SR to TRD Journey

How's it going yall? Since I bought my truck in early 2020 I have been on a mission to make it look as close to a TRD as possible. While I do not claim it to be a TRD, I love the look of them!

Long story short I bought this truck and was told by the dealer it was a TRD Offroad. It was my first solo car buying experience so why not believe what the dealer tells you? I will also be the first to say I should have done my due diligence. Well I go to pick up the truck, looked at it for a bit and noticed it said "TSS Off Road". I asked the dealer is this the off road model because your listing on your website said "TRD offroad". They told me it was their off road model of the Tacoma. Okay, no biggie its just a sticker ill probably remove later anyways. I started to see a few things that didn't match up after signing the dotted line and taking the truck home.

Ended up paying TRD Offroad price for a Tacoma SR with a dealer addon "TSS Offroad Package". Yes... feel free to judge me because I do lol. So I made it my mission to not go to a dealer again and just try to make it a TRD myself, I like a good project. I only order OEM parts, except for a few accent pieces.

Here's a list of my stock to upgrade mods, Thank you for all the ones who came before me who wrote up the amazing guides!:

Stock-->TRD Gear shift
Stock-->Entune Premium 2.0
Stock-->TRD Pro Skid Plate
Stock-->Intermittent Wiper Stalk Switch
Stock-->Foglights with Turn Signal Switch
Stock-->Vanity Mirrors with lights
Stock-->TRD Pro Grille
In Progress TRD LED Headlights
In Progress TRD Sport/Pro Hood scoop
In Progress(not sure if its possible) OEM Rear Locker



"Even though you slap a sticker on a turd, it's still a turd" All jokes aside, I love my fake TRD.

 

Where are you? I may "know a guy" (wink, wink) who has a scooped hood on his sport and wants the low profile regular one.

 

Oklahoma!

 

Dear Potential TRD candidate,

We like the new look of your SR truck and appreciate your honesty and willingness to accept criticism (We love making fun of the FNG on this site!). If you promise to remove the TSS sticker and raptor lights from your grille we will accept you and grant you full TRD membership.

Signed,

The TRD Human Resources Officer.

 

Holding you to that position

 

Looks good to me OP

 

The locker is possible, and if you have a 4WD SR, it is likely to work easier and better than the OR / Pros, as those have to be stopped and in 4Lo to engage it. You can get it working anytime. Search out @BigWhiteTRD 's posts.


Edit: I just saw the CVs in your front pic, so definitely 4WD. There are 2WD ORs, if you can wrap your head around that.

 

You're crazy, OP, and fit right in on this board. Everyone is nuts.

 

Throw in a leather steering wheel. It feels great in hand. i stitched mine on so factor in a few hours to do that or just buy one used/new and make it a quick swap.

 

Interesting, I'll give it a look! Thank you

 

You're welcome!

 

HAHAHA Raptor lights are going out anyways. F em...

 

I don't think the OEM locker will work? He has the smaller rear. Would need to be aftermarket.

 

Dammit! That is a great point and a big mistake for me. Sorry about that.

 

Or swap out the whole rear end

 

ok I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. what is 'TSS'?

 

its a cosmetic package. rims, graphics etc

 

Hey it's a good looking new truck!
Good on you for owning it, and not playing the blame game! You got hoodwinked yeah, but you also realized you took them at their word and agreed to it. You're doing the right thing, owning up, making it your own, and moving on with life.
Enjoy your truck and your short days here!

 

Bummer you didn't get what you thought you were getting.
Good news is that TRD is no big deal, you are already well on your way to making it better.
Aim higher than the off road, and enjoy the aftermarket..

 

Nice looking Tacoma, good story too. Sorry you got screwed, damn dealers these days. Keep up on the mods, ditch the grill lghts, I took mine out.