Go with a Simple SR5 and do my own upgrades or TRD Off-Road

I've had a few SR5s but I'm more happy with the TRDOR I have now... Locking diff, crawl, MTS, remote start, push button start, better suspension... Even though I'm swapping the suspension out to lift it... The OR suspension is a better feeling ride over SR5.

 

Yes, the ORs have LED options and LED DRLs

 

TRD OR all day. Far more bang for your buck. It's essentially a TRD Pro (minus suspension and a few cosmetics) without the name. The rear locker is definitely a nice option even if you went MT and didn't get crawl control. TRD OR is also push button start while I don't believe SR5 is.

 

Unless you want a manual. Toyota really limits what you can get when you don't want the crappy automatic.

 

I went with an SR5 in 2018. Was gonna do stuff anyway. Glad I did

 

He wrote he wanted automatic.

 

All that fancy crap on the brakes, crawl and such are part of what turned me off of it. Ya a locker would be nice if needed but I won't be doing anything serious enough to need the other stuff. Not to mention more expensive crap to break later. I go with KISS though going new that ain't so easy. So Keep It Simple Stupid as much as possible lol.

 

The fancy crap on the brakes has been in Tacomas for the last 15 years and it works great. The electric booster system is way better than the vacuum brakes on non-offroads.

 

Unless u need a locker i’d say sr5

 

Or save even more and buy a SR.

 

The black bumper caps work very well with this truck

 

If you’re tossing the oem suspension for something better and opting for better tires than what comes with the OR, it’s a no brainier, get the SR5. The savings should be enough for a better locker than oem.

Lights anyone? You’ll want to add some real substantial lights for off-road anyway, so that’s a non-issue.

The push start I don’t want, the crawl is annoying at best and not needed, but the gem in the OR IMO is the superior ATRAC system.
That’s something that although not a game changer for me, works a tad better. the downside is you pay an arm and two legs if it should need replacing, so there’s that.

Good luck, and remember to choose wisely

 

Hold up this is a Tacoma we’re talking about not a Harley haha

 

Yea. My SR has locking doors...

 

You're missing a rear locker and atrac/mts if you don't go OR.

 

If you can afford an OR get an OR. Resale and value are all there.

 

I've always had toyota sr5's since the early 80's, and so far this 2020 doesn't disappoint. Imo, i'm in my late 60's, and don't require 1/2 the electronics this truck comes with. Unless your planning on some extreme off-roading the sr5 trim will do everything else. I was stoked how well it goes in deep snow compared to my old sr5 tundra. It comes with a poor man's posi that just digs its way through snow and deep mud ruts, where my old tundra got stuck a couple times in 4wd.

 

I bought a 2018 Tacoma SR a few weeks ago. It is the third Tacoma I've owned (previous were 1998 (OR) and 2011 (Sport)). I enjoy working on vehicles as a weekend warrior, and put an oem fog light setup in this weekend. I was pre-wired, and install was relatively easy.

I picked up a used OR wheelset off Facebook Marketplace for $700.

The only other upgrade I am considering is a Nitro Gear 4.88 install. It is a little pricey, but I have heard it is worth it.

 

It’s all what’s valuable to you. If you do it on your own, it might save some money. Others listed what you don’t get, so I don’t need too. I think it would be cheaper to buy an OR then the other way around. If you can’t do all the work yourself, then you have to pay someone, which might cost more in the long run.

 

Even if he needs a locker, get a base trim and add an air locker. IMO it’s a better system over factory E locker. And you get on board air. Just another option