2017 rwd sr5

[jndla]

Hi,
new to the forum and looking for some advice. I’m getting a stock 2017 Tacoma SR5 RWD and I’m trying to decide whether it’s even worth building out or if I should sell/trade it later and start with a stock TRD 4WD instead.
Edit: it has around 60k miles, brand new transmission So i know that can help the resale/trade value.

My plans would mostly be moderate trails and overlanding. I’m not planning on doing any rock crawling or anything super extreme. I’m still learning what upgrades would actually be needed, but I’m wondering if the RWD platform itself would become a major limitation.

I know I’d be missing things like 4WD high/low range and a locking differential, so I understand I wouldn’t be able to do everything a TRD Off-Road can. But for moderate trails and camping/overlanding, would a RWD Tacoma still be fine with the right tires and suspension setup, or would I eventually regret not starting with a 4WD truck?

I know this is mostly google-able but I would rather some insight from some people with experience. Thank you!

 

[Eagle1912]

I have 63k on my 4wd. I have used it in the snow (northern NJ) because pickups are light in the rear, especially with the composite bed, but I could have dealt with that with some concrete blocks. It is also handy having low range when backing my 3800lbs travel trailer up on its leveling blocks. Nice? Yes. Required? No.

The one time I can say that I "needed" it was at a campground with gravel sites and roads. The site pitched away from the road and it looked like they just freshened the gravel. In maneuvering back and forth to get it where I wanted it, I was spinning a bit moving forward so I dropped it into 4wd. All week I watched, and heard has people spun to vaying degrees making it up the one-way sloped road that my site was at the bottom of. I wasn't taking any chances so I dropped it into 4low when I went to leave. No spin and plenty of umph.

It sounds like you could do without 4wd, reduce maintenance and fuel costs. But that is a personal choice.

 

[Bottman]

My plans would mostly be moderate trails and overlanding

Welcome!

For your situation I would recommend going with a 4X4. It is better to have a 4x4 in case you run into anything challenging. That being said when I was young, I went to a lot of outdoor places with a RWD pickup. If you do go for the RWD make sure to get some good tires and you will be surprised just how far you can go.