4x4 TRD Sport or Off Road better to carry a load?

I'm a contractor and occasionally need to carry heavy loads (1/2 ton or less) for work. I do 10 day winter trips in the desert where it's really nice to have lot of firewood along with other camping gear. It is my normal practice to put a Snugtop or Leer cab-height camper shell on it as soon as I can. Currently driving a 2012 TRD OR 4x4 and I ended up putting aftermarket rear springs on it because it was sagging just from the weight of the shell. I'd like to avoid the trouble and expense if I buy a 2016. I believe with the Gen 2 Tacomas, the Sport has a four leaf spring package and the OR has three leaf springs.

Given all of the above, which should be the better option to carry bigger loads without major sagging at the back?

 

http://www.tfltruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2016-toyota-Tacoma-Technical-specs.pdf


see page 16. for payload.

 

That doesn't really answer my question, because it just states that the load rating on both are the same. Maybe they handle a load the same but my understanding is that the OR is a softer suspension with longer travel to absorb punishment of an off road situation. Clearly my experience with my '12 TRD OR was that it didn't handle a load very well and sagged. The shell was only a couple of hundred pounds and the truck sagged noticeably with nothing more than the shell on it. Does anyone know if the Sport version would be stiffer and resist sagging better than the OR?

 

Sport for fast loads, OR for big loads.

 

Every 2nd gen eventually sagged because the leaf springs sucked. The leaf springs were changed for this model, so who knows if they will hold up better over time. Every model will have the same leaf springs. The only thing that changes are the rear shocks. The off road is squishy, the SR5 is medium, and the sport is the stiffest from what I can tell by reviews. I guess if you want the least sag i would go with the sport because they are going to be the stiffest; however, if you consistently carry heavy loads then you may want to consider swapping the stock leafs for a heavy duty pair, or buy a full size with more payload. Also the payloads on page 16 differ between 2wd/4wd and by models and are not the same.

 

who told you that?

 

It has been my belief that because the Tacoma is a gentrified vehicle and used for daily drivers that the suspension has a very compliant first bit of travel (your sag) so that it rides smooth with out a load. All you have to do is put a tool box in the back to plow through the compliant first section of travel and be into the more progressively stiffer area of travel. I have never seen a Tacoma spring loose its compliance (weight carrying ability) however.

 

Every part is new 'cept the seat belts.. Hadn't you heard? ...lol

 

Changes made to:


- Leaf springs
(optimized leaf thickness and camber)


As stated in the technical specs the design is a carryover, but it also has the thickness being "optimized". I would assume they made them a little thicker as to not sag or flatten so easily as on the last model.

 

I'm not sure this will help due to lack of precise details. But...I loaded my stock 2010 TRD Sport with way more weigh than it probably should have carried...two large palettes of bricks. (No choice) Drove steady and slow...felt like a low rider dragging the back end. Only had to take it a few miles. No problem...

Now I have a 2014 TRD Sport and use it to deliver a quarter to half a chord of firewood 5-6 times a winter. Not too far...about 15 miles...but it could handle more.

Not sure what either load actually weighs (the bricks were too much). And I never compared it to a TRD OR, but a Sport can handle heavy loads with slow and steady driving over relatively short distances.

 

Someone said buy a full size. Check out the True Car prices on F150s. Ford is discounting the crap out of them. 4x4s for the price of a Tacoma.

 

The OR is configured to absorb the bumping and jarring with offroad driving, so the springs actually have a bit more give. The Sport springs are a bit firmer to ride a bit more like a car. Both are not configured like a 1/2 ton and neither configuration was manufactured to be a work truck. . If you are only occasionally carrying large loads, invest in some Firestone rear airbags. If there are larger loads in the bed for longer durations, go with a new leaf kit or at least an add-a-leaf. Either configuration was not manufactured to really be a work truck. I have had a Leer shell on my 2014 OR for quite some time with no issues. I just made a cross country trip with probably 500lbs in the bed and 1200lbs in a trailer. Very little sagging.

 

It would 't hurt to have the tow package either....not only will it help handle the load, but towing a full ton is a lot easier on a truck then carrying it. I wonder why people over load their beds when towing a utility trailer will handle more weight much more safely.

 

Neither if the leaf springs carry over from the 2nd gens

 

If you are a contractor I would say full size for a full work week. Or get a decent trailer. If that's not an option, add a leaf or upgrade.

You can get an f150 for tacoma price, but it will be more bare bones than the tacoma. Depends on what creature comforts you like

 

Neighbor is a contractor. He loves Toyotas but hasn't had one for years. Chevy, Gmc and now Fords full size half tons are all he leases or buys. For him, the Taco is too impractical for daily work loads. Besides, when he had Toyotas before, he spent half his time worrying about putting a dent in it. In his opinion, he could care less about replaceable Fords and Chevys.

 

I do many home improvement projects, but live very close to the hardware store. just framed, put in electric, and drywall ed basement. But, I do it slowly and don't always need all the materials right now. You can fit them, just not nearly as much. Toyota's words not mine, "lifestyle truck."

 

Yes, you can get some sick deals on a new F-150. I'd have one in a second if I wanted a full size truck but they are just so freaking HUGE these days. The midsize trucks today are the same size what the full size trucks were 15-20 years ago. Midsize suits me much better but my choices are limited. GM, Nissan or Tacoma. Tacoma it is, overpriced as it may be.

 

Helliwig Helper springs https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/payload-and-helper-springs-question.386110/#post-10621263

 

Neither get a trailer . Save your suspension.