Offroad trucks: Am I crazy to consider a Tacoma SR5 over a Ranger FX4?

I'm hoping to buy a pickup truck soon. I've done all the internet research and have test driven the SR5 Tacoma and have sat in a Ranger FX4. I am well aware of the features and differences between the two. I want to start offroading to find some cool places to get to, not necessarily to just go offroading and push my truck to its limit.

The Tacoma just feels like it has a higher build quality even though they are produced in Mexico, granted the Ranger does feel a bit bigger which is nice as I have two young growing boys. I know I could get the SR5 for $38,000 after talking to some local dealers, I am sure if I flew out of state, I could get the Ranger I'd want for about $40,000. I am in the Socal market where everything is more expensive.

However, seeing these two in action, the Tacoma's basic 4x4 system just seems so much better.

Here are some videos (I realize these are offroads and limiteds, but the basic system is the same. I am guessing I can live without the locker, or if it came to it I can add on later.)

The BEST Truck 4x4 System Is...

2024 Tacoma Limited Off Road Test

Here is the Ranger struggling again but they seem to blame the tires:
Is the NEW Ford Ranger FX4 Any Good Off Road? - TTC Hill Test

I had seen another video of a 3rd Gen SR5 with basic mods doing an outstanding job going up very rough, uneven terrain. I have been blown away with what an SR5 can do when things get dicey.

What I really want is the Offroad, but so far, the cheapest ones I've seen are close to $50,000, and if that is out of my price range, an SR5 would still make me smile from ear to ear. I also love cars like the Subaru Outback Wilderness, and Honda Ridgeline but no two-speed transfer case and/or lack of ground clearance is a no go.

 

Drive both before you decide. But don’t let the local prices scare you. A quick glance and I found TRD OR’s advertised starting around $41k (MSRP $44,000) so don’t settle for a truck that you know you’ll regret wanting the other trim.
Both trucks have their upsides and downsides. If you sell/trade often definitely go Toyota. Resale value is crazy, can’t be beat by anyone.
Also stay away from YouTube reviews, you’ll believe they are all crap and you should find a 2015 Taco on bringatrailer for $35,000 because it’s a better “value”.

 

J.D. Powers rated manufacturers for reliability. Toyota/Lexus came in #1, and Ford is #22 on their list.

 

I would imagine the ranger interior materials are nicer quality than the taco...
maybe the ranger actually has some material on their door panels?
But taco interior layout & coolness is much more elevated than the ranger in my opinion.
shit, i like the interior, config, layout, on the taco more than the $100k bronco raptor, or any bronco for that matter...
The radio on the ranger looks like it belongs on front of a fancy fridge....
just dont like the dash area in alot of their line-ups...
That being said, I was a ford master certified engine technician for 32 years, I bought a tacoma.....

 

If you end up doing any real off-roading at all it would kind of suck to not have a rear locker, and you deff wanna just get that from the factory as opposed to adding it later. I wouldn’t draw too many conclusions from videos showing tests with the stock tires on either vehicle.

 

The Outback Wilderness has about the same ground clearance as the trucks. No 4-LO, but depending on how steep a hill you climb, could be a nice option.

I would be curious to know how many OR or Pro owners have used the rear locker; I have, but not very often. The SR5 is a nice truck, and very capable; I think you'd be very happy with it.

 

A Toyota will always be much better than any pos ford

 

You should be able to get a well loaded Off-road for 10% off sticker between now and end of year. They are sitting all over the lots around me now.

You should be using the search tools to find the color and options you want.

 

Why not get a third gen Tacoma?

 

Just a thought.. If you are looking to get off road without too much experience, might look at the slightly used market. Brushing against a tree with a new truck hurts a lot. the used truck will not hurt as much.

Good luck!!

 

Be careful about buying a new truck out of state and then bringing it back into California. It can be done, but you should only use a dealer that is familiar with such a transaction. The paperwork is a pain to deal with and you will have to go to a DMV office in person a couple of times. Can't be done on-line.

You will also have to get your brand new truck weighed.

 

'Cause they are dogs compared to the 4th gen.

 

Definitely drive both--in all trim levels that might be within reach. I love my TRD OR (w/ manual transmission!) but I realize that different people have different wants/needs. Have you tried searching for trucks on AutoTrader? You can customize your search and expand it geographically--a very useful tool.

 

So, as an SR5 owner, I need to point out a couple things.

First you will need to replace the tires if you even think about going off pavement. They're not even good street tires IMO. I never leave the pavement and I'll probably have to even replace mine after I see what they do in snow, probably fairly poor.

Second the suspension on the SR5's is not setup for offroad at all. It can be very bouncy and unpredictable. Better shocks would be in order in my honest opinion.

So, right off the bat there's a potential for $1500 to $2000 for those items. I would go with an entry level Offroad as it has somewhat better tires and suspension setup. Much better offroader off the lot. An SR5 is a decently equipped daily driver for the occasional Home Depot run.

 

The Ford FX4 shocks could stand to be replaced they might be good for creeping down a rough driveway and kind of like TRD OR shocks. They aren't great on the street and you can't go too fast off road. I recall seeing where the Ranger is faster than the Colorado not about the Tacoma and it's a midsize truck so how fast can it really go?

The 24 Frontier is probably going to be the best buy in the midsize market. What about a Gladiator or a Fullsize Ram? I'm still seeing some 1500 Classics and HD discounted. Some of the 25s have like 20k off sticker, don't know about that Hurricane I6.

 

I owned a 2019 Ford and traded it in on my 2023 Tacoma. Reason for the trade was the perpetual mechanical issues with the Ford and that their Service Department kept looking for ways to make it my fault. It was like I had a part time job fighting Ford to fix their broken product.

My 2023 Tacoma is essentially the Toyota version (as close as can be) of the Ford Ranger I was driving. They were pretty comparable.
The Ford was a lot better on the road and got better Gas Mileage.
The Tacoma, though, Off Road Is AMAZING. The suspension set up is fan-freakin-tastic in the Taco. Soaks up the Off Road Bumps.

 

I'm just a little unimpressed with the new rear coil spring setup. My previous 3rd gens rode much better and was more stable IMO. Now, they were offroads, so that might be something to note.

Might just be an SR5 thing. I'll have to test drive an Offroad when it comes time to replace my SR5 in a couple years.

 

That's interesting to hear about the rear coils. I wonder if an additional sway bar or another link somewhere might tighten things up of there's some where to conect that. Could be spring rates dependent on model. I wonder if an open bed pickup is less rigid than a SUV in the rear, I'm guessing it is, but enough too make that much difference? I wouldn't think so, I know we aren't talking SUV but those traditional get the rear link and Tundra obviously has rear coils and a bed. Now I'm interested in how the rear leafs compare to the rear coils on a DCSB.

 

a Tacoma with not work for you for long, once they hit teenage growth spurts

 

Forget either truck. You need a F150 crew cab.

I raised 2 kids, currently with 5 grandkids age 4-16. A Tacoma or Ranger might be OK now, but in a few years will be too small. Trust me, it's better to bite the bullet now and get a full-size crew cab truck for yourself and a full-size SUV for your wife. Keep them until your youngest graduates from high school then you can downsize.

I waited until my kids were in 6th and 10th grades before I figured that out. I'd have been money ahead if I'd done so a few years earlier. It's not just that your kids get bigger, but they want to bring friends when you go places.

Just for reference, my son was 5'3" and 140 lbs in 7th grade. By 10th grade he was 6'3" and 240 lbs in a size 13 shoe. I waited until he graduated HS in 2007 before buying my Tacoma. He would have never fit in the back seat of a Tacoma or Ranger with his older sister.

My wife and I downsized to a Honda and Tacoma for several years. But by 2016 I had enough grandkids that we needed to go back to a F150 crew cab and an Explorer with 3 row seating. I kept the old Tacoma, but it's now a 3rd vehicle when the size isn't needed.