Need advice on purchasing Limited vs Off-road model

Chrome and leather can be purchased and added for less than bilstein suspension, MTS, crawl control, and rear locker.

 

Did you put ARB rear locker? If so what size locker did it take?

 

If you're buying a 4x2 I see absolutely no reason to get a TRD OR

 

100% correct, but I don't require the OR crawl control etc. I did want leather, JBL (only in Canadian Limited, not optional on any other model), running boards, etc.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

Most people change the suspension. Not concerned with warranty on a rear axle. If an ARB broke so would the stock unit. Dealer wouldn't warranty either. Actually ARB probably would. Also learning to drive is worth way more than crawl control.

 

Get the LTD, it has most all of the creature comfort to get you by, and take you wherever you need to go and then some.
The OR is a bit overkill IMO unless you like to impress your OR buddies.
Hope that helps
Cheers!

 

I use to drive a Subaru STI, and it was a great car, and I would follow my buddies into the bush until we'd come up to an obsticle, then I'd park it and get in with them... which was the shits

So I then switched to a 2014 Tacoma without the rear locking diff as it was my daily driver only to be driven offroad every once in a while. When I started driving it offroad more, I decided I wanted a locker, and installed an ARB selectible rear locker and it works great... so my advice in your case would be to get the truck without the locker and add it in the future if you find yourself getting the offroad itch. Having or not having a rear locker won't really change the value of the truck a whole bunch on resale as it's not super duper expensive to add one on

 

My rear diff has already failed. Dealer said without warrant it would have set me back over 3 grand

 

Right. My point is for the money you get much more stock capability in the OR. Both trucks cost about the same. The limited only adds some cosmetics and comes up short on performance if compared to the OR

 

Not yet. Should be same as 2nd gen rear. Supposedly some 3rd gen ORs got a larger ring gear...

 

You can build a pretty nice 60 or 9" for that.

 

Well that would be you just getting ripped off by them then. New diffs aren't that much.

 

From what it sounds like this guy isn't going to need his warranty with the way he drives it

 

Correct, a locker in the snow will likely just cause more problems for you traction-wise. For snow driving, you want good tires for the job and 4hi or 4lo depending on what speed you can safely go.

 

A Limited with 4WD will work just fine for the OP while running the street in Illinois. If the factory stuff doesn't do the trick on snowy days - decent snow tires, a Detroit True-Trac in the rear end and a few sacks of salt in the bed will finish the job. And maybe a trip to the undercoater....

All of the truly capable "Off Road" trucks you see here on TW - are loaded with aftermarket parts - that will also fit your nicely finished Limited.

 

Love my Limited...my use is the same as yours will be. Didn't seem expensive because I got exactly what I wanted without having to modify/add stuff myself down the line. Instant gratification!

 

Just got my Tacoma limited. Feels a little sluggish below 3k rpm. Made an appointment to get that TSB 0077-16 done. Hopefully it will bring a little more oomph in the low rpm ranges. Otherwise, love the truck so far.

 

You chose, Wisely.

 

Most people will never have a need for a locker. Even those that hit the back roads often. I went through plenty of gnarly trails in my Rubicon and the locker was never even remotely necessary. 4 low and some skill was plenty.

 

Limited looks better with the painted rear bumper. Other than that it's just interior features that you spend more cash on. I have the OR model and I love it because I use it rock crawling. The locking rear diff from the factory is too good of an option to pass up in my opinion. Also the OR model (auto transmission model) has a beefier rear diff for strength/payload/towing.