TRD OR or 4WD (non-TRD)

I'm in the market to trade my '21 Tacoma TRD OR and for a new Tundra Limited TRD OR. The problem is that there are no Limited TRD OR within 500 miles of me. I want the Limited trim for the acoustic glass, panoramic view monitor, cooled seats, and 20" wheels. There are several SR5 TRD OR around me, but I wouldn't have the above options. There are also several Limited trim 4wd (not TRD) around me with most of the options that I want.

I'm looking for input from other perspectives on how important the TRD OR features might be. I like the idea of the rear locker and some sense of limited slip on the front axle with the MTS modes. It's up for debate if the non-TRD 4wd even has limited slip in the rear (conflicting information in the owner's manual vs. brochure and online).

I'm in the south where there are very few hills and rocks, it's mostly just mud and I like the idea of increased traction from the TRD OR features the few times a year I might need it.

I'd love your input.

 

Just my thoughts: Tundra owners went years without a rear locker and handled all sorts of terrain and conditions just fine.

I think the non-TRD 4x4s have much the same system and capabilities of most every 4x4 Tundra that came before the 2022s.

 

If you're like me, you won't want to hear this answer, but....

Just wait and get exactly what you want. Don't settle. You'll have FOMO and regret it by asking, "What if...?"

My advice: Wait.

 

You may already know this but the rear axle locker only works in 4L not 4H on the TRD Off-Road model. There was a post or two on other threads that commented the TRD OR crawl mode helped them get out of situation when they were stuck. If you go off road once or twice a year you probably won’t miss the off road features. I opted to get a fully loaded Limited 4x4 CM because they were so much easier to find. The Panoramic View Monitor PVM option on the regular Limited is the same camera package as the TRD OR and comes in handy when maneuvering around obstacles if you decide to run some trails. I recommend getting PVM option and the Limited Premium Package option.

Second thought I had is styling. If you prefer the way the TRD OR looks, it is super easy to get that look on a Limited. Take off TRD wheels with tires are readily available on this forum or ebay for about $1200. The TRD OR grill is cheap but requires some basic mechanical skill to swap out. And the black wheel lip moldings and mud flaps are easy to swap out. I did this on mine. Hope this helps you decide and good luck with your search.

 

Wow. The locker only working in 4lo is a major downside.

even aside, you know your driving. You know if you need the locker

 

I wrestled with this decision as well when shopping for a limited but when I was honest with myself about how often I will truly even need 4 low let alone a locker on a full size truck it was clear I’d be better off putting the $ toward features my family would enjoy more like the panoramic sun roof. I do plan on getting some TRD take off wheels and grill though.

 

No locker in 4H was a deal killer for me. I live in snow belt at South end of Lake Michigan and would use it all the time. Other manufacturers all offer it in 4H not sure why Toyota doesn’t.

 

I have the limited non TRD it has the black shocks which make the truck ride to soft in my opinion I want to up grade the shocks to the Trd ones with the coil springs for the front but I’m having a hard time getting part numbers for them it’s a 2022 Stay with the limited love the truck good luck

 

What did you end up getting?

 

22 Limited 4x4 with
JBL 12 spkr Premium Audio
Limited Premium Pkg
Panoramic View Monitor
Limited Power Pkg
Load Leveling Rear Air Suspension
Power Panoramic Roof
Heated Steering Wheel
Dash Cam
TRD Skid Plate
All Weather Mats
Mods so far
TRD wheels, fender flares, mud flaps, running boards (after this pic) and bed mat. Pirelli Scorpion 275/60/20 Alterrain Plus

 

I just wanted a Limited with no OR but they don't exist in my area so I had to go OR. The most functional features of the Limited OR, in my opinion, are the included PVM, mud flaps, and possibly more comfortable suspension. To me, the rest is just cost since I can drive in the snow and on trails all day without needing any of the added features.

 

Did you use your locker on your Tacoma much?

 

This is incredible...

 

Great looking truck! What do you mean it was a deal killer. It looks like you bought it.

 

Thanks. I meant deal killer for buying the TRD OR Pkg. I was torn between wanting the TRD OF Pkg or getting the rear air suspension for pulling our boat. You can’t get rear air suspension with TRD OR Pkg. I really wanted the rear locker to help rear wheel spin in midwest rain and snow so don’t have to turn 4x4 on and off when its a little slick. Had LSD on my last truck. Once I learned Tundra locker only works in 4Lo I went for rear air suspension and changed wheels and trim to look more like TRD OR. I run off road trails occasionally but nothing std 4x4 can’t handle.

 

This is something that I think is worth discussing. The differential (mathematical differential, not the device in your axle) in back-torque in slippery conditions such as snow is not so high that the vehicle’s brake based traction control would have any issues limiting wheel spin. There’s no need for a locker in those conditions. A locker is needed for when the differential back-torque is so high that it’s essentially the weight of the vehicle planted on one tire with solid traction and the tire on the other side has little to no traction.

 

Technically you are correct and I agree from an engineering point of view. In severe off road conditions where a wheel is lifted off the ground a locker is the best way by far to get power to the wheel with traction.

In my everyday experience most trucks are just light in the rear end and rear tires easily break loose on wet, stone, dirt and snowy roads from a full stop. When I have had a limited slip rear axle (few companies use true lockers these days) both tires pull pretty strong under most conditions and get me moving quickly in all conditions except 3 inches or more snow.

Applying the brakes to the spinning wheel and cutting power works but it does not pull away as strong or quickly as a LSD. Having a LSD with good tires gets you through most driving conditions when you don’t have auto 4WD. So having the choice to turn on the electric locker in 2WD on my Tundra instead of 4WD would be really nice where I live IMO. It comes down to preference and performance off the line for me. Hope this helps explain why only having access to the locker in 4lo was a deal killer and waste of money for me. Rather have rear air suspension. If I ran highly technical trails then I would definitely get the locker in 4Lo and TRD OR pkg or TRD PrO.

 

I'm not in the "highly technical trails" camp, just a muddy area every now and then, so the locker isn't quite necessary, I'm just unsure of how good the non-TRD Auto LSD works. There's tons of videos of the auto LSD / A-trac on the 2nd gens, but not much on the 3rd gens.

 

Check this video out around 11 minutes in when he has to turn around because trail is blocked by a tree that fell.

looking for threat will post when I find it.
https://youtu.be/lPZvVkk3ohk

 

Thanks, that's a great video. I wonder if there's any LSD action on the front axle?

 

I got an SR5 with TRD OR package. I just always was jealous of crawl control, and I like the idea of the rear lockers. Not sure if I will ever need it to be honest, but I'm sure I'll try. I will say that moving to this big truck, the only feature I'm really wishing I had is the panoramic view. I can't park that thing worth a darn. lol.

 

The cameras really make parking a breeze. We got the long truck (CrewMax with a 6.5' bed) so it does fit on most spots with one end sticking out about 4 feet! We did get the locker and the cameras with the OR package. It was the only real configuration that we could choose up here. The suspension is firm but not too harsh. We came from a Honda Ridgeline which was really just a car with a 5' bed, so we compare the Tundra to that.

The spacious interior is nice with tons of room in the back for full sized people. The 6.5' bed is massive and even the 5.5' bed will be huge compared to the Tacoma. A buddy has a 23 Taco with the long bed. We took all the tools and materials for a project that filled up his bed and put it in the back back seat of the Tundra! You do need a step ladder to get into the bed

The TTV6 is a powerhouse compared to the V6 that the Taco gets.

 

Its just an E-locker, I wonder if there's any good reason not to wire in a parallel bypass? With all the fancy tech on cars these days, I really don't know