Cons of the Off-Road over the Sport regarding rear differential

New in 2025 is removing the TRD Sport model on a Sr5/crew cab/gas model. 2024 models still available in that configuration. Originally when shopping for a Tundra I was going for the Sport model as I had concerns about the rear differential on the Off-Road model. I understand if you don't use the crawl, locker, etc that in the future you'll run into issues with the differential while the TRD Sport doesn't have these concerns.

Am I misunderstanding? I am in Canada with lots of snow and will use the 4x4 often in the winter. I have access to some gravel roads where I live but I usually stick to pavement.

I prefer a 2025 model as I can't find lunar rock right now in any available 2024's.

Long time lurker, first post and I appreciate any feedback. I did search but didn't find anything about these concerns. Maybe they don't exist. Thank you.

 

unfounded fear worst that can happen is if you never use low range or 4 high or locker now and then like once a 6 months eventually an actuator can get stuck from non-use...everyone has to have 4x4 but never uses it then wonders why it won't engage after 5-10 years...buy the truck you like and play with the toys now and then...you'll be fine

 

My only concern with the rear differential on the TRD OR models is that they don’t make the locker available outside of 4Lo. Would love to see it available in all drive modes.

 

I think that's typical now, out of fear of losing control at speed on a slippery road with the locker engaged. If you're going fast you don't need a locker...

 

they never do on any Toyota if you need to be locked you are in a low speed situation with a low traction surface to prevent parts breaking unlike a limited slip diff

 

Thinking like, parked in the yard and it’s slick grass, or boat ramps etc.

 

low lock and let it rock just a couple of button pushes sheesh

 

Used to just push the Auto-LSD button in my 2019. Worked pretty well despite being a traction control based “locker”

 

Bummer, that's the trim/package I was planning on getting. I wonder why they decided to get rid of it.

 

Not true. 2WD with TRD OR has rear locker. (My last Gen3 Tacoma)

 

that's right I forgot same in 1st gen Taco pre-runner

 

The pre-runners had no low range, so if it had a locker it had to work in the high range.

 

It did and it worked perfectly. I took that 2WD truck thru a lot of sand, snow and ice and didn’t have a problem with the rear locked up. Never anything faster than maybe 25mph. I could see the new Low range limitation being tied to safety in case someone forgot and took off at speed locked up and on solid pavement. Could be a serious hazard.

 

I drove my locked Samurai everywhere at speeds up to 85mph for years. I had a locker that took abuse and kept on ticking on dry roads and wet roads. Occasionally, the locker would unload and that could be concerning if you don't know it is going to happen and usually around corners is when it would unload. My Samurai was lifted and running 33's and had a VW GTI motor in it.

Like most vehicles today, they are overdone with "safety" so I guess that could explain why we only get the e-locker in low range 4x4 mode! It seems that the conditions need to be perfect to even get the truck into 4L and locker on.

 

I agree. I had a 2013 F-150, and it was lockable in all modes. It would automatically disengage at 25mph if you left it locked. Even if Toyota set it at 15mph, that would be plenty.

 

Does nothing for me. Anything traction related gets better only if traction is disabled altogether. That helps in some terrains, like deep sandwiched dry/packed snow with no ice underneath. The tires need to grind through the sandwich to gain the traction, and this is where the disabled traction works well.

I don't see how brakes "locker" may work in mud or deep snow. It takes a few seconds of hard braking to stop the spinning wheels, no ABS can make imitate locker in such conditions.

I want to get e-lockers installed, but reliability is far more important than being able to get stuck 30 feet further away

 

Maybe, but it worked marvelously on slippery surfaces like wet grass and boat ramps. It’s the old e-brake trick to keep your open diff from sending torque to the spinning tire. I don’t need it to be anything other than effective. Wasn’t rock crawling with it or anything.

 

I was thinking more like a parking lot full of fresh snow or an icy roundabout that needs a Hoonigan tattoo... Oh, ya, and off road too. I am also disappointed that the factory doesn't work in anything other than 4Lo, though I understand an OE MFG's apprehension for enabling it anywhere else. Same reason that they quit offering manual transmission in most vehicles - it's super easy to burn up a clutch or grenade the entire unit by dumping the clutch, especially with the high horsepower offerings. But sometimes traction situations go from 'I've got this in 2wd, easy' to 'Floor it, Harrold!'. I've been in several situations where 2wd is ALMOST enough, but you're stuck in a precarious spot (usually snow somewhere) and the transfer case or axle disconnect doesn't quite have the syncros lined up to complete the shift. But push the locker button and you are home free.

Like @KNABORES I have been able to use the ALSD button successfully in certain situations. They key has been consistent moderate throttle. With the SC though, I can imagine it being consistent barely-anything-at-all throttle. ALSD worked very well in a ditch-twist type situation where one wheel loses traction halfway up as the wheel articulates; it binds the spinning wheel enough to pull the vehicle through. I also use it a lot on patchy icy and snowy roads where I don't want 4wd because theres enough traction on most of the road to bind on turns, but not enough to keep from spinning a tire while trying to turn on to a road. So I still opted for a mechanical limited slip.

 

I often end up sideways in a ditch, only a real locker would get me out. Or even prevent from going there in first place. Maybe I just bite the bullet in install it in the rear diff. If it grenades, I'll be able to use a winch + FWD combination to get me back out of the woods.

 

Haha. DO IT. I had troubles getting traction with a stock rig; with the SC, I think a mechanical LSD is pretty much mandatory. Or go for the Auburn E Locker if you really want to spend some coin Funny thing about having a mechanical LSD in the back - it works crazy good in conjunction with the ALSD or traction control if the truck tries to manage wheel speed in 4WD at low tire speeds, like on a loose scrabble climb. When higher tire speed is needed and you just turn off traction control completely, it still works way better than open diffs.

 

Thx for this thread by the way. I excercise 4HI & LO almost weekly which totally loosened them up but realized I had only ever operated the rear diff once in over a year. I’ll be operating that regularly while in 4LO now too keeping it active and working.

 

BorgWarner transfer case in Gen 2.5 operates much better with Ravenol MTF-3. With the expensive factory fill rolling back and forth for good 10 minutes in winter woods to get out of 4LO was not unheard of. With Ravenol it always switches on 1-2-3.

 

Thank you everyone for the input! Earlier today I purchased a 25 sr5 crewmax off-road standard bed in lunar rock. Great upgrade from the Tacoma and for my three kids.

 

Congratulations!! Enjoy the heck out of it. We did same, 2016 Taco TRD to a Tundra Limited TRD OR. So much more comfort, space, and power for about the same operating cost.