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Suspension difference between SR5 and TRD?

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by ScrippsRanch67, Aug 5, 2023.

  1. Aug 5, 2023 at 7:19 PM
    #1
    ScrippsRanch67

    ScrippsRanch67 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Is there a significant difference between the SR5 and TRD suspension on a 23 Quad cab 2WD?

    I currently have an 06 Tacoma quad Cab TRD Off Road 2wd.

    Would I be happy with the 2023 SR5 suspension and performance?
     
  2. Aug 5, 2023 at 7:19 PM
    #2
    Horseshoez

    Horseshoez Well-Known Member

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    All three TRD suspensions are different, which one are you asking about?

    Edit: none of the the TRD suspensions are the same as on the SR5.
     
  3. Aug 5, 2023 at 7:21 PM
    #3
    ScrippsRanch67

    ScrippsRanch67 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Not sure yet. Dealership only has a 2023 Quad Cab 2wd SR5. I'm asking if that set up will be wimpy in comparison to what I now have on my 06.
     
  4. Aug 5, 2023 at 7:23 PM
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    Horseshoez

    Horseshoez Well-Known Member

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    Wimpy varies by what your needs are; are you looking for a truck which you can flog off road 100 days per year or 1 day per year? Do you enjoy a firmer suspension with crisper handling or a softer suspension and somewhat mushy handling?
     
    GilbertOz and Chew like this.
  5. Aug 5, 2023 at 8:17 PM
    #5
    ScrippsRanch67

    ScrippsRanch67 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Solid handling. I go offroad a couple of times a year out to go shooting in Shelter Valley, Ca. for around 2 miles
     
  6. Aug 5, 2023 at 8:26 PM
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    Speedfreak

    Speedfreak Member in poor standing

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    The suspension is for the most part all the same regardless of trim. The differences are in the shocks. Different trims will have specifically tuned shocks, SR, SR5 just have a basic shock. The TRD Sport has firm shocks for road handling, TRD Offroad has soft shocks for offroading. The TRD Pro has Fox shocks for dessert high speed driving.

    This applies to 2wd as well.
     
  7. Aug 5, 2023 at 8:35 PM
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    2021SR5V64WD

    2021SR5V64WD Well-Known Member

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    I think you could upgrade the shocks and/or suspension for less then the difference between the SR5 and TRD Trims....
    Plus you may find the SR5 to be good enuf as is.
     
    ScrippsRanch67[OP] likes this.
  8. Aug 5, 2023 at 8:44 PM
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    Chew

    Chew Not so well known user

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    All the rear leaf springs are the same, and as far as I’m concerned, in the load carrying department, are wimpy. It’ll carry bags of mulch home from the HD just fine. But throw a topper on it, load it full of range gear, then mild off-road and/or long road trip,,,, and you’ll find out. Of course leaf packs are easy enough to change or add a helper to if you wanna get by.
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2023
  9. Aug 6, 2023 at 4:58 AM
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    zoo truck

    zoo truck Well-Known Member

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    Been happy with the sr5. Seems when new, they ride like a lumber wagon till the shocks, and suspension settle in. After 5-6k miles, mine began to get better.
     
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  10. Aug 6, 2023 at 5:21 AM
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    batacoma

    batacoma Truck Wars

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    You won't get the rear locker on a SR5 like you would with the OR Prerunner if that's something you use or like to have. SR5 Trail Edition has the rear locker and I think those are all 4x4.

    You could just get some 4600 or 5100 bilstein shocks if you wanted to. Maybe some OME 883 coils or what ever the lowest spring rate you can find.

    I thought about pairing the 883s with a Fox 2.0 snap ring damper on the lighter 4cyl trucks. I have read that the springs on the the threaded 2.0 is too stiff on the light trucks.
     
  11. Aug 6, 2023 at 5:24 AM
    #11
    Tocamo

    Tocamo .

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    Then at the very least get a 4x4 SR5, and go a lot farther than the 2 mile mark

    Later on, you could get yourself a good quality "cheap" lift and upsized tires.

    2" Bilstein 5100s, are the best bang for the buck.
     
  12. Aug 6, 2023 at 5:53 AM
    #12
    Taco_mike73

    Taco_mike73 Well-Known Member

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    What @zoo truck said. I'm fine with my sr5. The ride is pretty good. You could easily change to bilstiene shocks that would be an upgrade over what the TRD comes with if you didn't like.
     
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  13. Aug 6, 2023 at 6:22 AM
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    Horseshoez

    Horseshoez Well-Known Member

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    If you like solid handling then the Tacoma with the firmest suspension/crispest handling is the TRD Sport. I drove and SR5 and TRD Sport back-to-back and definitely preferred the TRD Sport (which I ended up buying). There is one other aspect in the SR5 vs. TRD discussion unmentioned in this thread; the TRDs have the option of a manual transmission, the SR5 is automatic only.
     
  14. Aug 6, 2023 at 7:30 AM
    #14
    SSMTRDOR

    SSMTRDOR Well-Known Member

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    SR, SR5, and Limited all have the same suspension and Hitachi shocks.
    They ride like a truck, just like they should.
     
  15. Aug 6, 2023 at 8:17 AM
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    zoo truck

    zoo truck Well-Known Member

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    If you never do any serious off roading, you really don't need to carry around that stuff. The sr5 is very competent in average conditions when 4wd is needed. I've not had a use for a locker in 20 years....besides the average sr5 already has a poor man's locker that works pretty good for what it is.
     
    ScrippsRanch67[OP] likes this.
  16. Aug 6, 2023 at 9:46 AM
    #16
    gudujarlson

    gudujarlson Well-Known Member

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    I’ve owned a 2016 SR5 and a 2020 TRD off road. The difference in ride quality while daily driving was imperceptible to me. Even with my current king shocks, I sense little to no difference during daily driving. I do notice some difference when making the shocks do a lot of work, ie going fast over a rough surface. There is much more to a suspension than shocks.
     
    GunnerTheRunner likes this.

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