TRD Sport vs TRD Offroad

The decision maker for me was, the Off Road I bought was equipped with the towing package....trans cooler/engine oil cooler/class III hitch, etc.....That, and I can't quite get the reasoning behind the fake hood scoop.

Toss in the fact that I'm not so hell bent on being "unique" by not liking chrome like everyone else seems to be now days, and I was hooked on the off road package from the jump start.

 

I had the same decision to make back in March. Dealer had blue OR and red Sport both with the tow package. I wanted blue but took my girlfriend for test drive. Clearly the OR rode with more of a "bounce" is the only way I could describe it on broken pavement. She was very objective and had no preference on model and she noticed the difference. The sport also just looks better and cooler to me but that's an eye of the beholder thing, I love the scoop and why do people care of it's functional or not is beyond me. Almost anything anyone buys has somewhat of a how does it look factor. One last thing, at my dealership the OR was more discounted than the sport. He said and I agree from my shopping experience, the sports are in more demand BECAUSE of the appearance. The Off road thing is more of a hardcore smaller pct of total Tacoma sales, at least around here. I also dispute the higher resale value of OR, to me I would think OR models may have higher abuse history

 

Nice! is this standard on the OR? or was just the one you got in particular?

 

I'm far from being the resident expert on the subject, and I also acknowledge the fact that just because you read it on the internet, it MIGHT not always be true......(wow).....But seems like I read it somewhere that the tow package is/was standard equipment on the off road (at one point) I'm sure someone with more knowledge will speak to this at any moment!.

 

Hopefully LOL. I just got into a 2012 TRD OR DCSB and I love it. I had a 2004 F-150 prior to this, but traded it in for what I have now. New to the Tacoma world myself, so any information on the OR is nice to know.

 

Yes, the tow package is standard with the TRD Off-Road package.

 

What about the trans and engine oil cooler?

 

That's part of the tow package....

 

Tow package consists of a higher capacity battery, a transmission cooler, the hitch reciever itself and the 7 way wiring harness. I may be forgetting an upgraded alternator? Maybe not. Can't remember.

 

[QUOTI ="jethro, post: 10656149, member: 21734"]Tow package consists of a higher capacity battery, a transmission cooler, the hitch reciever itself and the 7 way wiring harness. I may be forgetting an upgraded alternator? Maybe not. Can't remember.[/QUOTE]
Yes, i believe the 130 Amp Alternator is part of it too.

 

Yes, i believe the 130 Amp Alternator is part of it too.[/QUOTE]

Cool thats good to know!

 

Actually, it isn't. The tow package is a separate add on that in many instances is add on to the TRD OR Trucks. Mainly depends on the area you live in as to whether the dealers add the tow package. Seems most of the Baja's also came with the tow package, but when they built the Pro's they did very few with the Tow Package. And Yes, the Tow package does have a larger capacity battery and also an engine oil cooler. Easiest way to check to see if it is Factory Tow vs a port added hitch is to look at the hitch and see if it is a Class IV (Factory Tow) or a Class III Port added....also Factory will have the 7 pin connecter vs Port added which has the 4 pin connector. In the engine compartment look at the oil filter...if it has a small canister between the filter and the mount with some hoses on it, that is your engine oil cooler....tranny cooler is a little baby thing in front of the radiator. This applies to 2015 Taco's, but should be the same for previous 2nd Gen's

 

When I was building my truck on the web site it said Entune Plus and Towing Package required when selecting TRD OR, but maybe it is a regional thing.

 

There are 4 Off Road extra value packages that are available on the Tacoma (excluding Pro) listed on their website. Only the cheapest one, which is listed as only available on white trucks, doesn't come with the tow package while the other 3 do. The increased MSRP cost to go from the cheapest package to the next step up is $65. $65 for the package is a no brainer.

From Toyota's website:
V6 Tow Package: V6 Tow Package32 for Off-Road Package: Class-IV towing receiver hitch, transmission and supplemental oil coolers, 130-amp alternator, heavy duty battery, 7-pin connector with converter, Trailer-Sway Control (TSC)

 

Tow package was on every single TRD Sport or OR in Long Island. I will never tow but the upgraded accessories justified it to me.

 

It also makes a great recovery point with a 2" receiver shackle.

 

Thanks for all of the input. I went with the TRD OR. I test drove it on the road and in some bumpy stuff. It rode very well in both situations. It's Black so the chrome grill surround and the chrome rear bumper provide a nice contrast. Otherwise it would just be to dark for my tastes.

 

When I was shopping I was looking at AC TRD sport and AC TRD OR. The off road didn't have the tow package, and after 30 years of driving 4X4's (some lifted some stock) I knew the necessity of a locker for me was nil, and the tow package was a huge plus. I'm getting over 20 MPG highway with out the added mechanisms in the drive train, can still get anywhere I want in my truck, and have the added cooling, cranking, and tow capabilities.

I'd lose the scoop, but function comes first and in my case the Sport wins out.

 

According to everything I can find, TOYOTA thinks they include the towing package on EVERY TRD Off Road equipped truck. I've yet to see one that doesn't. I've got the off road, and I get well over 20mpg on hwy driving, (22.6 on one 475 mile road trip) And that's WITH the e-locker, etc....The locker isn't the #1 priority, but it's nice knowing it is there. And let's not overlook the fact that the Off Road package makes the top of the list as far as resale options on a Tacoma. Also, Off Road's have an upgraded brake master cylinder. More responsive brakes are a plus in anyone's book.

 

Well, I drove one that didn't. This was a 2012...maybe they've made that stock as part of the TRD package now, I don't know. They clearly state it's available as an option package. But for anyone shopping it's important to know that there are real / non cosmetic differences between the two trucks.

That's the best mileage I've heard of on any 4x4 Taco, Bluegrass, congrats. I can't touch that even empty with my shitty P-rated Bridgestones...

must be that damn scoop