Need to replace my 06 Taco: is the 2022 TRD Off-road worth the extra cost?

[DaveInDenver]

In my region, SR in AC gets 2.7L 2wd/4wd and 3.5 2wd/4wd. The DC gets 2.7 2wd and 3.5 4wd.

It does look like those can be built, so that's my mistake. Must have had what's available in stock showing. Talk about a tailspin, going down in flames!

 

[Switch]

What is the availability of the TRD? around here they are difficult to get without a long wait (several months) and dealer premium.

I reserved a Tacoma TRD three weeks ago and took delivery yesterday. I had contacts with every dealership in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Area and this was the only TRD available at this time. One Dealership I spoke to said they were marking up their TRD's by $10,000.

 

[Switch]

After 16 years, its time to replace my 06 TRD Off Road Tacoma. This wasn't planned but accidents happen & so here I am starting a new build. My 06 had custom skids, sliders, & bumpers, a high pinion Currie rear axle, lockers front and rear, and was re-geared to run 35" tires. Rear suspension was OME Dakar springs w/ add a leaf , shackle flip, 14" Bilstein's on custom hangers, & front suspension was Fox 2.5 coil overs, Total Chaos UCA and LCA. This is just to give you some idea of what I'm used to:

So the first decision is to start with the TRD Off Road or the SR model for my next build.

The main things the TRD has that the SR does not have are:

Rear differential locker
TRD Off-Road tuned suspension with Bilstein® 205shocks

One of the first things I'd do is swap these out for a 3" lift, including TC UCA, Dekars, U-bolt flip, Timbren bump stops, and probably a shackle flip​

Crawl Control (CRAWL) with Multi-Terrain Select (MTS)

This is a major unknown. I never saw the need for a crawler box, cause my build didn't go in that direction. Homework needed on my part.​

[Edit: since I posted this I found some demos of crawl control]​

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Seems like an improvement over a front differential locker​

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16-in. machined-contrast alloy wheels with P265/70R16 tires

I plan to use these as my winter tires for ski trips and run 33" BFG KM2 for wheeling in the summer - unless I re-gear again for 35" tires).​

120V/400W 181 deck-mounted AC power outlet

I never used this cause you had to have the engine running. I just added AC converters where I needed them.​

Projector-beam headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and integrated wide-angle fog lights

I've used this and it is a very nice feature.​

Technology Package—includes parking sonar and Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) (requires colored-keyed rear bumper)

These are real nice to haves. If I do a custom rear bumper - will they still work? I need to talk some bumper shops.​

Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) with individual tire location alert

I have a tire gauge for when I air down/up my tires.​

LED Headlights and Fog Lights

Hum, replace with LED bulbs whey the burn out? I hate that the factory fog lights can't be turned on with the key out of he ignition, so a 2nd set of fog lights go on no matter what.​

TRD Premium Off-Road Package (Access Cab)—includes heated front seats, auto headlights, Premium Audio, Dynamic Navigation with 3-year trial, Remote Connect with 1-year trial, Destination Assist with 1-year trial, and Service Connect 91 with 10-year trial​

-only thing here that I like is heated seats, I'm a skier & oh those cold early rides to the slopes...​

8" vs 7" touch screen​

10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat including 2-way lumbar support
inclinometer with roll/pitch displays
Smart Key System on driver and front passenger doors with Push Button Start

I've probably missed something.
[edit] I missed plenty but this gem is important:
Differential ratio (automatic transmission) 4.3 for the SR, 3.909 for the TRD - this is NOT due to the difference in tires - they are practically the same diameter. BUT the rear differential on the SR is 8" vs 8.75"

Here's the comparison from Toyota's website: https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/features/mpg_other_price/7552/7558/7562

The difference in price between the SR and the TRD Offroad that I have been able to find locally, is $10,000 ($38K vs $48K)

On my 06, I removed most of the TRD stuff (including the stickers) within the first 4 years. So I'm thinking that I should start with the SR model & then I've got $12K in the bank for mods. On the other hand, with the insurance from the old Taco, I can afford the TRD and still be able to make mods over time.

I guess I should mention that do a lot of winter driving for ski trips, and the rest of the time I use it for exploring & camping. It sees mostly moderately difficult trails off-road but some difficult trails too. Think: Death Valley & not the Rubicon.

So I guess I'm trying to figure if I should start with the TRD Off-road or the SR (or SR5). If I'm going to be making mods, am I throwing away good money by starting with the TRD or would it still be with the extra money as a starting point?

When I posted this question, I couldn't understand what the TRD had that the SR didn't that justified the difference in price. What I learned is that there are several differences (summarized above) the key details are the 8.75 ring gear and stronger rear axles on the TRD, the rear differential locker, and fancy crawl stuff.

And when I posted this question I had ONLY two 2022 Tacoma's available to actually purchase in my area. I decided to go with the TRD, mostly due to he rear axle and rear differential locker and expecting that the craw control features would make a front locker unnecessary.

 

[phsycle]

…and expecting that the craw control features would make a front locker unnecessary.

If CC makes the front locker unnecessary for you, in my opinion, you never needed a front locker to begin with. ??‍♂️

 

[DaveInDenver]

If CC makes the front locker unnecessary for you, in my opinion, you never needed a front locker to begin with. ??‍♂️

Isn't Crawl Control an extension of A-TRAC but also takes over your throttle? I've seen A-TRAC work and it's not exactly a substitute for a locker if you know you're going to lift tires but compared to a limited slip it's pretty good (if really noisy). Having a locker in front is actually kind of a PITA. Yeah, you have a real 4WD truck as long as you don't to turn, so you've got to anticipate. Maybe CC/A-TRAC working like a front LSD with a rear locker would actually be fine and easier 96.2% of the time?

 

[beef tits]

Front lockers are wonderful. By saying they are a "PITA" are you thinking of a full time locker? No one who has a brain puts a full time locker in front either unless it's a dedicated trail rig, even then it is a questionable decision. Hard to turn even off road. Selectable e locker is the way to go up front.

And yes, crawl control is just more tech building on A-Trac. Fancy buttons and widgets that do the driving for you.

 

[Switch]

I guess, as the original poster on this thread I should reply on this whole front locker question. To make a long story short, adding front locker was an afterthought when I was already getting a lot of other work done, including replacing the rear axle with a Currie High Pinon 9" & re-gearing for 35" tires. In the past 15 years since I installed the front locker, I've used it a handful of times. But my rig was never intended to be used for rock crawling; except when I found myself in unexpected conditions, when it did as good as any IFS rig could be expected to do... I remember reading a post by an old-timer who said "you should only use four wheel drive to get out of trouble, not into it". And so it was with that front locker. I've used it in snow and ice & on an occasional obstacle; helped some buddies get unstuck. But it was always more like a piece of insurance, like the winch, or any other piece of recovery gear.

So a front locker is not on my short list of mods (which is rather extensive/expensive at this point).

BTW: I had an occasion to test the new A-Track or whatever you call it in deep sand in Anza Borrego and the truck lurched so haphazardly I turned it off for fear I would break something... I felt better with the front locker, then I was simply careful but at least felt in control...

 

[Red13]

I went from a 2016 Tundra SR5 to a 2022 Tundra SR5 TRD OR. Think the off road package is worth it. I've used he crawl control in snow and ice and it works great.