Do You Really Need A TRD Pro? This Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Owner Says Absolutely Not!
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In this video, Toyota Tacoma owner Alex takes her Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road to Tumbleweed Ranch to see how far it will go on our off-road course!
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Thank you guys for having me!! It was so much fun putting the truck to the test to see what it can really do! I am still so impressed at how well it preformed. Thank you guys again!!
It's great to not see a lady intimidated by this. Good job.
You've done well! I'm no off-road driver by no means (see profile pic) and I frequent this channel to see many go off-road. Again, you've done well!
You are amazing, Alex. It made my day to see you so excited an happy.
@Alex S I'd have been nervous too haha, you did a great job! Kudos for taking an essentially brand new truck off road, not a lot of people do that. My 4Runner is 9 years old and I still don't want to scratch it haha. Just some advice, if you drive that thing on the beach, I would get the undercarriage Fluid Filmed or similar if you haven't already done it. Salt and Toyota's DO NOT mix.
Good job on the course! Love the truck 👍👍
Hey TFL Team! I’m a Toyota salesman in Utah and I also drive a Taco. I’ve seen a lot of your videos and you guys always have issues putting it in 4WD. I talked with a Toyota engineer to help out. First off the truck does not have to be level to engage 4WD. If you put it in 4WD and it keeps blinking at you drive forward and give it a good amount of gas and it will lock in. Then to get into 4-low you have to come to a stop put it in Neutral first and then turn the dial to low. If you don’t do it in that order the system will freak out. Also regarding the rear locker. If the the light keeps blinking at you turn the steering wheel about 15-20 degrees either direction and drive forward a few feet. That will allow the pin to drop in the differential and lock it.
Thanks for the help mann I’ll remember these steps!
This should be pinned
Would having the transmission in neutral help it shift into 4-high without needing to rock it forward? I’m concerned when stuck in situations that gassing it could make it slide into a very bad time when stuck out on a precarious trail or even boat ramp.
I don't think it's that they have issues with it going into 4wd, I think it's more they want something to complain about on the tacoma and 4-runner, so they pick whatever little thing they can. If you check back on several toyota (insert base model toyota vehicle) vs (insert any other vehicle that is the top of the line model) they will say "toyota just doesn't match 'x' so you know it's just not as good."
Nobody reads the book anymore? Or watches videos on the topic? The answers are out there. I can’t believe the guy admitted he’s not known how to do this for “years.” But he blamed Toyota instead 🤦♂️
I own a 23 TRD Off Road, double cab with premium and technology pkgs, 6’ bed, trifold tonneau cover, running boards and mud flaps. I absolutely Love my Tacoma. I was going to wait a few more years, but when I heard that the proven, very reliable and durable 3.5L V6 was going to be replaced with a 2.4L turbo, I knew that I had to buy the 23.
For a stock Tacoma it makes the trail look pretty easy
Before the trail got really ugly, that truck could have gone through the whole course. But they got the section now where you literally are just planting your nose into the side of the hill and have to be towed straight up. It proves nothing. That is no good for anyone's rig. Extreme modified approach and departure vehicles with aggressive tread, low end torque and lockers are the only things left that are suited for that section. But then, what is the point? That is not what people daily drive. lol
Toyota was freaking smart to keep the 16's on this. Owner's should be thankful for the cheaper tires and more sidewall.
Yeah I kept stock wheels and put 255 85 16s on and having 8.5 inches of sidewall is awesome especially when aired down.
Agreed.
Yes it's appreciated when going off road, they need to keep them on the next gen truck
16s are great if you are staying near stock, but with 17s comes bigger brake options and softer load range large tires. 16s are usually only E rated.
16🤣🤣🤣 this truck is sooooooo dated but typical for toyota
That girl had so much fun. She loved it. It’s actually great to see.
Remove the steps (replace with sliders), remove the splash guards, and add some slightly more aggressive tires and it’ll get you most places that you don’t need a dedicated crawler for 👍👍
Basically did just what you said. Ordered mine without any steps then added RCI skids front to back, stubby front bumper with winch and BA 4x4 Revo rocksliders to protect the bottom and provide recovery points/options. Basically stuff to cover the gaps. Will change out the suspension n lift along with wheels and tires whenever I can sell this extra kidney Im dragging around~
Alex, I work with your dad. He was so happy to tell me about this video. I have a 21Ranger so we should hit some of the local trails someday.
omg hi!!!!!!!! he was so excited! I am happy he got to be there!
HAM antenna? D-Star (Reflector 004C) or 2m/70cm in Phoenix. Truck/driver did great on these trails. 73. Pete - KI7LIL
Last Saturday I got myself a TRD Off-Road too. I'd say it is pretty close to the Pro. This channel has changed my life lol... all I want now are trucks! 😀
Pretty cool. Everyone is pointing out her inexperience, so what? She did it for the adventure and to test out her truck. Got to start somewhere. She did great and was willing to put her nice truck to the test. Beautiful woman with an up beat personality wheeling her relatively new daily driver. 👍
Thank you!!!!
simp
I love it when you bring on guests like this who are just excited to be there and are up for anything. I have 2 daughters and I could definitely see me taking them on a cross country trip like this.
If you're going to mod, go off Road, if you want an out-of-box experience, go Pro. I had a TRD ORP 4R 2016 for my first one, as I wanted to try KDSS, and now have a '21 Pro and really love the Fox suspension. I know aftermarket can do better, and I do mods myself, but installing an entirely new suspension just isn't something I can/want to do myself, and it's a hassle I don't want. I never understood people who get a Pro and rip out the suspension. That is a lot of what you're paying for.
Having owned a Tacoma for 5 months, this is the most informative video I have found yet! I don’t plan on seriously off reading my truck, but it is great to know what a stock truck can do.
*off roading"
This girl is so down to earth. If i see her in that taco on the the street i wouldn't know where to lay my eyes. She and her toco are the perfect combo
I got a brand new trd off-road the end of September and immediately took it on black bear pass in Ouray, Colorado. It did great in the snow. The predator steps though lost there steps going down. I love the Tacoma more than my old Jeep
Got mine in June, I’ve dug a lot of trenches with my steps
Cool to see someone exploring the capabilities of their vehicle for the first time.
I'm a little surprised that they were surprised. A stock 3rd gen is surprisingly capable. The tires are decent for AT stuff really. I drive my stock 16 TRD OR through swamps down here in Florida and it does well, just keep wheel speed up and know your line and trail and this truck will handle the rest well. Shoot, half the time I don't even use the 4x4 function now when off road. I just stay in 2x4 until I know I need it.
"Obviously in Virginia you don't do a lot of off-roading". People in the Rockies apparently are too high (up) to see Appalachia 🤣. You get to Roanoke and you're in it.
She did a good job!
Thank you !!!!!!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this video. I admire her for her willingness to run the course. I live in NC and am well aware of the area she takes her truck on the sand. I'll look for her truck during my next visit to the area. She has a very nice truck!
Thank you so much....I just bought a 2023 Taco TRD Off road, but I wasn't 100% sure because I used to own a Tundra and this video just opened my eyes and now I'm convinced that I can tackle any terrain!
I purchased a 2021 Tacoma OR last August and have since upgraded the suspension with Old Man-EMU BP-51 2.5" lift kit, and added 33" KO2's with AEV Crestone 17" rims all for well under the PRO MSRP. The build continues with bumbers, rock sliders, lights, etc. Truck has performed wonderfully this past year getting to remote areas in the California Eastern Sierra's.
This was such a good video. I'm a Tacoma Off-Road owner and this was the best real world test of the vehicle I could of hoped for. That's why you guys are the best.
I upgraded this past year from a 2017 Tacoma 4 cylinder Access Cab Utility Package 4x4 to the 2023 Tacoma TRD Off-road Manual Transmission. Definitely utilized a lot of your content in making that decision as I purchased virtually before it even arrived at the dealership. Was able to purchase at MSRP with upgraded tires added in :)
The TRD Off Road Tacoma and 4Runners are great trucks.... very capable stock from factory. Thanks for sharing!
I've always referred to the Tacoma TRD Pro as a sucker package. You can buy a TRD Offroad and fully kit it out (including better suspension than the Pro) for less money. If you want leather buy the Offroad Premium and still save money.
if it didn't have that fake hoodscoop I'd have gotten the pro.
@@HAHA.GoodMeme Agree. Not that I would want to spend the money on the pro, but I would never consider it due that stupid hood ornament. Love my 21 TRD OR.
If you can find one. Seems like the only available Tacoma manufactured with premium and/or technology features right now is the Pro.
YES! This is sort of what I was hoping to see out there. A TRD OR! Albeit, I was hoping for a 4R. lol And yes, it is extremely capable. And yes, I agree in NOT taking those obstacles with the truck. Not because the tires would have eventually failed, but because the steps on the side would have got hung up. And ultimately, I have seen some different angles that show just how ridiculous the approach and departure angles get and that would have ultimately just mean one is going to have to be dragged up by winch or tow. And no daily driver really has to prove anything by beating it up to that degree. Great job, great truck Alex S! Thank you for going out there and showing Andre just how capable a TRD OR is. lol🙂
well she is definitely the prettiest person to ever do the course! great job!
you need to get out more, she looks like Bruce Dickenson from Iron Maiden
I have the same exact truck, but slightly beefier tires. It works great in the limited times I have taken it off road. Great video and gives me a bit of a confidence boost and helps me not regret the buy, I always wondered if I should have gone pro, but this seems to put me at ease.
Also from VA, my wife has a 2020 TRDOF and loves it off roading in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
I did the same. Watch off road vs pro and decided on off road. Love my decision.
The one thing Toyota messed up on is the gas tank plastic skid plate.
Having now run this course myself (video has not dropped yet), I am very impressed with what Alex and the Tacoma were able to do with stock tires and no lift. Having grown up and lived on the east coast for many years, I’ve done a lot of beach driving and it is very different from this kind of off-roading. I bet it was a fun experience for Alex to try something so different!. I know that the videos make the course look much easier and flatter than it really is, but even the “easy” course is actually much steeper than it looks on camera and the hard course has some genuinely deep mud, challenging transitions and 30+ degree climbs. I’m sure Alex would agree that it’s way more intimidating in person than it is when viewed on your iPad at home. Best mod for any stock vehicle would be a set of better and larger tires. I’d try that for a bit and see if that got me where I wanted to go. After that, a lift. But, you have to remember that the better you make it for off-roading, the worse it gets for the highway to get to the off-roading. Given how much Alex obviously enjoyed this experience, I’d guess she’ll continue to seek out more adventures and that Tacoma will take her way farther than she’d have guessed when she first got it. Enjoy the ride!
Love this comment!! The course is so much more intimidating in person, it is steep!!! And yes the East coast off roading is nothing compared to Colorado 😂! Can’t wait to see your video!
@@AlexSAdventures - you and me both! Happy Thanksgiving!
When it comes to 4Lo operation in Toyota trucks, its finnicky not because it needs to be level, but because you need to specifically go into 4Hi while moving slightly (sometimes you need to let off the throttle while moving), then come to a stop and engage 4Lo
4hi fully engaged -> stop -> neutral -> 4lo -> let it click clack -> back into drive
I also saw the same video and after weighing all of my options, I too choose a new 2021 TRD-Off road and I love it. Alex was great!! very personable!!
Depends how crazy you want to get, of course, but in my opinion all you really need to get through even some fairly hairy stuff is 4WD, decent stock ground clearance (or a suitable lift), reasonably off-road oriented tires, and a rear locker. After that, go have fun!
In Colorado there's a pass called Hermit Pass. I took a stock 2018 Tacoma 4X4 SR with street tires and it did great. They're good rigs.
Great video! Cool driver and Andrey is a natural at the teaching/coaching necessary to drive the course. Two thumbs up.
Cool video. I decided to buy a 2023 Tacoma TRD off road truck. I am quite excited to be picking it up next month. Going to take it to Buffalo mountain in Johnson city to see how it does on the offroad trails and go up on the fire trails in hampton and erwin areas in upper northeast tennessee.
I remember that video because it made me feel the same way. Off Road is the way to go
I own a 21 Trd sport with a stage 10 icon lift kit to 65, 80,16 KO2s and I cannot believe the amount of obstacles I’ve been able to overcome in the truck just never shows any signs of weakness. Only imagine having a locker system with the crawl control.
I have nothing really profound or constructive to offer other than a frickin’ cool video! Love it!!!
So cool. Bought a 2001 Tacoma 4x4 TRD & it was one of the best vehicles I’ve ever owned. Crazy capable off the lot.
This was extremely underwhelming tbh. People saying the truck made the trail look easy, I'll let you in on a little secret... ... the trail *was* easy.
She did an amazing job!
Great segment Andre, Way to go Alex you & ur Stock TRD Off-Road 4x4 killed it. Would like to c it with appropriate tires, then with appropriate tires & the trd lift . Keep up the great work All TFL
Best truck on the market period.
Yes sirr... to bad mine is 4x2 but is a lease so if i can change it to a 4x4 better
Junk
@bennyb6071 what truck you have?
😂😂😂
There is a reason they sell more than anyone else in mid truck category. It’s not an accident.
You are 100% correct. Trd/OR loaded with heated seats and sunroof. Crawl control. Black. All the trd sport offers is scoop and color match flares. After much scrutiny, I realized how beautiful and cheap a carbon fiber hood with scoop was. Especially if compared to buying an oem hood with scoop and getting it painted. For $950 the hood just bolted on looking good. Extended flares with the “rivet” look were also cheap and look great with the fox coilover lift I bought with the money I saved vs buying the trd pro. Aftermarket full skid package that matches the winch and light ready mini bumper were a must. Ohhhhh and then a 5.29 gear change and supercharger….lol😊
I have the same truck, 2018 version. It has been fantastic doing everything I have asked (daily drive, summer overlander, other truck things) Only mod is going up to 32” Goodyear Duratracs, which was a great improvement over the stock tires.
I’ve seen a stock Tacoma do some pretty crazy things.
I just bought a 2018 Tacoma Sport 4x4 Limited Inferno Orange. I love it.
I got the 23 TRD Off road, love this thing! Looks exactly like that one on the video!
GREAT JOB Andre ... ....HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY EVERYONE ✌️
I Have an older tacoma I just bought. It's a 2009 single cab 4X4 base. And it off roads great imo. Yeah it doesn't have lockers but it still has 4 high and low. Which does a lot of stuff and mlst of what people need
I wish I could take my Taco on your course. Glad to see an owner take a stock truck through it!
This girls spirit, energy and personality is priceless, love it!!! 👍😃✌️🇺🇸
Great truck, I liked a lot about my TRD OR and preferred modifying it over getting the Pro. If the Pro came with 33s and appropriate gearing it would've been worth it, ideally with true AT tires, not reinforced all-seasons too. Although after my experience with Toyota transmissions and t-cases it'll take a lot to get me back into one of their 4x4s.
You can put a lift, 33s, a winch and a front locker on a TRD off road and still spend less than the price difference between it and the TRD Pro
What happened to your transmission and t-case?
@@macneoh7418 The t-case had a faulty shift actuator from the get-go (which isn't uncommon), was causing sluggish shifts then rough partial shifts, then a new t-case (under warranty) at about 20K miles. The transmission was just performance issues, even on the stock tire size, super rough shift points compared to any other 4x4 I've owned, never getting into 6th on flat at moderate elevation (Montana), sluggish shifts to the point of being dangerous. It will stay in 3rd if you don't quite completely come to a stop. I also had 3 friends' 3rd gen transmissions fully seize in under 30K, one under 5K. Much about the rest of the truck was excellent, the engine was fine, just held back by that transmission.
I'm glad my 08 taco dose not have that T case problem. went with the TRD sport as I planned to swap suspension out any way. Would love to fined a place like this. maybe this summer will make a trip out to some good trails.
Great video! Repeat with snow on the ground just to check every box.
Alex did very good & she has a nice truck & the Tacoma did very good for being stock
She’s Gorgeous! I have the same truck but I put a set of BFG KO2’s in size 265 75 16…Game Changer!
simp
@@aaronerickson8878 LOL
You've got a really nice truck, job well done. I live in N.C. & I would guess you go down to the Outer banks. I go there all the time "fishing" & the sand there can be deep & tricky at times.
Nice! Would love to bring my 2022 Pro-4X down from Fort Collins and tackle Tumbleweed Ranch!
Way to go!!! Congrats on your awesome Tacoma
Love the vid it was great. Alex, I will be ordering your truck in January it will just be a 23. I would love to see the front half of the course ran in 2wd to see just where it fails. I own a 06 Taco stock(I did change the tires) and I personally think it could do that in 2wd. Unless the camera is not picking "something up" this does not look too bad. Oh I also live in town 470/Bowles. TFL ;) ;)
Not surprised it hit the exhaust underneath. We hit ours way more often than we'd like in our 22 tacoma.
Noting that the Toyotas shift perfect into 4lo if you follow the procedure. It has absolutely nothing to do with being level or not. Proper shift sequence is to already be in 4hi when you shift to 4lo. I submit that, in real world use, you should already be in 4hi long before you need 4lo, but, if you happen to only be in 2hi, then simply shift into 4hi as you roll to a stop and let the actuators do their thing (shift you into 4hi before you come to a stop). Now that you are in 4hi and at a stop, shifting to neutral then 4Lo works very reliably. Too many try to shift from sitting still in 2hi, then directly to 4lo and that is the not the recommended sequence so doesn't work well. Always be in 4hi before you shift to 4lo; no issues.
You are 100% correct , not to many people know the sequence into putting the truck in 4Lo, and no Andre the truck doesn’t have to be leveled ? I’ve engaged 4Lo on my Tacoma on 30+ deg hills and deep ruts
same with rear loccker engagement, people say you need level ground but really you just need to press the button then press the gas.
I would love to take my stock sr5 4x4 through there. I believe that it could handle pretty much all of these no problem. So many people get the locker who do not need/use it at all.
Got the same truck with a stick off Andres same video, thanks guys 👍
Wow. Taking a trip all that far with her dad to have fun off-road..... That gives you a glimpse of optimism for the future.
1:19 Surf Colorado by Bowling for Soup. Colorado Springs (where I live) is mentioned in the lyrics.
Very fun video! I do have to say, however, I have a 2018 4Runner TRD OR. I have offroaded about 15 days/yr in CO, Moab, and Sedona over the last 5 summers and have been in some tough terrain. I have never had an issue getting into 4 low. Just sayin…
Beautiful truck, Alex!
I bought an off road instead of a Pro as well bc of the info in your video. Love the content!
any transmission issues? i keep seeing people complaining about it?
Great job Alex!
The trick to getting it in 4low is to first get it in 4hi in drive, then do neutral once it engages and switch to 4 lo. It has absolutely nothing to do with it being leveld, and ive also noticed that its harder when its new but it gets easier after a few times of using it.
I'd love to take my 19 Cherokee trailhawk overland rig on your course some time. It would be cool to show off what a kl can do when upgraded properly and even when it's focused on being an overlander and not a full rock crawler. Show what kinda places you can still get to in a cross over
Alex if you are still near Denver I’d check out Runnin’ 4 Tacos and get an Anytime Camera mod mounted to the front.
Toyota Tacoma being a dual cab truck with a bed, it is kinda utilitarian and all, but i think 4runner suits me more. C4 and prinsu low pro high clearance bumper integrated winch and 30 inch rigid amber light bar, chenge the stick fog light with rigid,A -pillars lights and rack is a game changer and the rear steel bumper with a dual swing out works like a charm. I'm on 35s with full under Armour (alu), long range gas tank, C4 50° degree sliders (steel), the 4th gen trd pro Stock headlights are pretty good. I've done more than 200 hundred thousands miles out of which 130/140 are hard off road miles.
Flip that spare tire over , facing up its blocking the stem so you check the pressure. Nice tacoma 4wd trd off road
I sunk my 2016 Tacoma TRD OR in the mud one time with Michelin LTX tires and got out without help. That truck was fun!
Nice video. Thank you
What a great spirit she has!!
simp
Awesome truck, love Toyoda!
Fun and entertaining post. Cool!
You need to use MTS rock crawl and that will activate a trac. No need for lockers in that off camber situation
If I was in the market, TRD Off-Road is the trim I would go for in the Tacoma or the 4Runner for the combination of 'price/value' and capability...
With all due respect to Colorado....but you were in the off road capital of the east coast. You have PLENTY of spots to test tour rig here in VA.
What a great video! 👍👍
You did great job 😊
Well as far as a 4runner gose the TRD off-road is more capable then the pro Because they're basically the same thing the only difference is the pro has Fox shock But the off road you can get KDSS Which allows for better articulation when off roading Other than that everything is basically the same except the pro has a stupid roof rack and dual zone climate control
Not gonna lie shes a keeper 😮💨
What u can do next is get bigger tires to raise your taco offroad. I got ko2’s and got an inch raise all around.
I never have trouble getting into low, because I engage 4HI first, the drive forward a short distance, stop and select 4-Lo. Always goes in right away. The rear locker sometimes requires turn the steering wheel hard left or right, but engages usually within seconds. I use multi terrain select more often than the locker or crawl control. MTS works pretty good, locker for backup. I also have. 2021.. Gal did a fine job. Andre was a gentleman!
I’ve been looking at 2023 Tacomas and after seeing how well her 2021 did I’m going to see if I can get a 2023 Tacoma TRD Off-Road before they disappear forever. Great video and great off-road work. Going slow for me will be difficult because I used to race dirt bikes in enduros and going fast was the way you get the check points on time but not too early. I will try to go slow, so I don’t break anything.
@@oldgrayhairs8246 If you want a mid sized truck that can go off road and have fun, the 2023 Tacoma TRD OR is a great truck. But unless you do a tune on it, it won’t be fast. If you want it all, wait for the hybrid Max I Force. That one will be quick and competent off road. Probably be 10K$ more in price. Happy shopping!!
Thanks for your thoughts of the 23 vs. 24 Tacoma. Much appreciated. 👍🏼
Got an off road myself and there isn’t anything a Pro can do that I can’t. I just put on some ST Maxx Tires and I’m golden.
Nice job Alex 👍
What an awesome young lady. I’m sending this video to my daughter.
The only thing bad about the trd off road is the garbage shocks. I have a 2016 off-road 4x4, and it blew the rear shocks with 40k easy miles on it and they were garbage anyway. I also own a 2019 trd sport 4x4 upgraded the suspension at 30k (super hard miles) and the trd sport suspension still felt very good. Now both have bilstein 6112s and 5160s and i wound highly recomended upgrading the suspension is you load your truck at all or 4x4. The 4x4 stock bilstein 4600s are terrible shocks.
That is impressive waiting for mine to be delivered