TRD PRO Myths Truths & Questions

I have been doing a huge amount of research on the Pro's and see the same questions coming up again and again so I thought I'd put up what I have found out from various forums, talks with Toyota Hotline and such. May be redundant, but at least it will be in one place.

Skid Plate: Yes, they come with a standard TRD Off Road Package front skid plate. Most of the adds show the TRD Silver colored plate, but this is not included from the factory. They come with the plain old black thin one.

Unlisted Options: Though not listed it seems that the Pros all include the Premium (not JBL) Audio with Nav. Have yet to see a post for one that didn't have Nav included. They also added the "Turn Signal Flashers in the Mirrors" like the Ltd's but it is also an unlisted item. There may be more hidden add on's to the pkg. that I am not aware of.

Tow Package: Yes, you can get a Pro with either a simple hitch, or the tow package. The quickest check if it has a hitch is to look at the plug by the hitch. 4 prong is simply a port added hitch and the vehicle has a 3500# tow rating. If you have the 7 pin plug it should be the factory tow package which includes both engine oil and tranny coolers, bigger alternator & battery and is rated to tow 6400#

Price: For those posting what they paid it would be nice to know the actual purchase price less Tax and such as different areas have different rates. Here in Ca our area has a 7.5% sales tax and we get raped on lic. fees. I had a dealer quoting me 40, 700 out the door which equates to 37,650 or about $1200 off of the msrp. This was for a Pro with tow package. Then again, when push came to shove they did the "we have to get the vehicle" game so who knows if that was a legit price. Would be nice to know the actual purchase price that folks have been paying. Invoice for a Pro with tow package is shown as about 36,800.

Suspension: The suspension is basically the same as the Baja TX with the exception of softer front springs. There may have been some valving adjustments to the shocks, but I have not been able to find out about that. Maybe if some Baja TX owners and some Pro Owners could get the part numbers off of their front and rear shocks / struts we could see if the parts numbers match or are different. In a 4wd Toyota Owners article it was stated that the factory reps told them that there were no mods done to the stock front end other than the different struts / springs from a stock trd Taco. The rears use standard TRD OR Pkg leaves with the remote res.shocks which gives the increased travel due to added droop, not from any lift. The remote res allows for the same length shock with a longer shaft which is where the added wheel travel comes from.

Build: I've seen some comments stating that TRD's are converted to Pro's at the port.....from the same factory rep it was said that the Pro's were going to be built on the regular Tacoma line which due to the Inferno color and some of the add on's makes more sense than the "done at the port" statements. His actual comment was stating that they planned to make only x number, but if demand was there they could ramp it up due to their being made on the normal line. The previous TX Baja's started life as TRD Off Roads and were shipped about 10 miles away to another facility where the shocks and struts were changed, wheels changed, and the decals added.

 

Hello, ive got 1000 miles on my TRD pro mt, black
Silver plate is added cost of $200+
Non-Jbl was horrible, I replaced Oem speakers with maestros and added amp
Entune nav is standard, rear camera, home link
Tow package was an added $500+
Suspension/I believe pro has added height over Baja
TRD cat exhaust is standard
running boards were added cost, but glad to have them due to height.
Negatives: alignment was off, dealer fixed
Clunky steering when off-road, Toyota claims "normal." brakes not great, mediocre interior compared to tundra & 4-runner
Positives: truly amazing traction with diff lock, solid higher ride/feel, great on back roads, stealth exterior aesthetics, exhaust system completes ride, a lot of fun compared to standard trd sport/OR
$38,600 msrp, including shipping & full tank of gas

 

Oh boy... You are plagued with many of the common Tacoma issues when new, and even after a normal period of time.

Surprisingly when I bought my truck new, I had NONE of these issues whatsoever. The steering wheel was straight, but the truck would slightly pull to the right, this has since been long fixed, and the entire truck has received a facelift .

Are you comfortable with doing your own work? If so I can forward you some links that posts fixes to the common Taco problems these trucks are plagued with.

 

Hi Roberto, your suggestions/links are welcome, thanks! Yes, I'm Ok to do own work, just don't want to void any of toyota's warranty. That was another reason I decided on pro & no need to mod w 3rd party lift...Headscratcher though, that my old 95 never had clunky off road steering....
To their credit, Toyota did however take me for 2 test drives with two different ORs from '14 which also exhibited similar clunky off-road steering.....they said they would send info to their engineers. Assuming now to not hold my breath with any miracles.��

 

If the skid plate is the same one that came on my 2014 DC off-road it is a joke...it reminds me of the metal used on the covers of cheap Webber BBQ grills, more of a splash guard than a skid plate.

 

Navi is standard and you can't upgrade to JBL. Only the Entune Premium Audio w/ Navi.


There also is no factory tow package available for the TRD Pro

 

When you say "no factory tow package is available for Pro" meaning you cant purchase one from toyota??? when i purchased my pro, they said that a tow package would be thrown in but when i received my vehicle it was just a hitch with a 4 connector. I was a little upset it didnt come with the beefed up alternator, battery, and tranny coolers. The dealer said this was the "tow Package"

 

Exactly, just a hitch and wiring can be installed.

Factory Tow Package includes the hitch of course, beefed up Alternator, Battery, 7Pin connector, Trans (auto only ) and Oil Coolers and this is not available on the TRD Pro, sorry guys

 

Mine did this, they replaced the entire steering column, no more issues. I think there is a TSB for it.

 

I have seen some photos Pros with the 7 pin connector by the hitch which should mean you can get the tow package. Also, a dealer I checked with said it is an option. Guess the proof will be when and if someone who actually has bought a pro with a 7 pin connector can verify if it has the coolers also. Most of the Baja's had a full tow pkg so I'm not sure why the Pro would not have it available......If it actually is not available on the Pro that would end my looking at them as I need the 6500# rating due to business use and Tax regs....with the 3500# it is a totally different depreciation scale than the 3500# rated one.

 

I don't think this is true. I have seen window stickers that show the factory tow package. If someone has a TRD Pro with the 7 pin connector in the back, please pop the hood and take a pic of the oil filter so we can see if it has the factory oil cooler.

Jon

 

I work at Toyota and a Tow Package (Code TO and Code TW for TRD Off Road) is not available on a TRD Pro Tacoma

 

Dang. There's been a lot of debate about that lately. The two I've seen in person definitley DID NOT have the tow package. Can you order it with the tow package? A couple of members on here say they have/will order one with it.

 

Gotcha! Nice to have confirmation.

Jon

 

If the dealers are FOS and the true tow package is not available that ends my search for a Pro as for Uncle Sam to be nice about things it needs the 6400# tow rating. The dealer added hitch with the 4 pin connector is only rated for 3500# and for Uncle Sam it is simply what the paperwork says. For most folks you could add your own and be OK as you would simply install the proper hitch and add the engine and tranny oil coolers...bit of a pain, but doable.

 

Thank god I found this thread. Helps me clear some questions before I get my truck. Still on order and this waiting is killing me. Looks like you guys got a good deal. I got quoted 43k out the door for one and that's an access can automatic. . I looked around and went to another dealer. Hopefully she comes on soon.

 

No factory tow package……no thanks

 

Just bought one .... 6 Speed manual and Inferno Red(probably the very first one to be sold in Cali) . No Tow package. The dealer was not able to added the hitch in time....

 

Hi, what dont you like about the brakes? Mine are not very savy either.

 

Yes and Yes