Trail vs TRD Off Road

I like the look of the scoop. Should be an easy way to make it actually work.

 

I have seen several posts about people going half way across the country to get exactly what they want but I couldn't justify it. I live in BFE and there were several OR's at dealerships 3 - 5 hours away I thought about looking at. I just didn't want to spend an entire day, by the time I factored in doing what the wife wants, only to get reemed by the dealership on a trade in. Especially when there is something similar right across town.

 

I actually like the scoop and if it was functional would've been a plus. Wasn't deal breaker for me though whether I had the scoop or not, got the no scoop instead.

 

The TE is a fine truck, but lets not get carried away here.

 

For me it is the sizing of the tubs and the fact that I can’t put a quad in the bed. Even in the short bed I can fit a Honda Rancher. Plus we drive from CT to NC/ OBX so having a hard bed cover helps with packing bags, Yeti 110, plus other gear. I have a Prinsu with some low profile Pelican cases plus an awning on the side so my recovery gear is up in the cases.

 

...and if you need more space in the bed, u can remove the boxes in a couple of minutes by removing a couple of star bolts with a handheld impact wrench.

 

i literally did it yesterday. I spent a whole 10 mins doing it. Now to put them up on FBMP to see if anyone wants them!

 

I've been eyeing one of these trucks for a bit - do you feel yours needs a tune to have the transmission shift as it should?

 

While I was waiting for my truck to be delivered (purchased 10/21 delivered 2/22) I got the forums and websites for Tacoma's and got upgrade fever, having been a "tuned" car guy previously with a 500+ HP Subaru WRX STI, I didn't want just the stock engine in the Tacoma. I had only done a short test drive so my initial feel was throttle response and shifting were vague at best.

Didn't have the deep pockets to get a supercharger so I went the poor mans placebo horsepower upgrades TRD air intake and throttle body spacer and oil air separator Aka Oil catch can along with a TRD exhaust and a pedalcommander.com throttle control as I didn't have a "tuner" anywhere near me in Durango Colorado.

As far the vague transmission I've just learned to adjust my driving kind of wishing that the Trail edition was available with a standard transmission, but it isn't so I just deal with it. Bottom line it's your truck you can spend as much as you want or leave it bone stock it is your decision. Hindsight always being 20/20 I should of owned the truck for a few months bone stock and then made decisions on what "performance" upgrades I'd do, Rather than buy the whole catalog of stuff and have it sitting in my garage while I wait for the truck to be delivered.

As far as general off road driving the stock engine/transmission are fine maybe if I was some hard core rock crawler type I can rationalize the need for some Umph! under the hood.

 

My 2023 shifts just fine. Freeway and city I don't understand what people are talking about with transmission "hunting" gears. I think Toyota resolved that transmission tuning issue in the last couple of years.

 

I have 1750 miles on mine with 3 road trips already, mainly on the highway. I did notice that it was crisper shifting as compared to my wife’s 4Runner. Which for all intents and purposes is the same transmission and engine. I was looking at getting a Pedal Commander as a friend of mine has one on his 2020 Tacoma and swears by it. Does anyone have any feedback on the pedal commander in a 22-23 models ?

 

About a year into having one I've got it set to "Sport" level 2 as it gives me enough throttle response that I can really tell from stock. I've tried the extreme mode and yeah a mouse could fart near the gas pedal and you'd take off Ha! Not bueno for daily driving in IMHO but each to their own, The pedal commander is an improvement over stock for throttle response that is for certain does it add any HP gains? No...

Is the $300 entry price for one worth it?

I'm probably gonna go for a KD Max tune https://tacomatuning.com/ in the near future for something real rather than better throttle response from the pedal commander.

 

I have a 2019 4Runner, and the engine & transmission are completely different than those in the 3rd gen Tacoma.

 

The 4Runner and 3rd gen Tacoma have different engine/transmission.
Completely different. In my opinion, not a good comparison. Actually the engine/trans in my wife’s 5th gen 4Runner. Is the same as my truck, 4.0/5speed auto, besides the obvious VVTi vs dual VVTi difference. And even bone stock, they feel/respond completely different.

 

I went with the TE because it was the only 4x4 on the lot. And happened to be in the color I love as far as the boxes I sold them to a dude with a trd or for 300 bucks lol. But to each his own I love my truck and couldn’t be happier.

 

What tires and size?? Truck looks great

 

285/75/16 Nitto ridge grapplers