Sport or Off Road

I'm pretty sure EVERY TRD model comes factory with the tow package.

 

All I can tell you is, when my daughter and I were shopping for a gen 1 Tacoma 4x4, there were plenty of plain jane Tacoma 4x4's available, and they were for the most part a couple of thousand dollars less than the ORs. She ended up buying a 2000 TRD OR 4x4 that had a frame replacement, new Bilstein 4000's and suspension bushings, new tires, timing belt, head gaskets etc. and a nice camper top... for $8K, which was high but not bad for the condition of the truck. Maybe not so much price delta between 3rd gen Sport vs OR... but I'll bet on the ORs keeping value better than Sports.

 

SR5 owner here but IMO ...
The Inferno and Blazing Blue Pearl Sports are pretty cool. Color matched fender flares and bumpers. 17" wheels and the scoop. If you won't use a locker ...

 

Oh and if you NEED a locker to get through the places you are driving the smartest mod you could do is buy a $500 truck and a good set of tires. Pound the everloving crap out of that one and save the forty thousand dollar rig for more reasonable pursuits. More fun. Less stress. Less guilt. Fewer moments of sheer terror as you explain to the wife why you came home in your buddys tractor.
The diff lock is awesome, no doubt about it. But you can wheel an open diff through damn near anything with a bit of common sense and all the great skills you learned in your beater truck. Unless you are made of money - then have atter.

 

Not in 16. It was a option. I got it cause why not have the extra coolers, larger alternator, hitch with wiring for only 600 more..

 

Yes I understand that. I own an off-road double cab long bed. But My jeep is full open front and rear. No electronic helper stuff. Like I said it does pretty damn good in the jersey pines. The post I was relying to said he isn’t doing any hardcore wheelin so in my opinion the sport will be fine for his intended use if that’s what he likes.

In the end it’s all about intended use and personal preference.

 

Several other well qualified people already answered you well, but I will try too. Lets see who can call me out for the inevitable errors.
Let's start with what the common differentials do when 1 wheel is off the ground
(To review without getting math heavy, Torque is rotational force (ie distance X force such as ft-lb) and Power is Torque x rotational speed, without getting into actual units)

Open Diff: Free wheel and grounded wheel take equal torque. Free wheel takes almost no torque to rotate, so ground wheel has almost no forward thrust. Free wheel has massive speed and grounded wheel has zero speed. Grounded wheel takes essentially zero power (Torque x rotational speed).

Mechanical limited slip Diff: There are many kinds of these, but generally a component in the differential attempts to limit the maximum speed mismatch between the two wheels. The free wheel must spin at a significant rate to create the speed differential that gives a torque differential. Clutch packs or viscous couplings generally add more torque to the grounded wheel and take it away from the free wheel. Significant tire speed differences are expected when operating at free condition. LSD systems will commonly wear out their clutch packs or viscous oils will require maintenance replacement over time. Some power lost to free wheel.

Simulated Limited Slip Diff: Again, many kinds, but generally the wheel brakes (using ABS sensors) apply braking to the high speed tire using a computer with a standard open differential. This braking increases the torque required to spin the free wheel. Because torque is equal across an open differential, this applies more torque to the grounded wheel. Some significant wheel speed difference is required to activate the computer and for it to detect with ABS sensors. Standard wheel brakes are used in the function and will have additional wear (but these items are normally used to stop the truck from 60 mph, so not a huge impact in the long run imho). Called TRAC, also A-TRAC and MTS/CC with differences on this vehicle. (TRAC is on all models 2hi and 4hi and sr/sport 4Lo. A-TRAC and MTS on OR/PRO on 4Lo only). Some power lost to free wheel.

Locked Diff: Wheel speed is locked across the axle, so the free wheel turns with the ground wheel, not spins. Torque is no longer the same across the axle at all. Torque on the free wheel is essentially zero and all applied torque goes to grounded wheel. Free wheel looses essentially no power (as it is at essentially zero torque.)

So open diffs torque same across axle (with torque at the wheel modified by brakes, surfaces, etc). Locked diffs speed same across axle (with torque varying)

So now that we talked about the main diff types, lets talk solely about what the 3rd gen has. All 4x4 3rd gen Tacomas have a center transfer case and open diff front and rear in normal usage (OR/Pro have differences in 4Lo). In 2wd and 4Hi for every one of the trims, unless you disable it, brake simulated LSD with physically open diffs will apply brakes to the spinning wheel(s). The center transfer case is NOT a differential as you have on AWD (all wheel drive) vehicles, and acts similar to a locked differential which is why 4hi and 4Lo are not to be used on dry pavement on this vehicle. For all trims except OR/Pro, in 4Lo the vehicle still has brake simulated LSD. For the OR/Pro, the rear differential can be locked (only in 4Lo). The OR/Pro also has ATRAC or MTS/CC, which is still brake simulated limited slip, but with a more powerful hydraulic brake master cylinder to apply more brake force to the free wheels.

All trims have essentially zero traction control differences in 2Hi and 4Hi. In 4Lo the OR/Pro adds a bit more capability and options with a rear locker and stronger Brake LSD.

Now just a little of history. Ignore this if it confuses you.
In 2nd gen, the SR/Sport/etc trims had no Brake LSD in 4Lo (just open diffs). There were workarounds. Now all trims have Brake LSD in 4Lo. All current trims (in 4x2 and 4x4) have much greater traction control than my old first gen with just open diffs. I might have bought an SR if I knew Brake LSD was also in 4Lo, instead bought OR. This is not well advertised.

So helpful?, probably not...

 

Thanks. Very helpful. So ALL tacos have some sort of traction control. Its just the OR that has the extra lil thang in 4lo that can help you out when things get rougher.

 

Good stuff! You're the man for writing that up.

My only comment is the change above.

 

Since you can’t decide based on features do as my wife does and what is prettiest to you? Buy that.

I wish I could offer more than this but then again I was in and out of the dealer for a few months, drove 2 hours to another dealer with larger inventory to check colours, drove 4.5 hours each way to test drive a manual transmission and read brochures cover to cover and found all of their typos and misprints regarding options. By the time I was done I knew more than my salesman (who knew his shit) and even had the dealership allow me to remove the kick panel to confirm I could plug in my brake controller. I was thorough and knew the answers to every question before I even talked numbers with my dealership. Based on what I read on TW I am not the average buyer. That said I had no surprises. Nothing was left out or misread.

Now I was just in my dealership yesterday and picked up brochures for everything from the Rav4 to the T4R and have 4 vehicles for my wife to consider before she makes her next buy in 4 years. She feels she needs a hatch next as our daughter grows and our needs change. Hell maybe even a taco girl one day. Point is the only way to ensure satisfaction is research your needs and then research more. Don’t rush and make sure you know the answers to everything. I just read one of the 4 vehicles I am researching has the backup camera in the mirror. That may be a deal breaker in 4 years depending on how annoying I find that on multiple test drives.

 

Thanks
Think I got your change, if I didn't hit me again. Man, turned into a novel, I sure am bad about that.

So while writing I started to really think about some stuff ( doing writeups sure helps to understand things better).

The OR/Pro gets stronger brake actuator because of the higher torque (And required brake forces) in 4Lo ? Hmmm need to run some numbers on assumed brake forces for a hard stop vs restraining wheel in 4Lo...

And, a locked diff looses no power while a brake LSD looses 50% power in general. Not that power is limiting in 4Lo....

 

Well then if whatever you get you don't like just get the other stickers and change them out.

 

The torque multiplication in 4Lo is big, but I would think the hydraulic booster does just as much work to quickly stop wheel rotation and pulse it quickly, esp in the case of CC? Getting a fast spinning wheel controlled in 4Hi is probably on the same order of magnitude as keeping it stopped in 4Lo?

That said, a partial stoppage and forward progress with the vacuum boosted system is pretty epic. I tried to get the TRAC system to fire in 4Hi and 4Lo during my trip and just couldn't. Either in snow or mud / gravel. I couldn't get enough differential wheel spin or cocked up on the narrow FS roads. I have had the system fire quite a bit in 2Hi, both TRAC, AutoLSD, and VSC, including this morning in the icy weather we had today.

 

I loved the rear camera on my mirror on my 2012 Taco. Hmm I wonder if I could add it to my 2017.

 

I chuckle every time I see an OR going down the highway or in a parking lot.

 

What if its on the highway on the way to GLAMIS.... or in the parking lot at REI getting gear for the weekend?

 

16 OR, with enough trail pinstripes to not give a rat's about what people think.

..

That said, OP, get what you want. They make SR5s and Limiteds for a reason too, if you don't need the offroad stuff.

Also, the stock tires on the OR are pretty meh. You'll want better for offroading.

 

no limited slip in Off road its a proper locker.

its more for your money.
you get better suspension, locker, crawl control and multi terrain select all for the same price.

Even though you plan on keeping it you would likely get more for an off road vs sport.