Moving up the toyota ladder - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

DrifterFreak210 · 03-07-2008, 01:25 AM

Hey guys,

Well if any of you know me, you know i have the most base tacoma you can have and still call it a tacoma. Its an indigo ink regular cab. to make it better and more offroad fucntional i have put bigger tires and rims and have done a few other cheap mods to it.

However its not the truck that i want to have anymore, I want something more offroad capable. I am thinking of getting either a used tacoma or tundra access cab and pre-runner-ing it out. What do you think a better or more practical choice? the older tacoma or the older tundra? i know the tundra has the v8 which is huge plus points, but i could live with a v6, remember, as of now im driving a 4 banger..

I would be doing long travel in the front and some kind of deaver pack in the back so that i can still keep the bed functional..

if you just want to throw your 2cents in, i would great appreciate it..

Jeddak · 03-07-2008, 01:23 PM

Why PreRunner and not a 4x4, if you are looking into off-roading? Are planning on locking the rear?

***lotust*** · 03-08-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeddak

Why PreRunner and not a 4x4, if you are looking into off-roading? Are planning on locking the rear?

My thoughts too. Get the 4x4 if your going to take the hit. Next you will be mad you did not spend the extra $$$ when you get that prerunner stuck in the mud you like so much.

DrifterFreak210 · 03-09-2008, 04:07 AM

Oh, dont get me wrong, i am deffinately getting 4x4, and i'll work on what suspension after that, but i dont know much about the older years, like 98-04 tacos. I am trying to see what i can find on my own, but i have found this forum so useful that i fidured i'd ask your opinions on which one is easier to make more of an offroading truck? preferably a pre-runner(desert runner, long travel beast, whatever you call it) because it is almost out of rainy season here so we wont be getting much, if any rain til almost november again..

Jeddak · 03-09-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrifterFreak210

Oh, dont get me wrong, i am deffinately getting 4x4, and i'll work on what suspension after that...

PreRunner is a 4x2, not 4x4. It is a 2 wheel drive truck with a taller stance, like a 4x4. So you are actually looking at buying a TRD Off-Road 4x4, or TRD Sport 4x4, or SR5 (that's a convenience package) 4x4.
If you are going to replace shocks/coils/leaves, no sense in buying the TRD Off-Road or Sport. OR gives you a locking rear differential, sport has LSD. Both have Bilstein shoks, and TRD has progressive coils.

If you are going to replace factory set up, get a 4x4 SR5 package (Cheaper than TRD), replace what you want, and later if you want something beyond the 4 Low capabilities, add an aftermarket rear/front lockers.
Play on the www.toyota.com website.

Jamco6000 · 03-09-2008, 05:30 PM

my honest opinion if you want to offroad, get an 04 TRD offroad. build solid, you wont have to worry about it crappin out. and also the tundra's v 8 isnt that powerful (well the newones are) but the old body style isn't that big of a bang. anyway thats my opinion and some people wont agree. but i love my 06

DrifterFreak210 · 03-09-2008, 10:50 PM

Jeddak, i said pre-runner cause thats what i want to make my truck into, i know that the prerunner tacomas aren't 4x4, come on man i aint that much of a noob.. but thanks for your 2cents, still gave me some good info..

now i know 04 is good, but what the lastest year i can go before any big changes were made to that model year? 2000? if anyone had or knows anything, hows the access cab on that year? cause it looks small as hell..

Jeddak · 03-10-2008, 12:50 PM

Sorry about the mis-understanding. This thread might help:
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthrea...mA+GENERATIONS

DrifterFreak210 · 03-10-2008, 10:38 PM

Thanks Jeddak, that was a great find! alot info for such a short post.

Trail Gator · 03-11-2008, 03:36 PM

When He is talking about building His truck into a PreRunner, He is talking LT and glass. For actual Pre-running. Cool goal but, I hope you have a shit load of cash for it. That isn't exactly a cheap group of mods.

You can get a Taco thats been in a light accident for $10-$15K with no damage frame damage with 4x4. Since your talking LT your gonna rip off the fenders/bedsides anyway. Tailgate will eventually be gone, and the front bumper will be a PreRunner bumper. That is if your going all out. No need to buy something with the body in mint condition if your ripping it apart anyway.

I personally would get an 05+ because the V6 is much more powerful stock than the Pre 05.

DrifterFreak210 · 03-12-2008, 01:57 AM

Yeah, i know what you mean about the 05+ being way better, and i know they are, but they are also alot more to purchase and alot more to insure.. plus 4x4 isnt really and esential since i have 2wd now and i have been fine with it, but yeah, this is gunna be a long build up for me, since i want to get it done right, so alot of money will probably be spent, just over time..