SR5 4WD vs TRD OFF ROAD 4WD

Hello!

Looking for some advice.

I am a beginner off-roader, looking to get into it a bit more and in the hunt for a new car. I am trying to decide between the SR5 w/4WD and the TRD Off Road 4WD package and have a few questions.

1. Is the 4WD system in the SR5 capable enough for most trails and off roading?
2. Besides the HI/LO knob in the SR5, does it offer any other features for offroading? Crawl control, etc.
3. Does the TRD Off Road come with any additional protection on the undercarriage that wouldnt be seen on the SR5?

Thank you!

 

If you have the money and recession proof career, it may be a great time to buy! If you're really looking at making off-roading a hobby, I would go with the TRD OR for the reasons Snickel Fritz mentioned. People definitely build out extremely capable SR5 rigs, but it's nice to have that physical level and locking diff without adding aftermarket. You trying to buy new or used?

 

I decided on the ORP over the SR5 for many of the same reasons. I wanted the rear locker, the physical 4x4 transfer case lever, the premium wheels( but truth be told I am still drooling over the Pro wheels), and the softex leather. As Snickel said, they are very close from the factory, and if you intend on some mid to serious off-roading, I thought the Premium was a better starting place for me. I hope that helps, and make sure to post pics after the purchase!

 

1- yes

2- the crawl control, rear locker and multi terrain select are features of the off-road package. Chances are you might not actually "need" any of these, but they're nice to have.

3- I'm not positive on this actually. I would check the brochures.

The off-road also is available with the KDSS option, which actually makes it more capable than a PRO. It offers better suspension articulation off-road, and improved cornering stability on road. It's quite ingenious, but it's not for everyone. If you plan on major suspension modifications, you'll probably want to skip it.

Also, as mentioned, the stock tires are not great for off-roading. So, you might want to budget for tires before you start to hit the trails.

Good luck with your decision!

And, welcome to the forum!

 

The market is interesting right now, i originally was planning to go with used just based on price and the fact that 4runners last forever it doesnt really make a difference to me if its new or used. But maybe trying to get a better deal on a new one and go that route. I am fine with either though. Any suggestions?

 

Thank you for the advice!

 

^^^^THIS pretty much says it all.

I looked at used ones for about 5 minutes, and realized that buying new was a better option for me. I wanted low mileage and some specific options, so there weren't a lot out there. And, to save any significant money over new, I'd have to get one with a lot of miles.

I was able to get about $4K off MSRP, so I jumped on it.

 

I ended up buying new, because I found that a 2-3 year old ORP was within 1500 of what I paid for a 2020. I even found some used ones that were priced a little higher than mine, and had been used quite a bit. I have to say that I have come to love the new features and the larger screen in the 2020.

 

General advice here and much will match what you've likely already read.

1. Both systems are extremely capable, much more so than you
2. All 4Rs come with ATRAC, which is a capable system. Only the TRD Off Road and Pro come with Crawl Control, which is a useful feature but not a limiting factor in what you can enjoy. The Off Road comes with a rear locking differential, which is a powerful feature.
3. I don't think there's any difference in protection.
4. The Off Road can be equipped with KDSS, which is an on-road feature. Many like it.

 

Look for Toyota to offer a 0% APR deal like the other manufacturers are doing. You certainly aren't going to find that on a used model unless you're paying cash.

 

When I purchased mine I wanted the cheapest possible model I could find because it was my only vehicle at the time. And I average 30k miles a year. Now that I have a small second car, I wish I got the Off Road simply for the locker and better looking rims. Other than that I didn’t need or want any of the extras. It’s pretty much the same truck and now that I drove in other Offroad models (one with KDSS) I cant tell much of a ride difference. Since I installed the OR wheels I am only missing the locker . Truth be told I will most likely won’t need a locker but if it saves my a$& just one time it would have been worth it. The hood scoop is a big turn off now because when clean the glare was a PITA. Six years of ownership taught me that with my 2nd gen Taco.

 

I’ve been driving off road since before Disco. Dual sport motorcycles, ‘65 VW double-cab pickup, ‘85 Toyota Hilux Longbed 2WD pickup, ‘03 Tacoma 4WD (which I still have). Mostly exploring roads and trails just to see where they go.

My wife and I went for a new 2019 ORP. It was only a few $$ more than the pre-owned rigs that were out there.

After reading all kinds of threads, I have figured that we seem to be an anomaly in the T4R community in that we’re perfectly happy with what the Toyota engineers have designed and don’t anticipate making any mods to it (we did put real AT tires on it, but they are stock size). The frequent mod I see is raising the front a couple of inches so it looks level when it’s sitting in the driveway. I prefer to to take advantage of the extra inches in the back so I can put people and stuff in it and it be level when we’re actually driving down the road enjoying the scenery.

My wife has fibromyalgia, which can make the bumps of off-roading painful, so we opted for the Premium for the better creature comforts, and the KDSS suspension. KDSS makes a huge difference both on and off road. It glides through rough stuff and actually rides smoother on highways and corners better that her Cadillac SRX.

All the off road systems are good on paper, but it’s taking this old dog awhile to figure out what and what not to use when and where. 250,000 miles in the bone stock Tacoma with manual everything, open differentials, and no lockers, and I’ve never gotten stuck. Been stuck twice in the T4R because the computer thought it knew best and I couldn’t figure out how to dumb it down at the time. Eventually I’ll figure it out. In the meantime, I’m going to invest in some recovery gear to load into the back so my T4R will ride level.

 

Hook up with a credit union and get a pre-approved loan from them, then negotiate a “cash” deal with the dealer. With the 0% financing, the dealer won’t cut you as good of a deal on the vehicle and you’ll end up paying more in the long run.

https://www.transunion.com/blog/credit-advice/4-myths-about-zero-percent-financing

 

I agree with all of the above.

I spent about a year looking at multiple new and used 4WD vehicles. My top requirements were 4 door, 4x4, and an electronic rear locking differential. I spent the last 14 years owning a 2006 Nissan Frontier King Cab SE 4x4. While I never needed an electronic locking rear differential, I always wanted one. I like going off road frequently and can do so on my own land. A locker allows you to take on obstacles slower.

Adding a locker after the fact is an Expensive Proposition. It's cheaper / easier to have a factory locker, especially if in the market for a new vehicle.

Working in Africa for the past 5 years as a government contractor (home now) I drove a 4 door 2014 Toyota Hilux 4x4 diesel 5 speed manual with rear locker. I was real close to buying a Tacoma Off Road with manual transmission. Found the Tacoma to be too cramped inside for the driver and passengers. I went with the larger interior 4Runner Off Road (non-premium non-KDSS).

I looked at used but wanted one with 30k miles or less. All of which were within a couple thousand of new. New won out.

Being tall, I didn't want the moon roof that comes in the Premium. I would've liked the heated seats though. I admit I wasn't aware of KDSS until after buying my OR. 2 test drives at the dealer didn't reveal the horrible handling of the non-KDSS OR.

Driving my 4Runner Off Road home from the dealer on twisty curvy hilly Ozark roads - I thought I'd made a mistake. The handling of the OR in the curves was HORRIBLE!!! Tons of body roll. Hitting the brakes hard resulted in major nose dive. My 14 year old Frontier (I still own) handles curves better than this pig.

Doing some research - I had an Eibach Pro Truck Lift (shocks, struts, and springs) installed. Apples and orange difference in the On Road handling of the vehicle. I can now take curves at speed and the nose dive on braking is gone. Off Road handling is just as nice as stock - still feels soft in the bumps - non-jarring. I'm happy with the ride now.

 

An SR5 will get you a lot of places. Yes the Locker is very nice and I miss it. A lot of the times it is on the driver and not the "locker" to get you places. Case in point: TRD PRO Tacoma and TRD OR both got stuck and I made it through with my SR5. Do I wish I had a locker? Heck ya I do! But I enjoy my SR5 a lot and take her everywhere.

Untitled by redrunner87, on Flickr
Untitled by redrunner87, on Flickr
Untitled by redrunner87, on Flickr

 

Put me down as someone who thinks you'll be fine with an SR5.

I learned to offroad with a 2wd. Had to get through mud and sand with nothing other than momentum, good tires, tire pressure adjustments, and most importantly reading the terrain well and reacting appropriately. When I did get stuck, i would use my floor mats as recovery tracks (that works pretty good actually). 4wd in my 4Runners has been a luxury.

So this is all to say that an SR5 is a very capable vehicle as it is and developing offroad driving skills will be better in the long run for you than relying on features like crawl control. An SR5 will also save you a little bit of money so you can buy those better tires!

 

Anyone who bought new ORP, do you have an estimate on how much off MSRP you were able to get? If so, any tips on how to drive it down?

I live in LA (if that matters)

 

You are in an expensive market.

If you want to save some money, look into buying in Arizona. That's what I did. Even when factoring in buying a 1-way plane ticket out there, by purchasing in AZ, it saved me a good sized chunk. Email Ernhardt Toyota and Camelback Toyota in AZ to compare their prices with the quotes you get in your area.

 

Sometimes it takes time, so it’s just a toss of the coin. I waited and picked mine up for a pretty good deal IMO. They’re out there, definitely takes some waiting though!

 

I had a lightly modded '93 Grand Cherokee that I off roaded the hell out of. I did lift it 2" and had 31" Dunlop mud tires on it, later BFG KO2's. That thing was unstoppable. No lockers. I just had to be careful and pick my lines. You learn how to drive off road when you don't have a bunch of whiz-bang electronic things to rely on. Yeah, they are cool, especially a locker but you would be amazed where you can go without them. I haven't wheeled my '19 SR5 yet but I'm not worried I'll get stuck if and when I do. From what I hear A Trac is pretty amazing. My suggestion would be an SR5 or if you like a little more creature comforts an SR5 P, good all terrains and enjoy the hell out of it.

 

Got mine at Earnhardt over 7k off sticker. Great experience!

 

Me too.......got a great price there and saved a butt-load of money. I did the whole deal through email, took a flight and an uber to the dealership, signed some papers, and drove it home to California.

 

I also did everything by email, as the dealership was a 2 hour drive from my house. There were no changes at all when it came to signing the documents, and I was out of there in less than 1 hour, including signing in the finance office! The 4R was detailed and looking perfect when I arrived. I had actually tried to buy one here in Tucson, and when I showed them the prices from Earnhardt, their exact words were, "go buy it, we can't get close" So I did exactly that.
This is why so many of us here in Tucson, end up buying in Phoenix, and why I have not bought a new vehicle down here since 2008! I try to support local businesses, but sometimes it is just not possible.

Anyway, I could not be happier with my purchase, and my ORP is my favorite vehicle ever! I am now trying to save up for Lift, TRD Pro Wheels with AT tires, better skid plate, and maybe a roof rack.

 

Resale is probably better on an offroad if that is a concern.

 

I paid approx. $8K under MSRP as the 20s were coming out last fall.

1. Know what you want to pay before you sit down
2. Always be ready to walk away from a deal
3. If you're trading in a vehicle, there's wiggle room there for the dealer as well as the MSRP
4. If financing from Toyota, they're probably going to try to hit you after the fact with buying points of interest back off your loan if you buy an extended care/maintenance service (if they don't have a 0% deal going on). Like another member said, might be better to look at a credit union depending on your strategy.

Have fun and enjoy the experience!

 

I paid about $3500 under MSRP on my 20 ORP. Surprising because that's much more than I got off on my 16 TEP.