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Comments
That Ranger you refered to had maybe 6-7 miles, right?
8^)
The reason he sold it was the harsh ride on the interstate. He had to go to Iowa to a funeral and the ride was so hard that he sold the truck within a week.
In fairness, he loved the truck, hated the ride with the TRD suspension. And he used it often to take out his 4 wheeler to the moutains.
Just thought I would share. Remember where you drive for 98-99 % of the time.
The Rancho RS 5000's I put on stiffened up the suspension just about right. I would suggest those shocks to anyone condsidering changing Ranger stock shocks. The STX and RS9000 shocks are too stiff for such a small truck.
Going to test out the shocks on Sunday, hopefully with rick5c and jholc.
But seriously, it rides real nice with those shocks, nice addition. Much better than stock.
Instatrac 4x4,
reinforced wide stance chasis with bilstein gas charged monotube shocks,
4300 vortec v6 with 190 Hp and 250 lbs tque,
frame for wide stance,front tread 61.2" and rear 59.1" are 3.9" wider than standard,
ground clearance is 11.4" in front and 9.1" in rear,
strengthened front differential drive axles,
unique rear axle with an 8.5" ring grear and larger bearings and longer,larger diameter axle shafts,
unique rear suspension with revised multileaf springs and added rear axle track bar,
31" x 10.5" BFG's with full size spare,
3" increase in height over the other s-10 models,
locking differential,
sheild package transfer case,fuel tank,sterring linkage,skid plates,
4 wheel anti lock brakes,
driver side 3rd door,
armor coated brake lines.
I've added a k&N gen11 air kit along with a borla stainless cat back made for the ZR2,also ordered a hypertech computer programmer.
" The Tacoma TRD handled the desert runs better than the Hummer" - fourwheeler.com
" The locker on the TRD easily destroyed the computer Limited slip and other "delay" devices . The locker is far superior to limited slip"
- Fourwheeler.com
" The Tacoma is made for people who still use their trucks as trucks"
-Fourwheeler.com
AMAZING!!!!
IF you enjoy this debate, make sure you check out this MAY issue of Fourwheeler.
There are some FANTASTIC pictures of the Tacoma hitting some dunes and other obstacles.
ALSO- the beginning of the issue has a huge article on the Arctic LAndcruiser expedition!!!!
It is an amazing article, with some absolutely stunning photographs of the Arctic LAndcruiser expedition! You wont beleive it.
Man Toyota makes one heck of a rig. Absolutely fantastic!
Thanx!!
already (including gas shocks). If you go for the aluminum wheels, the differences between yours and a TRD are minimal. The TRD will have 16" BF Goodrich tires, Bilstein shocks, and a rear locker. Toyota says the rear leafs are modified, when I look close I can't see the difference. Yours will have 16" Dunlaps (less noisy, less aggressive), no-name gas shocks (stiff), no locker.
If you plan to off-road frequently, get the added insurance of the locker, if you don't, save your money. The Dunlap tires are fine, and are less noisy on the highway. I have seen after market adds for lockers for around $200-$300 if you ever need one that bad. I'm not sure if Toyota can install one at the dealer, but that is worth asking.
As far as selling a TRD/Non-TRD because the ride was too bumpy, give me a break! My friend and his wife go everywhere with his TRD and they love it. I have made several 400 mile trips in my "01 Extracab 4x4, and not even my wife complained. As a matter of fact she likes to take my truck to work, and she commutes over 40 miles. Her normal car is a loaded Nissan, but likes the Tacoma better, go figure?
The bottom line, trucks are not for everybody. If you want a car, buy an S-10, or Ranger.
Cheers,
Steve
-what?
(1) Towing - Name a car that can tow my close to 3000lbs of sleds and gear.
(2) Hauling - Name a car that you can throw a ton of blocks, timber, stones, dirt, etc... into the back of.
(3) 4wd - What 4wd car can do the things mentioned above? 2wd really sucks here in the snowbelt. This past December with record snowfall would have been an absolute nightmare w/o my truck.
But, I guess I'm just a "city boy" because I also use my truck to commute back and forth to work.
-hmmmm, seems to me that 99.999% of hauling and towing is done on paved roads. If you want to off-road so much, why don't you get a short wheelbase vehicle (suv) instead of a pickup which is designed to haul and tow?
I own a Ranger 4x4 and can go anywhere you can. I fish, camp, and visit the great outdoors often and my Ranger has never let me down. Your tough guy in a tough truck lecture was however amusing... Fact is over 90 percent of 4x4 vehicles never even see gravel. Fact is most of the time you drive is on asphalt bud...
Man, I did one heck of a number on you. You comment on everything I write in the other chat rooms. I have written nothing about any of the Tacoma owners having problems in the Tacoma problems room.. yet I get lectured on tact or honesty? I gave you facts about your Tacoma you obviously didn't like and deflated that "Toyota is god" bubble. I'll buy you a patch if you like?
Have you noticed that wagons are making a comeback these days? It seems that people are coming to their senses and realizing that they can have a 4wd/AWD vehicle, haul all of their little soccer players, get twice the mpg of that grossly overweight SUV, pay less in initial cost, pay less insurance, be friendlier to the environment, and get rid of a 7000lb road hazard.
I've been coaxing my wife into the possibility of owning an AWD wagon. I was thinking of a Passat 4Motion with the 1.8T and a 5-speed. With a few hundred dollars in upgrades, that little engine will churn out a reliabile 230hp with a plateau-flat torque band and still get close to 30mpg.
I think that a A4 Avant would be nice too or maybe a Subie (iffin' they put in the 227hp blown 4cyl from the new WRX).
Enjoy these days now, boys. This will forever be known as the muscle car era, not the 60s. Heck, even some of today's "family cars" with a 5-speed can outrun some cars that were considered serious iron back then. I've even seen a Chrysler mini-van pulling 12s at the track!!!
Well, enough of my ramblings..........
"The tacoma TRD could go places the other trucks simply couldn't"
Fourwheeler.com
" The Tacoma TRD is worth every penny, and is our Ultimate 4x4 over the Jeep TJ, Land Rover and Hummer"
Fourwheeler magazine, May issue
Sorry Vince, you CANT go everyhwere I can, like I have been saying all along. When will it sink in? lol.
By the way, that JD powers test you mention was a phone conducted SURVEY of initial quality (first three months).
Here is the link for the LONG term reliability test of 5 years-
http://www.jdpa.com/studies/pressrelease.asp?StudyID=292&CatID=1
Ford finishes well below the industry standard.
Sheeesh!
For the cornering, I was thinking about adding font and rear AS bars but my dealer suggested to wait until after the warranty expired.
The seat is the one I suffer most. It is way too soft. May be not only that.
Does any one know the solution to this? Will appreciate all the input.
I would love that feature!! It gives a nice breeze.
If nothing else, at least put in the front vent windows and have the rear side windows "pop" open.
First, thanks for the your repeat post #818, for the hundredth time, with your typical half truths included.
Second, I was in the Ford room because I own one too, not to read your posts.
I better go and worship my Toyota now so I'll talk to you later.
I bet they don't put the rear slider windows in wagons anymore for safety reasons. Maybe a kid flying out the back or stuff flying in during an accident?
BTW, it's extremely rare for me to see a 10+ year old Toyota on the road. I do see a small number of old Rangers, tho. Accounting for your logic, does that make a Ranger more reliable?
However, I would agree that the engines offered in Tacomas (and p/u) will generally last longer than the Ranger's engines. But, with proper maintainance (which doesn't seem very prevalent these days) any of these engines will outlive the rest of the truck.
I think it, the 3.4L 4X4 Tacoma would have less towing capacity than the Ranger with the towing package option. Any way, the Tacoma 4X4 3.4L was rated at 1399 towing capacity, the Ranger has 1260 in basic configuration. The higher towing capacity for the Tacoma is restricted to the 2.7L 4 banger.
The site was http://www.truckworld.com as I recall. You go to the truck review section and look up Tacoma.
Interesting what you find when you search...and spoog insists he has a 3/4 ton truck. . .
2.7-Liter Four-Cylinder
** Payload
Total
GVWR
Load
2WD
3430
5104
1674
3.4-Liter V6
** Payload
Total GVW Load
2WD 3475 5104 1629
4WD
3705 5104 1399
did I read this wrong?
You can also try different shocks.
For seats, you have two choices: 1) aftermarket variety (lots out there) or 2) find some sport seats from a '94 or earlier Toyota truck or 4Runner and have them re-upholstered to match your interior. Personally, I would opt for the aftermarket seats as you can pick and choose specific cushions that will meet your personal support needs.
The Ford Expedition has electric rear vent windows, controlled by the driver.
I do most of my driving on paved roads and highways because thay are what connect my house to my job. Its not a choice.
If I spent all my time 4-wheeling back to my favorite fishing hole, I might still have my '99 Tacoma, but I would have added new seats by now.
FYI- Here in the Denver area, even though its the truck capital of the world, I don't see many older pickups at all. Some, but not many. They get used & abused and then disappear. Many wind up south of the border, either whole or in pieces.
Yes, I've been off road in a Ranger (it is my girlfriend's mom's truck). I did not like it, plain and simple. The engine is supposedly a V6 and it runs like a small 4 cyl. It just doesn't seem to have the output you would expect from a V6. Very disappointing. And, it just doesn't feel like it is made for off roading. Just my personal feeling, you may not agree. And around here, I know of several Tacoma's that are 8 to 11 years old with over 150,000 miles (one even has 250,000 miles on it and it is owned by a logger who is off road 75% of the time). As for Rangers, I don't know of any with that kind of track record locally. Granted, there are wooden beds in several of those old Tacomas with many miles but the engines still run like a top. Additionally, owner satisfaction on these old Yotas is sky high. People love getting many hard driving miles out of their Yotas, and all of my friends agree (even Ford owners) that Yotas kick [non-permissible content removed] when it comes to long term reliability.
Now, for RickC5:
No, I am not independently wealthy or retired, I am just lucky enough to have a good job in the middle of nowhere (I'm in God's country). In fact, many of you city slickers have to travel many hours (on the highway, ha, ha) to my backyard to reach your weekend playground. I'm lucky enough live here year round, and my commute to my good paying job is only 1.5 miles (and there is no traffic). Life is good and believe it or not I spend many (maybe even most) of my Tacoma miles off road. I'm glad to hear that you agree that for those of us lucky enough to be in the middle of nowhere, a Tacoma is a better choice than a Ranger. Take care..............Steelman.
The difference is about half my weight, and equal to maybe 2 chimney blocks.
I would have expected a bit more given an extra spring leaf and the thicker lowere spring leaf.
I am about 30-45 mintues from MT Hood, and about 2 hours to the coast range, and about 2 hours to the deserts of Eastern Oregon. I have posted pics in the past of my Ranger out on the trail. Rangers can 4x4, and can go anywhere a Tacoma can. Image, it all boils down to image.
The Tacoma came out in 1995, seven model years ago. I would like to see the 10 year old Tacoma with any miles on it...
I envy that you live in such a nice place. What part of the country do you live in? I would love to have no traffic, a short commute and great fishing.
I envy that you live in such a nice place. What part of the country do you live in? I would love to have no traffic, a short commute and great fishing.