difference between TRD SPORT and TRD OFF-ROAD?

You rule!!!!!!

 

My 2009 TRD Sport Dbl Cab Long Bed 4x4 does not have painted mirrors and door handles (if by that you mean the black painted ones). I have also been off road with it, on the beach. It did very well, I was pleased.

EDIT: If the only thing you want in the offroad is the chrome bumper but you want the hood scoop, rims and long bed from the sport then why not get a sport and put on a chrome bumper?

 

And remember they will ride differently on and off the road. Springs and shocks are also different for both models. The tires may also play a roll in ride quality too since the Sport comes with 17's it has a shorter sidewall than the off-road's 16's. I like the sport because it has minimal body roll (i.e. stiffer) when taking turns compared to other SUV's and minivans I've driven. I can't speak for the ride of the TRD off-road, haven't test drove one yet. And if you're just planning on some mild off roading the sport is plenty enough.

I say take each one for a test drive and take some turns a little aggressively to see which ride you will like better.

Other stuff to keep in mind.

off road - no option for long bed

sport - you can also have skid plates, I was just lucky to find a used truck with one already on


Good luck on your search.

 

I test drove the SPORT and OFFROAD on the sake day.

The SPORT has Specific Rate springs that give you a stiffer ride throughout the suspension travel

The OFF ROAD has Porgressive rate springs that give you more subtle ride, and get more stiffer as the springs are compressed.

If you test them both imediatlyafter the other you will be able to see

 

Its too bad you're on the other side of the country, I'd love to run your car against
My z06! We seem to be in the same boat as well! Speed freaks lookin to get into the truck world

 

I went from an 08 Off Road to a 10 Sport... I like the color keyed everything and the non functional hood scoop. I hate that the Off Road looks exactly like the basic SR5 sans the goodies inside.

Sport all the way...

 

Hate chrome and don't really do off roading so I went with the Sport.

 

I personally think the sprot is for looks so if I'm going to pay more I'd get the off road for the extra capabilities/performance.

 

What skid plates does the off road come with that the sport doesn't?

I bought a sport because I knew I was going to replace all the suspension components anyways. Hell, I'm even losing my color matched front bumper when I put my All Pro on next week.

I don't go mudding or rock crawling much, but for the rare times I do I wish I had that rear locker. But for blasting fire roads and the desert, the LSD does very well.

 

Don't get the offroad just for the locker..if you don't do any offroading. Hell, even if you do some offroading, you will be fine with the sport 4x4. As many places I've taken my truck, I've never once had to say "damn, wish i had a locker"

I think a sport would look better parked next to your cobra too

 

Why not have BOTH?

I've got an Off-Road that looks just like a SPORT.
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Heh, can't believe how many people always reply to these threads with completely incorrect or outdated information and move on and never look back.

(Speaking of 4x4 models through all this below)

If you think you'd ever want the locker then you should get it now, as it is easier to make an Offroad look like a Sport than it is to make an Sport perform like an Offroad.

If you aren't gonna do a whole lot of offroading then the Sport is probably fine, and even then depending on the terrain and conditions you still might not need the locker.


Both the Offroad and the Sport have the same electronic LSD. Offroad also has a locker ontop of that. I think about half of the people on here think the Sport still comes with a mechanical LSD.

The Offroad has A-TRAC, Hill Descent assist, Hill Start assist, the Sport doesn't have any of this.

Offroad has progressive springs where the Sport has linear springs. Offroad is smoother on the road but resists bottoming out due to the spring type so it gets stiffer over big bumps. The Sport is harsher riding around town but soaks up bigger bumps more, but will bottom out easier.

The Offroad has a Smaller diameter roll bar. This gives the Offroad more wheel articulation and smoother ride but allows for more body roll.

The Offroad has All Terrian Tires and 16" wheels (cheaper to replace). The Sport has All Weather Tires and 17" wheels. And as much as some people might talk down on the Rugged Terrains that come on the Offroad, the Dunlops on the Sport are absolutely terrible. You might can get (and should) the dealer to put something different on if you get the Sport.

Then there are the skid plates.

Offroad has a real, heavy duty front Tow Hook, the Sport doesn't.

Then the looks stuff.

The insides are the same, despite what someone said earlier the seats are the same in the Offroad and the Sport, they both have sport seats - sport seats do not mean they are only on the TRD Sport.

(my opinion now)

To be honest the TRD Sport is a looks package with Bilstein Shocks thrown in the mix. Other than the Bilsteins it doesn't give you any real performance enhancements. But, it does provide you nearly every creature comfort and good looks in a nice package.

The Offroad is only a few hundred more and gives you more valuable features. BUT, if you're wanting the Long Bed then you're gonna have to go with the Sport, obviously. And some people just want the look. I'd like the Sport more if it didn't have the silly hoodscoop, but really I think that's its main selling point, because everytime someone wants one they say they like the hoodscoop. I don't understand this personally, because it looks kinda tacky in person to me cause if you look at it it's obviously fake, but if I wanted it I'd get it too.


And keep in mind you can get all the color matching parts and hoodscoop for next to nothing if you're selling what you have, or for free if you're trading. Hell the color matched door handles are only like $30 each.

I like the color matched grill on some colors. The color matched mirrors/door handles look good with the matched grill, other wise the black ones look better to me. I think the chrome rear bumper looks better on every stock truck. For some reason I think the color matched one just looks bland.

Also most people I know who aren't on this forum actually like chrome

All that said (just standing up for the Offroad ), if you want the Long Bed and aren't gonna do any real recreational offroading and don't need to navigate any crazy terrain for work or anything then go for the Sport by all means. One thing to remember too is if you do any boating the locker might be very nice. The electronic LSD on the Sport isn't going to help a whole lot with keeping traction when pulling a boat up the ramp.

In the end, you get alot more for your money with the Offroad imo. That said you may not need it. And the Sport is still a fantastic truck and I'd still be happy if I had one instead of an Offroad (did alot of research and test driving before I bought)

 

I love my TRD Sport ON and OFF road! I know it seems like you are sold, but you would likely not know the difference. Those 17's look damn good with mud terrains on them too!

I love my sport...love the hoodscoop (even if it is fake)...love the long bed...love the bilsteins...love the 17's! And it is a monster ON AND OFF ROAD!

 

How about get a Sport and if you really have to do some crazy off roading make sure you have a friend with an off road to pull you out if you can actually get your rig stuck somehwere.

 

Depends on what color your truck is. I should have said color-keyed.
My 2010 TRD SPORT PreRunner AC is white and has White grill surround, bumper, mirrors and door handles. Does 4x4 DC lose these?

 

zombie:

great writeup, thank you.

final question:

The Offroad has A-TRAC, Hill Descent assist, Hill Start assist, the Sport doesn't have any of this.

this is probably a dumb one, but will these things help me up a snowy hill on the way to Mammoth Mountain?

 

Considering I used to do that in a 1983 2wd Toyota PU. 4x4 should be good enough.

 

If you get the sport in radiant red or black... I will hands down trade you my chrome bumper immediately!

 

They very well could. A-TRAC mainly, you use it in 4WD and it transfers power around between all 4 wheels to keep traction, while at the same time giving atleast some power to all wheels.

The Hill Descent thing is just fun to use. Pull up to a steep hill, put it in 4LO, press the button and take your foot off all the pedals and the truck drives itself down to the bottom. It's kinda crazy when you first do it, least if you're on a hill as steep as I was.

 

Sport comes with one skid plate that protects the very front end and the bottom of the radiator. The TRD OR comes with two skid plates. The same front plate as the Sport, and another rear plate that somewhat protects the oil pan and other rearward components.

The above pictured truck has the front mounted skid plate (black) and the TRD skid plate (silver and available as an accessory on all models) but it lacks the rear plate around the oil pan (unless added by previous/current owner).