What is the best 2023 tacoma for off-roading?

They are all equal when it comes to going to the mall or target. Check next time you go , you will see many with oversize tires parked on an angle on a curb with traction boards, hi-lift jacks, shovels, hi-lift jacks. So basically they are all on par with each other. It's just about how much more you want to spend.

 

A Simple answer for the basic concept of offroading:

- I've driven the pro, offroad and sport.

Best to worse on main trims:

Pro - a cushier offroad. Slight lift over other trims. Better shocks will handle higher speed runs better and longer.
More comfortable on rough atuff and keeps tires on the ground nicely in mild 'crawling'.
Skewp is the advantage. Has locker if needed.

Offroad - same as Pro but without noted above improvements. More compliant suspension is better in offrad terrain than other trims. Has locker.

Sr5 with locker / trail edition.
Presumably lesser suspension than offroad. But Because locker.

Sport: Street focused suspension is too stiff. Too jarring. Will miss out due to lack of locker. (Despite skewp). Still capable but will reach its limits sooner. (Or driver will turn back to go watch Tv.).

Full size:
Who cares!. (I do want to make it back home!)
- Completely outside the realm of my consideration...

 

No love for the Limited?? Or SR?

 

Out of the box, the Pro is it. Locker, ATRAC, better shocks, more ride height and a better skid plate.

Practically speaking from my experience, "off road ability" is mostly a question of effort and likelihood of damage, within reason.

Looking at stock Tacoma trims and even many modded trucks, I don't see a huge difference in where the truck can go based on it's mechanical features. The question is how fast do you want to get there, how much effort do you want to put into driving, and how much damage are you willing to accept.

 

Out of the box best? A Limited that's attached to a trailer and an ATV.

 

Limited is a fancier trim sport, I believe. I've not driven one... owners are typically not found offroad or in dusty places.

SR: likely similar to sport. (No locker). Fleet truck at the yard on weekends. Not likely to be offroad...

 

Rwd SR, it's the lightest... Keep your foot on the gas and it will go everywhere.

 

I’m off road more than most, and I’ve never found anything in my exploring of northern Wisconsin that really pushed my SRs limits.

Obviously the SR isn’t going to win an online capability competition, but all the Tacoma versions are extremely capable.

If they had offered a locker as a stand-alone option, probably would have bought it, and then never really needed it.

The Gladiator’s doors and roof come off! That’s a really cool feature! I would have checked that box on a Tacoma order too!

Quite a few friends have Jeeps though, and they all seem to have had some mechanical or another problem that caused issues.

The full sized trucks are pretty cool if you need the room, towing and hauling capability, but I have another vehicle for that.

Every time I pause to reflect on it, I find myself thinking about what a great vehicle this SR V6 Double Cab 4x4 is.

 

Welcome to TW, OP. Hell of a first post

 

Man, so many ppl fall for the "Friday" threads.

 

SR-5................Anything else is just fluff.

 

1. The one that can off road
2. That is subjective

 

Uhh, Toyota doors come off too.

 

The one with the better tires....

 

Many a moon ago the SR-5 was the only option, and it was the king of off road. Pretty much remains the same today.

 

Why do you think some are called "Limited " ? Its because of its limited capabilities.