TRD Sport vs. Off-Road (2012+) – NOT THE SAME OL’ QUESTION....exactly

[njtacoma]

A couple of thoughts.

My experience is with the previous generation tacoma double cab. I purchased a 2004 dc sr5 with the elocker ( you could do that on the previous gen ). I still wish I had purchased a TRD. I never installed the lift kit I thought I would. The truck does everything I need as is, now at 87k miles I am selling it and never put a lift kit on it. The TRD shocks would have been great for all these years.

I think the comparison on the used market is pretty compressed. My experience is that there might be value in a TRD, but the $4000 up front costs (made up number) might compress to a $500 dollar or $1000 dollar difference in only a few years. Mileage and care seem to matter more. My non trd is worth more because of mileage to some, even though it isn't a TRD

If I were replacing my tacoma with a 2014 DCSB I would go TRDOR for sure.

 

[High_Country]

After doing lots of research on LOCAL prices around the southern plains, there doesn't seem to be much of a price difference at all (new OR used) between a TRD Sport and a TRD Off Road. There is a difference between the TRD models and the NON-TRD models like the SR5 or base models, though, it's not huge - just a few thousand dollars.

I agree with the thought that "MOST" people don't even really know what the package is or what the subtle differences are between them. I work with an outdoor-sy guy that bought a 2009 TRD Sport. I excitedly went down to talk to him hoping for some insight and asked the open-ended question, "Why'd you go with the Sport, did you look at an Off-Road." His answer, "They actually two very similar trucks, one was a Sport, one was an Off-Road and they were about the same price. I liked the color of the Sport better.":Wow1: That was it. Color.

So, after all the help you guys have given, here's what I've come up with:
I want a TRD model above an SR5 or Base.
Assuming there is negligible price difference between a Sport and an Off-Road I will choose the Off-Road for all the 'out of the box' performance enhancements / capabilities it has. Either platform would be more than capable, comfortable, and reliable, and either would be a great starting point for future mods. There is no bad choice between the Sport and Off-Road.

At the risk of straying off-topic a bit, given that resale is so good on the lightly used Tacoma's, I'm guessing dealers don't come off the sticker price too much on a NEW Tacoma. Is that true? Heck, when I bought my current 2011 Ram 2500 Diesel Outdoorsman, I got it for more than 10 GRAND less than the sticker price. How much is typically expected off new sticker price on Tacoma's (so I can evaluate going new or buying slightly used)?

 

[voodoojk]

By the way, we're closer to the mountains than you will ever be.

ha! You must have me confused with someone who lives in denver. I live/work in the mountains not the front range. Roaring fork valley..aspen.glenwood..

maybe 14ers are little? haha

 

[Plannerman]

Buy the OR. You will be really well set up until you start modifying. The E-locker is awesome. The ATRAC is awesome. I have 80k on my OR with lots of off-roading, hauling, and towing and not a single issue or concern with the rear end. Plus, as you said, you will not be able to add ATRAC or the bigger brake system.

Note: a friend passed up the opportunity to get the offroad and really regrets not having the locker.


Sent via fat thumb

 

[sytfu510]

Buy the OR. You will be really well set up until you start modifying. The E-locker is awesome. The ATRAC is awesome. I have 80k on my OR with lots of off-roading, hauling, and towing and not a single issue or concern with the rear end. Plus, as you said, you will not be able to add ATRAC or the bigger brake system.

Note: a friend passed up the opportunity to get the offroad and really regrets not having the locker.


Sent via fat thumb

I agee with this, I ended up with a Sport because I bought used and a deal just worked out. I Did swap an ARB into mine, but sometimes I do wish I just had it from the factory, would have saved money. I do use mine quite often when I'm in the trails, but I am bouncing around the rocks a bit. As far as the brakes being bigger I never heard of that before, from the previous years they were all the same. If I were you I'd get the OR and just add some of the cosmetic features of the sport and call it a day.

 

[v_man]

On the current gen. Tacoma TRD , are you able to engage the e-locker while in 2wd ? Or can you only lock the rear in 4wd? I know on previous generation Tacoma there was the simple grey wire mod which allowed locker to be engaged in 2wd .

An ARB is great because you can lock the rear in 2wd , it's like push button traction .

 

[p nut]

Fairly certain there is a same mod for the 2nd Gen Tacoma's.

But even if there weren't, I really don't see any benefit of locked 2WD. I had the mod done on my old Tacoma. I used it on the day I did the mod, then never again...

 

[4runnerteq]

If you're willing to make a trip, the demo Im driving is just right for you. 2013 dbl cab TRD OR. 13k miles.white

 

[karma11]

maybe a newb question here, but why cant a guy get an e-locker from say a wrecked truck or even from the dealer for that matter and put it in the sport? the reason i ask is i need a 6ft bed and i do like the sport, but after reading this i am very disappointed to find that there is no Atrac or elocker available on the sport. or even a 6ft bed on the off road. and also how hard would it be to put in a elocker into the front axle? yes i know its IFS but there has to be some sort of pumpkin there, is it the same center as the rear axle? just wondering.

 

[deadbeat son]

maybe a newb question here, but why cant a guy get an e-locker from say a wrecked truck or even from the dealer for that matter and put it in the sport? the reason i ask is i need a 6ft bed and i do like the sport, but after reading this i am very disappointed to find that there is no Atrac or elocker available on the sport. or even a 6ft bed on the off road. and also how hard would it be to put in a elocker into the front axle? yes i know its IFS but there has to be some sort of pumpkin there, is it the same center as the rear axle? just wondering.

You would need to get a complete rear axle. The two trucks use different third members. (8.4" Sport vs 8" OR) Then, you would have to rig up some sort of wiring to activate the locker. The factory wiring uses an ECM to control it.

 

[mike2100]

I find myself sitting bolt upright and sometimes lifting my butt off the seat in my Tacoma while going up or down hills. Every time I think to myself, 'I'm glad I don't have that hood scoop!'
I love the e-locker and ATRAC is pretty good too. I could not see ANY reason to get the sport over the off road if I'm going to be doing just that: DRIVING OFF ROAD! Haha
Seriously though, if I ever break the 8" rear end then I'll swap to the 8.4 and then I'll finally know what it really takes to break the smaller one.
I didn't know about the brakes, but man I love the brakes on my truck and I'm running 255/85-16 KM2s, which are about 15 lbs heavier than stock. -2013 DCSB OR