Mostly going to use for daily city driving, but I do have plans to load her up with bikes so we can occasionally go off-road and hit the dunes. Although I don’t need money, it would be wonderful to save some, if I could I’ve read in a couple threads that folks have used these for off-roading with little to no issues, so I doubt I’ll be heading for the OR. I appreciate any sound guidance or insights in advance.
Finally, because they are all third generation, which year would be the best to choose, or does it really not matter?
My 4x4 is a TRD Sport. At the moment, I drive it to and from work, occasionally off-roading in the mountains on snow- and dirt-covered terrain. Even with the standard tires, I haven’t had any problems so far, although I do have Falken Wildpeaks that I want to replace them with later. I think the Sport’s 4x4 is more than adequate for the purposes I have for it.
Do you still believe a 2WD Sport would be a wise decision? Since I reside in California, where there are primarily sunny days, I honestly don’t see me using the 4x4
I would recommend the Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport for your needs. The TRD Sport is better suited for daily city driving and occasional light off-roading, as it has a sportier, more controlled suspension tuning compared to the TRD Off-Road model. While the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro are better equipped for serious off-road use, the TRD Sport can still handle light trails and dunes without issue. Since you mentioned plans to load up the truck with bikes, the TRD Sport’s sportier handling and road manners will likely provide a more comfortable daily driving experience. As for the model year, the latest 3rd generation Tacomas (2016-2023) are all very capable, so the specific year may not matter too much unless there are particular features you’re looking for.