Why buy TRD if I am going to replace the gears and suspension?

Hello all!

I am in the market for a 2020 Tacoma that I intend to modify for offroading in Colorado. I plan to put an Icon suspension, Nitro gears, and larger all terrain tires/wheels as the first round of modification soon after I buy it. I just have this feeling that I will be cutting off a lot of the TRD hardware I just paid for. Does anyone have A 3rd Gen V6 4x4 SR that they bought and then put that $10k they would have spent on the TRD package into mods?

Thanks!

 

Will you be adding a locker when you get new gears? That’s the most worthwhile TRDOR upgrade imo. The diff is also a little larger.

 

And a Decal!

 

If you're going to great lengths to build up a vehicle, often the base models are best, aside from tech features you may want.

 

Half the Pro owners here change their suspension, wheels and tires. Ray 10s biatch!

Welcome to TW

 

It just depends what you want. The TRD OR and Pro both have larger differentials from my understanding and lockers as well as crawl control. If none of that matters to you and you will be adding a locker anyway, there's nothing wrong with an SR as something to build up. Fewer electronics to break too and you have a physical key.

 

SR is very basic (2 speed wipers, no cruise etc) I would at least think you would want to go to the sr5 unless you are just building a rock crawler. Some people do like the trd features (key less entry, dual climate) may sure you know the tech you want on the inside and then go from there. The pro is for sure not worth it if you plan on a major build.

 

For me it was the price of an aftermarket locker vs factory locker, ATRAC, and a manual transmission that made me go with the OR. The inclinometer is cool too!

 

I get where you're going with the mindset of paying for things you will take off but for me there are things that a TRD Trim have that is not available in the SR trim. For me the #1 reason was to get the 6MT. The Black interior is a must for me and I've waited years for a truck to have one again. You have more Options and Packages and features in the TRD Trim. If those things don't matter to you and the Sr Trim works for you, go for it because you can build your truck the way you want and probably come out ahead. $.02

 

The SRs are the most reliable and trouble free of the 3rd Gens. Less to go wrong.

 

Not true with the 2020's. They come with a lot more now than they did in 2016. They have cruise control (the adaptive radar version even) and intermittent wipers. The SR wont have the option for power seats I believe. And it does have a physical key (which to me is a plus). I'd say look at what comes on the OR vs the SR. Make a list comparing the two. Then go down the OR list and scratch off the stuff you'll be replacing anyway. What is left on that list is really what you'll be paying for. Then you can decide if PTS and power seats (or what not) is worth the $5K (or what ever the difference in price is).

 

Going to 34's / 35's would be the dividing line for me with that mentality. If you're going straight to that size the SR rout would be great. But even at 33's I'm not regearing with the gearing in the MT transmission being lower than the At.

Plus the atrac is nice

 

I concur that 33s with the 6MT and stock gearing works fine. It might be slightly better with 4.56 gears. Sometimes I wish I had a lower 1st and reverse, but I don’t think it’s probably worth the cost.

I’m also in the camp that doesn’t think ATRAC is a gimmick. I think it’s got a bad reputation mostly because people think it is similar to the on-road traction control available in 4hi (TRAC) which is useless off-road.

 

Thank you for not asking which TRD to buy

 

1:08 “ Tiny rear end with a lot of problems”

https://youtu.be/tkQ1q_uOs58

 

With a 3rd gen the 4.56 are completely useless. If I'm paying to upgrade I'm going at least 4.88 all day. Especially with the double overdrive.


Yeah I don't know what folks issues are with a-Trac either. I don't think it's the end all solution, but it certainly helps in a good amount of situations. For anyone that's had the rear end locked with only the front right tire and rear left tire getting traction, understands.

Sure you can play with brake pressure and achieve close to the same thing, but it takes longer and more effort and doesn't have the same control.

Granted, if I really need very strict control through a section I will turn it off and just run locked. But that's very rare.

 

it's the only way to get the manual transmission.

 

Out of curiosity, why a Tacoma? There's plenty of trucks out there with more power, take bigger tires with less modification, cheaper, etc?

 

Good info but what’s up with your name? @Puppypunter