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Difference in ride between models?

Discussion in 'General Tundra Discussion' started by Jshift, Mar 4, 2020.

  1. Mar 4, 2020 at 8:33 PM
    #1
    Jshift

    Jshift [OP] New Member

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    Hey there. New guy here

    I have a long winded question if you all have some insight that would be helpful

    I have been a Toyota fan for as long as I can remember. A couple of Tacoma’s and more than a couple of 4Runners and then sprinkle in a few Yaris with the matrix and Corolla for the kids and wife.

    I currently drive 2018 4Runner TRD off road with kdss which leads me to my question.


    I previously owed a 2017 4Runner SR5 the ride was soft and comfortable. It probably had to much nose dive from the factory but nothing That bothered me or I couldn’t get used to and drive accordingly.

    any way longer story still I traded it in on the 18 4Runner with KDSS. The ride is dramatically firmer and corners well etc. But firm on broken pavement nonetheless. The wife doesn’t enjoy the ride as much as the SR5

    that all being said I don’t know much about Tundras

    My oldest daughter bought a 2018 Tundra sport Crew max (has the two hood scoops?)with TRD sway bars and maybe the sport tuned shocks?it rides rough on the broken pavement of the Canadian Prairies

    I am seriously considering a jump to the Tundra before the possible upcoming changes. We have always owned and driven body on frame Toyota’s so not looking or expecting a couch like ride

    So the question is


    which model from the factory would have the smoothest ride for broken pavement/on road use 98% of the time and 2% gravel road/off road exploring

    or do they all ride like the crew max sport model with the sway bars etc.

    yeah I know, long winded. Excuse the formatting spelling don’t know what happened there.

    Thanks for the help.
     
  2. Mar 4, 2020 at 8:41 PM
    #2
    Jshift

    Jshift [OP] New Member

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    Thanks. Much better title
     
    Bob likes this.
  3. Mar 4, 2020 at 9:09 PM
    #3
    shellshock

    shellshock Guy who drives a lot

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    Smoothest ride from the factory is the pro. Followed by the off-road.

    the sports are more stiff for that “sporty” feel.

    not sure where the limited, platinum and 1794 land in the spectrum. Probably more towards the softer side.
     
    Bob and Marty McFly like this.
  4. Mar 7, 2020 at 7:29 AM
    #4
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    Everyone's different so your best bet may be to take your wife along and test drive two or three different models back to back. Just make sure you take them on drives that are representative of where you'll be driving and not the salesman's pre planned optimal route.
     
  5. Mar 7, 2020 at 9:24 AM
    #5
    Rockgate

    Rockgate New Member

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    Like others have said. The TRD Sport (what I have) is for on road handling. Has rear sway bar and upgraded front sway bar. Also comes with 20's for less sidewall flex. The Pro is probably the plushest for aggressive off road. 2in higher front for more travel. The TRD Off Road for less aggressive off road. On the SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum, and 1794, without and package will have the same ride off road. I believe the only difference is the wheel size. SR and SR5 having 18's and the other trims having 20's. Off road, I wouldn't think there would be a huge difference cause the wheels sizes,unless you are fast traveling on a bumpy road. On road the SR and SR5 will ride smoother over little bumps/varying terrain, from having taller sidewalls and absorbing the impacts. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is right.
     
    Boerseun likes this.
  6. Mar 7, 2020 at 9:40 AM
    #6
    frichco228

    frichco228 Valued Member

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    Best ride, stay away from 20 inch wheels.
     
    Saltyhero13, WFD473, TTund16 and 5 others like this.
  7. Mar 7, 2020 at 9:43 AM
    #7
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I can verify that the Limited with TRD option comes with 18" rims.
     
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  8. Mar 7, 2020 at 10:24 AM
    #8
    BlueBottle

    BlueBottle not a PRO

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    I’d say the pro has the best ride. You can always buy whichever model you want and put bilstein 6112 and it will be dramatically cheaper than the pro.
     
    Rockgate likes this.
  9. Mar 7, 2020 at 10:35 AM
    #9
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

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    Carry some weight in the bed, and the ride will magically smooth out.
     
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  10. Mar 7, 2020 at 10:46 AM
    #10
    Moon Puppy

    Moon Puppy I'm not new!

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    My '18 SR5 had aftermarket 20s and I thought it rode pretty hard, not to mention I never got the alignment right (because the wheels didn't have matched offsets I found out later).
    In a Limited '20 with 18" factory wheels, TDR Off Road and it's a far smoother ride.
     
    Black Wolf likes this.
  11. Mar 7, 2020 at 11:34 AM
    #11
    Rockgate

    Rockgate New Member

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    I guess I put "and" instead of "any". If your truck was not a TRD OR, it would have 20's.
     
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  12. Mar 8, 2020 at 9:13 PM
    #12
    Jshift

    Jshift [OP] New Member

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    Thanks so much for the input and advice greatly appreciated and makes some good sense.

    Looks like test drives will definitely be on order. That Pro sure looks good.
     
    Boerseun likes this.
  13. Mar 8, 2020 at 10:37 PM
    #13
    pickeledpigsfeet

    pickeledpigsfeet New Member

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    My sr5 with the black shocks rode super soft. No sharp jolts at anytime. My kings are sharp on the street but can handle the big potholes better.
    I swapped my kings off my old truck, then put 2” spacers on the stock black shocks and put them on my old truck, so I could trade it in. My son drove it for a week after having driven it for a year with the kings and said it rode way better.
    So my vote for softest is the stock sr5 black shocks.
     
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  14. Mar 8, 2020 at 11:11 PM
    #14
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    i think TRD off-road package makes for a stiffer ride ... Most don't use it or need it.
     
    somadbamos likes this.
  15. Mar 8, 2020 at 11:20 PM
    #15
    BrownieT

    BrownieT New Member

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    Buy a sr5 and put some king coil overs and shocks on. Unbelievable ride, maybe even 17” wheels so you can get rubber in between you and road.
     
    WFD473 likes this.
  16. Mar 9, 2020 at 2:57 AM
    #16
    toyofan87

    toyofan87 Beer thirty

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    Welcome from Gettysburg
     
  17. Mar 9, 2020 at 4:50 AM
    #17
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

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    While I don't disagree with any of the above posts about the difference in ride between different models; in the end it really does not make a difference. It is a truck and it is going to drive like a truck - over time that small difference that the shocks makes are insignificant to the whole driving experience. I test drove a regular SR5 (same shocks as the non-TRD Limited and Platinum), TRD Off-road and my TRD Sport. The Pro was not available at the time so I can't say anything about that, but as far as the others I would say the difference is negligible - I would have bought any of them. I bought the Sport because of the color matched grill & bumpers; ride difference had nothing to do with my decision. Every road is different and sometimes I am on the highway and sometimes I am off road. I can't let the shocks determine my choice because conditions change all the time and some are slightly better on road and some slightly better off road - in the end they are all good.
     
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  18. Mar 9, 2020 at 5:46 AM
    #18
    ninjajay

    ninjajay Posting from the toilet

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    Limited, Platinum and 1794 ride exactly the same as lower trims with base or TRD shocks depending what they come with. The only significant difference across trims is the Pro
     
  19. Mar 9, 2020 at 5:55 AM
    #19
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    The question then becomes if you think stocks and some decals are worth $20k...
     
  20. Mar 9, 2020 at 6:05 AM
    #20
    FWC

    FWC New Member

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    Now, I haven't driven the Pro so I can't speak to that but I have had an 07 SR5 DC, a 14 limited CM with TRD off road and now a 19 Platinum CM with the 20 inch rims. The 07 was a nice riding truck felt like a truck, the 14 was a big improvement with bells and whistles, better ride but had hard seats. I just got back from a 2000 mile trip with the 19, 13 hours straight thru each way. No seat fatigue, road and cornered so much better than my 14, even my fiancé noticed the difference in the 2 trucks. Rear anti sway bar is a big part, no off road suspension and I think the particular Bridgestone ALenza tires add into it. They are definitely more of an open road comfort tire vs a truck tire. Again, drive the different models and see what you think.
     
  21. Mar 9, 2020 at 6:18 AM
    #21
    ninjajay

    ninjajay Posting from the toilet

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    the Pros are based off the Limited, so a Pro at MSRP vs a Limited at invoice is going to be more like $8k. $3k for shocks, $1.5k for exhaust, and $3.5k for the bed stamps and badging
     
  22. Mar 9, 2020 at 6:19 AM
    #22
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

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    I think tires make a bigger difference than shocks.
    2 factors:
    - 18" vs 20" - the 20" has less sidewall and will therefor be less absorbing when you hit a bump or pothole.
    - P-rated, LT-rated etc. - a 10-ply all terrain tire at 40psi will be much stiffer than a OEM road tire at 30 psi.

    Often people put new suspension and tires on at the same time and then blame the suspension for a hard ride when it is actually the tires.
     
    15whtrd likes this.
  23. Mar 9, 2020 at 8:26 AM
    #23
    Bergmen

    Bergmen New Member

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    This is my impression as well. I have a 2018 2wd TRD Off-Road package and the ride is a bit stiff. Fine with me, I very much like the agile handing but it is uncomfortable for my wife. She has a gel padded seat cushion that smooths the ride out for her. OTOH, my 2wd 2006 SR5 Tundra was (and is) very smooth riding. My daughter has it now.

    Dan
     
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  24. Mar 9, 2020 at 2:33 PM
    #24
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    Ah, thanks. I thought the Pro was based on an SR5.
     
  25. Mar 9, 2020 at 3:28 PM
    #25
    ninjajay

    ninjajay Posting from the toilet

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    17 and older Pros were indeed based on SR5, they stepped it up a bit with the 19-20
     

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