You KDSS bros are going to be pissed! - Comparison video with non-KDSS truck

I'm in Texas where 4Runners are imported & distributed by Gulf States Toyota. When I was buying I heard that they specify almost no KDSS units for import. And that matched with what I saw in the Texas inventory...

 

San Francisco Bay Area seems to be 2/3 of all OR/ORPs or so with KDSS. Multi Terrain Monitor or rear Sliding Cargo Deck? Not a single one .

 

For real. Don’t think I saw a single KDSS/cargo deck OR/ORP/Venture last Summer. I suppose given the area that likewise dealers would want to stock highly optioned models.

 

Here is a nice, clear install video of the Dr. KDSS On/Off switch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lttwrVL0Dk

 

I had the general manager of Toyota of Dallas tell me they couldn’t get KDSS. That it wasn’t an available option in our region, not even if I wanted to “special order”. So I purchased out of the region.

 

It was a big letdown, but a reality check of the state of ordering a new vehicle during the current supply chain shortages. The dealer seem genuinely convinced he could order one with those options when I first called him (not just trying a Lost Leader game), but as the process evolved, and Toyota Corporate wasn't getting back to him, he realized there was no flexibility on ordering ANY of the packages that weren't pre-installed before the vehicle made it to the dealer. He said he couldn't even add a TRD Black Wheel package if I wanted it. The sad thing is, just like KDSS or a Moon Roof, both the MTM and cargo deck can't even be ordered to be installed later.

 

Exactly what I was told for the MTM camera system or Cargo Deck. But I wasn't in a position to take the extra time to hunt one down and wait, or travel far. Great you got what you were looking for!

 

If you can buy from CO its the opposite. KDSS is so common here.

This is my fav dealership and they don't charge a markup. When I check last time 13 out of 14 ORP on the inventory are KDSS.
https://www.mountainstatestoyota.com/

 

Wow, 15 ORPs! Seriously jealous...they had one with KDSS and the Premium Plus Package, which includes the MTM camera system, grr!

 

I have purchased 4 Toyota's from them and have very good experience with them. They were the only dealership had non KDSS when I was looking. Everything communicated via email and it was a well worth 1hour drive for me to get a Non-KDSS. For those who want KDSS in luck as they have KDSS all the time.

 

Got KDSS for the highway handling. Very little body roll. The local dealer gets a few KDSS but MTM is a unicorn. Gave up on the MTM and stuck on a nice front camera myself.

 

It just makes me hopeful my local dealer can get what I want somewhat faster. Looking in his system of what comes into NY port he didn't think too many kdss 4runners were being produced, so thought it could take a while. Maybe he can get one of these that normally ships to the west coast sent out here instead

 

The camera wasn't a deal breaker like KDSS was for me. At least there are camera options for the front and Always On rear camera, but side mirror bottom cameras would have been nice to give the bird's eye view with predicted path for getting in and out of our tight garage, parking spots, or narrow trails.

 

Too bad mtm comes with a premium package that includes softex. We already get softex in the ORP so 850 bucks for some low resolution cameras doesn't seem like a smart investment

 

The package name is a bit confusing...there is a Premium Package, and Premium Plus package. But all ORPs already have Softex, so kinda redundant.
From everything I've read, the cameras aren't great, but good enough for certain situations.

 

What area of New York? Seems like the dealer by me is pretty good at getting the vehicle you want if you wanna...wait.

 

Seemed like anything you could build on the website in your zip code they would hit the build button on.

 

CT, but they all come in through NY port. Not sure i'm using the right terminology but what's available here is based on NY area inventory

 

Yes, I ordered my build 3 weeks ago at a good msrp dealer

 

I’m ordering one in Tennessee and the dealership I’m working with has had kdss in 1 out of the last 80 4Runners that have come through. Rear sliding cargo deck is slightly more but still pretty rare. I wanted lunar rock/KDSS/cargo deck/moon roof and they told me I had like a .01% chance of getting that haha

 

Shame as East Tennessee has a heap of roads where KDSS would help. Just the thought makes me nostalgic for having vehicles that shine on Tail of the Dragon.

 

My thoughts exactly. Lots of twisting, winding roads through the hills and mountains that KDSS would be great for.

 

I was able to get just what I wanted (ORP, KDSS, MTM, Army Green) but I had to wait, and I had to pay … reading the experiences of others here I guess I was lucky.

The so-called “Build and Price” tool is false advertising.

 

"Build and Price" is such a tease!...how long did you have to wait?

 

I started looking in November. Put down a deposit in late December. The boat docked on January 10th. I took delivery on the 4th of February.

 

Not too bad, at least compared to what the dealers have sometimes suggested the wait could be. Congratulations .
How do you like the MTM?

 

I was in somewhat of the same situation when I bought my 2021. I'm in NJ and it seemed like it was impossible to find a model with KDSS which is what I wanted. To my surprise Pennsylvania Toyota dealers at the time were loaded with KDSS equipped 4Runners. The dealer in NJ got it transferred to his dealership and I made the deal. Check out the PA dealers.

 

Will do, thanks

 

That’s a question that opens a can of worms. The short answer is that I find it useful and worthwhile. But I have some comments.

I wish the camera images were higher quality. By that
I mean that I wish they were less blurry and less distorted. The 360° overhead view on my wife’s VW Atlas is amazing, so I know it can be done.

The camera views are laid out differently on the center display depending on whether the transfer case is in high or low range, and on which view you’ve picked in the selected gear range. Some of these layouts are not useful in my opinion. Others are adequate. None are stellar. There are camera layouts available in high range that I wish were available in low range. There are a variety of superimposed guidelines that animate with the vehicle’s course or the position of the steering wheel. I haven’t played with the system enough to decode the meaning of the lines or whether or not accurate and useful information can be gleaned from them.

Perhaps the most frustrating thing is that use of the mtm system is limited to speeds of 7mph or less. In practice what this means that the camera view winks on and off as the vehicle speed changes. Apparently Toyota doesn’t trust us to look away from the screen when it’s appropriate. It’s annoying. I wish the speed limitation were set a little higher.

Finally, there’s a nifty artificial horizon that comes up as part of the display. I wish it could be displayed by itself on the multi information display above the steering wheel.

As I said at first, and in spite of these negative observations, I find the system serviceable and adequate.

 

Sounds like it was probably worth the effort to track down, glad you were successful. If anything, it should be useful in tight parking lots.