How do 4x4 SR5's do off road.

I'm upgrading to TRD Pro suspension on my SR5 and got K02s I think that should be plenty! Once installed will all come down to working on skills!

 

In stock form they are not the same, the TRD OR can go more places because it comes equipped with better OR tires.
As for the rest, I'd say all things being equal its only about a 1% more OR capable in difference, and that may mainly be due to the rear locker for a mid skill level OR driver. For a novice, it maybe a much bigger difference in mud or sand because of the crawl control assist.

The biggest difference other than the tires I see maybe the ATRAC system the TRD OR comes with stock.
It is IMO one of the best of out there. It is also extremely reliable and durable. The crawl control I don't care for, it just wears out and heats the brakes more IMO.

I have gotten out of spots in my SR5 I shouldn't have gotten out of, so I'm SR5 fan.

Hope that helps
Cheers!

 

I agree. And I'd also put you in the 1%.

 

We wheel with several people in SRs and SR5. They make it most everywhere we go without issue. The rear locker lets me control my throttle much better, those with open diffs give it more skinny pedal.

Hell, we wheeled with a 2wd locked truck on a trail and he did fine, he just had to gun it a lot more, which increases the chance of something breaking. For the big climbs we had to tow him up.

If you're not sure what the locker will do, just get the SR5. By the time you need the locker you'll have a lift, tires, and looking at re-gearing anyways. Can solve that problem with the re-gear.

 

Does the trac in the sr5 use brakes to modulate power on the front axle in 4wd. I understand I don't have a locker (wish I did) but curious if the trac will brake one wheel to send power to other wheel? I have only had opportunity to do light wheeling so far.

 

If you don't rock crawl you will likely not notice a difference vs the OR. But if you do you'll miss the Locker quickly. Still a very capable truck.

 

+1, this is that I've been trying to figure out as well...

 

I think someone already said it but it all depends on what difficulty level of trails you want to run. I had an sr5 which did fine for easy to moderate(1-5). I would not suggest taking a stock Tacoma regardless of trim level on difficult(6-9). Most of use trails offroad rating system in CO. Just my .02.

 

I just went out to see if the lsd would kick in if I lifted a front tire but could not find anything difficult in my neighborhood that the truck had trouble with. I was able to feel the lsd kick in in 2wd going up off camber hill.

 

Loading dock perhaps?
https://youtu.be/HKskaEJbhpk?t=1672

 

I upgraded my suspension, wheels and tires. So the changes were:
1. 2.5 inch ADS reservoir shocks front and back;
2. Medium Dakars
3. SCS Ray 10s
4. 265/75/16 Nitto Ridge Grappers

I have not done any rock crawling. But I live in central NC and since I bought the truck in the spring it has been like a monsoon here. I spend a lot of time on completely unpaved and, in many cases, (for decades) unmaintained roads in game lands, national forests, etc. I have also wheeled off the roads through open, including low lying, fields. I have crossed streams and I have been through utter mud baths and had to move up gradients on these crappy roads.

My truck never had a problem.

 

Seems like the same as it was in the gen 2 trucks. Just as capable, and still the budget friendly option for those who want to build their own truck up and are planning on ditching the stock suspension anyways. The SR would also be a good option for this.. anyone know what the main differences between the SR & the SR5 in the 3rd gen are?

 

If I could buy a SR5 with a moonroof, I would. 4x4 SR5 would be fine with me.

 

Mismatched nomenclature for one.


The “5” denotes 5 speed manual trans. They sorta screwed the pooch on that.

The differences between Sr and sr5 in today’s Toyota are cosmetic and/or comfort based. Will have zero effect in off road ability. Further more, the only real off road component the OR has is the locker (speaking on manuals).

Otherwise, yep. They’re all the same.


Go have some fucking fun already

 

The 4x4 SR5 has two types of traction control that modulate the brakes and engine power. TRAC prevents wheel slip by braking slipping wheels to maintain traction. VSC uses sensors to detect if the vehicle isn't turning or is about to roll, and cuts power for you. I think it may modulate the brakes too. The traction control button is at the top middle panel on the headliner, and is an icon of a car with tire tracks behind it.

This capability is less robust than package the OR, Limited, or PRO, which have 3 advantages over the SR, SR5, or Sport -- a larger master cylinder that can pump the brakes for traction control better, an electronic locker on the rear axle, and a traction control system with A-TRAC/MTS. This is all in addition to TRAC and VSC. You can add lockers front and rear for less than the cost difference between SR5 and OR and end up with a more capable vehicle, which is why I bought an SR5 over an OR. There's no reason to buy a Limited unless you like bling (or need a sunroof). There's no reason to buy a Pro unless you want a non-lifted OR with Fox suspension and like bling. In any case, you don't need lockers if you have to ask whether or not you need them. They're situational and only used in fairly extreme offroading -- never on light trails or forest roads. You see lockers used more commonly on trails that are tough enough that you'd want a 10 year old truck that you've already paid off and won't be upset about snapping CV axles or body damage on...


Here's a quick SR5-specific primer on the SR5's traction control:
1 - 2wd. The default mode is 2wd Hi with TRAC and VSC on.
- 1a. Press the traction control button and VSC will turn off. This acts basically like a limited slip differential, and VSC won't cut power if you're doing something stupid, unless the truck starts to roll (when it'll cut brakes and power).
- 1b. Press the traction control button and hold it and VSC and TRAC will turn off.
- 1c. There is no 2wd Lo.
- 1d. If you have a 2wd SR5, ignore 2 and 3 below.
2 - 4wd Hi. 4hi has the same methods of controlling traction as 2wd with the same ways to control traction, only now TRAC will also detect and pulse the brakes to slipping front tires in addition to back tires.
3 - 4wd Lo. 4lo has VSC off. That's that. You can't really go speeds fast enough for VSC to interfere, so it just doesn't work. TRAC is on by default, but again, you can turn it off by holding the traction control button down.

While you can shift into 4hi at speed, you need to make sure you're stopped and in N before shifting into 4lo -- see the insert on the drivers-side visor. You should run 4hi only on gravel or snowy roads, and definitely never use it on dry pavement in a parking lot or for any maneuvers that involve turning tightly. You should only use 4lo offroads or in heavy snow driving slow with no pavement visible.

 

Great reply and informative.

 

The traction control modes are exactly the same on the SR versus the SR5.

The SR5 comes stock with keyless entry, cruise control, a more visually appealing speedometer, and a better radio. You can get the SR in 4-cylinder (the 4-cylinder isn't available for SR5, sport, TRD OR, Limited, or PRO). The SR comes in access cab or dual cab short bed... You have to get an SR5 if you want the long bed (which is why I got an SR5 over the SR), unless you custom build a higher trim package than the SR5.


Edit: And getting back to the title of the post, How do 4x4 SR5s do off-road? They do just fine. TRAC is good enough to substitute for a locker in everything but the worst rock crawling, which I suggest you buy an old beater truck for instead of using a 30k SR5.

 

If you watch this short video you can see TRAC working. Towards the end it does break the spinning lifted front wheel
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...l-modes-explained.530695/page-3#post-17001891

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeRCk4cbofw

 

Now an SR5 in deep mud, but notice the tires on it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwZWgQOsw4s