SR5 or TRD Off-Road?

[Rustytaco]

Lately my want for a 4Runner and ditching my Tacoma keeps growing every day. Just waiting for the right light used 2016+ 4Runner to show up at any Toyota lot near me or within a decent radius. I keep looking at SR5’s and the TRD Off-Road. Preference is the TRD Off-Road. I love the look with the hood scoop and crawl control features. I know it doesn’t have thr 3rd row seating, and some come equipped with KDSS and some don’t (I don’t want KDSS). Now the question comes, to those of you who either have the SR5 or TRD Off-Road, any regrets and do you wish you would’ve gone with the other? I don’t mind the SR5, but the aesthetics of the TRD Off-Road are a huge plus for me.

I did have a 2011 4runner, SR5. I know the interior is virtually the same minus a few minor enhancements such as the cluster and head unit. It definitely felt more “off-road” or adventure oriented inside the vehicle compared to the Tacoma as well, which was a plus for me.

Thanks all, have a great week.

 

[FM8706]

I had a 4runner SR5P for about 9 months and ended up trading in in for a TRD PRO I couldn't be happier. I did it mostly for the off road features and that I will have very minor mods to change what I want on it

 

[Caveman_Yota_13]

Honestly, I could have gone with the cheaper package of the SR5, but the fact that I have dealt with that stupid switch for the 4wd and I know the struggles of trying to find out with it doesnt engage or why there is no power from the add to the actuator is a pain.

The fact that I have that lever that will engage in a mechanical way is such a peace of mind for me that I would pay for it. I guess im just traumatized with electronic 4wd switches. Yes there is still a form of electronic with the lever but i think there is less room for error

 

[Dillusion]

Honestly, I could have gone with the cheaper package of the SR5, but the fact that I have dealt with that stupid switch for the 4wd and I know the struggles of trying to find out with it doesnt engage or why there is no power from the add to the actuator is a pain.

The fact that I have that lever that will engage in a mechanical way is such a peace of mind for me that I would pay for it. I guess im just traumatized with electronic 4wd switches. Yes there is still a form of electronic with the lever but i think there is less room for error

Pretty sure the OR is still uses and actuator. Just makes it feel like its not.

I personally wanted KDSS so thats why I went with the OR. And the fake hood scoop make it look 10x better.

 

[jtice]

I decided to save money going with an SR5, and spending that money on mods.
I now have TRD wheels, better tires, bumper, winch, lift.
Already better then the stock TRD version.
Buying new, you dont save a ton of $, but used, there seemed to be a big price gap.
I dont care for the fancy 4wd modes, A-Trac is all you need. But I have an offroad background and am comfortable doing all the "driving" myself.
I might add a rear locker later on. But that all depends on what you plan to do with it.

 

[Caveman_Yota_13]

Pretty sure the OR is still uses and actuator. Just makes it feel like its not.

I personally wanted KDSS so thats why I went with the OR. And the fake hood scoop make it look 10x better.

yes sir! but it eliminates the switch from the dash to the ECU to the actuator.


After buying 2 actuators a transfer case only to find out that there was a short from the ECU to the switch on the dash Ill take my chances on the lever. while on the trails the less i have to worry about the more peace of mind.

 

[Caveman_Yota_13]

I decided to save money going with an SR5, and spending that money on mods.
I now have TRD wheels, better tires, bumper, winch, lift.
Already better then the stock TRD version.
Buying new, you dont save a ton of $, but used, there seemed to be a big price gap.
I dont care for the fancy 4wd modes, A-Trac is all you need. But I have an offroad background and am comfortable doing all the "driving" myself.
I might add a rear locker later on. But that all depends on what you plan to do with it.

I agree with you but if you just have 4wd for your DD then yeah SR5. some of the features are nice but the fact that I saved on the rear locker and now can spend money on a front thats nice too.

 

[WilliamMunny]

I decided to save money going with an SR5, and spending that money on mods.
I now have TRD wheels, better tires, bumper, winch, lift.
Already better then the stock TRD version.
Buying new, you dont save a ton of $, but used, there seemed to be a big price gap.
I dont care for the fancy 4wd modes, A-Trac is all you need. But I have an offroad background and am comfortable doing all the "driving" myself.
I might add a rear locker later on. But that all depends on what you plan to do with it.

Why is there such a huge price gap used? I am looking to buy used. new trucks in my area are SR5 4wd is 34k, and a trail with locker is $36k.

But used 2015 50,000 miles a SR5 is 27k and a Trail is 34k. Huge difference, I can’t justify the 7k difference for a rear locker.

 

[jtice]

Why is there such a huge price gap used? I am looking to buy used. new trucks in my area are SR5 4wd is 34k, and a trail with locker is $36k.

But used 2015 50,000 miles a SR5 is 27k and a Trail is 34k. Huge difference, I can’t justify the 7k difference for a rear locker.

Same thing I was noticing when I was shopping.
Buying new? Hell yea why not get the TRD. But buying used, very hard to justify.
You can easily build a killer rig with the money you save buying a used SR5.
Like I said, sure I would like to have the locker one day, but I dont like the fancy 4WD modes.
I think they are a nice tool for novice, but I wasnt impressed with them.
I do like A-Trac though, it can be a bit jerky at times, but does a nice job overall.

 

[Caveman_Yota_13]

Same thing I was noticing when I was shopping.
Buying new? Hell yea why not get the TRD. But buying used, very hard to justify.
You can easily build a killer rig with the money you save buying a used SR5.
Like I said, sure I would like to have the locker one day, but I dont like the fancy 4WD modes.
I think they are a nice tool for novice, but I wasnt impressed with them.
I do like A-Trac though, it can be a bit jerky at times, but does a nice job overall.

You are correct. When I started shopping around, I saw that used even the "trail" edition from a few years back was still in the mid 30s. I finally settled with a 19 OR but thats after I was looking at a 18 with 16k ORP for 38K. Since the dealer did not want to lower the price I went with the new..

 

[Parkie]

We were in the same boat as you. In the end it was the shift lever, multi terrain select, rear locker, and (of course) the hood scoop that decided us on the Off Road Premium over the SR5. We did not need or want a 3rd row seat. I also found the used offerings were not enough of a price difference to sway us.

 

[Caveman81]

Went with the TRD Off Road for the multi terrain select, and rear locker when I bought my 2018. I think also its because when I bought my 2007 SR5 12 years ago, I couldn't afford the Sport Edition.