamic_Suspension_System

 

Yeah i pulled the trigger on a 2020 MBM ORP premium without kdss. Kdss cost more than the Bilstein 6112s up front, 5160s out back which im ordering with haste. Apart from that moderate lift im thinking 285 KO2s. If im honest the truck is about perfect otherwise.... maybe some LED headlights... then I'm done

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA LIAR! Get ready...

 

The way the talk is going, a new set of Bilsteins will give your OR the same capabilities on and off road as one with KDSS. Not true.

I know there are those who don't want KDSS, but by saving the cost by not getting KDSS, so you can get a different suspension, you also lose all the benefits. Which won't be duplicated with new struts & shocks.

To each his own, though.

 

And, don't bother getting LED headlights unless you plan on spending a couple grand on complete replacement housings...LED bulbs in the stock housings, meh.

 

Just my opinion on this. No disrespect meant.

The most important thing in/on a offroad vehicle is the driver. Of course driver skill is important but driver confidence is the biggest thing IMO. Many buyers have no idea how capable their truck is. For the majority of people the vehicle capabilities far exceed the drivers confidence level to climb/decend a steep grade or cross an obstacle. This is hard to explain but its quite simple. Most people wouldn't have the balls to cross an obstacle the vehicle can easily manage. Watching videos of people with balls doesn't help because the video NEVER does a grade or obstacle justice.

All that said i don't think KDSS vs a quality aftermarket suspension makes much of a difference. 3" lift with 285s on Bilsteins FAR exceeds stock OR or PRO capabilities. Thsts us, of course, if the driver has the balls to pull it off. KDSS is cool don't get me wrong. But there's alternatives to increasing wheel travel and eliminating sloppy on road performance.

 

Everyone I know is telling me the same thing! "Ah yesh tires and a lift and im done!"

My friends "bulllllshit!! You gonna get the (enter T4R cool guy parts here), just start a tab at your favorite website"

 

Not disputing the rest but I'd like to know what alternative can do what KDSS can do on-road.

 

Bilstein, Foam cell, ICON among others make good kits/lifts. They dont just lift the vehicle, it improves ride, rebound, cornering, ect.

I know you know but kdss is just fat swaybars that auto-disconnect based on conditions. Body roll is absolutely reined in with better shocks and springs while also increasing wheel travel.

If you plan on keeping your OR stock than KDSS is a no brainer. If you know you're throwing tires and upgraded suspension at it, KDSS becomes irrelevant.

 

As someone who's owned 2 non-KDSS 4runners and rode in like a billion more, including 1 KDSS 3" lifted (yea....) and 1 KDSS stock on stock tires.

It's not noticeable when you put stiffer springs and different shocks. If you're staying stock it's really beneficial. But for the $2k upcharge, you can typically spend that much on a sweet suspension.

However, the 2" - 3" lift limitation isn't really a big deal on KDSS, as you really don't want to lift your T4R more than that anyways unless you're not really offroading it.

But honestly this will just devolve into a Pro vs ORP and KDSS vs Non-KDSS argument eventually, with the sides who paid more or saved more trying to justify it...I'll lump the XREAS in there too, just to stir the pot.

Both are fine, you'll get better body roll control stock with KDSS, while maintaining a plusher ride. But I skipped it cause it wasn't available and I'm super ambivalent about it, knowing I was about to alter my suspension dramatically.

The only actual point that hasn't been made is less = more, and I like less coupled, oil based systems (XREAS and KDSS), but that's 100% preference. I think both systems are super cool, but I like my archaic dinosaur truck which doesn't require frequent dealership visits...unlike my Ferds and Chevys. (not to suggest KDSS is unreliable btw...I don't know of any of my friends who had it having an issue, other than fitting skidplates and moving the bracket for lifting).

 

In order to get the off-road flex without KDSS, you would need to remove at least one sway bar, or both. If you remove your sway bars, you definitely won't have the cornering stability it provides.

It's also fine for lift up to 3" or so. If you're lifting any higher than that you're probably ditching your sway bars altogether anyway, so it's definitely not worth the money in that case.

Also, I'm lifted on 285's with KDSS.

Exactly. I'm not saying that everyone should have it or want it. But, it seems like a lot of the people who speak negatively about it don't actually understand what it does.

 

Have you owned both? And driven both off road?

 

Nope, owned 2 non KDSS, but have driven my friends 2016 Trail KDSS with BP51 off road at ... um... speed. Also trail riding with him, i'll find a pic, the difference in flex is minimal when you're dropping off 2 feet rocks honestly

Edit: If you're asking if I've wheeled KDSS bone stock. Nope. We don't tend to leave things stock long enough to make it to a trail haha.

 

Haha oh man, this doesn't show any capability of the KDSS, but this was the guy's truck who had it. WHAT A MESS. I hate mud. That tire had about 20 lbs of mud in it....