In regards to your F-150. What was the change like? I have a 98 F-150 and the reason I ask is because I have been very interested in either a Taco or a 4Runner as my next vehicle. I have been contemplating the long bed but can't decide. How different is the turning radius, sight, etc. Anything you wish was different? Whats your overall thought on the switch?
I dig your build. Keep it up!
Thanks, man. I'm charging ahead. So...going from my F150 to a Tacoma...
I originally bought my F150 coming from a 1992 Toyota 2wd regular cab pickup. The reason I went full-size at the time was due to back problems. I was trying to avoid surgery and was willing to try anything. So I thought that perhaps more cab room and going from a manual to automatic transmission would help. Well, I ended up having surgery, so that vehicle change didn't really help.
Here's what I like about the F150 (which I still have btw)...it's comfortable and a V8!!!!! What I don't like...it's big, 2wd, crappy suspension, and I hated the access cab. The suicide doors sucked and the space in back was too small. But with that said, I didn't do anything to it except upgrade the tires to BFG AT and add a lumber rack. This was a work truck and I beat the hell out of it. I have taken it all over the Sierras and on many back roads, but I always stayed shy of anything serious so as not to get myself in trouble. And with that said comes the decision to get the Tacoma. I always wanted a 4wd on these excursions and always wanted to have a vehicle better suited for overland expeditions. Hell I was practically doing it in my F150 anyways but without the creature comforts. After a couple of years bitching about the lack of 4wd, I finally bought the Tacoma.
As for my switch to the Tacoma, I specifically wanted a mid-size truck to go to something smaller. The V6 is certainly less power than the V8, but it's acceptable. Other than that, I love everything about it. However, if there's one thing that I may be regretting is the choice of a long bed in combination with the double cab. I really like the double cab, and I have many plans to outfit the back for ample storage. But this along with the long bed makes it a slightly longer wheel base than my F150. I think it's two inches longer. So I have noticed that maneuvering it is different than the F150.
But this decision has been made, and I've already started to do upgrades. I just have to 'own' the decision and roll with it, long bed and all. Besides, this isn't going to be a serious rock crawler. It's an expedition vehicle. So I'm thinking along those lines during this build. It needs to be tough, reliable, and outfitted. I've seen many other people around here with DCLB trucks, so I think I'll be fine.
