Tacoma TRD worth the extra money?

[Martinjmpr]

90% of the 01-04 DC Taco's I've seen are TRD versions. I've also seen some Limited trims around here. I can only tell that the difference is a sunroof? I looked inside and could not tell any difference from the SR5. Anyone know the specs? They probably came with 16" wheels/brakes and maybe a couple of little things, but nothing major from what I could tell.

FWIW my non-TRD SR5 has 16" wheels (steel.) I also heard over on the TTORA board (so consider the source ) that the Non-TRD axle is beefier, somehow.

Something about how the TRD needs to leave room for the E-locker but the non-TRD doesn't. Don't know if that's true, it's just what I heard. In any case, seems to me the TRD doesn't give you anything you can't get elsewhere, although it is nice to get all that stuff up front and built in rather than added on.

As nice as an E-locker would be, I figure I've gotten along for this long without one, it would be hard to say it's really a 'requirement.' Closest I ever came was the LSD in my Montero.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I've done the labor of installing a locked diff into a non locked axle, not too hard at all...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I've done the labor of installing a locked diff into a non locked axle, not too hard at all...

Not in a Tacoma you havn't

You can not feasibly retrofit a e-locked 8" 3rd differential into a non-locked Tacoma rear (commonly called the 8.2" or 8.4"), they are a totally different 3rd member design and the axle housing mating setup is different. The only real option is to swap the entire housing from a TRD Tacoma or 4Runner in order to gain the locker. At that point the ARB starts looking like a great option, and in the end you get the girdled 3rd member that stronger than the e-locked 3rd IMO.

 

[njtacoma]

01-04 DC non-TRD Locker

I was talking with a friend this weekend about this very thing. We own an 04 DC Tacoma SR5 non-TRD, but it is locker equipped. When I was looking in 04 there were several on the front range of Colorado at a variety of dealers.

In fact the dealer I purchased from had 4 and 2 of them were white! They are out there, and for me the peace of mind of the locker is great. I also didn't want to spend money on shocks that I would just pitch (3 years later I still haven't upgraded, ooops).

I would say keep looking, they exist, but may not be in every region of the country.

Neil

 

[crawler#976]

Hey Guys and gals - we're talking USED here, not new.

Most dealers don't have CLUE what TRD stands for, let alone what it's worth on the option sheet.

So, if you can find a clean, low mile, non-beat Double Cab TRD...


BUY IT!

 

[crawler#976]

Hey Guys and gals - we're talking USED here, not new.

Most dealers don't have CLUE what TRD stands for, let alone what it's worth on the option sheet.

So, if you can find a clean, low mile, non-beat Double Cab TRD...


BUY IT!