Shopping - please help me narrow down the model

Sounds like a reasonable idea! I may give it a try if I decide to spend the extra 5k on new. I am also looking at a 22 with 17k miles for 36k. Question: Are there any major issues I should be looking out for... similar to how the 2017-20ish Colorado models are prone to the transmission shudder kind of issue across the board thing? Many thanks!

 

I haven’t heard any specifics beyond what you read in 3G. Some unhappy with auto transmission. Others experience a timing chain cover leak. Hard to say how common these are. Good thing is a tune is $400 and an extended Toyota backed warranty is less than $2,000 if you need peace of mind.

 

Get the TRD off road trim. Touch lock/unlock on door handle, larger radio screen, push button start, aluminum wheels, rear locker and crawl control, and a few other gizmos over the SR5 trim.

 

You get what you pay for.
I bought a used 2020 SR 3 months ago with 18000 mi for 25,000.
No recalls . Canyon Red. Very simple operating features in side. Nice truck.
Fit perfect in the budget at $416/ mo for 6 years.

 

How much is the price difference? If its like 3-4K it is definitely worth it. TRD off road has stuff that is for off road but SR5 does it good too. TRD is like for people who like to go in no mans land places, other than that regular SR5 can do well in off roading.

This gen is ending this year, the V6 is going away this year. I live in NJ too and we both know we don't really have that much off road here, so maybe SR5 is good pick. I got mine from Glen Toyota if you want to check them out.

Also, make sure it comes with bed mat, and bed lights , some don't have them. You can easily install bed lights its like 40$ from AMZ but the bed mat is only OEM.

 

Off road.

 

I have a 2022 OR with a little over 16k miles on it that I have both taken off road here in the Rockies and regularly driven in Utah snow (less bad than snow in the northeast, but somewhat more frequent).

I love my truck, but not once have I needed crawl control. The locking differential is nice, but I’ve used it pretty infrequently too.

The SR5 will give you 95% of the capability of an OR for significantly less. If looks are important to you, you can spend some of the money you save on better wheels and snow tires.

If you do end up in an OR, your truck will still be great. You’ll just have spent a little more than necessary for your needs.

 

Buy an OR for the looks of you want, but it you're already financing the whole deal I'd be recommending that you stick more to what you need than what you want.

I have a 2020 access cab Off-road. It has the scratches to prove that I do actually go off-road - almost certainly more than I need to, but it wasn't financed.

I'm not a big fan of the crawl control after having owned the truck for about a year. Most of the time I do better putting the automatic transmission in manual mode, 1st gear and 4LO. Maybe I'm just not using it right. Maybe it will get me out of a jam some day. Either way, not a feature you'll ever use by the look of things.

I do really like having the locking rear diff even if I've only exercised it or used it when not specifically needed. I do drive in places with big cross-ditches where I may actually be on just two wheels with the suspension travel maxed out. Here the locker will do better than the traction control system, though it will probably make the truck move too.

The only situation on-roar I can think of where this might be used is if you're on ice and only one rear wheel is getting traction. Even here, the traction control is impressive and will probably get you out... Not to mention also going more forward than potentially sideways like the locked rear likes to do!

I've been driving along in 4LO and switched to 2HI just to see if I actually need it. Most times it still does fine if I'm already aired down to 15-20 PSI. 4WD keeps roads and trails from getting unnecessarily ripped up though.

I do have a distinct preference for the OR "mushy" suspension over the sport's harsh ride. The body roll did take some getting used to, but I've learned that the truck will slip before it flips.

The hydraulic brake boost on the OR took me a lot of getting used to. I still think it's touchy as hell! One toe only on the brake, and there's not much travel between nothing and a seatbelt trying to cut you in half!

If I were you, I'd go with the lower model and use the money you saved to change only the things that seriously offend your design sense.

 

This is the most thoughtful and thorough response to anything I have ever seen on the internet. Bravo! thank you for the great perspective.

 

My 2wd single cab Tacoma saw more off pavement roads than my double cab off-road. I never even tested the rear locker if it worked on the off-road. My vote would be to get the one that fits in your budget that looks best to you.

 

I paid almost exactly what you are approved for to get my ‘23 SR and blew another $3,500 for tires and an aluminum cap. Zero miles, and no mystery about how it was treated. After a year of ownership and 20k, I haven’t found anything but deep heavy snow that could get it stuck. I’m not missing anything as far as daily useful options are concerned. It’s another option. I’m happy with my choice.