Is there TRD OR overkill for my needs?

Every car I buy, I add things to and every time I realize it would've been cheaper out of the factory. Although you get the Benifit of adding your choice of locker, suspension, etc. the price of aftermarket+labor adds up real quick unless you get it from the used market and do the work your self, it also makes warranty claims somewhat difficult depending on what broke. If you can afford it I say go for the TRD, otherwise you get some decent factory parts already installed with warranty.

 

I live in GA, but my Tacoma has been everywhere from Miami to Montana. I don't do any hard core off road driving, but use 4X4 often. My truck is the TRD, but the extra capability has never been needed. But on the other hand it never hurts to have it. Long term the cost is a wash. It'll cost more initially, but if you ever trade it the TRD will bring more. If you can afford it now, it never hurts. If you can't afford it, you're probably not missing anything.

FWIW, I've been buying and driving 4X4 trucks and SUV's since the 1970's. Never had one with all the fancy locking axles and traction control etc. until 10-15 years ago. There was a time in my teens and early 20's when I'd go out and "PLAY" off road. The extra goodies might have come in handy back in the day, but no one had them. Some had limited slip axles, but not all even had that. I went a lot of places where I had no good reason to go with open diff's. I've never found a need for it to get me into and out of any place where I had a legitimate reason to be. In the real world you can usually drive around the bad stuff and arrive at the same destination. If not I can always walk. Most of the guys who actually use locking diff's are the ones who seek out the bad spots just to challenge themselves and the vehicle. Been there, done that and paid the repair bills. At this point I use my 4X4 truck to get me where I need to be.

 

Get the SR5 with tow package. As long as you have 4x4 you will be fine. You planning on upgrading suspension or installing a lift? Even more reason to get the SR5, save money up front and use it for the aftermarket parts.

Then again if you want premium features and just a great out of the box package and plan on keeping the truck stock, TRD might be a good idea. Whatever floats your boat man.

 

TRD OR makes little sense if you never leave the pavement. It makes a lot of sense if you venture into the boonies to hunt & fish or adventure. For that, the OR package is a bit better in many regards. Tires, wheels, premium suspension, lockers, A-trac, MTS, power rear window etc etc.

 

I literally only bought mine for the awesome, and ridiculously oversized TRD Off Road stickers on my bedsides.

I am not even kidding a little bit.

 

Tough call...I didnt want to have any regrets so went with the TRD OR. Wanted manual transmission and the sun roof which dont appear to be options on the the SR5. Depending on dealer and availability the TRD OR isnt much more in the long run. I didnt notice...are you shopping new 3rd gen models?

 

Shhhhiiiiiiitttttttttttt.

Get a Pro. Never look back. IMO none of the Tacos are overkill.

100% in favour of having a capability and not using it vs needing one and not having it.

 

I'd be okay with a SR5 if it came with a manual transmission.

 

I am shopping new (2017). I'm getting some sales people offering some pretty good prices;seem to be a lot around here with 2018's just around toe corner. Also 1.9% financing.
I think that the OR will be my truck; I'm not a modder ; lack the youth and the knowhow. I tend to keep vehicles a good while ( current ride is 2007 X Terra Off Road, 6 speed MT), and doubtnill ever outgrow Taco ORs capabilities. Also, it's a nice truck, comfy and pleanty big for me at 5'8".

Lots of good I put, great forum. Thanks to all...JB

 

Tempting; I currently drive an XTerra 6MT. However, I've roasted 2 clutches, and I'm well into my third, and there 2k to have replaces in this car (have to replace flywheel with clutch). I do fairly frequent towing; nothing too heavy, but tight quarters at our home/mini farm require much backing and you have to slip the clutch to control speed. Afraid it'll be AT this time around.

 

This was my thought as well. I do off road some, and I figured, "What the heck."

 

I also think is very much on dependent on your perspective. Life is all about perspective, if you do find your self needing it once and still think it's overkill despite needing it, then.. it's overkill. If you never need it but think it's worth it despite it technically being overkill then hey, who cares. I think the sr5 4x4 would be good enough but if you can afford the TRD and you like it then I say go for it!

 

If you don't plan on modding or getting cute with it, I would go with an OR. Great performance from day one and it has the interior luxuries to keep you content for years to come.

 

I just returned from a 10 day off road excursion down many long and long-lost tracks here in BC. Never once did I regret the short bed. If you wanna turn around on a FSR, or avoid high centering, the shorter the better.

I hummed and hawed when purchasing, but for off-road capability, the short bed all the way. Especially for the reasons mentioned.

 

I'm in mostly the same shoes as you. I tow a boat, do some camping in the mountains and drive on sandy beaches. Any crossover suv could handle the "trail driving" I do. Looking at fully loaded models, the trd or, trd sport and limited cost about the same. Those models feature about the same level of equipment and the features I focused on when I was choosing mine were:

trd or: softer suspension, locker, mts/crawl
trd sport: firmer suspension, hood scoop
limited: firmer suspension, leather

I ended up going with the OR mainly to have the locker at slippery launch ramps and to have the softer suspension. Yes, I'm getting old. I am reminded everyday I get into it that it's my first car since '98 without leather. Ultimately I decided I'd rather get aftermarket leather than a locker.

 

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it..

Plus resale value would be slightly higher vs the sr5.

 

I'm happy with my SR5, I got 4wd a radio and working a/c. Everything else I can live without. I've taken my truck on some soft sand and some 20'-30' sand hills with tires aired down to 20psi and she went without an issue what so ever. Mud on the other hand was a little trickier, I was sliding all over the place going about 5-10mph. But I was still able to go about 1/2mile down a mud road before I started questioning it (I was alone and about 20 miles outside of town so I chose to play it safe and turn around). I think I would have been fine with a more aggressive tire but since mostly what I do is beach driving I'll stick with stock tires till they're done.

 

I went with the OR because it has everything I wanted plus as blackcloud said "better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it".

 

I have a TRD sport, and I honestly don't think my truck has anything more than the SR5 does have, apart from a stupid hood scoop and TRD stickers. It's the same truck with a bigger price tag. Had I known then what I know now, I wouldn't have paid so much for my TRD.

 

I guess the other thing the OP should think about is if he wants the softer ride of the OR...... That's something you'll have every time you drive.