GX550 E-KDSS flex test

Significantly better than our KDSS, but still less than the mighty 200 series. But 200 series has a longer wheelbase so let's be fair to GX550.

https://youtu.be/NFaOqVmun2A?si=gZFFMZ4Q_MzQE_dz

 

The new Land Cruiser when disconnected did slightly better, but I like the comfort of kdss

 

200 series has the same 112" wheelbase as the 250 series/GX550

 

Wow! Well, in that case 200 is still the King of Flex. Isn't it amazing how the stock 200 is smashing almost everyone on the ramp lol

 

These two are amazing but then unbearable as daily drivers to an old guy like me. I am fine with less flex but KDSS's way more comfort.

 

I'm kinda surprised the GX550 with KDSS flexed slightly less than the Land Cruiser with SDM. KDSS in principle frees both the front and rear sway bars so you'd expect it to flex better. I guess the KDSS piston ran out of the travel? Maybe that's why the LC200 is outflexing everyone - there was more room allocated for a longer KDSS cylinder? Just speculating here.

 

I wonder what RTI score my truck would get. Sway bar has been deleted, but wheelbase is longer at 127.4". Didn't have a tape measure with me when I went up this ramp, and the ramp has since been dismantled for the steel...

 

I'll take my Dobi's long travel shocks and a deleted front sway bar any day of the week...
But I'm biased

 

I'm sure it's nice on the trail. But, I appreciate having a sway bar on the road. KDSS is a pretty brilliant compromise. The front actually behaves like a sway bar delete in front, though it does lose a little flex in the rear.

 

I agree with that. KDSS is a fantastic system. And I'm excited for the new version!

That said though, if you have heavy coils or the ability to adjust dampening in the front shocks you can help fight body roll.
Another factor that contributed to my front sway bar removal are how weak the links are. I've seen these links break and total CVs.
This isn't a problem with KDSS due to the swaybar's location. Without KDSS though, it was a consideration.

I could have upgraded the links for a few hundred dollars. Or remove the sway bar. So I decided to remove it.
With my suspension setup it hasn't been a problem personally.

However the on road benefits of KDSS are a very real thing and I won't argue that at all!

 

GX550, being a Lexus, is supposed to flex less than its Toyota version I guess, like LX570 was outflexed by LC200. I am curious to see the flex of the 300 series.

Well, here we go, 300 series flex.

https://youtu.be/yZL2Q-C3nVQ?si=HXKqpSLmU1w0DiBz

 

Ah the revered bumper articulation mod

 

lol doesn't help with articulation but it does keep you from ripping it off on every decent obstacle xD
I've since welded up a steel bumper. That picture was taken a week before the tubes came in so I didn't want to damage the bumper cover.

Took 10 minutes to remove the bumper so it could stay safe at camp

The setup now is better. Flex and armor

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3M5QPwVvIYg

 

Too bad they aren't using a ramp. 600 mm = 23.6".

23.6" / 112.2" / sin(20) x 1000 yields a score of 615. However, it isn't accurate because the forklift forks aren't directly under the contact patch, for safety reasons. Actual score would be less. Why doesn't it flex as well as the LX600? Because that particular LC300 trim tested in the video isn't available with KDSS. KDSS is only offered on the flagship AUD $156k GR Sport trim:
https://www.toyota.com.au/landcruiser-300/prices
https://www.toyota.com.au/-/media/t...t-v2.pdf?rev=47ed83f51d5e4c20aa43434dee8b4d9f

 

lol @ $156k ...

 

^$156k Australian dollars, but yes still a lot. That's why overlanding is a big deal in Australia - a built rig is paid with a mortgage...

 

Fully loaded LX600 is $135,000, US Dollars.

 

So KDSS is a Lexus only feature now, that sucks.

 

Assuming the tire has a 34.6" unloaded diameter, scaling by pixels I end up with a height of 29.4" above ground. 29.4" / 127.4" / sin(20) x 1000 yields a score of 676? Probably some error with pixel scaling.

 

It appears to be rubbing hard at that much flex.

 

^One millimeter clearance to the cab mount, which is pretty good for 35" tires



Ask any wheeler, any real wheeler. It don't matter if it's a millimeter or a mile. Clearance is clearance.