Which model handles heavy payload better sport or off road

I was curious to know if any one has hauled heavy payloads with both models and which one handled the load the best suspension wise?

 

Good question!

I've only hauled my 700 lb (about) Kodiak 700
Behind my Sport on a little 200 lb (about) trailer. Didn't even feel it back there.

Anyone else with a bit more applicable experience?

 

I figure the sport would simply because the OR has a softer suspension set up.

 

I have a few cents to spare!

So I have had a TRD Sport and now currently a TRD OR. Heaviest I have towed with each is around 3,200 lbs; and max weight I had in the bed was 1,200 lbs...I never had both bed and trailer at weight together though. I preferred the slightly firmer suspension of the Sport for both hauling and towing. It had less body roll than my OR.

 

That is some pretty good info, Mr Hustler.
I am sure it will be appreciated!

 

Did both trucks have oem suspensions?

 

Only difference is shocks. Shocks do not carry any weight they control the springs which carry weight.

 

The GVWR will be the same. The truck that is lighter will have more available payload and there won't be enough difference to matter assuming both are equipped the same. There is a sticker on the drivers door jamb with payload printed on it. Each truck is going to be different based on how it is equipped. A base model 4X2 Access Cab will be lighter and have the most payload. A loaded up 4X4 Double Cab long bed will be the heaviest and have the least payload.

And NONE of the Tacoma's will handle a heavy payload. These trucks are designed to either carry a light load in the bed with no passengers, or 3 passengers and a driver with no, or very little cargo in the bed.

 

Honestly, no Tacoma handles a "heavy payload" well. It's not made for that. That said I've had 1500# in my bed twice now and the truck drove fine. Yes it really was 1500#.

 

This. I have have carried iron, brass, lead - very heavy loads - yes above rating. Truck didn't care.

 

I will need to carry around 900 pounds in the bed from time to time so my sport should do fine I would think.

 

I would say sport since the suspension is way stiffer, won’t bounce around as much. I hauled a yard of gravel and drove on a hilly highway for about 45 mins. Only felt it when braking really.

 

Damn! A cubic yard of gravel has a nominal weight of 2500 to 2900 pounds.

 

Yes, they both were/are OEM suspension. I used the Tacos as my daily driver and work truck.

Oh yeah mate...that is a cake walk for the taco. You'll be good

 

I've had 1300 lbs of concrete bags in my trucks bed....didn't seem any worse than other trucks in the past. Was towing my 5x10 utility trailer at the same time with a mixer and gear. No issues.

 

Toyota's parts diagrams are confusing... Multiple springs for the same model search. Vin# is probably the best way to tell or the spring color codes ?

Current Vehicle 2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Offroad SR-5 GLX 3.5L A/T
https://parts.toyota.com/productSea...Accessory=0&isPerformance=0&searchTerm=spring
Part Number: 4813104A70 or 4813104B30
FRONT COIL, LEFT; FRONT COIL, RIGHT.

https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2020_Tacoma-Double-Cab-TRD-Offroad-SR-5-GLX-35L-AT/Leaf-Spring-Left--Rear/75855658/4822004241.html
Leaf Spring (Left, Rear)
4822004241 or 4822004341 or 4822004351 or 4822004451
Leaf Spring (Right, Rear)
4821004601 or 4821004701 or 4821004711 or 4821004811


2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport SR-5 GLX 3.5L A/T
https://parts.toyota.com/productSea...61751&ukey_trimlevel=160064&searchTerm=spring
Part Number: 4813104A70
Supersession(s): 48131-04A70
FRONT COIL, LEFT; FRONT COIL, RIGHT.
or
Part Number: 4813104B30
Supersession(s): 48131-04B30
FRONT COIL, LEFT; FRONT COIL, RIGHT.

Leaf Spring (Left, Rear)
4822004241
Part Number: 4822004241 or 4822004351 or 4822004451
Leaf Spring (Right, Rear)
Part Number: 4821004601 or 4821004701 or 4821004711

 

Lol yeah I understand. Your springs are the only thing that determines where your body is on the Z axis.
I made the post above as a general statement, meaning there is "essentially" no difference in springs, the shocks are the big difference. Your truck is not balanced because the battery and fuel tank are on the same side which is why there is a different spring from left to right. One might be a 447 lb spring and the other might be a 450 lb spring I do not know exactly. But, I do know that Toyota wants it to be the best ride possible in stock configuration so spring rate is important.
When people go aftermarket, they go heavier so then they can just put the same spring in both sides with no effect. Say a 700 lb spring. This fixes any weight difference but it also causes the truck to ride like a covered wagon with wooden wheels over a rocky field.
Anytime you see "10 ply" tires or heavier springs you should realize that means the truck is gonna ride much rougher than stock.
However, the owners usually will say it rides the same or better! Be forewarned it never rides better than stock. Toyota engineers spent a lot of time tuning the suspension to get a perfect ride. But, if you add a lot of weight you usually have to beef up suspension or it will sag but everybody guesses how much to beef it up. Toyota didn't guess lol.

 

The eibach shocks I added work better for towing and loads vs stock.

 

I think toyota also has these bean counters to make the final decision what brand shock to use in a trim. You can bet ride quality isn't tops on the list if a number of shock brands meet all their criteria. They would likely source a manufacture thats the cheapest.

 

Here's the way it works at pretty much every manufacturer:
Marketing gets input from customers and potential customers in every target demographic including target price
This data (lets say ride quality and performance for this metric) gets communicated to everyone else
Engineering determines the shock and spring specifications
Procurement then sends the spec out for bid to qualified vendors
Once it is bid, that price is put with everything else and Controlling determines if that is a valid price, not which brand.

This happens for every single part, no matter if it is produced in house or from a vendor. And yes, something as important as ride quality is definitely important but, if three vendors can meet the spec, the low price wins every time. Remember they are in the business to sell cars and make money.

What everyone forgets is that the CUSTOMER is the one who determines all the specs! Trust me, if the CUSTOMER wanted a V8 or Diesel or rubber mats, and the majority of the CUSTOMERS wanted the same thing, and they were willing to pay for these items, then Toyota would be building that truck.

Everything about the Tacoma was dictated by the customer and homogenized into what we have now. Even paint color and tire type and wheel design and seat comfort and hip room and headlight shape and and and. The only thing Toyota really overrides the customer on is whatever rules they have to meet, like safety features and emissions.