Decisions, decisions....

Ok, the wife wants to trade in her Durango for a 2023 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4. We do light trails, some mud, nothing crazy but for the price point she wants to buy at, low $40's, we have narrowed it down to a SR5, TRD Sport and TRD Off Road.

With our even trade-in and some cash down we are at:

$41,500 out the door for an SR5
$42,500 out the door for an TRD Sport
$42,600 out the door for a TRD Off Road.

Is it a no-brainer at this point to spend the $1100 difference and get the rear lockers and Billstein shocks that the Off Road has?

Also, I notice all are 3.91----3" lift with 33's ok, or are all y'all re-gearing for 33's?

Keep in mind, we are not serious off-roaders.....


Thanks everyone!

 

Go for the OR. I'm running 32's on my TRD Sport without regearing. I also do light off roading and have no issues. Wish I had a rear locker though.

 

I appreciate it! How are the gears on 32's---265/70/17's?

 

What's on the dealer lot right now? Go test drive it. Those three have slightly different suspension setups, and its going to be the suspension that is the largest difference between those three.

-The Sport will feel stiff as hell and will jar your teeth on rough terrain, but on the highway it feels very planted. For a truck frame that has all of the technology of an old west stagecoach, the Sport corners like its on rails. Comparatively. If it was in a race against a hobby horse with worn springs, it feels like it corners on rails against that.

-The OR is opposite. It is smooth as butter over rough terrain, but with the very important disclaimer that high speed washboard has been known to overheat the slightly undersized shocks. On road, it wallows like a beached walrus. Some people can't stand the nose dive and submarine lean, other people don't notice it and think I'm crazy for even describing the OR that way. Again, comparatively. Against a Sport, it wallows. Against a 30 year old Jeep, its as planted as a goat.

-The SR5 is somewhere in between. Its not as stiff as the Sport, and it doesnt nose dive like the OR. It feels the most "pickupy," about what you would expect in handling from a midsized suburban pickup truck.

Test drive as many trims as you can, and then think about your 90% usage case. The differences aren't nearly as dramatic as what I described to be honest, but its difficult to transcribe the flavors of Tacoma over text. You'll have to give it a feel for yourself.

 

I never noticed a lot test driving all setups. Do the TRD"s sit up higher than SR5?

 

I have the off road . The stock shocks are okay still a bit bouncy off road . The rear locker I have never used it except the occasional monthly use to keep things working . If u plan to change stuff out I would go for the base model as long as it has 4x4 .

 

whatever you decide, skip the lift and larger tires and leave it stock.

 

I got the OR and like it better than the Sport. I also put 5100's to lift the front 1.5" and progressive add-a-leafs in the rear for 1.5" of lift and upped the tire size to 31.5". For me it not only looks better, but I like that there is reduce nose dive over stock suspension yet still not near as firm as the Sport. Do you need a truck because sounds like your style of driving you may want to look into a slightly used 4runner. If I didn't want an open bed I would rather have the 4runner over the Tacoma.

 

With the exception of the Pro and now that weird half-trim that they are calling the Trail (which sit about 1" taller), all trims sit at the same height.

 

We need the bed, that is why the switch to the Tacoma...don't need a full size truck and want something more reliable than a Ford and Chevy truck anyway.

 

Not too sure what you mean, but it's not a race car by any means with stock gears and 32's (275/70,17's E load range). The truck has enough power to move them. It cruises comfortably on the highway at 75.

 

I went for the OR for the stick shift and lack of the inevitable “dope hood scoop bro” comments at Home Depot. I guess the OR has a bigger rear diff. For 99.99% of buyers, they’re all the same truck. Pick the one that won’t make you say “I shoulda…” in two years.

Enjoy!

 

Thanks! The rear-diff with locker is enticing for sure and probably will be the route. We are used the crappy on-road mannerisms of an off-road vehicle we had in our Jeeps of the past LOL

 

Can't go wrong with either, and it's best to get a 2023 before they are gone.

I would refrain from any major modification for at least 2-3,000 miles. Get a feel for what it behaves stock.

Be prepared to replace the OEM Tires with something decent and that's gonna be another $1,000 or so.

It will NOT be as 'comfy' as that Durango, it's a truck, but it's the best there is and your neighbors will be green with envy.

 

I got a Bronco, this will be her baby. We are used to off-road vehicles, but never owned a Toyota before. I heard they are switching to turbo 4's next year....staying clear away from those

 

Yeah you’ll be at home with the ride quality, definitely not a Lexus.

The diff locker is cool but I’m one of those that never uses it. Come to think of it, I need to engage it here soon just to keep it lubed. Been a year or two. Oops…

 

For the same price as the Sport basically, I think its just a no-brainer. We just sort of tossed around the idea of the SR5, but It looks like the off-road is the way to go really.

 

I just want to thank everyone for their time and responses!

 

Bottom line, is if you like to play in the mud and the difference in price is negligible, might as well get the Off Road.

The Crawl Control is a nice feature only offered on the Off Road & Pro. It could be the difference to getting unstuck even if the locker isn't helping. It's not a gimmick, it does what Toyota says it does.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh7TMwZPQw0

This video is on stock 31" tires and suspension

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TClCqnEeiGA

***** P.S. Your Bronco will be jealous...

 

Enjoy it. I really do find them to be fun vehicles to drive. The fiancee also gets a kick out of it. They are primitive in all the right places, but also refined in (mostly) the right places. It's very entertaining as long as one isn't expecting to drive it like a roadster or a Cadillac.