Test Drove 2 TRDs

I took a couple of 4x4 TRDs on a test drive today, a couple hours apart so it wasn't a direct A-B comparison but I was hoping some of you folks with experience could help me quantify the difference I felt

Offroad, DCSB
Auto, 16" rims, off-road tuned suspension, salesman in the back seat

Sport, DCLB
Auto, 17" rims, sport-tuned suspension, salesman in the office

Maybe the biggest difference was that the salesman didn't come with me but the Sport DCLB felt very different - quite a bit stiffer so more responsible and with more pep too... which is odd, I would have thought a LB would have felt more cumbersome. He also gave me the truck with ETC on, smartypants... The tire pressure was within a 1-2 PSI on each model.

I'm interested to know if it's mostly down to the rim size/sidewall height or the suspension? Could I firm up the ride of an OR slightly by putting on 17s on it or is the feel mostly a function of suspension?

I've asked a couple of salesfolks about the differently 'tuned' suspension and none have given me a decent answer...

It's a moot point as far as buying goes, I don't have room for a long box and don't want manual but I likes the learning!

 

assume they both were 4x4? If not that was the difference. If so.. I test drove every make and model. They only difference I felt was from manual to auto.

 

Offroad suspension is alot softer than the sport and other models. I drove an SR5 for 2+ weeks while my offroad was at the dealership for warranty work and it was significantly stiffer.

 

Yup, both 4x4 (edited the post)...

There were only 4 variables
Long vs Short box
Differently 'tuned' suspension
16 vs 17 rims (so sidewall height)
Salesman vs solo test ride

This last one is probably why it was more fun...

 

The OF has the Cadillac of suspension.

 

The Sport does NOT have a locking rear differential or the 4 wheel A-TRAC/MULTI-TERRAIN drive system. The price is about the same between the two TRDs, but with the Sport, you are paying mostly for bling (fake hood scoop, colored bumpers, looks stuff). The Off Road you are paying for actual traction control hardware (hydraulic brake booster, A-TRAC/ Multi-Terrain device, locking differential) The 16" tires and 17" are both the same height, it is that the 16" are a bigger footprint for sand, or traction needs. The TRD Off Road is for Off Roading! I have owned three TRD Off Roads: 2001, 2005, 2010.

 

Difference in ride quality is mostly due to suspension. Sport has road tuned shocks from Hitachi. SR5 comes with Toyota shocks and Off-Road comes with off-road oriented Bilsteins. Basically, the Sport has the stiffest suspension. SR and SR5 are a little softer. The Off-Road is much softer than the rest (except a Pro). Tire does play a small part as well. Less sidewall usually means a stiffer ride, however there are a ton of factors in this. (for example if you wanted a stiffer ride in an Off-Rad, you could get tires that are Load range E instead of the I think D's that come stock).

As far as peppiness, that was solely due to ETC.

 

Thanks, I understand the difference in gear, what I was trying to figure out was if the difference in ride quality was mostly suspension, sidewall height or an unquantifiable combination of both.

 

Thanks, appreciate the explanation.
I noticed the difference with the ETC right away... smart of the salesman if he did it on purpose!

 

It's all about you would like the truck to do for you or security for your family when camping off of the highway, and then maybe how it looks.

If you only want 4WD for snowy roads or beach driving, then any 4WD Tacoma will do.

However, if you go seriously off of maintained roads, travel in the boonies alone (nobody along to help pull you), or just want the most capable off road truck (without adding aftermarket hardware), then the 4WD Off Road TRD is the one to get.

 

sport comes with garbage suspension setup. all spring, little shock to handle the heavy spring rates. first thing i did was replace my suspension because i hated the ride

 

There's only one 4x4 AT DCSB available in Canada and that's the OR - so there's no question about what I should get, I'm trying to understand the difference in ride quality that I noticed, just to be informed.

 

I just bought one. Came from a 2011 DCLB trd sport. As others have said, the OR rides like a caddy compared to the sport. I much prefer it.

 

10-4, Canada, eh?
OK, so let's talk about suspension (ride) of the Off Road... My first Gen XtraCab was perfect and it would take all the Baja roads I could throw at it. However, my 2005 second gen double cab was a real problem!

The rear leaf springs were very undersized for this truck, as if no consideration was made for the larger second gen size or double cab weight. Any cargo or rear seat passengers would bottom out the suspension when hitting a speed bump or hole in the road. Toyota would later have a TSB called Harsh Ride, but in 2005 no help was offered from the dealer, I was told it was normal! So, the suspension (springs in back) was very soft, which is fine if the bed is empty and just two people.

My solution was to add Ride Rite air springs ('air bags') so my bottoming out ended and I could change the rear stiffness and height with the air in the two bags. I also upgraded the stock Bilstein shocks to 5100s. It was perfect!

When I traded in my 2005 for my 2010, I had the dealer remove my air bags, and I kept them. The 2010 had better rear springs and I went about 6 years on them without the bottoming out issue. I decided to add the air bags to my 2010, and replaced the stock Bilstein shocks (on all four corners) with 5100s. The rear shocks had failed (oil leaking, rough riding). That was the motive for upgrading the suspension on my 2010.

So, there is my report on the ride/suspension issue to go with the traction data earlier. Have a great day in the Great White North!

 

Nice report.

just FYI, all canadian taco's come with the "Harsh ride" or "heavy" rear springs. It was optional in the states.

 

You want to stiffen the ride of a off-road vehicle??

 

maybe, the only AT DCSB vehicle available here is the off-road and although it will see a fair bit of logging/fire/backroads, it'll be 75% highway...
...or maybe I'm interested in those 4Runner wheels without sizing up the rubber and don't want to stiffen the ride too much

or maybe I'm just asking around to learn a little about how much shocks/sidewall played into the overall ride feel I experienced

 

If your suspension hits on the bump stops ("bottoms-out") when you drive over bumps, YES!

 

Suspension absorbs bumps or terrain. Stiffer suspension is shit for off-roading. Your not suppose to jump over stuff, roll over it.

 

The off-road is nice off and on road. In turns you will feel the body roll in a OR compared to the sport. Again though it's two different trucks. If you really want to stiffen the suspension, I would go with the OR and mod it somehow. Least with the OR you get the gadgets, rear locker and so forth vs the looks of the sport.