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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KY4xWn+eZej+cBGlHUCFfRTTRrbqhSsTwptwCI403o9OBAVASTMZbgS2x+ggzo55
 EuI2HYbksY5ZpRvxquL5QQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000864749-05-000044.txt : 20050523
<SEC-HEADER>0000864749-05-000044.hdr.sgml : 20050523
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050523185826
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000864749-05-000044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050523
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050523

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LTD /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000864749
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEASURING & CONTROLLING DEVICES, NEC [3829]
		IRS NUMBER:				942802192
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		749 NORTH MARY AVENUE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94085
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4084818000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		749 NORTH MARY AVENUE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94085

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COOPER ROBERT S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198977

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14845
		FILM NUMBER:		05852571

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3033 SCIENCE PARK RD
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000864749</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LTD /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRMB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198977</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COOPER ROBERT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>749 NORTH MARY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94085</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>39.23</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option is exercisable at a rate of 1/36th per month.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Irwin Kwatek as Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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