Sport vs Offroad

What is the difference between the Sport and Offroad versions? I see the Offroad has a higher payload. Does that mean it has a stiffer suspension?

I am looking to replace my 2001 SR5 I don’t drive off road, so the Sport seems like a good choice, but the dealers here have a lot of Offroads. I do pull a 4000 lb trailer.

 

Any payload difference should be negligible. Sport is more geared for on road and the offroad is more for the trail. Wheel size and shocks are different between the 2. Drive both back to back and make sure the tire pressure is correct.

 

Will it be a 2wd?
If it will be 4 wd, no reason to not just get the offroad, over the sport, I dont think...
but then again, im not totally up to speed with all the features....
you can get sports with power seats along with the upgraded 2 tone seats upholstery..
2wd sports are available but not as common as 4wd.
sport has ugliest wheels of any of the models & the hood is questionable....

 

sport Premium here. Love the hood! The chrome on the wheels are not my favorite but that can be fixed easily. The style of the 18” trd rims are great. I don’t need crawl control for pavement here in MA. The little off-roading I may do 4wd will be fine. Don’t need crawl control.

But I agree everyone needs to make their own decisions. It’s really what are you going to use it for.

 

Off-road has a locker. Sounds like you don’t need it. Sport suspension will be a slightly better ride on the road. Some say they don’t really notice the difference, some do. Sport is probably better suited to you if you like it’s aesthetics. But at the end of the day either sounds like it will fit your needs.

 

i don't do enough "real" offroading for that to matter - a sport is perfectly capable for my trail needs. so for me personally it really comes down to looks, and i vastly prefer the color-matched trim to the black. i could take or leave the hood scoop. i do prefer the look of the OR wheels, but the sports still look quite decent with some beefier tires.

 

Not a fan of either wheels, but Sport’s the better looker. Wrap the fenders & roof, upgrade your wheel/tire situation, and you have something very similar-looking to a $70k pro.

Sounds like you’ll never need a locker, and if we’re being honest, most who pay $70k for a real Pro will never use their locker either.

 

I am getting 4WD in either case. According to the specs, the Offroad has almost 200 lb more payload. When I’m towing, 500+ lbs of payload goes to tongue weight, so the extra could be valuable.

Sounds like I really need to see them side by side to judge looks.

 

From my experience, the Offroad is ironically much better on road than off. So much so, i believe its even better on road than most cars and suvs. The offroad isnt really designed for much offroad without at least a few mods. I personally dont care for hoodscoops on a 4 banger consumer vehicle especially a pickup. Although the ones on the sport do look good.

 

I bought the Sport two months and like it. Only have 1700 miles on it. The wheels are not my favorite but will do for now. Different wheels and a little more aggressive tire in the future.

 

Check the sticker on the doorframe of the actual truck you're buying. The specs have maximum payloads, but the real world trucks will have less.

Just ask anyone with a Trailhunter if they have 1700 lbs on their sticker.

 

My 24 sport tows my 3600ibs lance camper just fine. Payload difference between models was not even a factor for me. So I agree.

 

Drive both. Personally, I would never consider the sport. The off road drives great on the pavement, yet comes with a locker and traction control. That reason alone gets you more truck if that makes sense.
Resale. Someone who wants a used off road will only buy the off road. Where someone that was initially looking for a sport can possibly buy the off road since on the street the difference is not noticeable to me.
Last, hate the fake hood on the sport.

 

Diff lock VS builtin trailer brake controller. I went for diff lock and had an aftermarket brake controller installed.

The remaining 4000$ of options weren’t worth it for me. Your mileage may vary.

 

I bought my sport back in April and was unsure of the styling in stock form but once the mods were done I’m in love with the look. Also with an aftermarket suspension kit I’ve taken mine out in some serious terrain and never had an issue. It’s definitely more set up for high speed off road vs crawling.

 

It depends on where you want to go and what you want to do with your truck.

 

Can’t go wrong with either, both are great trucks. I wanted an OR but would have needed to wait and they had a sport on the lot with the options I wanted. Had to be honest with myself on how often I would actually use a locker or mts. So far the sport has easily gone anywhere I have taken it. If you plan to do any off roading though, the sport you’ll want to replace tires and add some underbody protection.

 

Up here the offroad Premium wasn't available with a 6ft bed. The short bed isn't usefull to some considering you can barley fit a broken down fishing rod and gear with cooler in the back. I found the Sport Premium to be a decent compromise as it comes with fully adjustable seats, larger screen, side steps, 360 camera and a couple other features. A diff lock would be nice and should be an option.

The factory suspension on both is borderline crap for true wheeling compared to something like Icon or Elka anyhow.
Had an old Chev 4x4 with open front and rear that went anywhere my buddies locked up trucks went. Just had to hit it a little harder.

 

I've been driving trucks off the pavement for fifty years, and I have never experienced a vehicle that rides like the new OR does. It's as if wash board doesn't exist. It's a heck of a lot better than my Gen 3 or 2.

 

Even my new Sport handles washboard roads rather well, I was surprised. All of my prior off-roading was in SFA vehicles, particularly wranglers, and those are great low speed with the front disconnected but any kind of washboard was extremely unpleasant. I am new to the IFS off-roading so still learning but on-road it is WAY better than SFA. Trim aside, I think the 4th Gen is an amazing truck and by far the best all around vehicle I have owned.