Off Road vs. Sport

I am looking at buying a Tacoma within the next 2-3 weeks and I cant decide between the TRD Off Road vs the TRD Sport. The thing I am hung up on is the Locking Differential in the Off Road and the LS Diff in the Sport. Whats the difference and experiences with either one?

 

In a nutshell.....

The (mechanical) LSD is functional at all times - including in 2WD. It uses clutch paks/torque to give you traction aid. You don't have to do anything. It's always there and working. It is a limited slip, which does allow for slippage. It all depends on the torque load.

The Offroad locker is a fulltime locker that can only be engaged in 4Lo range (from the factory). It's a fulltime locker which mechanically couples both wheels together for full traction (no slippage what-so-ever). This is the best option if you plan to go offroad a lot and use 4wd log range a lot.

If you consider the LSD - be careful - as there are two different types of LSD's (as Toyota calls them). The other type is the AUTO LSD which comes with the VSC package. This LSD utilizes the brakes for traction. It is NOT in the differential.

I have the LSD (mechanical) and its really nice for a daily driver with snowy conditions in the winter. I don't offroad the truck.

Do a 'search' on this forum (and google) and you'll find lots of information about the two types of traction aids....

 

Gotcha, thanks for the tip! I have heard that with a Locking Diff there can be problems with catching going around turns. Know anything about this? It would feel like the back end is catching or jerking?

 

Nope. Not with the selectable e locker that comes in the TRD Off Road.

 

I faced the same decision about 6 months ago when looking at a Sport verses an Off-Road. I went with the Off-Road and I'm real happy. Janster is correct, if you are doing a lot of off roading then the locker is great to have. However IMO if you are driving more on snow and ice, the way the Toyota locker is set up from the factory is about useless. There is a locker anytime mod which I'm considering or maybe installing a Detroit Truetrac (see below). It is just a matter of money.

• Smooth operation
• Performs open until needed
• Fully automatic limited slip

The Detroit Truetrac was the first helical gear differential ever introduced into the automotive aftermarket as an Eaton brand. It remains the leading helical gear-type limited slip differential in the industry. Detroit Truetrac's proven helical gear design eliminates the need for wearable parts, resulting in maintenance free traction recognized not only for its toughness, but its smooth and quiet operation as well.
Proven design, low cost and effective performance all make the Detroit Truetrac limited slip differential the ideal choice for a wide variety of vehicle applications. No maintenance - Just Traction.

 

As 05tacoTRD had already mentioned....Not with the TRD offroad locker.
It's completely OPEN diff when not engaged. And - because you can't engage it when in 2WD (from factory).
**hint** for the most part - you shouldn't use 4WD on pavement

However - what you DID hear is partially correct - just not with toyota locker.
There are aftermarket lockers that you can buy (often called "Lunchbox lockers" that replace the spider gears only. These are cheaper and can be installed in your garage. These lockers are considered fulltime lockers and will buck/bang when going around corners. Examples of these types of lockers are... Aussie, Powertrax no-slip & lockrite etc.

 

If it really does work this way then you would get a jerking feeling when going around sharp turns. The wheel on the outside of the curve has to turn faster than the one on the inside. If the differential were locked to not allow slippage one of the wheels has to drag. I assume that's why it's set to only work in 4 Low.
Drag cars and stock cars were set up this way for racing. The spider gears were welded.

 

She meant "fulltime" as in once you hit the button and it engages the wheels are locked until you push the button again.

As mentioned above a couple times, there is a mod to enable engaging the locker anytime. Just use common sense when using it as you can literally turn it on while driving down the road at 50mph. (I tried on a mile long stretch of straight road the night I did the mod to make sure it was working.)

The wheels will hop/chirp anytime you're on a solid surface (asphalt, hard packed dirt/rock, etc) if you're in 4Hi, 4Lo, or with the locker on. So learn when to use and when not to use all of them.

 

Do you already have the factory locker? If so, why not do the locker anytime mod (listed in the thread in my sig) instead of replacing the locker? The relay costs less than $10 at Radioshack (you could order one online, I can send a link if you're not sure which one), and do it yourself in maybe 30 an hour.

MUCH cheaper, and uses the factory equipment without messing with gears and oil.....

 

I do already have the factory locker. I have been considering it and even got the relay a few months back. I sent you a PM a few months back about the mod and you replied. I agree the locker mod is much cheaper and is my most likely path.

I just like to research all options. I might just see how this winter goes.

 

Ok, so is really the only difference between the Off-Road and Sport is the E Locker? Well and a hoodscoop, which I've seen a lot of sports have that Off-Roads do not.

Any more differences?

 

Color key accessories on the sport. Suspension might be different, but I'm not sure. Oh, and I don't think you can get OR in the DC LB form. Have to get the sport if you want the LB. Guess they figure the longer body will high-center more than the short bed.

 

That modification is neat.... but you gotta be careful if you're still under warrentee.

If you're using Toyota e-locker in 2WD or even 4WD HI and you break something in the driveline ...you might have trouble getting it fixed under warrantee.

I don't know how easy (or hard) it would be to hide any evidence that would tell the dealership the factory settings were *defeated*

 

Well, unless they look above the glove box and see the relay, or try using the locker when you technically shouldn't be able to then they'd never know.

And honestly, when we're talking about swapping in a Detroit or other selectable locker the warranty is out the window anyway.

 

Why does it say not to drive over 5mph with the locker on....will it damage the locker or a safety issue?

 

In the PreRunner you can, but it's sort of a CYA statement by toyota so if you break something doing 30mph or so it's not on them. For the 4WD's the limit it to requiring 4LO being engaged and no engaging over 5mph IIRC. Thus the "locker anytime mod" to bypass that limitation.

 

Thanks, that's what I thought

 

I do agree with you; the warranty on the drive line would most likely be out the window if you made any major changes. (But you roll the dice and take your chances.) The reason I'm even considering Detroit TruTrac is the winter driving conditions we deal with for 6 months or more. I felt the LSD in my old F-150 performed better then an open differential when starting on slippy pavement. Therefore I wished I had the ability to lock in the differential in 4 HI. I have the relay and and information from the Locker anytime post. Just need to do it. I will let you know when / if I do the mod.

But as far as OF or Sport; if I was buying the rig for on road use and wanted 4 wheel drive for occasional off-road or bad roads I would get the Sport. Unless you like some of the cosmetic options on the OF.

 

So on the 09 OR the LSD cannot be turned off?

 

I thought I read somewhere that Toyota was dropping the mechanical LSD in the 09 tacos. Anyone else hear/read this too?