what 2ed gen to buy? need some info

ok ok i know its been covered 1000000 times but all the threads i see dont help me i have been searching lots but a lot has been unclear to me

I get that for off roading get the off road, daily driver get the sport.

here is what i like to do. daily driver, not much off road (playing in the mud here and there) Currently driving a 1999 access cab 2.7 4x4 and its great only been stuck once (first day i bought it) the only thing i hate is the ONE WHEEL SPIN!

I know i want a V6 (we tow some quads and my 4cyl is ok but struggles on the hills) access cab 4x4. do they come in 6ft bed?

Do i have to get a trd to get LSD? does SR5 come with LSD? I could live with out the rear diff locker and hill assist offered in the trd Off road but would like LSD.and if i can get it with out buying a TRD that saves me even more money!

Also im looking at 05-07 because thats whats going to be in my price range with out financing

The LSD is really my key question

 

Mechanical LSD is offered on the older sport models. Maybe up to 09? Newer sport have the brake replicated LSD.
Both models have 'Auto LSD' by pushing the trac button once.

Off road comes with the rear locker.

 

For '05-'07, the mechanical LSD comes only in TRD Sport trim. TRD Sport isn't sold in Canada in Access Cab V6 4x4 as far I as can tell.

Do you want the LSD for better traction off road or on pavement? The TRD Off Road's rear locker is more effective off road than the LSD.

 

Thank you! these are the answers i was looking for, yeah i have not seen an TRD sport access cab v6 4x4 so maybe you are correct,

the reason i wanted LSD is because my 99 taco was my first truck and this was my first winter with it, on the icy roads in 2wd kinda sucked at times with the one wheel spin. so that extra option would be nice.

if i got a base would it be hard to swap in a TRD sport rear end?(bolt right in or mods needed)

also is there any benefits to getting an SR5?

 

I thought the 08's had mechanical LSD's as well?

 

they may but i asked about 05-07 thats why Keylyns quoted 05-07

 

I have a 2012 lifted sport for sale for $34

 

You got that opposite. For OFFROAD buy the SR5 or base, for onroad with minor offroad and DD buy the TRD.

TRD has a weaker rear axle but comes with elocker. so its up to you.

 

I keep hearing about this "weaker rear axle" but in reality, how many have failed....

 

It depends on your preferences really. I mean if you want the TRD off road then get one.

 

All Access Cabs are long beds (6ft).

 

The base and sport both use the 8.4 rearend which still only has a 8" ring gear and yes it is an easy swap of the 3rd members. Just find one with low low mileage or the lsd might not work as good as you'd like. They're not limited slip for life without maintenance.

 

It is possible to get LSD in '05-'08 SR5 trim, without the sport package, but they are pretty rare.

 

TRD offroad doesnt come in long bed so consider that also

 

whats are key differences between the SR5 and base? i dont care if it has keyless entry or alloy wheels. Cosmetic things are not important to me there just extras

also you are saying the TRD off road had a weaker axel then the SR5 and base?

also i am going to see a 07 TRD off road SR5 access cab and noticed it has a solid rear window. why is this? other trd OR 2007 i have seen have sliding window. is it just a case if someone smashed it and owner had a solid put in or is this a "fake" TRD off road?

 

Quite a few from what I've been seeing. The ring gear is what grenades on them. I'm personally fine with a weaker axle if the weak point is the shaft. Axle shafts in a solid axle takes 20 minutes to replace in the woods with nothing put a hilift jack and hand tools. Ring gear is not something you can replace on the trail. Unless you carry a spare third member, but then you'll be cleaning out the diff housing of metal shards for half an hour too.

Yes the TRD comes with the 8" Rear with an Elocker where as the base and SR5(not sure about the TRD 2wd thing) come with the 8.4" rear which is a stronger axle.

Cosmetic options I have no idea about. BEing I'm from an offroad background with Jeeps and Fords I really dont pay attention to cosmetic stuff. First thing I look for is strength of components, next is reliability. Since I'm moving more away from offroading and more towards overland travel the reliability is now at the front and thats why I'm looking at tacos. However I will not be able to bring myself to buy a weaker axle just because it comes with some OEM elocker.

I'd rather pay less for the truck, then dump that extra 1500$ i saved into an ARB locker. Its a stronger case than the stock 8.4" which is already stronger than the 8"

The TRD has its uses, and for most people just doing overland travel or what I call "trail to the real trail" the TRD is plenty for them. For me, I want the strongest stock axle possible, then I'll improve upon that.

Thats why my choice is 8.4" with ARB. Not stock OEM stuff.

Someone also mentioned "VERY HEAVY" offroad use as the cause of failures. Thats subjective. Most of what I see on this site I would call dirt road driving or "unmaintained" road. Which is fine, thats what I enjoy now aswell. But an example of what I'm used to would be rausch creek. Just google that if you're not aware of it.