Team O’Neil posted a pretty good TRD Off-road review.

You paid more for your Sr5 then I did for my fully loaded OR brand new so who got the better deal? I’ll keep mine thanks.

 

Ya, 34 out the door is a bad deal imo for a SR5. My 2020 OR was 35,600 Out the door.

 

Sorry if it's already been mentioned, but the most important thing...

No manual transmission with the SR5.

There are also a lot of other "little" goodies other than tires and suspension...heated seats, heated mirrors, upgraded stereo, etc.

When I was looking last year I would have been OK with an SR5 if the price had been right, but for just a little more I got a sweet OR with 6 on the floor.

 

Mud flap thing was annoying. How is this different from any other vehicle?

 

By all means, please tell me how to learn to brake individual wheels left to right on an SR5.

Like i've said, I don't think CC is all that, but it is amazing to use in the right conditions, I.E. downhill in slippery conditions and in the same while turning.

 

That's why I ended up with an OR, the price difference between the models wasn't that great. I got my OR for about $1500 more OTD. It was an easy choice for me. An SR5 and OR were the only 2 models I considered. I tried a Sport out as well but didn't like the hood or ride, or the price for what it offered if i'm honest. If I was buying today, i'd still only consider the SR5 and OR.

 

Yeah sticker price on my 2019 sr5 was almost 37k and the OR’s were 40
I think prices vary by maket demand in your area

 

But without them you would “sand blast” the frame which already has rust on the weld seams. It’d probably fall apart in a year.

 

Sorry but you don't...driving down a graded dirt road is still a road. If you don't see the value in a locker then no you have never actually offroaded your truck. Every offroad trail I run requires a locker. Anyone who actually offroads understands the value of a locker.

 

Not to mention that assault on the ears which is the scratch and tap of your keychain against the dash and steering wheel column.

 

Sticker for my SR was 24k. 5 speed, 4x4, with the bigger rear end.

 

I wouldn't attempt to teach you anything. I suck at giving instructions. Sorry, but you may be better than me in regards to teaching... But I've also NEVER needed CC in any situation, including "downhill in slippery conditions and in the same while turning"...

 

Wow ... this is a lively conversation! Actually, I found it very informative as well. I am not that technical and the debate back and forth here is pretty interesting. I am in the process of upgrading my 2005 to a 2020 and went back and forth on an SR5 versus an Off Road. I ended up choosing the Off Road for a few key reasons:

1) There were not a lot of SR5s where I am in NY. I literally could have gone either way but found an Off Road that I liked and met my needs at a reasonable price point. I ran the numbers and it really wasn't that much more than an SR5. I admit I am not good at all of the package and extra analysis but it came out to be something like $1,500-ish more.

2) As I mentioned, I am in NY. It is not like the West here. Finding a good mechanic to upgrade my SR5 is not easy nor is it inexpensive. Believe me, if I lived in the hub of off-roading / overlanding America I would have gotten the least expensive Tacoma and upgraded. Just getting help on the lift kit for my 2005 was not easy so the Off Road just seemed like an easier option.

3) I am a means to an end guy. I must admit that a lot of this stuff is confusing. I have mad respect for people who can take their truck apart, assemble a lift kit and do a great job. That's not me. I like to fish and travel to out of the way places in the woods of Northern Quebec (where my family is from). I understand the folks here are really into their trucks and I really appreciate learning from them -- it really helps. But I would rather have my truck capable of getting me there and not have to become a lift expert. Am I an off roader? Probably not. But I can tell you this -- I travel on harrowing roads to cabins in very remote places that can get hairy in a hurry (if you have every been attacked by a pissed off moose, you will understand). I'm just looking for a safe way to get there and back reliably.

4) The older you get ... the more comfort you actually prefer.

Carry on ...

p.s. I forgot to add I agree with everyone about the standard tires on the off road. I am looking to upgrade those and struggling with how I can do that without getting rubbing and not having to have a lift kit.

 

I have a 2020 TRD Off Road, trading in my 2007 FJ Cruiser. The 2007 did not have Crawl. My 2007 did have a rear locker and 4 wheel low, but it was an early version where they didn't work together (yes, I could have hacked in where they did, but didn't).

Personally, I don't care for the Crawl feature. I think Toyota developed this for folks inexperienced in off-road driving. I doubt that experienced offroaders use this feature. I don't use the Terrain feature either, but then I don't plan trips just to specifically encounter mud or dunes, my least favorite terrains. I grew up in Colorado / Wyoming and now live in Arizona. I like mountain and desert trails (up to moderate, and avoid trails with stretches of difficult or extreme).

And, I totally agree with the reviewer about moving the shifter into manual selection to find you are defaulted in 4th gear when in low range (which is okay for high range). That was one feature the FJ Cruiser had right with its Automatic Transmission. Each gear had its own position in the shifting track, and it didn't require the driver to look at the screen to determine what gear the vehicle would start out in. You developed a feel for the gear position with the old 5 speed automatic trannies (FJ's and 2nd Gen Tacomas).

The reviewer was too critical of the forward view. Did you notice he was sitting back and low, like he was sitting in his living room? Move the seat forward and raise it up (afterall the 2020 has a fully functional electric seat position). After a few 4x4 trips, one quickly observes where the best line is and learns how to place the tires when and where for proper clearance advantage. Forward view is an easy criticism for all rating gurus, as they are test driving a vehicle for a short period. Once, an owner becomes familiar with his vehicle, this complaint loses a lot of weight.

I've been a continuous Toyota 4x4 owner since May 1978. First 78 FJ40 (1978-1991), then Series 80 Land Cruiser (1991-1999), then Series 100 Land Cruiser (1999-2006), then 2007 FJ Cruiser (2006-2019), and finally a 2020 Tacoma TRD Off Road. My favorite was the FJ Cruiser, followed by the FJ40. The Tacoma is still growing on me. I'm 74 years young and like to lake kayak (nothing difficult), but couldn't lift the kayak on the roof of the FJ anymore. It's a 10 foot fishing kayak, which slides nicely into the Tacoma bed.

My Tacoma came with Goodyear Wranglers, which are decent tires for both on-road and offroad scenarios. I guarantee these tires will be adequate for Imogene, Engineer, Cinnamon, and Corkscrew trails near Ouray, Colorado.

Few vehicles come stock with the same capabilities as found in Toyota's 4x4 offroad stable.

 

I found my SR in NY, though it’s the only one I’ve ever seen in the wild. And the trails up here are definitely interesting.

 

Oh, yeah that....that’s a bummer man. I was 33,500 OTD (39.8k sticker) then I negotiated the trade in of my 06 T4R with leaking head gasket (that they didn’t notice - no codes yet but had the waterfall behind the dash thing and white smoke on cold starts). I came out with a price about like an SR...and I have the decals that let me know I can go off road.

 

My obnoxious unsolicited recommendation: if you're going into the true boonies stick to stock size all terrains. The weak spot of this truck is fuel range. Don't want to decrease that further by jacking with the drivetrain. If range isn't an issue where you're going and you want it to look bitchin, 265/75-16s.

 

There are exceptionally rare places that dont have a gas stationw within a few gallons drive.

 

Good for you! I was not as lucky.

Here is what happened to me. I spent some time in some of the other discussions here and got some good advice -- save the money, get the SR5 and then update the shocks (Bilstein) and that would probably be all that I needed. I thought that was sound! Of course, then I couldn't find an SR5. So, I gave up and went with the OR. It cost more but I figured I won't need to do much other than swap out the tires. Of course, then I found an SR5 within a two hour drive. After all of that the delta was not that much so I decided to stay with the OR.

I spend every Thanksgiving at Whiteface Lodge. Lots of fun places to go up there, mostly in the snow. But I wouldn't call it off roading for the sake of off roading. Did see a wolf pack, though. I guess that makes me a poser. But that is okay -- I assure you that I have been called much worse. If I could only find some skinny jeans I would be all set.

 

I don't find that obnoxious at all. I pick up the OR on Saturday. Then will start looking at tires. Trying to find out what stock size will work without rubbing. Agree with you on the fuel range. We carry gas and water. All standard tire recommendations are welcome. Trying to find out if the Nittos will fit on the stock rims.