TRD Pro and KDSS

I wonder what's the shelf life of automotive paint?

 

The Pro was always meant to be paired with KDSS. Here's the concept truck on display:



The problem arose when Toyota realized they could not include the Bilstein (now Fox) shocks in the parts mix at the Tahara plant in Japan. Not sure why, but if you've ever seen an automotive assembly line that is 100% utilized (Toyota pioneered this) there is not a lot of wiggle room for parts mix.

All Pro trucks ship from Japan with steel wheels, factory shocks, and no roof rack.


There is a TRD team at the port that adds the Pro stuff to the truck when it arrives. The problem that KDSS presents is that it's a much bigger pain in the ass to swap the shocks. You either have to be very careful about how you extend the hydraulic pistons to get barely enough room, or take everything almost completely apart. Those extra hours and consideration eat into the bottom line.

In the end, it was cheaper to not include the KDSS at all. It is a superior system to the static swaybars that all of the other trucks have, because they're both thicker for on-road use and decouple for better articulation off-road. That's why the Land Cruiser uses it.

You can also do some tricks to make it compatible with mid-travel upgrades- end link spacers, etc. If you're going to pull everything apart for long travel or a solid axle, you are better off without swaybars anyway.

To pretend that the decision to not include it on the Pro was anything other than penny pinching is false.

 

Shouldn't come as a surprise. Tacomas have been getting trickle down Pro colors for years.

 

Depends. Spraying or rolling that new truck?

Note: lumps are acceptable when rolled

 

I think it’s pretty clear why the colors trickle down. People love the colors! They’re great. The pro creates crazy demand… and if you wait a year you can get the color you want for about $10k less money than the Pro. And the Pro buyers will still buy the next years Pro.

I was super disappointed they didn’t offer the Army Green and cement in an off road premium version (strictly for the vinyl seat upgrade).

If they offered AG, Cement, and Lunar Rock off-roads with vinyl seats, they’d sell boatloads of them.

 

Often people just don’t stop to think there’s a human on the other side of the forum posts. It’s easy to be an A hole on a message board. But most people don’t like being A holes in person. It’s just not a good look lol.

 

This is specifically why I refuse to hang out with other Toyota owners simply because we own Toyotas. If they're half the pretentious asshole that I am, it'll be a really annoying weekend.

As for Jeep owners, there's a reason this meme exists:

 

I actually thought this was a pretty civil conversation compared to some of the KDSS threads.

I have met and continued to hang around with some really great people I've met here and over at Tacomaworld. For the most part, anyone I've remained friends with long term have some sort if shared interest.

And, I'm easier to get along with than it might seem here.

 

I've been quoted as saying that I don't care if we drive Subarus or VWs, I mainly go for the people. Ironically I could care less about offroading these days unless it's something scenic, but the family I choose has been a source of constant joy.

Then again, people have come and gone from our group over the years because we didn't wheel hardcore enough, didn't drink enough, didn't "X" enough. In the end, I actually prefer camping and riding in other people's vehicles so I can do support/radio/recovery/spot.

To judge the smart ass responses on a board would indeed, however, make you think people are pretentious in real life. That just rarely is the case.

Here are two photos from Jambo. Yes, it rained. Yes, it was a mess. And yes...Jake likes pouring Diesel on fires. Notice the steam coming off his rain jacket....


As to why, might you ask, that we had a fire going in the rain.

WE ASK WHY NOT!?

 

On that same note, I have been going on trail runs and camping weekends with the "Wisconsin Tacomas" family for a few years now. We don't do anything hardcore. It's mostly old logging roads and fire roads. It's all about good scenery, getting the truck dirty, and hanging out with good people!

I've really been blessed that there haven't been any trouble makers, and everyone brings something to the table. We have run the same easy section of the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail and wound up at Potosi brewery several times a year, and it's always a great time!

BTW, I love a good bonfire in the rain as well! I'll load it up with logs to keep it going, and hide under the liftgate or a canopy tent. Sometimes it's almost more fun when it rains.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUUhDoCx8zc

 

I like my KDSS just saying

 

You have EiBach shocks. Do they give a softer ride off road?

 

KDSS is better on road and off. Fox shocks kick ass because they come with Fox stickers. Bilstein is a better suspension. KDSS and Bilstein, best on and off road.

 

guys with KDSS and Bilstein are best aren’t they

 

I wouldn't say softer, but more controlled than the oem shocks. My wife thinks my 4R rides like a dream.

 

my wife thinks I ruined her truck

 

Well I do like stickers.

 

Actually, some of the lifts are taller for vehicles with KDSS. For example, the Bilstein kits will provide a taller lift with KDSS models. You can go to the Bilstein site, put the vehicle info in and look at the kits:

https://cart.bilsteinus.com/results...id=2959553160134786713&Dr=3541355230145471404

Example (approx .5" added height for KDSS models)
Notes:
-Provides 0.7-3" Front Lift Without KDSS; 1-3.5" Front Lift With KDSS

 

The Pro Bro is supposed to be the high speed desert (desert mall) vehicle which is why it has resi shocks and no KDSS. The KDSS is only meant for more articulation.

 

Not true at all. KDSS addresses high(er) speed handling as well. Firmer ride at speed, and hydraulic sway bar disconnect at low speed.

 

By adjust it just locks up over X mph which is why Dr KDSS sells a bypass for it but generally it's just for articulation.

 

I guess I would disagree with "generally it's just for articulation". I imagine, for most people, 99% of the time they are driving "on" road, where KDSS provides better handling than non-KDSS models. KDSS basically keeps the vehicle from experiencing additional body roll, "on" road, by keeping the stabilizer bar pressure static. The, far less frequent, time off road, it provides for a stabilizer/sway bar disconnect, giving the vehicle better articulation. That only happens at very low speed and infrequently.

 

Right, kdss at high speeds is calibrated for on road driving. Turd pro is more suitable for higher speed driving in the desert.. it’s bad on pavement, compared to kdss

 

I don’t know how much I trust that dr kdss deactivation mod.. was the kdss system ever designed for the hydraulics to move around, while kdss is disabled, and vehicle is moving at a high speed? Potential negstivd side effect for the kdss system?

 

I got the bypass but haven’t installed it. Basically it will function like a shock when unlocked. I’m not sure if this is detrimental to the system or not. He is also developing a larger replacement.

 

That is definitely my impression having owned both a '21 Venture without KDSS and a '23 TRD Off Road with KDSS. KDSS has greatly improved highway speed stability.

 

When locked it just acts like a large sway bar. Have you seen how massive it is?

 

That’s a good question. What speed can you safely go up to with kdss disconnected?