Upgrade from SR5 to ORP?

I own a 2023 SR5 with 4x4, I really wanted a TRD Offroad but wasn’t in the place to buy one at the time.

right now if I want a 5th gen TRD Offroad, this will be my last chance to get one.

anyone willing to give their input if this is worth it or am I just getting too much into my head about the trim name.

I know I can upgrade the diff to an E-locker. But the 4x4 dial is different than the manual switch in the Offroad.

Any input will be appreciated.

 

If your 4runner is problem free, I'd keep it and modify

 

The differences between the SR5 vs OR are options, a few interior and a few exterior. But nothing major.

You get a skid plate and nicer wheels on the OR and you get the fancy fake leather and you have the option for KDSS and/or Sunroof. The SR5 doesn't have that and comes standard with cloth seats.

If you're going to do serious wheelin', get an SR5 and put on better aftermarket accessories. Wheels, Lift, Suspension, etc...

The differences between the 4 wheel drive system is minimal also. It's all about the ability of the driver, not the system.

 

Just keep the SR5 and mod.

 

How she currently sits

 

I had SR5 before and now I got TRD OffRoad mostly because of rear locker and 5 seats which saves some space in trunk. So in my opinion SR5 is as good as Offroad, I would get another SR5 and install rear locker, but it comes only with 7 seat here in Canada. Manual 4x4 lever is nice too, I like it way more than dial but I lost sunglasses holder comparing with SR5. KDSS is good mostly for roads, in off-road trips I didn't notice much difference. I'm a little worrying that KDSS might give me problems in 5-6 years, but maybe not. Also I think that it harder to put a lift on KDSS if decide to do it. Crawl control and Terrain select in TRD offroad probably a good thing too, I tried to use it and it works, but I lived without it before and never wished that I had it, so I'm not sure if it that's useful. I'd say if you don't mind spending extra money - get yourself TRD Offroad and enjoy it, life is short. If you won't be able t get one or have something better to spend money on - don't have any regrets - SR5 is good choice is you need 7 seats or intend to upgrade it.

 

I love that the SR5 doesn’t have the stupid bulge on the hood.

I have an ORP. I like the sunroof. I like the softex better than cloth. I like the KDSS. I thought the birdseye camera was a gimmick but I must confess I use it every day. 4WD-wise the knob is the same as the lever.

I don’t think you need to rush though. I think once the ‘25 and the Land Cruiser are widely available you’ll be able to find lots of low-mileage OR’s for sale.

 

I like my sunglasses holder more than MTS and CRAWL personally.

I would prefer the manual transfer case all-else-equal but I don't mind the dial - especially since everything else I was looking at had a dial.

I don't think the switching costs would be worth it even if you want the Premium bits but that's just my opinion.

 

As far as I know, the SR5 and TRD transfer cases are both electronically actuated, despite the dial vs lever engagement. The FJ cruiser is the only platform compatible transfer case with actual manual engagement. -as far as I know-

I’ve done up to level 6 trails (TrailsOffroad rating) in my SR5 and it does fine. ATRAC gets me through any tricky spots. Though I do agree that lockers would be nice in certain scenarios. IMO, if you plan on wheeling hard and eventually regearing your diffs and moving up to 35s or beyond, then evenly swapping for a TRD model might save you a thousand bucks or two in the long run. Due to the cost of having to add a rear locker in the SR5. But at point I’d save the hassle and just modify your current 4Runner

 

IMO it's not an easy answer. Atleast in my case I don't really need crawl control or MTS. Sometimes I think to myself I should have kept the SR5 and install aftermarket front and rear lockers so I could enable even on 4H.

My wife absolutely hates the TRD shifter. I have to shift from the passenger seat for her.

But on favor of TRDs I would look at TRD Pro for some features like JBL sound, auto headlights, etc.

If you live in a snowy state it's a good reason to buy a Limited and mod it to take off pavement as well.

 

All part-time 4wd 4runners the front diff has a electronic actuator but the transfercase on TRD is manual vs SR5 is electronic. When you look under the black color actuator is not there on TRD ORP and Pro. The relay sound you hear on TRD should be electronically activating the front diff just like the SR5.

 

4wd since you cant even make turns with it

 

Not worth the trouble. Probably over 95% of the people who have the OR will never use or need the rear locker.

 

The OR transfer case is mechanically engaged, not electronically. The front axle ADD is electronic, as it is on all the other trims but the Limited.

 

May wanna check that. I know a member that has an Off-Road. His locker does not engage because the actuator took a shit. The lever does the same job as the dial in the SR5 models. It activates the electronic actuator.

 

The locker has nothing to do with the transfer case. It has an electronic actuator in the rear differential.

Edit: the locker can only be activated while in 4Lo, so it does have "something" to do with the transfer case. But the locker being electronically activated or not does not determine whether 4wd is engaged by the shift lever.



One is activated electronically
The dial selector and manual lever do the exact same thing: shift the transfer case between the 2wd, 4wd high range, neutral, and 4wd low range. Only difference is one is activated electronically, the other is manual (lever).

When shifting into 4wd with the shift lever, you can feel the gears in the transfer case engaging.

 

The 2 things that stop me from getting a SR5 are 1) the fabric seats. Never again will I own a car with cloth/fabric seats. 2) Seat warmers. I always thought these were for ..cats...but after a -12F day, I have become a fan. Yes one could have the seats reupholstered in leather with heat, but that's $2K+ for a decent set?

 

I only needed to use my locker twice now but those two times I would have been pretty fucked without it, I guess I could have just used a ton of momentum and speed but that would have broken and damaged somethings for certain

you will take a financial hit obviously op but if you can afford it go for it. The locker itself is worth it yeah you can add an aftermarket locker but that will cost about 3k for parts and labor plus they’re never as reliable as an oem Toyota (I had an arb air locker in my old tacoma) crawl control is a gimmick but atrak and mts is useful not sure if you guys get those in the sr5 and I personally prefer the 4wd lever over the dial knob

 

The locker does have something to do with the transfer case. You can’t engage the locker unless the transfer case is in 4-lo. A sensor in the t-case tells the 4WD ECU that the t-case is in 4-lo, and then the ECU permits the locker to be engaged when the button is pressed. I would be asking the member in question if his 4-lo light is coming on like it should, and whether he’s sure the ADD is connecting the front axle like it should.

 

Both SR5 and TRD Offroad come with fabric seats + no heat and both SR5P and TRD ORP got leather (softex) + heat

Me personally wish I could buy cloth seats with heat.

 

I have an ORP. I've considered purchasing a second 4R, and it would be a SR5. If you only need the rear locker, put one in and you have the ORP.

If you want to go a little more aggressive, for off road specifically, which is the reason I'd choose an SR5, you should change the gearing. If you're changing the gearing, you can put in a locker(s), and I would put them in the front and rear. More important than that though, is I would include an underdrive for lower gearing when in four-wheel-drive. So, the ORP gets you a rear locker, which gets you something over the SR5, but not much if you're building an off roader. Might as well start with what you have, because the ORP is probably going to cost more than modifying what you have, and you'd have to modify the ORP anyway.

 

I traded my 2023 SR5P for a 2024 OR because I didn't like the fake leather seats and preferred the cloth seats. I would have settled for a standard SR5 4x4, but those were even harder to find than the Off Road, at least around here. Truth be told, it is nice to have the Off Road trim name and those extra features (which as noted I'm 95% likely not to use or use often)

I did like some of the extra features with the premium, it's a damn shame Toyota didn't offer the premium models with a cloth seat option. I struggled with the thought of trading mine in for the Off Road but have not regretted it once. in the end, do what you like and get what you want, it's up to you.

 

Absolutely true. TC must be in 4L prior to the locker engagement.

My point was that the lever mechanically engages the transfer case into 4wd, whether or not his buddie's locker was engaging. The person I was quoting seemed to be using the electronic locker activation, or lack thereof, as evidence that the shift lever engages 4wd electronically.

 

Both SR5 and TRD Off road are available in standard and premium trims.

 

Thanks guys