SR build or wait for Off Road... Opinions

Pretty self explanatory the backstory is I am back into a Toyota after a few years last one was 06...my DD died suddenly so I needed a replacement quickly went into the local Toyota dealer looking for an off road (probably still go auto since wife drives it sometimes and traffic during morning commute) and they couldn't/ wouldn't guarantee a delivery date so ended up with a low milage SR that had just been traded in.

Soooo that leaves me with the dilemma of build up the SR or wait a year or so until the market dies down and this one's paid off and go order the off road as originally planned. Use will be mostly DD some fire roads/ camping probably a trip or two to Uwharrie or similar every year.

What do you guys think?

 

I have an 21 SR, 4x4, about 9 months old, stock. I've gone up to North Wisconsin/Minnesota to camp and explore 3 times already on week-long trips. The SR handled pretty much all/any fire trails I've come across. I would try it out on a short trip and see if it handles the way you drive on the trails before you decide to upgrade/trade in.

 

Unfortunately we can’t tell you what to do. There’s financial advice in there but it’s all up to you as to how y to handle that piece.

As far as off roading, assuming your SR has 4x4 it’s already plenty capable. Lift tires and locker could go a long way too.

The major difference to me which I think will help you discern the best decision or a few things. The first is color. Some people may laugh but if you’re really drawn to a color that’s only offered on a higher trim, that matters and should be factored in. For instance, I really wanted army green so that limited my options of trim.

The second thing you should think about are convenience factors. The SR is a great truck but it’s going to lack things like amar key entry, different interior, possibly LED headlights, bed outlet, wireless phone charger, and access to a lot more option packages. If those types of things are important to you then you may want to consider upgrading. If you’re concerned with just off routing capability I think you could easily build up your current truck to do that.

Compare each trim level and what convenience features each gains. If you can live with what you have today in our happy, then you probably don’t need an upgraded truck. However, if you’re trying to get a different engine or transmission as well, may be worth upgrading

 

My vote is to enjoy the current ride until the Gen 4’s come out (probably Sep of 2023). Once the Gen 4’s are out you can decide if you want to go that route or pick up a Gen 3 the way you want it.

 

2.7 or 3.5? 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive?

 

It's 4x4 with the 3.5 and tow package I think (came with the hitch and trans cooler but they all might)

Not too worried about the convinience features I still like crank up windows at times!

I realize I can upgrade the SR easily enough in most aspects and would be upgrading skids lights etc on the off-road too.

Guess that leaves the bigger axles and factory locker is the 8.4 any stronger? And are there any ECU differences?

 

It sounds like you're having regrets but they're practically the same truck. They have the same body, motor and transmission.

The off-road has an 8.75" rear diff (vs your 8") and an e-locker and a gizmo called crawl-control. Adding an ARB locker is going to be cheaper than buying a different truck (especially if the sales and property tax resemble anything like Virginia.)

Enjoy your new truck.

 

I owned a 2002 TRD Off Road for 16 years. During that time I probably took 200 day trips into the national forests here in Virginia and never used my locker once. I'm not big into heavy off roading but I traveled many roads that you won't drive a two wheel down. Got a 2018 SR and for what I do there's really no drop off from the 2002. Loved the 2002, that was a great truck.

 

Thanks for the replies... Less worried/ regretting more trying to actually plan ahead a little bit for once. I usually tend to over build things...

Glad to hear that the little SR is capable!

Trying to find a balance now that I am a little older kids etc and don't really have time for a dedicated crawler and only want to build once.

Any resources for strength difference between 8.75 and 8" for future research?

 

Until the market dies down?



Best joke I've heard all day. Get the vehicle.

 

I have an Off Road. I would have gone SR 4x4 but our local SoCal dealerships don’t order them.

Crawl control and rear lockers are luxury to me. I say build the SR !!!

 

Hey I can dream that the vehicle market dies off and the housing stays high until I sell right!

Admittedly I am probably overthinking it! The off road just seemed capable out of the box so to speak with locker etc so didn't want to waste my money if that's a better option.

All this was started because my eldest found some old pics of past vehicles and places I used to go and got excited which started me thinking about getting back to offroading and camping more/ another build

 

Honestly man if you do decide to start building up the truck at some point (probably early on if you're like me) you'll realize a re-gear is in order and at that point adding lockers F/R will be a relatively low cost option compared to trading trucks. That is if you even think they're something you're gonna need when the time comes

 

Build and enjoy the SR. You already have the truck. You can mod it the way you want. you can run a rear LSD, which works all the time and a front ARB and you will be able to pretty much go anywhere.

 

Market isn’t gonna die down anytime soon. You got to remember there was always high demand for Tacomas, and the line just gets longer and longer until Toyota starts building in excess. Excess as in more than they made pre corona. But Toyota has been using this to leverage their market position for years.

Do a mild build on the SR for now. Keep OEM parts so you can still swap out. If it works for you it works. If not, ride it til you come across an OR.

 

Ok sounds like I am not missing too much and building this one will be the direction for now anyway with the goal being keep it mild but we all know how that usually works out.

Biggest issue with mild that I can see is I am pretty sure from the few times I've been out that I will want to re-gear sooner rather than later (as skeletron said) for anything technical but guess I can try to convince the accountant that opening up the diffs is a necessity a little further down the road.... It's for the kids after all!

 

LOL !!! You call your wife the accountant too?

 

Yeah starting with the 18's all V6 came with the tow package. I have a 17 and it was an option.

 

Good to know about the tow package thanks!

I do so lovingly though! I am admittedly horrible with $$ so she's the reason I can afford fun toys and projects

 

Same here!!! I call mine the bookkeeper lol