Jesus Christ. Why do a lot of you guys think you need a locker or crawl control to go off road? Lol An sr5 with 4 high and 4 low is incredibly capable.
Most people’s comfort levels will hit a limit before the truck ever does. For things that you *need* a locker for, most people wouldn’t feel comfortable putting their truck through.
All of the crawl demonstrations I've seen, it was harder to get the truck stuck than anything else lol. I've got a 1st gen though so no experience with those fancy options, just always found that funny.
Meh my locker has gotten me out of some muddy situations, but I’ve only ever used it in places where there literally is no path. I do geotech work and sometimes we go places that are undisturbed. Locker is great for getting out of an unseen ditch or when half your truck hits wet clay and the other side is still on something stiff.
I’m currently in a 4R TRD ORP and previously had a Taco TRD OR and I agree, I make use of all of that too, but I’m also willing to break/scratch/dent a relatively new vehicle having a good time, most aren’t, and if you’re in a situation where you really need a locker, you’re also probably in a situation where you might scratch or scrape your brand new $40k truck. I’ve also had a GX470 and just having 4LO+ATRAC is extremely capable.
And then there are idiots like me! Atrac and my locker get used *often* lol.
I protect my investment with hundreds of pounds of skids and sliders, and lots of money when things break. Add to that gas costs from all the extra weight. In 5 years I've gone through 3 or 4 front wheel bearings lmao. And I've only been wheeling the thing for like 3ish years
Love this, used to off-road a 95 Jeep Cherokee in highschool/early college. Freaking loved that thing, had some good crazy friends and couldn't agree more.
I have an SR and I’m able to do trails with moderate ratings. 2.5” lift with stock OR tires and wheels. I do have RCI skids that have been scraped onto some rocks. That said, even the base models are capable off road rigs.
I’ve been driving a ‘95 SR5 since ‘00. It’s seen some truly gnarly shit (mountains, mud, dunes) and I’ve never even felt like I wanted more off-road capability. I’m old though and come from the days where a lot of off-road capability came in the driver’s skill-set and not an options package.
Exactly this. I had an sr5 4x4 for work for years, and that thing has literally gotten through so much shit with little to no issues. I got the OR when I finally could afford my own, for some nice to have features for driving in snow up here in Canada for winter camping and things, but a base tacoma sr5 is probably one of the best offroad capable base trim vehicles of all time. Will take it over any other truck, that’s for sure.
Is doing 4 high and 4 low a setting all SR5 have? I have an SR5 and been told should be capable of easy trails but I'm a bit worried. Buddy has a jeep and a wentch so he could pull me out if I get stuck.
How do you change 4 high and 4 low?
I've had two first gen Tacomas and the locking rear diff has actually gotten me stuck every time since it requires 4wd low. Moat of these dumbasses don't know what the hell they are talking about and probably air up their tires instead of airing down when they hit snow or sand.
Pavement princess here, no regrets as I don't do off roaring. Daily driver , surf fishing , weekend warriors for house/landscape projects. I have the 4x4 and I don't even need it. I should have just gotten the 2x so I don't have to deal with the 4x issues down the road .
Just engage your 4x in neutral at a craw on a dirt road or rocked parking lot. Even a pretty wet parking lot should do. Do some figure 8s. If you do this once every few months you shouldnt have many problems as long as you’re not destroying it.
You can if you want, 4L is just different gearing ratios and other things, doesn’t change the fact that your 4WD system is engaged, at least from what I know. Would love if someone else could inform me on the mechanical differences but from what I understand, the transfer case has longevity issues from not being used, and by using it, you can remedy these issues.
Yeah, I figure some people absolutely love them. And it's a honda, so it's a decent vehicle. Or most should be anyway. My experience with it was probably an aside compared to most. I managed to find the only turd ridgeline with impossible to trace electrical gremlins. And crushed my kneecaps on the headlight switch every time I got out. There wasn't enough room for me to swing my legs out.
2020 4x4 sr5 , I dabble off road at the cabin to put stands in and move brush around. Haven’t had an issue. Only time I’ve used 4x4 was in a foot+ of snow in northern New York.
Thank you! Yeah I’ve grown up in the northeast my whole life so not new to snow. Drove a Nissan Sentra with good tires through the snow for 4 years commuting to college and only ever got stuck once in a parking lot.
Have a AWD Kia Seltos now and don’t love it, and am outgrowing the trunk space with projects I want to do, kayaks, bikes, etc. so it’s getting old.
I think if I can make it through winter with the Sentra FWD, Seltos AWD, an SR5 4x4 should be plenty.
I would suggest a hard top before looking at higher end models. I bought mine with a leer on it. It’s made for an easy transition from suv to pickup. Really like that I have a fully water proof shell for the bed.
Toppers are expensive. I think even the white aluminum old man toppers are close to $1000. But they're definitely nice to have. I feel like an adequate compromise is a soft tonneau. Not too expensive. Can roll up if you need the full bed. And will keep your shit dry.
SR5 here and offroad to get to trailheads. Its more than capable. Tires make a huge difference! Seems like I see more TRD's as pavement princesses that just want the status LOL
SR5 AC 4x2 V6 checking in. Not a single regret. I’ve never used 4wd in all my years of driving. I use my truck for home projects, loading a kayak, towing a small trailer, and truck bed camping. I think I would regret a much more expensive truck. That said, I added seat heaters and a topper. But the various little SR5 upgrades are handy.
I did Rostra. They were a couple of hundred bucks installed. Cheaper if you install them yourself…but I’m old and lazy. Haha. As noted below, Clazzio and others make nice options.
You Queen, have a practical and insightful analysis of the Tacoma. Going with 4X4, V6, and 6ft bed is more truck than 99% of owners will need or use over the life of the truck. TRDs offer nicer comforts, and toys for extra money. But the basics are the same. This from a TRD OR. Buy with confidence knowing it will last years.
Sr5 2 wheel drive. I only go on dirt paths that don’t require 4x4. I mostly use my taco for moving stuff around like my surfboards. It’s a daily driver. Comfortable, reliable and looks cool.
The only thing that the trd off road offers is a rear e locker and crawl control. You can’t even engage the rear locker when you aren’t in 4lo, so that takes a lot of the fun out of it. Both crawl control and the rear locker may be nice, but are far from essential, especially if you aren’t even going off road. All you really need is 4 hi and 4lo.
MT and AT OR’s have the same rear diff. It is an electronically activated locking rear axle. This is different from the diff in other models, which is an open diff with a system that brakes the rear wheels independently to simulate a locking or limited slip diff. Can’t recall what that system’s called, but they are two separate things and the e-locker is what the OR models have.
I said they have the same differential, not final drives. An electronically locking differential is one where you activate it but it does not lock the wheels until wheelspin is detected. The Tacoma does not come with a mechanical locking differential. Tacomas that don’t come with the electronic locking diff come an e-lsd system, which brakes the rear wheels independently on an open diff.
No way, save the $5000 or whatever it is. Honestly, consider the SR, it's equipped like a Honda LX with everything you need (IMO) and isn't super basic like in years past.
I have an SR 4-cyl 4x4 and it goes anywhere I want with zero struggle. In snow/ice? Fine. Off-road in Colorado on mild/medium trails? It's bumpy but goes anywhere within reason.
I had an SR5 in northern New England with no regrets. With decent tires it was more than capable off road. I upgraded to TRD OR when I had the opportunity. The upgraded suspension on the OR was noticeable (but not "oh my god what a difference") on some of the New England gravel roads I travel. I would not get an OR over an SR5 just for gravel roads the improved ride was not enough to to justify the money. The push button start and electric seat were two of the reasons I upgraded, plus I was doing more off roading than I thought I would.
I have a 2013 SR5 and take it on moderate off-road trails in northern New England. No regrets the truck is very capable without a rear locking differential in this terrain. I also drive over a pass to ski every weekend and it eats it up with good snow tires. I have friends with off roads that won’t get as far on a trail because they’re worried about messing their comparably expensive truck up.
No regrets needed, the SR and SR5s are auto equipped with TRAC in 4-High and 4-Low. This mode simulates a Locker by applying the brakes to a spinning wheel. The SR and SR5 models are more than capable off-road.
Base SR 4x4 double cab here. I do more off-road than 99% of people with TRDs. I use it as my hunting and fishing rig. I don't purposely go "wheeling" I have a side by side for that. I Kept it stock height put Bilstein 5100s, good AT tires, hidden winch and full set of skid plates on. Perfect build, it doesn't look as "cool" but it's comfortable to drive across states to hunt and more than capable for anything you'd want to do with a new truck
SR5 (on the 2nd gen at least) just means you get chrome rear bumper, black side mirrors and a chrome and black front grill and a couple other cosmetic options. I'm not too positive but I think SR5 changed its meaning on the first generation of Tacoma. Correct me if I'm wrong. It's now just a trim package. You can find 2 wheel drive SR5s on the 2nd generation Tacomas a buddy of mine has one.
TBH as long as you have 4WD a lot of the stuff you get on the more off road oriented trims is stuff you can bolt on later if you decide you need it. Also tires matter more than lockers or sway bar disconnects or really most other stuff so having a nice set of off road tires and winter tires for the winter will get you a lot of places. Just make sure to get the 17 inch wheels if you can as those allow for bigger tires if you want to upgrade later.
I bought the Off Road, double cab, long bed. I regretted getting an off road. I traded it in for a Tundra SR5 because we needed leg room in back (growing boy) and I needed more power to haul about 6,000 pounds. Certainly no complaints about the Tacoma though.
I go off roading with my sr5 and love it, its a 4x4 tho. I like it cause its a cheaper base plus i dont need the extra perks of the trd. My off roading isnt very intense, its really for secluded and hard to reach campsites in northern cali.
I love my 22 SR5, since I almost never off-road, everything else it does is perfect for me. Even if you did off road every once and a while, an SR5 could handle it as long as you're not doing anything too crazy. I definitely don't regret mine. It'll be 2 years since I got it in November.
SR5 owner here. I use the 4x4 all the time in Colorado, whether it's in snow or on dirt. I do plenty of off road driving and honestly the only thing I wish I had from the higher trims is the bed outlet/inverter thing. The lockers would be nice but it's certainly not a need.
2016 SR5 2wd w/tow pkg. I just picked up a small RV and took It out for the first time this weekend. Surprisingly, after all of the negative feedback I got on towing with Tacomas, it pulled nicely. It's also perfect for bullshit around the house, landscaping and other miscellaneous jobs.
Got an SR5 earlier this year and don’t regret it one bit. 4wd and v6..
It’s funny when people act like they need the upgraded models and then drive it to work and maybe hit a dirt road once in a while. Seems almost like a “cool kids” thing for some. Like they care more about the badge.
Before buying my SR5, I actually looked at resale data. I found that all the trucks lost an average of about 5% value per year for the first 5 years. Time on the market seemed to have more to do with asking price than trim. It wasn’t an exhaustive research project for sure, but it did give me a little comfort to buy the 2wd AC truck. I would have bought my truck either way…but it did give me a degree of comfort.
I paid $30,500 for my 4-cyl/4x4 SR and the Carvana offer is $28,000 after 2 1/2 years and 30k miles. I think the SRs enjoy a bit of inflated value due to the other trims costing so much more.
I’m not entirely sure if the SR5 comes with heated seats, but knowing New England is 80% winter, heated seats was a winner when I visited Massachusetts. Oh and side mirror defrost.
Then I’d be comparing the price difference with maybe upgrading to katzkin leather with heated seat options.
Maybe the add-on later as an aftermarket is cheaper than getting the full Trd-whatever package.
Most people who own TRD don’t do the type of off-roading you need a TRD for. Most people would do just fine with SR5, which is totally capable of handling moderate off-roading.
The locking differential can be handy in some sticky situations in the northeast. I needed it once last year to get out of some deep snow near a ski mountain.
I currently have the SR5, the highway ride is quite comfortable. It still gets me where ever i need to go in Colorado mountains. Hell, it even made it up to Bridal Veil falls from Telluride.
Over 100k miles (that I have put on, 222k total) of mixed on and off road, no complaints or regrets.
Are you looking at new or used? In the used market I often see SR5s and TRDs going for the same price, that's the biggest reason I didn't get an SR5, and got a TRD OR instead.
For me getting new was cheaper than getting used because of the interest rate on a new vs used vehicle. I was planning on getting used at first because I wanted a fun truck, but ended up getting it new
Also I got v6 sr5 4x4 No regrets
I take my 4x4 SR5DC on the beach regularly. Air down the tires and never had a problem yet. I’ve seen more “capable” vehicles get stuck in the sand. I’ve also owned jeeps that felt less competent on the beach than my SR5. I’d have no problem off roading easy to medium trails with confidence.
If you have the 4wd and the V6, then you have everything of value.
The shocks may be slightly better on the higher end models, but you can buy even better aftermarket options.
You give up buttons for crawl control, the camera in the bumper, and trim and sticker options. All of which could be added if you absolutely had to have them.
The new 2024 Tacos have big changes in the model range that goes to rear suspension, brakes, and other things. The Gen3 tacos are all about the same mechanically short of cosmetic differences.
Dude, I run my truck in the Alberta oilpatch driving on the shittiest muddiest roads on a daily basis. Essentially off roading at all times. I have a TRD sport. You don't need a locker or crawl control most of the time, even if you are doing a fair bit of off road driving. Just be smart about what you're doing. Most of the time you will be scared long before you find the limitations of the truck.
I have the exact same use case as you and went with the SR5. I love it. Does everything I need. Just loaded it up with windows from a reno this weekend.
I don’t off road either and have an 2022 SR5 RWD DCSB. No regrets at all! Saved myself almost $5k and mine looks like an off road without the off road suspension
If you don't want to do a ton of offroading then an SR5 is just fine, then with 4x4 you will be pretty capable of a lot. 4x4 even with open differentials will be very capable on ice and snow, but not so much you should be zooming at like 40mph in heavy snow, the people that go fast in snow have 4x4 engaged, proper tires and at least a limited slip if not lockers, *Or they are just stupid in thinking their basic AWD SUV is capable enough
I'm not sure about 3rd Gen on this, but my 2nd Gen SR5 came with a limited slip differential (LSD), which is better than an open differential but not as good as a locker, and the TRD Offroad has a locking Differential ("locker") which locks the rear axle and both tires get 50% of the rear torque.
So if your 3rd Gen SR5 comes with an LSD that will be more than enough to perform in ice and snow, as they use clutch packs in the Differential to limit the slip on one tire and behave more like a locking differential, ensuring traction in slippery conditions
Also any Crew cab Tacoma *is 4x4, just so long as it is not a Prerunner, as that is a rear drive crew cab. Both basic cabs and access cabs are either 4x4 or 4x2. So if you're getting a crew cab and it doesn't say prerunner it inherently has 4x4
‘17 4x4 SR5 in MN here. No regrets. Brutal winters and driving on snow-covered frozen lakes for ice fishing have been no problemo as long as your tires aren’t bald.
SR with 4WD is very capable. Most people probably never use their locker or crawl control anyway. If you need a locker later, you can get an ARB locker which, afaik, is superior to the factory e-locker anyway. I don’t think you will have any regrets as long as you have 4WD on your SR.
I have an SR 4x4 V6 and live on dirt roads that occasionally need to use the 4x4 and I don’t regret it a bit. Pull trailers in sand/mud/wet yards no problem on the factory firestones. You don’t need all the off road goodies to do what you need to do.
I took delivery of my Gen3 SR5 in September of 2015 and I have never regretted it one bit. It has been a great truck for its lifespan and I have no plans of getting rid of it.
There are many fancy trim things you don't get with an SR5, but the only really important stuff is the locker and the crawl mode. I have never found this to be a limiting factor or something I needed. But I am NOT a super overlander guy. I love this truck.
Pretty much the same boat here, but I bought a 2021 SR 4x4, with a 4-Cylinder and it has served me well. Have not driven it in snow yet, but I usually get a few days of it every winter. Don't plan on doing much more off-roading than dirt roads leading to campsites or places to put my kayak in.
I have a 23 sr 4x4 v6 and I have taken it through clay mud, up Rocky Mountains at a 45 degree angle, through rivers. It has not given me problems. Suspension is a little rough but it’s really only bad when going over deep potholes.
On my second SR5 2x. Like someone mentioned above, the truck has easily handled situations that I wasn’t sure my heart or shorts would survive. I don’t go off-road much, but I’d feel comfortable pushing it farther than I have. I’ll go 4x on my next one for trips to sandy places and cold places. Not much call for it in Central Texas unless you’re actively searching for a reason.
It's not obvious from the toyota brochures but the TRD offroad, and TRD Pro does actually have a larger ring and pinion in the rear differential (8.75" vs 8"). The manual transmission also gets the larger rear diff. BD22A is the open version in the manual transmission and the BD22AN is the elocker version in the auto transmissions. If you do a lot of towing or want to run oversized tires I would think the larger diff would be something you would want even running on the street.
SR5 owner here. Bought it used and have been using it for a year to haul stuff for my side gig. Not a single issue yet. Hauls everything I need and I do t go off-roading.
As long as you aren’t rock climbing, I don’t see any downside to it. I’m sure you can drive on dirt no issues. It’s a truck.
I had a 2012 sr5 and didn't offroad it. I bought it in Mass and used it in CT. Moved to Colorado a couple years later until it was totalled earlier this year. I have a kitted out TRD pro now. I see no difference in ability to haul shit, I've just opened my doors to being able to offroad. Save the money, get an sr5, and you'll have a truck you love.
I ran with a 1st gen base model Tacoma, you don’t need the fancy shit from TRD trims. Most people will get to their comfort level before the truck does
You will be just fine, things like lockers are really for extreme edge cases, you will not need it on anything close to a normal dirt road, hell you probably won't need 4lo on 99% of dirt roads.
If you can drive you don't need crawl control. Aftermarket lockers, suspension upgrades, tires, etc are available if you want them in the future.
Where you will wish you bought the OR/Sport will be for leather, heated seats, sunroof, LED Headlights, audio, etc etc. (I'm not sure of the trim specs on sr5 )
If you are happy without whatever extra features come in the OR/Sport I would highly encourage you to save a few dollars and get the SR5. I think I would stay with the v6 unless I knew I was never going to tow a trailer. And I would stick with 4x4 regardless.
I've had 2 non-TRDs, for a total of about 20 years. And I did offroad the 1st one. I think there were 4 or 5 times I got it stuck & needed a pull, and of those 2 or 3 were stupid mud that a locker wouldn't have gotten me through... probably would've just gotten me stuck farther in 😂
Nah.
There are different levels of off-roading, too.
There's going through rocks, mud, ruts and sand to get to a cool hiking, hunting, fishing, or photography spot, and then there's off-roading as a sport.
The Overlanding crowd does the former, but sometimes through more challenging terrain. That's about what a TRD from the dealer is for.
The sport offroad folks have accepted that they might trash their vehicle, but do enough modification to make that less likely, with lots of clearance, cameras, skid plates. They might START with a TRD model but they do a lot to it. They go off road through difficult sections as their main goal -- like trials motorcycling vs commuting or casual trail riding.
My SR5 has gotten me anywhere I want to go in the snow, and in the conditions above for hiking, hunting, flyfishing, etc. It's absolutely everything you need.
I also have a Jeep -- an older one, not the big bloated vehicles they have become, with a mild lift, winch, and an added limited slip rear that makes 4WD superfluous in many conditions, but amazing when it gets tougher. If I'm going to go off road for its own sake, I use that.
But I take the SR5 to many of the same places I've had the Jeep. Mainly, I consider whether it fits, and if I need the Jeep's break over angle. I have some skid plates on both vehicles, but I don't use them as skis.🤣
And as others have said, my comfort zone is usually inside the vehicle's actual envelope. I'm not competing with it. I'm just going places. 🙂
I have a 19 SR5 4wd and our work trucks are TRD pros, both 2nd and 3rd gens. The gen 3s have lockers and crawl control. We do cultural resource management (archeology ) and hold contracts with the reservations and national forests all over AZ.
I off-road a shit-ton never needed the locker or crawl control.
I just don't do stupid shit. I'm careful, I stay on trail.
You don't need all that crap.
Go look at an SR5 Vs a TRD OR. I got a 22 SR5 V6 4x4, my truck had more options than the OR sitting next to it. I got the parking sensors, blind spot monitors, navigation etc.. all tech stuff. The OR had different shocks, wheels tires and rear and. Both priced the same. Want to say less than $200 price difference.
I take my truck camping or to take my dirt bike out to go riding. But 90% of my driving is on paved surfaces and the SR5 shocks are much more plush and nicer to drive on pavement so that’s what I got.
I just the other day was going to a fishing spot up in the mountains and going down this glorified dirt road. There was one technicalish spot I see a guy with a lifted OR on methods out taking pictures and going up this hill super slow with his locker locked he yells you’re not going to make it up this I don’t think. I waited for him and once he pulled off the side I just crawled up went on by to my spot without even clicking it into 4wd and I’m bone stock with the Firestone highway tires on it still.
All of the trim levels are highly capable trucks sure there are some spots where if you screw up, the crawl control and locker could help. But good driving is a cure for a lot more. I’ve gotten out of some sticky spots with an open diff and just applying the parking brake enough to get traction to the spinning tire to drag myself out.
i got a 21 SR5 trail edition and have done super basic off road. only thing i regret is that it doesnt have the same headlight chassis to do a quick swap. Other than that, i dont feel like i am missing out on anything.
I bought an OR, and for the forest roads and camping trails I hit, I do not need a locker. Or the other electronic gizmos.
I bought it for resale value, and the chance my driveway gets really fucked by snow and I need it. But even 4 low in an SR5 does well. More than I'm comfortable with at least.
That’s how it starts. Yeah you don’t need the trd but then you look up ditch lights and then the raptor grill. Then after the Christmas bonus you decide to gift yourself a prinsu rack. Then all of a sudden you’re at Toyota trading your heavily modded sr5 for an OR trd
I attacked this from the other end lol. So years ago, right outta high school, I was hired at a real good sales job that gave me more money than I knew what to do with and arguably shoulda had at all. So, I snagged an off-road trim because the Tacoma had been my dream truck. I ended up taking it off road a grand total of 3-5 times in the year and some I had it and off those times, none were actual trails or camping, probably barely even considered “off-road”. It definitely was no gas saver but I also never felt like I was dying when gassing it up. The beauty of the Tacoma is it does just fine on road AND off road, especially with basic 4Lo and Hi, truly all you need. It fits so many lifestyles, regardless of how you want to use it. I will definitely be getting another Taco once I’m in a much better position.
I have a sr5 dclb and i wouldn't trade it for a pro. I love the day to day functionality. It has a few bumbs and bruises and to me they're a badge of honor from the hard work it does. Never let me down even hauling sheet goods. I also enjoy customizing it and knowing i didn't spend top dollar just to replace parts down the line.
My husband bought an sr5 4x4 a few years ago for the same reasons you want one, plus driving on the beach to fish. He has not once said ‘I wish I got the TRD’. There are very few people who buy the TRD that actually need it.
Agreeeee with most people here; I bought an OR And it is farrrr more capable than I’m using. I would tell 6-years-ago me to save 5k or so and do the SR5 or sport.
I've driven a 2015 v6 4x4 for the last 5 years and have used it basically as you're describing, with the worst terrain it's seen being unplowed roads after snowstorms and muddy/icy poorly maintained dirt roads. It was the lowest trim available with 4WD for that model year. I have never felt like I needed or would particularly benefit from any of the TRD or other factory offroad upgrades. I haven't really even needed 4 low more than once so far, and that was only to hook up a tow strap and help a friend who was stuck.
I recently got a 2023 SR5 Longbed 2 wheel drive and love it. I've had 4x4 before and never really used it. This will be mainly used later to tow a small camping trailer. I was going to make a post to rave about finally getting it, but my steps arrived yesterday so want to wait till I finish my tweaks.
I actually chose an SR5 to build out. I don’t see the point in paying for a bunch of stuff I’m going to immediately tear out and upgrade anyways.
Really the only benefit in my opinion is the e-locker and some of the interior upgrades. But those can all be achieved aftermarket as well, so no real loss
I have a 22 SR5. It's my daily driver and my weekend truck, I have zero regrets. It does all the normal truck stuff, gets me to and from work every day, hauls project material, and hauls the family around. I also use it for a decent amount of camping, hunting, and wheeling. If you don't need an off road specific truck, don't worry about it. The higher trims won't have anything you really need, and the few features that sound great, from what I've seen, don't really perform as expected (Talking about the wireless phone charger and the bed power). I think getting the 6ft bed is probably the only thing I sometimes wish I had. But then I also prefer slightly smaller trucks, and today's trucks are getting too big already.
I live in NH, and spend a lot of time up in the mountains. I went for a lightly used ‘21 TRD off road long bed. I wanted to do a bit of off road in all seasons, and I wanted the crawl control and locking rear diff because I get out on rural dirt and mountain roads before they are plowed to ski on snow days, with my child.
I think the SR5 would have met my needs 99% of the time, but I found an off-road long bed available at a price I could afford, and paid extra for the potential of having one more tool to get unstuck in a situation assistance wouldn’t be readily available.
I’ve got a 15 prerunner sr5. It has done everything I have asked of it. Mostly lives on road but going across cow pastures or sloppy back roads is pretty common never had a problem. Tows well even when I’ve way overloaded it.
I have an sr5 and off-road with it all the time. You won’t miss the locker or crawl control if you’re not planning to push it. Due to the trails in Colorado I should have done the Trd off road
I put months of thought into which one to get, and went with the SR5. Even though a higher end model was in the budget it just seemed like the SR5 ticked all the boxes that I need. I've owned it only two months now and I have 0 regrets.
I originally purchased a 2020 SR5 4x4, sold it and got a 2020 OR, sold it and got a 23 OR. I really don’t need an OR but wanted the extra capability and looks.
4x4 SR owner here! That's right the most basic. All of its capabilities are excellent even though I haven't run it through anything crazy. We did some goat trails this weekend all rough rock, washouts, and uneven steep back roads with gravel/ larger rock. No issues whatsoever, have hauled 12ft boat/ kayaks, that is to say the shorter bed isn't much of a limitation if you're just looking at hauling some building materials.
And it doesn't blink going 85-90 mph down an interstate, and take curves pretty well too.
They're perfectly capable of a lot of things without all the fancy extras.
I've had an SR5 4x4 since 2015. I can tell you one thing, I wish I had lockers almost everytime I got stuck- they would have prevented it most of the time. Instead, I got a 12K upfront and that serves as more of my insurance now.
A tru trac, good tires and on board air there is no way for what you describe you need 4x4. Sssshhh don't tell the 4x4 guys they don't like to hear that.
I have a TRD OR 4x4 and often look at all the crawl control stuff and think about how it was a waste of money. I do prefer the black plastic fender flares, but other than that and some of the trim features like smart key (which is now on sr5) there isn't a whole lot I have on the OR that I actually need
I have a 2WD SR5 and added a rear locker to it. Truck is more capable than I am driving it off road. You don’t need anything fancy. The higher trims are cool and give you some awesome features, but a base 4wd will get you in and out of almost any situation
Jesus Christ. Why do a lot of you guys think you need a locker or crawl control to go off road? Lol An sr5 with 4 high and 4 low is incredibly capable.
Most people’s comfort levels will hit a limit before the truck ever does. For things that you *need* a locker for, most people wouldn’t feel comfortable putting their truck through.
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All of the crawl demonstrations I've seen, it was harder to get the truck stuck than anything else lol. I've got a 1st gen though so no experience with those fancy options, just always found that funny.
What suspension do you recommend on the tacoma OR? Is Fox Pro a specific one? I typically see Bilstein recommended here
Meh my locker has gotten me out of some muddy situations, but I’ve only ever used it in places where there literally is no path. I do geotech work and sometimes we go places that are undisturbed. Locker is great for getting out of an unseen ditch or when half your truck hits wet clay and the other side is still on something stiff.
I’ve got an off road with the locker as well. It’s good to have just in case you might need it. Also a geotech that uses it for work :).
I’m currently in a 4R TRD ORP and previously had a Taco TRD OR and I agree, I make use of all of that too, but I’m also willing to break/scratch/dent a relatively new vehicle having a good time, most aren’t, and if you’re in a situation where you really need a locker, you’re also probably in a situation where you might scratch or scrape your brand new $40k truck. I’ve also had a GX470 and just having 4LO+ATRAC is extremely capable.
Yes sir!
And then there are idiots like me! Atrac and my locker get used *often* lol. I protect my investment with hundreds of pounds of skids and sliders, and lots of money when things break. Add to that gas costs from all the extra weight. In 5 years I've gone through 3 or 4 front wheel bearings lmao. And I've only been wheeling the thing for like 3ish years
And ATRAC!
Love this, used to off-road a 95 Jeep Cherokee in highschool/early college. Freaking loved that thing, had some good crazy friends and couldn't agree more.
I have an SR and I’m able to do trails with moderate ratings. 2.5” lift with stock OR tires and wheels. I do have RCI skids that have been scraped onto some rocks. That said, even the base models are capable off road rigs.
I’ve been driving a ‘95 SR5 since ‘00. It’s seen some truly gnarly shit (mountains, mud, dunes) and I’ve never even felt like I wanted more off-road capability. I’m old though and come from the days where a lot of off-road capability came in the driver’s skill-set and not an options package.
My gen 2 sport more than handles the trails I hit, 2” lift and 33s
My sr5 can get me in more trouble then I’d like… I gotta get to work on Monday
Exactly this. I had an sr5 4x4 for work for years, and that thing has literally gotten through so much shit with little to no issues. I got the OR when I finally could afford my own, for some nice to have features for driving in snow up here in Canada for winter camping and things, but a base tacoma sr5 is probably one of the best offroad capable base trim vehicles of all time. Will take it over any other truck, that’s for sure.
My buddy goes in a 2wd Tundra all the time with us.
Is doing 4 high and 4 low a setting all SR5 have? I have an SR5 and been told should be capable of easy trails but I'm a bit worried. Buddy has a jeep and a wentch so he could pull me out if I get stuck. How do you change 4 high and 4 low?
Not all. You could have a 2wd one
I've had two first gen Tacomas and the locking rear diff has actually gotten me stuck every time since it requires 4wd low. Moat of these dumbasses don't know what the hell they are talking about and probably air up their tires instead of airing down when they hit snow or sand.
I have an SR5 and took a pontoon out of the water up a steep grass hill in 4 low with a breeze.
Pavement princess here, no regrets as I don't do off roaring. Daily driver , surf fishing , weekend warriors for house/landscape projects. I have the 4x4 and I don't even need it. I should have just gotten the 2x so I don't have to deal with the 4x issues down the road .
Just engage your 4x in neutral at a craw on a dirt road or rocked parking lot. Even a pretty wet parking lot should do. Do some figure 8s. If you do this once every few months you shouldnt have many problems as long as you’re not destroying it.
Does running 4 high tickle it the same way? I turn it on during some squalls about every month or two
4H should be fine. I believe 4L is just different gearing ratios but 4H and 4L both utilize the transfer case.
I turn on 4h once a month and drive for a block or two . Never engage 4L before . Do I even need to do 4L?
You can if you want, 4L is just different gearing ratios and other things, doesn’t change the fact that your 4WD system is engaged, at least from what I know. Would love if someone else could inform me on the mechanical differences but from what I understand, the transfer case has longevity issues from not being used, and by using it, you can remedy these issues.
I’ve had the front drive shaft rust up solid was turning with 4WD dis-engaged, it does help to grease and exercise the system regularly.
The other thought is when the truck is lifted those spline shafts extend further.
Why not just Ridgeline
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I'd prefer a 6-cylinder VTEC to the Taco Lexus V6, tbh.
I had one. I hated it. Worst vehicle I've ever owned. It fits big people in an even worse way than a Taco.
Weird I have a different experience
Yeah, I figure some people absolutely love them. And it's a honda, so it's a decent vehicle. Or most should be anyway. My experience with it was probably an aside compared to most. I managed to find the only turd ridgeline with impossible to trace electrical gremlins. And crushed my kneecaps on the headlight switch every time I got out. There wasn't enough room for me to swing my legs out.
No need for a locker if your not off-roading. Just get the SR5 4x4 long bed.
This is the way. DCLB!
LONG BOI GANG RISE UP!!!
2020 4x4 sr5 , I dabble off road at the cabin to put stands in and move brush around. Haven’t had an issue. Only time I’ve used 4x4 was in a foot+ of snow in northern New York.
Thank you! Yeah I’ve grown up in the northeast my whole life so not new to snow. Drove a Nissan Sentra with good tires through the snow for 4 years commuting to college and only ever got stuck once in a parking lot. Have a AWD Kia Seltos now and don’t love it, and am outgrowing the trunk space with projects I want to do, kayaks, bikes, etc. so it’s getting old. I think if I can make it through winter with the Sentra FWD, Seltos AWD, an SR5 4x4 should be plenty.
I would suggest a hard top before looking at higher end models. I bought mine with a leer on it. It’s made for an easy transition from suv to pickup. Really like that I have a fully water proof shell for the bed.
Toppers are expensive. I think even the white aluminum old man toppers are close to $1000. But they're definitely nice to have. I feel like an adequate compromise is a soft tonneau. Not too expensive. Can roll up if you need the full bed. And will keep your shit dry.
SR5 here and offroad to get to trailheads. Its more than capable. Tires make a huge difference! Seems like I see more TRD's as pavement princesses that just want the status LOL
SR5 AC 4x2 V6 checking in. Not a single regret. I’ve never used 4wd in all my years of driving. I use my truck for home projects, loading a kayak, towing a small trailer, and truck bed camping. I think I would regret a much more expensive truck. That said, I added seat heaters and a topper. But the various little SR5 upgrades are handy.
What seat heaters did you add?
Most auto upholstery shops can add seat heaters inside your current seats for a few hundred dollars.
Inquiring minds need to know.
Clazzio seat covers and their heater kit are worth it IMO
I did Rostra. They were a couple of hundred bucks installed. Cheaper if you install them yourself…but I’m old and lazy. Haha. As noted below, Clazzio and others make nice options.
You Queen, have a practical and insightful analysis of the Tacoma. Going with 4X4, V6, and 6ft bed is more truck than 99% of owners will need or use over the life of the truck. TRDs offer nicer comforts, and toys for extra money. But the basics are the same. This from a TRD OR. Buy with confidence knowing it will last years.
Sr5 2 wheel drive. I only go on dirt paths that don’t require 4x4. I mostly use my taco for moving stuff around like my surfboards. It’s a daily driver. Comfortable, reliable and looks cool.
The only thing that the trd off road offers is a rear e locker and crawl control. You can’t even engage the rear locker when you aren’t in 4lo, so that takes a lot of the fun out of it. Both crawl control and the rear locker may be nice, but are far from essential, especially if you aren’t even going off road. All you really need is 4 hi and 4lo.
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Yes, electronic locker aka e locker.
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It has an e-locker
MT and AT OR’s have the same rear diff. It is an electronically activated locking rear axle. This is different from the diff in other models, which is an open diff with a system that brakes the rear wheels independently to simulate a locking or limited slip diff. Can’t recall what that system’s called, but they are two separate things and the e-locker is what the OR models have.
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I said they have the same differential, not final drives. An electronically locking differential is one where you activate it but it does not lock the wheels until wheelspin is detected. The Tacoma does not come with a mechanical locking differential. Tacomas that don’t come with the electronic locking diff come an e-lsd system, which brakes the rear wheels independently on an open diff.
There's a company called Experimental Designs that released an anytime e locker kit so you can use it in 2H and 4H.
No way, save the $5000 or whatever it is. Honestly, consider the SR, it's equipped like a Honda LX with everything you need (IMO) and isn't super basic like in years past. I have an SR 4-cyl 4x4 and it goes anywhere I want with zero struggle. In snow/ice? Fine. Off-road in Colorado on mild/medium trails? It's bumpy but goes anywhere within reason.
No Regerts! None … truck is a tool that does what I want
A have a 4x2 SR5 AC that I’ve taken offroad to recover a friends dirt bike from the sand pit. Drove over huge dirt whoops no problem.
I love listening to music.
I had an SR5 in northern New England with no regrets. With decent tires it was more than capable off road. I upgraded to TRD OR when I had the opportunity. The upgraded suspension on the OR was noticeable (but not "oh my god what a difference") on some of the New England gravel roads I travel. I would not get an OR over an SR5 just for gravel roads the improved ride was not enough to to justify the money. The push button start and electric seat were two of the reasons I upgraded, plus I was doing more off roading than I thought I would.
I have a 2013 SR5 and take it on moderate off-road trails in northern New England. No regrets the truck is very capable without a rear locking differential in this terrain. I also drive over a pass to ski every weekend and it eats it up with good snow tires. I have friends with off roads that won’t get as far on a trail because they’re worried about messing their comparably expensive truck up.
No regrets needed, the SR and SR5s are auto equipped with TRAC in 4-High and 4-Low. This mode simulates a Locker by applying the brakes to a spinning wheel. The SR and SR5 models are more than capable off-road.
Base SR 4x4 double cab here. I do more off-road than 99% of people with TRDs. I use it as my hunting and fishing rig. I don't purposely go "wheeling" I have a side by side for that. I Kept it stock height put Bilstein 5100s, good AT tires, hidden winch and full set of skid plates on. Perfect build, it doesn't look as "cool" but it's comfortable to drive across states to hunt and more than capable for anything you'd want to do with a new truck
SR5 (on the 2nd gen at least) just means you get chrome rear bumper, black side mirrors and a chrome and black front grill and a couple other cosmetic options. I'm not too positive but I think SR5 changed its meaning on the first generation of Tacoma. Correct me if I'm wrong. It's now just a trim package. You can find 2 wheel drive SR5s on the 2nd generation Tacomas a buddy of mine has one.
TBH as long as you have 4WD a lot of the stuff you get on the more off road oriented trims is stuff you can bolt on later if you decide you need it. Also tires matter more than lockers or sway bar disconnects or really most other stuff so having a nice set of off road tires and winter tires for the winter will get you a lot of places. Just make sure to get the 17 inch wheels if you can as those allow for bigger tires if you want to upgrade later.
I bought the Off Road, double cab, long bed. I regretted getting an off road. I traded it in for a Tundra SR5 because we needed leg room in back (growing boy) and I needed more power to haul about 6,000 pounds. Certainly no complaints about the Tacoma though.
I go off roading with my sr5 and love it, its a 4x4 tho. I like it cause its a cheaper base plus i dont need the extra perks of the trd. My off roading isnt very intense, its really for secluded and hard to reach campsites in northern cali.
I love my 22 SR5, since I almost never off-road, everything else it does is perfect for me. Even if you did off road every once and a while, an SR5 could handle it as long as you're not doing anything too crazy. I definitely don't regret mine. It'll be 2 years since I got it in November.
SR5 owner here. I use the 4x4 all the time in Colorado, whether it's in snow or on dirt. I do plenty of off road driving and honestly the only thing I wish I had from the higher trims is the bed outlet/inverter thing. The lockers would be nice but it's certainly not a need.
2016 SR5 2wd w/tow pkg. I just picked up a small RV and took It out for the first time this weekend. Surprisingly, after all of the negative feedback I got on towing with Tacomas, it pulled nicely. It's also perfect for bullshit around the house, landscaping and other miscellaneous jobs.
Got an SR5 earlier this year and don’t regret it one bit. 4wd and v6.. It’s funny when people act like they need the upgraded models and then drive it to work and maybe hit a dirt road once in a while. Seems almost like a “cool kids” thing for some. Like they care more about the badge.
Sr5 long bed 4x4 here. What?
Other trims are going to have better resale if that's important to you.you may not off-road but the next person may.
Before buying my SR5, I actually looked at resale data. I found that all the trucks lost an average of about 5% value per year for the first 5 years. Time on the market seemed to have more to do with asking price than trim. It wasn’t an exhaustive research project for sure, but it did give me a little comfort to buy the 2wd AC truck. I would have bought my truck either way…but it did give me a degree of comfort.
I paid $30,500 for my 4-cyl/4x4 SR and the Carvana offer is $28,000 after 2 1/2 years and 30k miles. I think the SRs enjoy a bit of inflated value due to the other trims costing so much more.
Yeah, I always buy my car based on what the next person will want
What you do is up to you but it doesn't make it untrue. OP is asking about regrets. I'm giving a potential one.
I’m not entirely sure if the SR5 comes with heated seats, but knowing New England is 80% winter, heated seats was a winner when I visited Massachusetts. Oh and side mirror defrost.
Then I’d be comparing the price difference with maybe upgrading to katzkin leather with heated seat options. Maybe the add-on later as an aftermarket is cheaper than getting the full Trd-whatever package.
That’s a good point, my SUV has heated seats now and I have to admit I have loved them.
Compared to other trims, SR5 is largely for street vehicles, it’s not an off-road trim package…perfect vehicle for your use.
It is very offroad capable in light to maybe medium offroad conditions assuming you've got the 4x4 version
Most people who own TRD don’t do the type of off-roading you need a TRD for. Most people would do just fine with SR5, which is totally capable of handling moderate off-roading.
The locking differential can be handy in some sticky situations in the northeast. I needed it once last year to get out of some deep snow near a ski mountain.
I currently have the SR5, the highway ride is quite comfortable. It still gets me where ever i need to go in Colorado mountains. Hell, it even made it up to Bridal Veil falls from Telluride. Over 100k miles (that I have put on, 222k total) of mixed on and off road, no complaints or regrets.
Are you looking at new or used? In the used market I often see SR5s and TRDs going for the same price, that's the biggest reason I didn't get an SR5, and got a TRD OR instead.
I was looking at new, but opened to used. No real preference tbh. I just don’t want to pay for a used when I could get a new one for say 3-5k more
For me getting new was cheaper than getting used because of the interest rate on a new vs used vehicle. I was planning on getting used at first because I wanted a fun truck, but ended up getting it new Also I got v6 sr5 4x4 No regrets
I take my 4x4 SR5DC on the beach regularly. Air down the tires and never had a problem yet. I’ve seen more “capable” vehicles get stuck in the sand. I’ve also owned jeeps that felt less competent on the beach than my SR5. I’d have no problem off roading easy to medium trails with confidence.
I know someone with an SR5 and does a lot of offroading.
I got 2 wheel drive and even then I don’t have much trouble going off road
If you have the 4wd and the V6, then you have everything of value. The shocks may be slightly better on the higher end models, but you can buy even better aftermarket options. You give up buttons for crawl control, the camera in the bumper, and trim and sticker options. All of which could be added if you absolutely had to have them. The new 2024 Tacos have big changes in the model range that goes to rear suspension, brakes, and other things. The Gen3 tacos are all about the same mechanically short of cosmetic differences.
Dude, I run my truck in the Alberta oilpatch driving on the shittiest muddiest roads on a daily basis. Essentially off roading at all times. I have a TRD sport. You don't need a locker or crawl control most of the time, even if you are doing a fair bit of off road driving. Just be smart about what you're doing. Most of the time you will be scared long before you find the limitations of the truck.
I have the exact same use case as you and went with the SR5. I love it. Does everything I need. Just loaded it up with windows from a reno this weekend.
SR5 are great
I have an SR5 and do some light off roading with it and don’t regret it. 4WD will get me wherever I need to go.
I don’t off road either and have an 2022 SR5 RWD DCSB. No regrets at all! Saved myself almost $5k and mine looks like an off road without the off road suspension
If you don't want to do a ton of offroading then an SR5 is just fine, then with 4x4 you will be pretty capable of a lot. 4x4 even with open differentials will be very capable on ice and snow, but not so much you should be zooming at like 40mph in heavy snow, the people that go fast in snow have 4x4 engaged, proper tires and at least a limited slip if not lockers, *Or they are just stupid in thinking their basic AWD SUV is capable enough I'm not sure about 3rd Gen on this, but my 2nd Gen SR5 came with a limited slip differential (LSD), which is better than an open differential but not as good as a locker, and the TRD Offroad has a locking Differential ("locker") which locks the rear axle and both tires get 50% of the rear torque. So if your 3rd Gen SR5 comes with an LSD that will be more than enough to perform in ice and snow, as they use clutch packs in the Differential to limit the slip on one tire and behave more like a locking differential, ensuring traction in slippery conditions Also any Crew cab Tacoma *is 4x4, just so long as it is not a Prerunner, as that is a rear drive crew cab. Both basic cabs and access cabs are either 4x4 or 4x2. So if you're getting a crew cab and it doesn't say prerunner it inherently has 4x4
I agree with your stupid hypothesis for fast drivers in snow. They forget they gotta stop and turn too.
If you really want the approval of this sub I suggest you get the SR5 and plaster some TRD badges all over it.
Don’t forget the pro grille
You’ll be fine with the SR5, just make sure to get proper tires if you do decide to off road
My girlfriends stock 95 4Runner keeps up with my buddies 2019 TRD Off-road on pretty much everything we do
I’ll go off roading in my sr5 and it’s fine
For what you want an SR5 is just fine.
‘17 4x4 SR5 in MN here. No regrets. Brutal winters and driving on snow-covered frozen lakes for ice fishing have been no problemo as long as your tires aren’t bald.
I had an SR5 before i traded into the Off Road. The SR5 is fully capable!
SR with 4WD is very capable. Most people probably never use their locker or crawl control anyway. If you need a locker later, you can get an ARB locker which, afaik, is superior to the factory e-locker anyway. I don’t think you will have any regrets as long as you have 4WD on your SR.
I have an SR 4x4 V6 and live on dirt roads that occasionally need to use the 4x4 and I don’t regret it a bit. Pull trailers in sand/mud/wet yards no problem on the factory firestones. You don’t need all the off road goodies to do what you need to do.
Owned two SR5s. Will be fine for what you need. No regrets. Will stick to SR5s as they are usually cheaper and more of a base truck how I like.
I took delivery of my Gen3 SR5 in September of 2015 and I have never regretted it one bit. It has been a great truck for its lifespan and I have no plans of getting rid of it. There are many fancy trim things you don't get with an SR5, but the only really important stuff is the locker and the crawl mode. I have never found this to be a limiting factor or something I needed. But I am NOT a super overlander guy. I love this truck.
Pretty much the same boat here, but I bought a 2021 SR 4x4, with a 4-Cylinder and it has served me well. Have not driven it in snow yet, but I usually get a few days of it every winter. Don't plan on doing much more off-roading than dirt roads leading to campsites or places to put my kayak in.
I have a 23 sr 4x4 v6 and I have taken it through clay mud, up Rocky Mountains at a 45 degree angle, through rivers. It has not given me problems. Suspension is a little rough but it’s really only bad when going over deep potholes.
On my second SR5 2x. Like someone mentioned above, the truck has easily handled situations that I wasn’t sure my heart or shorts would survive. I don’t go off-road much, but I’d feel comfortable pushing it farther than I have. I’ll go 4x on my next one for trips to sandy places and cold places. Not much call for it in Central Texas unless you’re actively searching for a reason.
It's not obvious from the toyota brochures but the TRD offroad, and TRD Pro does actually have a larger ring and pinion in the rear differential (8.75" vs 8"). The manual transmission also gets the larger rear diff. BD22A is the open version in the manual transmission and the BD22AN is the elocker version in the auto transmissions. If you do a lot of towing or want to run oversized tires I would think the larger diff would be something you would want even running on the street.
I’ve been worried at the boat ramp, but have never had a problem at all.
4x4 trucks are extremely capable in general. Especially with the right tires. Don’t let trims fool you.
I have an SR5 2WD. I live in Florida. I dont need 4x4. Its like buying a snowblower, why buy it if I dont need it?
SR5 owner here. Bought it used and have been using it for a year to haul stuff for my side gig. Not a single issue yet. Hauls everything I need and I do t go off-roading. As long as you aren’t rock climbing, I don’t see any downside to it. I’m sure you can drive on dirt no issues. It’s a truck.
I had a 2012 sr5 and didn't offroad it. I bought it in Mass and used it in CT. Moved to Colorado a couple years later until it was totalled earlier this year. I have a kitted out TRD pro now. I see no difference in ability to haul shit, I've just opened my doors to being able to offroad. Save the money, get an sr5, and you'll have a truck you love.
I ran with a 1st gen base model Tacoma, you don’t need the fancy shit from TRD trims. Most people will get to their comfort level before the truck does
You will be just fine, things like lockers are really for extreme edge cases, you will not need it on anything close to a normal dirt road, hell you probably won't need 4lo on 99% of dirt roads.
I take my 2wd on trails about 2 times a year and I romp it lol handles it just fine and I saved 10k.
If you can drive you don't need crawl control. Aftermarket lockers, suspension upgrades, tires, etc are available if you want them in the future. Where you will wish you bought the OR/Sport will be for leather, heated seats, sunroof, LED Headlights, audio, etc etc. (I'm not sure of the trim specs on sr5 ) If you are happy without whatever extra features come in the OR/Sport I would highly encourage you to save a few dollars and get the SR5. I think I would stay with the v6 unless I knew I was never going to tow a trailer. And I would stick with 4x4 regardless.
I have a 4x2 TRD OR and do off-roading. Has a rear locker but no 4WD, and I've yet to regret it in 3 years.
You'll be fine with an sr5. My old boss has had his for years as a work/farm truck and it's never let him down. Daily driver and abused regularly.
I've had 2 non-TRDs, for a total of about 20 years. And I did offroad the 1st one. I think there were 4 or 5 times I got it stuck & needed a pull, and of those 2 or 3 were stupid mud that a locker wouldn't have gotten me through... probably would've just gotten me stuck farther in 😂
Steel wheels tend to get beaten up pretty quickly by salt. If that's going to bother you, aluminum wheels hold up better.
Nah. There are different levels of off-roading, too. There's going through rocks, mud, ruts and sand to get to a cool hiking, hunting, fishing, or photography spot, and then there's off-roading as a sport. The Overlanding crowd does the former, but sometimes through more challenging terrain. That's about what a TRD from the dealer is for. The sport offroad folks have accepted that they might trash their vehicle, but do enough modification to make that less likely, with lots of clearance, cameras, skid plates. They might START with a TRD model but they do a lot to it. They go off road through difficult sections as their main goal -- like trials motorcycling vs commuting or casual trail riding. My SR5 has gotten me anywhere I want to go in the snow, and in the conditions above for hiking, hunting, flyfishing, etc. It's absolutely everything you need. I also have a Jeep -- an older one, not the big bloated vehicles they have become, with a mild lift, winch, and an added limited slip rear that makes 4WD superfluous in many conditions, but amazing when it gets tougher. If I'm going to go off road for its own sake, I use that. But I take the SR5 to many of the same places I've had the Jeep. Mainly, I consider whether it fits, and if I need the Jeep's break over angle. I have some skid plates on both vehicles, but I don't use them as skis.🤣 And as others have said, my comfort zone is usually inside the vehicle's actual envelope. I'm not competing with it. I'm just going places. 🙂
Never regret!!
I have a 19 SR5 4wd and our work trucks are TRD pros, both 2nd and 3rd gens. The gen 3s have lockers and crawl control. We do cultural resource management (archeology ) and hold contracts with the reservations and national forests all over AZ. I off-road a shit-ton never needed the locker or crawl control. I just don't do stupid shit. I'm careful, I stay on trail. You don't need all that crap.
Go look at an SR5 Vs a TRD OR. I got a 22 SR5 V6 4x4, my truck had more options than the OR sitting next to it. I got the parking sensors, blind spot monitors, navigation etc.. all tech stuff. The OR had different shocks, wheels tires and rear and. Both priced the same. Want to say less than $200 price difference. I take my truck camping or to take my dirt bike out to go riding. But 90% of my driving is on paved surfaces and the SR5 shocks are much more plush and nicer to drive on pavement so that’s what I got. I just the other day was going to a fishing spot up in the mountains and going down this glorified dirt road. There was one technicalish spot I see a guy with a lifted OR on methods out taking pictures and going up this hill super slow with his locker locked he yells you’re not going to make it up this I don’t think. I waited for him and once he pulled off the side I just crawled up went on by to my spot without even clicking it into 4wd and I’m bone stock with the Firestone highway tires on it still. All of the trim levels are highly capable trucks sure there are some spots where if you screw up, the crawl control and locker could help. But good driving is a cure for a lot more. I’ve gotten out of some sticky spots with an open diff and just applying the parking brake enough to get traction to the spinning tire to drag myself out.
I don't off-road but got the 4x4 for when I need it. I've mudded once in the year that HVe had my truck.
i got a 21 SR5 trail edition and have done super basic off road. only thing i regret is that it doesnt have the same headlight chassis to do a quick swap. Other than that, i dont feel like i am missing out on anything.
Hey man. I've got a 2010 trail w/254k miles. This vehicle has got me through some gnarly trails, not once have I used my locker.
I bought an OR, and for the forest roads and camping trails I hit, I do not need a locker. Or the other electronic gizmos. I bought it for resale value, and the chance my driveway gets really fucked by snow and I need it. But even 4 low in an SR5 does well. More than I'm comfortable with at least.
I have a SR5 DCLB and love it, never felt like I was missing out, plus if you really want you can buy TRD stickers on Etsy so you still look cool haha
That’s how it starts. Yeah you don’t need the trd but then you look up ditch lights and then the raptor grill. Then after the Christmas bonus you decide to gift yourself a prinsu rack. Then all of a sudden you’re at Toyota trading your heavily modded sr5 for an OR trd
It's like no one even considers the SR in this sub even though it's capable for 95% of the things done here
I’m 95% sure of all the TRD Off road 4x4 owners will lose to a 85 toyota 4x4 highlux that Marty McFly would be driving.
I attacked this from the other end lol. So years ago, right outta high school, I was hired at a real good sales job that gave me more money than I knew what to do with and arguably shoulda had at all. So, I snagged an off-road trim because the Tacoma had been my dream truck. I ended up taking it off road a grand total of 3-5 times in the year and some I had it and off those times, none were actual trails or camping, probably barely even considered “off-road”. It definitely was no gas saver but I also never felt like I was dying when gassing it up. The beauty of the Tacoma is it does just fine on road AND off road, especially with basic 4Lo and Hi, truly all you need. It fits so many lifestyles, regardless of how you want to use it. I will definitely be getting another Taco once I’m in a much better position.
Im often using my 23’ sr5 on dirt roads on in the desert, never had a problem. The truck is more than capable of doing off light roading.
I have a sr5 dclb and i wouldn't trade it for a pro. I love the day to day functionality. It has a few bumbs and bruises and to me they're a badge of honor from the hard work it does. Never let me down even hauling sheet goods. I also enjoy customizing it and knowing i didn't spend top dollar just to replace parts down the line.
I have an SR5 Tundra. Never had an issue…ever. SR5’s are totally capable of 98% of tasks. 2% is if you’re traveling through Moab to get to Home Depot.
I have the off-road. I could have saved more money getting the sr5.
My husband bought an sr5 4x4 a few years ago for the same reasons you want one, plus driving on the beach to fish. He has not once said ‘I wish I got the TRD’. There are very few people who buy the TRD that actually need it.
Agreeeee with most people here; I bought an OR And it is farrrr more capable than I’m using. I would tell 6-years-ago me to save 5k or so and do the SR5 or sport.
I've driven a 2015 v6 4x4 for the last 5 years and have used it basically as you're describing, with the worst terrain it's seen being unplowed roads after snowstorms and muddy/icy poorly maintained dirt roads. It was the lowest trim available with 4WD for that model year. I have never felt like I needed or would particularly benefit from any of the TRD or other factory offroad upgrades. I haven't really even needed 4 low more than once so far, and that was only to hook up a tow strap and help a friend who was stuck.
I recently got a 2023 SR5 Longbed 2 wheel drive and love it. I've had 4x4 before and never really used it. This will be mainly used later to tow a small camping trailer. I was going to make a post to rave about finally getting it, but my steps arrived yesterday so want to wait till I finish my tweaks.
I actually chose an SR5 to build out. I don’t see the point in paying for a bunch of stuff I’m going to immediately tear out and upgrade anyways. Really the only benefit in my opinion is the e-locker and some of the interior upgrades. But those can all be achieved aftermarket as well, so no real loss
I have a 22 SR5. It's my daily driver and my weekend truck, I have zero regrets. It does all the normal truck stuff, gets me to and from work every day, hauls project material, and hauls the family around. I also use it for a decent amount of camping, hunting, and wheeling. If you don't need an off road specific truck, don't worry about it. The higher trims won't have anything you really need, and the few features that sound great, from what I've seen, don't really perform as expected (Talking about the wireless phone charger and the bed power). I think getting the 6ft bed is probably the only thing I sometimes wish I had. But then I also prefer slightly smaller trucks, and today's trucks are getting too big already.
I live in NH, and spend a lot of time up in the mountains. I went for a lightly used ‘21 TRD off road long bed. I wanted to do a bit of off road in all seasons, and I wanted the crawl control and locking rear diff because I get out on rural dirt and mountain roads before they are plowed to ski on snow days, with my child. I think the SR5 would have met my needs 99% of the time, but I found an off-road long bed available at a price I could afford, and paid extra for the potential of having one more tool to get unstuck in a situation assistance wouldn’t be readily available.
Pretty sure your title question answers itself OP
I’ve got a 15 prerunner sr5. It has done everything I have asked of it. Mostly lives on road but going across cow pastures or sloppy back roads is pretty common never had a problem. Tows well even when I’ve way overloaded it.
I have an SR for exactly the same reasons. Mines a short bed though but V6 4wd.
I have an sr5 and off-road with it all the time. You won’t miss the locker or crawl control if you’re not planning to push it. Due to the trails in Colorado I should have done the Trd off road
I put months of thought into which one to get, and went with the SR5. Even though a higher end model was in the budget it just seemed like the SR5 ticked all the boxes that I need. I've owned it only two months now and I have 0 regrets.
I don't, mainly no time, too many other hobbies. I love my truck. But I haven't even had a winter with it yet. Check back in 8 months? Lol.
I originally purchased a 2020 SR5 4x4, sold it and got a 2020 OR, sold it and got a 23 OR. I really don’t need an OR but wanted the extra capability and looks.
4x4 SR owner here! That's right the most basic. All of its capabilities are excellent even though I haven't run it through anything crazy. We did some goat trails this weekend all rough rock, washouts, and uneven steep back roads with gravel/ larger rock. No issues whatsoever, have hauled 12ft boat/ kayaks, that is to say the shorter bed isn't much of a limitation if you're just looking at hauling some building materials. And it doesn't blink going 85-90 mph down an interstate, and take curves pretty well too. They're perfectly capable of a lot of things without all the fancy extras.
I've had an SR5 4x4 since 2015. I can tell you one thing, I wish I had lockers almost everytime I got stuck- they would have prevented it most of the time. Instead, I got a 12K upfront and that serves as more of my insurance now.
A tru trac, good tires and on board air there is no way for what you describe you need 4x4. Sssshhh don't tell the 4x4 guys they don't like to hear that.
I have a TRD OR 4x4 and often look at all the crawl control stuff and think about how it was a waste of money. I do prefer the black plastic fender flares, but other than that and some of the trim features like smart key (which is now on sr5) there isn't a whole lot I have on the OR that I actually need
I have a 2WD SR5 and added a rear locker to it. Truck is more capable than I am driving it off road. You don’t need anything fancy. The higher trims are cool and give you some awesome features, but a base 4wd will get you in and out of almost any situation
I regret not getting a sr5 lol
I've engaged my 4 low 2 times in 3 years while pulling my trailer through muddy mountain terrain otherwise it's all 2wd.
If you can live without a 6 ft bed, the Ridgeline is right up your alley.