TRD Off-Road - necessary or worth it?

Yeah this is where I’m leaning. I have been looking at limited trims with the smaller upgrades and possibly TRD. But saw that the SR5s can be highly upgraded to get the same features and I think it was even slightly cheaper. But those are way more difficult to find.

 

My perspective. First, I like the ride and handling that the TRD Pro Package provides while driving on pavement. It's controlled and predictable. Of course my opinion and preference.

At this point in my life, I am not bound by financial restrictions. Did that for many years with what the wife and I purchased and now lean toward enjoyment. The several times a year I use the upgraded features makes it all worth it for me. I will say this, if you do any off road wheeling, the upgraded locker and crawl control is worth it even if used infrequently. The most important aspect in my opinion is common sense, be prepared and have the right equipment for the potential risk at hand. When ever I go into the woods, I have a come-along and several large nylon slings I use when I get stuck to pull me out (Lot of experience with sling-loading past life.)

Case in point, I had a 17 4Runner TRD Pro. I was hunting and out all day on top of a ridge line. The roads were dirt but not tough by any 4 wheeling standard. Started snowing just after I settled into my Deer Stand and by the time I came back to the 4Runner, there was 6+ inches of heavy wet snow on the road. Driving out, came to the 1st big decline down and stacked up were several other 4 wheel drive trucks/SUV's all afraid to go further. The decline was at least a 6 degree angle, over a 1/4 mile long with large drop off on one side. I went into 4-low with crawl control set to slowest setting, and down I went. Never lost any traction. Someone tried to follow in a 4X4 pick-up and skidded side ways and hung up on a rock fortunately preventing them from going over the edge. Road blocked.................I went out to area where cell phones started working and called the Rangers. Took several wreckers to get them all down that night.

 

@Hadelson Really good perspective. And exactly the type of scenario, although unlikely, I could find myself in. You attribute this to crawl control? They all have Downhill Assist now which I thought was designed for this exact scenario. And that’s fairly standard in all vehicles from the last decade. I guess we’ll never know for sure and what the other guy had tried doing. If Downhill Assist wouldn’t cover you there, then I would for sure fork over TRD OF

 

I previously owned a 2nd gen with the TRD Rockwarrior package, which is essentially decent tires and skid plates, no locker no fancy traction control settings. Got me every where I needed, daily drove in New Hampshire to include atv and hunting trips on logging roads and the white mountains and northern Maine. Since I never needed the locker in 100,000 miles of this I figured the SR5 without the ugly chrome was a good fit. Just added the TRD limited off road wheels with ko2s. Will add some RCI skids soon.

 

mine came with the Heated Wheel also

 

I realize you're probably talking about the newest gen?

I had a 2008 with the TRD package, and the ride was very nice. I had no idea how nice until I drove a base 2010! Base suspension is pretty lousy!

I took my 2015 TRD Pro over a mountain pass yesterday (mountain road -- dirt/rocks normally). Even down here in southern AZ, there were a number of places where the sun didn't shine where there was still snow and ICE!! I kept it in 4H and was grateful I had M+S 1 snowflake rated tires, and just took my time. Even then it was a bit unnerving to feel 7000lbs of truck slide around on the side of a mountain.

But I kept going. The other side of the mountain was dry. I decided NOT to come back that way.

The story above about going downhill and not sliding likely has more to do with the tires, careful driving, and not the TRD.

 

no he is referring to this feature that has been available in the 4runner for longer. its this generation Tundra can have it and not just exclusively the pro since the TRD off road has MTS and DAC https://www.motortrend.com/features/toyota-crawl-control-system/

 

Right, I'm aware of that.

But going downhill in snow, you can slide if you go too fast, have lousy tires, and/or hit ice. Doesn't matter what fancy buttons you can engage!

 

Driving ability is part of knowing how and using systems available to full capacity. A multiplier to inherent skills.

 

I wanted an SR5 with the bigger screen. I didn't want to wait forever on a truck too. So I bought it with the TRD OR Premium pkg. Only thing I really wanted on it was the locker. And big screen.

 

(know I know why someone created this emoji)

 

What pictures do you suggest?

 

The package that contains the lockers and crawl control is absolutely worth it, a single rear locker is worth 1.5k in parts and probably another 1.5k in labor, and you are not getting other goodies like crawl control and MTS which are also very useful tools, plus manufacturing warranty.
I would strongly suggest getting that package if you are even thinking about it.

 

I find lockers to generally be pretty useless for any kind of normal conditions that you would ever be in, and really favor a helical LSD. That said, if you think you’re ever going to be in a situation where the locker would benefit you I would rather have it and not use it most of the time than not have it.

But just based on your description, I bet you won’t use the locker but .01% of the time.

also, the fact that the locker is only available to use in 4x4 Lo makes it significantly less appealing. I can engage the locker on my F150 whenever I want as long as I’m going less than 25 mph doesn’t matter if I’m in 2wd, 4high or 4 low.

 

My rear locker in my 89 Samurai was always on, it was great fun on the road! Offroad we could get into much deeper areas and usually meant that we could get stuck in places that few others could reach. We always had other trucks with us for the eventual pull out.

 

I bought the SR5 CM with the TRD Sport package. In a perfect would I'd have gotten the Off Road package but none were available here in Georgia when I was looking. In all fairness, my biggest concern was the tighter suspension, which I got. Either version gives a stiffer ride and less body roll, which was the objective. My previous two Tundras had the Off Road pkg; it was cool but I wouldn't take a (now) $65K vehicle rock crawling, and the stock 4-wheel drive will do anything I need it to. The skid plates were nice, especially when something bounces up into you on the interstate, and I may add those just for peace of mind. But the correct color combo and options showed up so I snagged it. ZERO regrets. In the end, it's whatever makes you happy.

 

You get a different set of available modes depending on if you are in 4lo or 4high. Crawl control is essentially cruise control for 4lo. It causes the Tundra to use everything in it's arsenal to maintain a consistent slow speed and momentum.

 

You are correct. PVM is same camera set up as TRD Pkg and is available on non TRD Limited. I passed on TRD OR package when I learned locker only works in 4LO but got PVM on my Limited for light off roading and tight parking spots. I use it all the time. If you only go off road twice a year I agree with others who suggest you won’t need or miss the TRD PKG.

 

Literally the same reason I got it. I live in the PNW and will occasionally encounter situations where the locker is quite useful. I wouldn't call crawl control completely useless either if you're not use to non pavement conditions.

I wouldn't say it's "worth" the 5k but it ain't a bad deal either.

 

FWIW the TRD OR package does come with the front air dam depending on the market and model trim. My US spec '22 Limited w/ the TRD OR package has the front air dam. It will deploy or not deploy depending on the drive mode and quite a few different metrics.

 

Bud, your username is epic! My son and I go through the book quite often looking for goldbug. Welcome!

 

I have the exact opposite opinion of the non TRD suspension. Mine is butter smooth, handles great and no bounce at all. It is superior on road from a ride quality perspective. I drove the TRD Off Road and it was stiffer, and vibrated more.

 

TRD Yes

If your going with the Limited I would opt for the TRD OF package. Yes it is a few bucks more but the additional options and features out way the additional cost.

The interior upgrades, off road controls, the upgraded rims and tires and resale value as well.

My 2022 was $3 grand more for the TRD OF pkg.

It’s your choice ultimately of course but it’s a Yes for me.

 

I was dead set on getting a TRD Sport for the color match. But what I absolutely had to have was the longer bed on the crewmax. Unfortunately you can't get a Sport in a CM 6.5. I had a deposit on a close to no option SR5. Bit the bullet and changed it to the TRD OR Premium. I believe mine has all the bells n whistles you can get on an SR5. Would love a hybrid but then that's a good bit more jumping to a bare minimum limited.

 

I am curious if you decided on what to do? I purchased a non-TRD and I see interest rates on Toyota are low ATM and I could essentially trade in my Limited with all the upgrades except the TRD for a Limited with TRD for only 100.00 more and less months on the financing.

Trying to decide if it's worth it. Because I don't do much off-road with the truck itself, but I will be towing a Side-by-side which will go off road.

I see people driving the TRD all over and I have that regret, but not sure if my regret is valid.

 

Doesn't the TRD also come with red CV axles like the TRD Pro, which are longer than non-TRD? So any modest suspension upgrade would not call for new CVs.

 

Correct. They can also be had on the secondary market for not much money given all the people doing trd lift kits and going to silver axles

 

I got the TRD OF package for the red axles, since I lifted mine, and the color. I couldn't get Solar Octane on regular Tundras and I refuse to buy a 4x4 Sport. Something about having a 4x4 that has been lowered just doesn't sit right with me, nor does it make sense.

 

Look, if you are going to drive the TRD Offroad package off road, you may be screwed. When or if you get struck, you may want to plan on finding a winch point that doesn't go through the front fairing of the truck. You will rip plastic shit off. Hell, you don't even need to worry about being off road for a recovery. Mine died in my garage and when the tow truck came to put it on the flatbed, they almost removed the front of the truck just pulling it up onto the flatbed because they had to hook it to something under the truck that caused the front plastic to crack. Oh, by the way, that isn't a warranty item when you have a warranty failure. Toyota could have put on recovery hooks knowing that they were putting out junk (short block issue) that needed towing at a very high rate.

I don't understand why Toyota would build an off-road package without recovery points on the vehicle. Bean counters!

When I head out to go off roading, I automatically pick my Gladiator Rubicon (or at least the Polaris Ranger). At least I can attach something to the truck that will not break off when I use it.

Save your money and wait till Toyota sorts out their quality (and common sense) issues before you buy.

 

I’m happy with my 24 SR5 premium 4x4. It says it has limited slip rear end. I’m not sure if it’s full time or when 4hi or low is engaged. Haven’t used 4WD yet. At some point I’ll upgrade the suspension.