Traded in modified SR5 build for Trailhunter.

[emerson]

Found an awesome deal on a Trailhunter and had to snag it. Started the deal right when the dealer opened. Had 2 others come check out the 4Runner while I was finalizing the paperwork.

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[Scrappopatamus]

Congrats on your new purchase. Curious what your first impressions are with differences in your previous SR5 and the Trailhunter?

 

[MikeD]

Your SR5 appears to have a number of mods. Am curious about how that affected trade-in value.
I’m seeing at least the following:

• Lift (surprising side by side difference with T-Hunter that starts out with slightly lifted suspension vs. SR5 - so am guessing its at least 2+” lift from upgraded shocks - very curious what specific kit and how this affects trade-in)
• TRD Flat black wheels (?)
• ditch lights
• rear side molle panels

For “removable” add-ons like ditch lights and molle panels are they part of trade or not?

I am planning to keep my 25 TRD ORP for a long time, but a switch to Trailhunter is a remote possibility and am curious about trade impact and strategy on mods Like yours.

 

[emerson]

Congrats on your new purchase. Curious what your first impressions are with differences in your previous SR5 and the Trailhunter?

Came from a 2022 TRD Pro Tundra before the SR5 4Runner. Definitely nice to have the tech, features, and improved interior. Ride quality on the Trailhunter is very soft and too cushioned but very comfortableride. The SR5 feels more planted and surprisingly felt better with the Bilsteins 5100. Swapping out the springs and lifting on the OME struts possibly this week. Hopefully that will stiffen the ride. Will update when I install the springs.

 

[emerson]

Your SR5 appears to have a number of mods. Am curious about how that affected trade-in value.
I’m seeing at least the following:

• Lift (surprising side by side difference with T-Hunter that starts out with slightly lifted suspension vs. SR5 - so am guessing its at least 2+” lift from upgraded shocks - very curious what specific kit and how this affects trade-in)
• TRD Flat black wheels (?)
• ditch lights
• rear side molle panels

For “removable” add-ons like ditch lights and molle panels are they part of trade or not?

I am planning to keep my 25 TRD ORP for a long time, but a switch to Trailhunter is a remote possibility and am curious about trade impact and strategy on mods Like yours.

Didn't have any tools. Returning on Monday to remove the lights and molle panel. I tried to get the tires swapped but they said couldnt be done. Might try to find some stocks and see if they will swap stocks for the wheels I traded in with.

 

[Joe Dirt]

That's what I always tell friends that start to mod their trucks extensively. Keep your factory wheels and make sure you can pull off all of your exterior accessories as well. Suspension upgrades are the worst because they are a real problem to bring back to factory specs. All my 4Runners went down the road with beautiful Bilstein suspension, wheels and tires only to take it as a upgrade loss.

Dealerships they will use that as a sale enhancement but will detract that from your trade in price. Wheels are the worst for devaluing a car especially if they're not a factory OE.
Just my two cents! Good luck with the new truck!

 

[Silver Bullet]

Nice! How much did you lose on the trade? (Outside of the price difference). Curious what they gave you., because if one pops up for the right price I have thought of it also.

 

[SteveS]

I usually use this as a guide when trading a vehical with modifications. Note, in most cases, the loss is conciderably more.

Take the cost of ALL mods and accesories left on the truck and take that value off the "normal" trade-in value. This means, by modifying, you'll lose the cost of the mods and labor to install plus you lose the same amount again on dealer trade value because of the mod's.

Makes you think, espetially if you flip vehicles frequently like many on here.

If you got the money and don't mind wasting it, go for it

 

[emerson]

Nice! How much did you lose on the trade? (Outside of the price difference). Curious what they gave you., because if one pops up for the right price I have thought of it also.

I bought the SR5 a few months ago for $44,500. Traded in for $42,000+ tax credits of $3700 towards the Trailhunter. Dealer gave me the higher number of kbb without having to fight them and paid less than what people are paying for TRD ORP.

 

[Silver Bullet]

I bought the SR5 a few months ago for $44,500. Traded in for $42,000+ tax credits of $3700 towards the Trailhunter. Dealer gave me the higher number of kbb without having to fight them and paid less than what people are paying for TRD ORP.

Nice! That’s not bad at all. And despite what people are saying, your mods helped in the end for the overall trade value to that Trailhunter. Yes, we all lose money (we don’t dump money hoping for a ROI) by putting money into it. And of course the dealer knows there’s marginal to be made off the mods. Naturally all lighting, and mods like that should be taken off.

Nice come up!

 

[Nodak]

aftermarket mods to the general public has zero added value. to a dealer it adds no return value.

the only time mods adds value is when the dealer installs them on a new vehicle to add $$$ to the window sticker.

as a general customer, mods removes it from the pool of choices. they dont want the hassle of mods to deal with.

 

[Silver Bullet]

aftermarket mods to the general public has zero added value. to a dealer it adds no return value.

the only time mods adds value is when the dealer installs them on a new vehicle to add $$$ to the window sticker.

as a general customer, mods removes it from the pool of choices. they dont want the hassle of mods to deal with

That’s not exactly true. The people most likely to walk away from a modified vehicle are primarily the older generation, or buyers looking at heavily modified vehicles.


Dealers absolutely do mark up used vehicles with wheels, tires, and lifts. There’s money to be made, and dealers will choose those vehicles because they draw attention, bring customers in, and, for the most part, sell quickly.


Maybe it works differently where you’re at, but here in CA, a nice, well-maintained, tastefully modified vehicle can sell quickly.


My modified 2017 TRD ORP, which I traded for my ’26 TRD ORP, was marked up nearly $5K- $6k by the dealer (resale) compared to an identical 4Runner that was two years newer with only about 10K fewer miles was listed for less. My trade sold in two weeks, while the other 2 sat on the lot for about two months.


Just a small example, but it shows that modified vehicles can absolutely have value to dealers and buyers.

 

[Nodak]

That’s not exactly true. The people most likely to walk away from a modified vehicle are primarily the older generation, or buyers looking at heavily modified vehicles.


Dealers absolutely do mark up used vehicles with wheels, tires, and lifts. There’s money to be made, and dealers will choose those vehicles because they draw attention, bring customers in, and, for the most part, sell quickly.


Maybe it works differently where you’re at, but here in CA, a nice, well-maintained, tastefully modified vehicle can sell quickly.


My modified 2017 TRD ORP, which I traded for my ’26 TRD ORP, was marked up nearly $5K- $6k by the dealer. An otherwise identical 4Runner that was two years newer with only about 10K fewer miles was listed for less. My trade sold in two weeks, while the other 2 sat on the lot for about two months.


Just a small example, but it shows that modified vehicles can absolutely have value to dealers and buyers.

yeah you are probably right, it depends on region. my dealer doesnt add much (if at all) to mods on a vehicle trade in price.

i guess my locale there isnt much demand for modded vehicle on the used side (for toyota's that is)

i dont mind as they usually give me $1k to $2k above KBB trade in quotes with oem options only.

when i traded in my 2014 limited with 119k miles and no mods, they gave me $19k trade in. on the 23 tundra platinum 5.5ft 4x4 non HV, they gave us $45k trade in even thoughi had fuel rims and fairly new tires and a aftermarket bed cover. it was $2k above KBB pricing with oem options only.

i was good with the trade in amounts, they didnt under cut trade in values, they gave me the best price up front no haggle required and i was happy with the numbers.

on top of that, they gave me invoice on the new vehicles so, it worked out overall (for me that is, ymmv)

they still made 1k-2k on selling my 2014 even though it sat on the lot for almost 2 months. right now they are selling my 23 tundra for 51k but it has a gold extended warranty so that adds about $1.5k to the cost, reconditioning cost about $500, so right now they would make about $3k if sold at $51k.

 

[Silver Bullet]

yeah you are probably right, it depends on region. my dealer doesnt add much (if at all) to mods on a vehicle trade in price.

i guess my locale there isnt much demand for modded vehicle on the used side (for toyota's that is)

i dont mind as they usually give me $1k to $2k above KBB trade in quotes with oem options only.

when i traded in my 2014 limited with 119k miles and no mods, they gave me $19k trade in. on the 23 tundra platinum 5.5ft 4x4 non HV, they gave us $45k trade in even thoughi had fuel rims and fairly new tires and a aftermarket bed cover. it was $2k above KBB pricing with oem options only.

i was good with the trade in amounts, they didnt under cut trade in values, they gave me the best price up front no haggle required and i was happy with the numbers.

on top of that, they gave me invoice on the new vehicles so, it worked out overall (for me that is, ymmv)

they still made 1k-2k on selling my 2014 even though it sat on the lot for almost 2 months. right now they are selling my 23 tundra for 51k but it has a gold extended warranty so that adds about $1.5k to the cost, reconditioning cost about $500, so right now they would make about $3k if sold at $51k.

Yeah, that’s not bad at all. Plus, long as the numbers are “mathing” in the endthat’s what counts.

That’s a good point, some vehicles do have a better over all resale compared to others. Naturally, supply and demand.

It’s honest crazy some of the resale value on 4Runners, and I’m going to guess Tacomas as-well! I’m hoping these 6th gen’s hold on like the 5th gen’s, but I’m thinking not. But, we shall see!

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