Sport or Off-Road Package

Hello,

I'm finally on the market for a manual 4WD Tacoma. I've had this project for a while but I'm still debating which package to go for. I will be replacing on front and rear suspension, running 35's, re-gearing and adding locker(s). All of that will be done within a couple months.

For the longest time I thought I would go with the Sport package thinking I was going to regear anyway so lockers could be put in at the same time. Maybe a month ago as I started looking at inventory I realized off-road models with Manual transmission were more common and it would be easier to find a vehicle.

But today I watched Dirt life style latest video where he lists his issues, and I mentions some issues with crawl, locker being available only 4-lo is engaged.

How much of these issues a problem to you guys with the off-road package?

If I was to get a Sport package, I would be able to engage lockers regardless but neither crawl or traction control would be available.

1. How guys do you value crawl/traction control?
2. What made pick sport/offroad vs the other one?
3. With either package have you had any problem getting in 4-lo?

Cheers

 

In my area manual sports are easier to find than manual off roads, by quite a bit...

 

1. Manuals don't have MTS or Crawl Control. They have A-TRAC. There's plenty about it on this forum.
2. The locker. You can take stand alone locker control in the 3rd gen as an aftermarket locker would be, it's been done and I'm working on my version.
3. No.

 

Both Trims cost exactly the same if configured the same, since you want a Manual it will not have Crawl Control.

 

Thanks for the replies, folks.

Yes for some reason sport manual is more common north east than south west, I noticed this searching on cars.com it was pretty obvious, not sure why.

I’ll probably go with what I am able to find then.

 

1. Get out of jail free card.
2. Offroad because no hoodscoop and a get out of jail free card.
3. Yeah, when I'm at work and can't get away for the weekend.

 

Thank you

 

Same here. I can put my hands on 3 sport manuals within a 50 mile radius, but to find a SINGLE manual OR I’d have to drive 150 miles. The next one after that is 300 miles away.

 

I thought the OR costs a little more?

edit:this must be wrong?

 

Lmao 19/24 mpg. Would love to see that test track.

Are you planning to keep the factory wheels? Sport has 17" wheels, OR has 16".

To answer your questions: I picked the OR mainly for the locker. Wanted something that was going to work out of the box without having to invest in aftermarket goodies. Also finding a sport with MT near me was going to be a long wait.

I have used A-TRAC exactly one time. It seemed to work well, however. 4-LO requires a specific sequence to engage / disengage but it works reliably.

 

Aftermarket parts were the reason I considered Sport initially. But then I realized price on the OR wasn’t much different.

I am going with 35’s so I’ll likely replace the wheels. I also need a full size spare. So F and R bumpers.

At the end of the day, it’s more a question of finding one with Manual transmission.

 

Are the off-road model accounted for? I mean all taken and sold?

off-road or SR5

 

Starting MSRP. The Sport has an Access Cab/2wd available which is cheaper (and a manual Access Cab for that matter), so yes, if you want an Access Cab, the Sport is a little cheaper. Granted all of this is region dependent and as soon as you click "Build your own" the price jumps up.

 

I went with the OR, mainly for visual impact (no air dam, black fenders, no scoop, better wheels) since I had no plans for modifications other than side steps and mud flaps.

I like the idea of crawl control, even though I'll probably never use it. I've had mine for a month now and don't even know how to engage it. LOL.

 

SR5 doesn’t have an option for manual transmission as far as I know.

 

Something not yet mentioned is the fact that the TRD OR has an 8.75" rear end, whereas the Sport has an 8" rear end. Now, all manuals have an 8.75" rear end so that shouldn't mater in this case, but figured it was worth mentioning for those reading here wondering the same questions as OP but not looking for a manual.

 

The Offroad package will bring you closer to a TRD Pro level...at the same time there is nothing wrong with a Sport package but there are some fundamental differences.

 

Good info, thanks guys.
I didn't know about the rear end differences between MT/AT/OF

 

I’m not sure, I don’t think they’re spoken for though. I do searches on cars.com often just to see what’s out there.

 

It's vanity, but I personally couldn't look myself in the mirror with that hood scoop sitting in the driveway.

Your mods will remove everything that's different between those trim packages. The fancy off-road stuff isn't available with the MT anyway. Get the Off-road, it looks better!