Planning ahead would like some opinions

Hello everyone!

Ever since I traded in my 99 F150 5.4 step side 4x4 Off Road so my wife could get a new RAV4 I have been seriously looking for another truck. Unfortunately this means I will need to sell my 2011 Mustang GT but the truck is needed.

I have been a Ford guy for 20+ years, but I really like her RAV4 so I've been looking at the Tundra & Tacoma. For me the Tundra just isn't practical for my use.

I've been reading the forum, just came across it the other day and I have been trying to figure out which model to get.
I'm going to wait till the 2016 comes out so I can see it in person before buying.
I know it will be a double cab, 6cyl, auto, 4x4 short bed is fine.
I plan on using it at the beach, mainly OBX for fishing and trips to visit peeps in northern PA, Michigan and Ontario.

I drove the 2015 Off Road, Sport, and Limited.
The Off Road, seemed more solid. My salesman said the difference is all in the tires. That if I put the same tires on the sport or limited it would drive the same - I'm not sure. I was not able to get any of them on the interstate though.

Is the Off Road with Elocker necessary for sand (beach) or will the other two do as well?
This will be mainly snow & beach use, no true mud trails.

Well thanks for your input and I may be lurking for awhile as I read more.

 

Not necessery. Its nice to have but not 100% necessery. (no rocks to climb on the beach)

 

Salesman doesn't know what he's talking about. Stock tires for all trim levels (except the low-volume $40k TRD Pro) are all disappointing off road. The stock 16" BFG Rugged Trail on the TRD Offroad and the 17" Bridgestone Dueller HT on the TRD Sport are competent highway tires. The Dunlop Grandtreks on the SR5 and base models are crap both on- and off road.

For snow and beach sand, a e-locker will not be necessary most of the time, provided you get proper A/T or M/T tires and air down. If you get yourself axle-deep in the stuff, the e-locker (and front A-Trac) can extricate you more easily.

 

The Offroad has upgraded suspension. It would be my assumption that this is part of why it feels better. But I have not driven the others to compare.

 

4x4 with open diffs and auto-LSD rear (standard on all trims levels) is more than enough for cruising on flat beach sand and snowy unplowed roads. A-trac and rear locker is overkill outside of true off roading.

 

I live in NC and my plans for my truck are very similar to yours. A few trips to OBX and some rare snow driving, but most of the time it is just for my gear/toys. I also had a mustang (2006) that I had to sell to get ready for the truck. Traded the mustang for a Camry so my wife could have a new car, which gave me the clear to get a new car myself a year later!

Do you tow often/ever? I will tow occasionally and wondering if I need the OR, cause I am pretty partial to the old Sports. Obviously this could all be in vein if the OR and Sport are identical on the new model, but I would rather plan ahead now in case they stay different like they are now.

 

^Based on information released so far, there will be slightly more differentiation between OR and Sport in 2016. The OR will have Crawl Control, for example:

Unless you accidentally venture onto the wet part of the beach and sink down to the axles, sure.

 

They haven't announced that crawl control is not on the Sport yet have they? Haha, I am almost 100% sure it won't be, but until they announce everything, I am not assuming anything.

 

^According to Car and Driver's report, Crawl Control won't be on TRD Sport: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2016-toyota-tacoma-official-photos-and-info-news

It's also consistent with how the Crawl Control feature is offered on the 4Runner and FJ trim packages. The system may have some dependency on the electrical brake pump on these models: to maintain a constant vehicle speed, it has to vary the wheel speeds individually using A-Trac.

 

Ok, so I have decided I need a Limited with the Off Road package. lol
Shame they truly don't make one like that.

I appreciate all of the responses, I'm making a list of what I "need" and what i "want".
I'm sure I'll modify the truck to suit me like I did the Mustang, I just want to try to pick the best platform to start with.

I keep looking at the Tundra, I pass the dealer every day to/from work. It was a nice ride, comfy, stuck to the road, power, etc. I just do not have a need for a truck that big or that expensive.

I very rarely tow, though the wife has been making noises about a boat, another money pit I don't need.

I think I am leaning towards the OR and just modify the interior and such, on the theory it's better to have than to wish I had. I guess it just depends on what and how the platforms are setup.

My dealer told me the 2016 should be on their lot come August, so we will see.

 

Likely a non existent package there OP, willing to bet it will be similar to current models, SR, SR5, OR, Sport and Limited. You can't mix and match those packages. I.E. you can't buy a 2015 Limited with OR package.

 

So your wife is encouraging you to spend money on toys? I see nothing wrong with this arrangement.

The equipment on the TRD OR are relatively complicated to add, while leather seats (or leather seat covers) can be swapped in with relative ease.

 

Yeah, shame they don't mix or have the option on the packages.
That's why I'm leaning towards the OR, my last truck 99 F150 I had for 12 years so being a Toyota I'm hoping to get at least that out of the Tacoma.
She is encouraging me, subtly, the only thing wrong with it is my (limited) experience with boat ownerships is that they can and will suck your wallet dry fast!

 

^Well, you know what happens with big boats and Tundras...

 

I have a TRD Sport 4x4. I took it to Ocotillo Wells, with stock street tires, and didn't air down at all.

I never got stuck...

I took it around the back side of Vail Lake, and even backed up a steep dirt hill and never got stuck.

I'm not an experienced off-roader, I've taken it places I probably shouldn't have, with tires that were not designed for it... and (you know the rest).

In MY OPINION - unless you're really gonna seriously off road... you do not need the off road. Just 4x4 is fine.

 

That's a bad day! Wow!

 

go home boat, you're drunk