SDM off-road performance testimonials

I'd like to hear SDM off-road performance testimonials now that 4Gs with it have been out for awhile.

There are multiple SDM testing videos out now but I haven't seen much usage talk here now that Tacoma finally has a mechanism. 4" up and 4" down is a big improvement over 2" with swaybar in.

 

Beyond articulation and traction performance, I think the big perk is the improvement in comfort with reduced jostling. I don't have it on my truck - but there is certainly good value for the price if you can find a truck with it.

 

Ronny Dahl is a fan on his 250 Prado

 

I don't really notice a difference in ride in crawling. Your body is rocking and rolling every which way and usually my focus is on survival. I just notice that the truck seems to climb ledges off angle without any problems and traction seems to always be there.

 

2" with sway bar engaged is stupid stiff. In fact it makes the Tacoma flex worse than a Cybertruck. IMO the dilemma would be between opting for SDM, or crawling under the truck and disconnecting the sway bar manually with a quick-release link, like on 1st gens. Do this before or while airing down.

 

I think anyone running a low lift Taco without top-heavy weight, without a swaybar would agree. The roll is negligible

 

^On a 3rd gen where the stock springs are 717 lb/in , running without a swaybar is manageable in steady-state turns. You still need practice to do slalom-type maneuvers (for object avoidance on the highway) as the body rolls "slower".

I run mine without a sway bar:



I don't know what 4th gen stock spring rates are, and they aren't directly comparable to 3rd gen because the motion ratio is different.

 

I think it’s great! Definitely smooths things out when it gets rough. I’m sure it’s fine without it but I feel it’s an option well worth getting. Downsides, possible interference with the front drive line if you install a diff drop after lifting? And it only works 18mph and less. 25-30 would be ideal.

 

Unfortunately for the Canadian market the SDM is only available on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter... Why Toyota? I wanted to give you my money for the TRD OR!

 

^Toyota Canada may have anticipated poor availability of SDM, so they kept SDM only for the low volume trims. Recall early deliveries in the US had SDM deleted from the build.

 

Interesting to see Toyota put this out so recently. Lot's of criticism of Toyota's (lack of) communication on 4th Gen Tacoma improvements in the vlogger-sphere. Guessing they are trying to improve that perception.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDqdHDxbvd8

 

This might be a change for 2025 but my Canadian 2024 Off-road Premium Hybrid has the SDM.

 

How were you able to order it? I'm still not seeing SDM for the 2024/25 TRD OR Premium models on the Canadian website and been eyeing it since the release of the truck but have never seen it as an option. I will probably wait til 2026 and hopefully they will have it back on the menu and give Toyota a couple years to sort things out, maybe even 2027. My 2018 has been flawless so far, didn't have any of the issues the 2016s had but I'm too far invested in mods to sell it. I want to get the 4G as a daily so I will go short bed this time and keep the 3G. I won't by the 4G without SDM.

 

Man, it would be a shame if SDM is not coming on every offroad trim (I know it's an "option" but still). It makes a big difference.