TRD - what exactly does that mean?

[Dezert4Runner]

It really depends if you're talking about TRD parts or the TRD package.

I think some people are still a bit confused as to what the TRD package means. I came from the world of Tacomas before my 4Runner, and my '01 doublecab had the TRD package (which was progressive coils & an e-locker). The 1st gen Tacoma (95.5-04) is where the TRD stuff came into play on production vehicles, 1998 being the first year to offer the package. I know for a FACT that 98-04 Tacomas that were labeled TRD came with these features (maybe I'm missing something else that came standard too? Fender flares maybe?). 1/2 of them with the TRD package were also 2wd! (Mine being one of them).


Superchargers were never part of the TRD package on the 1st gen Tacomas, they were just a add-on like a million other things. 05+ (2nd gen) Tacomas I don't know much about to be honest as far as what came standard with the TRD package other than they had the mandatory 5ft bed & only the Sport Package Tacomas had a "long bed" (6ft).

TRD parts seem to be anything from floormats to Superchargers these days, so people saying that there made from a variety of OEM vendors is news to me, but makes sense.

 

[ryankmasuda]

Tacomas with the optional Bilstein HD shocks come with a TRD off-road decal. The new Tundra's with TRD Rock Warrior don't make any sense to me, When I hear "rock warrior" I think of rock crawling and the new Tundra's are way too big for rock crawling. To be honest I don't think I've ever seen a new Tundra off-road and by off-road I mean beyond gravel/dirt/forest roads.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

IMO the Highlander/Sport models of 4Runners are the closest thing Toyota offered as a possible candidate for a TRD model and in my case I just helped it along and wanted to replicate what Toyota never offered. The locker and scoop could be considered TRD options so good enough for me and I've kept my 4Runner fairly subtle and stock appearing and do it so well I get asked time to time from the casual observer if it was a factory model.

 

[ironhippy]

I'm not a fan of stickers in general, so I do not have a positive view of people putting TRD stickers on their 4runners.

I laugh when I see an ad for a "TRD 4Runner" just because someone slapped some 5$ stickers on the side. I laugh harder when I see people (not usually toyotas) sporting HUGE stickers advertising the local off road shop when I know they did not even get a discount for being a driving advertisement.

However, to each his own.

 

[Jagerzel]

The only sticker on this 4runner (besides D.O.D.)- it's for all the Japanese tourists here in Hawaii. Makes them stop and look at my ride lol, usually resulting in a picture.

 

[djskorch]

How about these couple quick ones off the top of my head.
"Treacherous Rollover Danger"
"Tired Runner Driver"
"Total Rearend Danger" (crappy brakes joke) (or leaking axle seals causing rearend to go boom)

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Tacomas with the optional Bilstein HD shocks come with a TRD off-road decal. The new Tundra's with TRD Rock Warrior don't make any sense to me, When I hear "rock warrior" I think of rock crawling and the new Tundra's are way too big for rock crawling. To be honest I don't think I've ever seen a new Tundra off-road and by off-road I mean beyond gravel/dirt/forest roads.

05+ Tacomas with optional Bilsteins had TRD decals? I had factory Tokiko's on my 01 DC Tacoma and it had the decals & the e-locker :wink2:

 

[ndcent]

The Real Deal

:roadkill:

 

[djskorch]

Heres another

"Trail Rated Demolisher" (jeeps are "trail rated") lol

 

[MATTSSSV2004]

 

[TOY2G]

Okay,
I was reading this thread and finally decided to join in add a bit about TRD.

TRD is "Toyota Racing Development" It is/was primarily a engineering firm out of calif. The were contracted for a few years for Toyota's US R&D teams. There was also a Japan version of the same company called Technocraft, they are the reason TRD was employed. This was not stuff you and I were aware of for the most part, it was purely race driven R&D. Over the first contract with Toyota, this engineering firm "TRD" made just simple upgrades to Toyota's existing engines. Later they would build one of the most sought after and most winning outlaw/sprint car engine in the US.

After a run of success in the racing circuit TRD grew to become and Off-Road Icon (the reason we see most of the TRD decals on trucks). The stadium trucks spread into NASTRUCK and then Most recently into NASCAR. TRD is no longer a stand alone engineering firm, they are an vital part of Toyota USA.

I have had the pleasure of spending some time hear and there with a great fella named Frank, and up until last year Frank ran the field support team for TRD. Frank has moved on, but TRD is still trying to bring new things to the table.

So, as far as parts go, TRD does still manufacture parts and components for racing, and I heard recently that they are working on a new motor to rejoin the IRL (could be smoke). Note that I said parts for racing....like NASCAR..so no, you will not be buying "real TRD parts" for your passenger vehicle, however TRD still is in control of all of the development (hints at the D in TRD) of its aftermarket public parts, most parts including some very nice forged wheels are still made in China, as TRD develops a product and then contracts a manufacture to produce it, after production the parts go to TRD in Calif for quality control, where they are packaged and labeled. From that point they are sold to Toyota Distribution centers like GST, and sold as "race inspired parts".

Similar process for alot of Toyota parts, however Toyota is known for either buying the manufacture in full or in part (ASIN) to ensure quality, or making a manufacture prove that they are worth of being a supplier. In any aspect it is a better process than the lowest bid gets the contract.

For the record, I do not have any TRD stickers on my trucks, I do however have a grille badge on each.

 

[Hepar]

There is also a difference between the TRD Sport package and the TRD Off-road package. I have them on mine. I like them. I saw they made a TRD Sport sticker and since I have a sport model, I figured why not? I don't think they stand out too much being that they're close to the paint color. Who knows if I will always like them considering how much I enjoy a nice clean look. Good thing is that it's easy enough to take them off.

Oh and no one has mentioned the hp gained by them...

 

[shoota]

Oh and no one has mentioned the hp gained by them...

*snip*

Yes they have

Yours look really good, nice and close to the paint color. Makes it so much less gaudy.

 

[kegelinanger]

TRD - pronounced "t-urd".

I had a 2000 Tundra TRD, and one day my buddy asked why my truck said "t-urd" on the side lol.

 

[Benski]

You should have said, "Because my truck is THE SH*T!" lol

 

[ryankmasuda]

05+ Tacomas with optional Bilsteins had TRD decals? I had factory Tokiko's on my 01 DC Tacoma and it had the decals & the e-locker :wink2:

e-locker was probably why it had the decal. I think the 05+ have the trd sport decal