High?? Mileage Tacomas

[mtnbike28]

During the test drive...

The e-locker has a habit of "freezing" when not used. Many of these trucks never have it engaged and then it stops working. Mine stopped working and I used it at least every two months.... Just make sure during the test drive, you go in Lo 4wd and try it, the light should be solid when engaged, not blinking!

hth

 

[Martinjmpr]

Hi,

I don't want to start a new thread before asking this here...does this apply to 3rd Gen 4runners as well? I've been checking those out too and see many with over 150K in my price range.

Thanks!

Yes, they are basically the same platform, same engine and tranny, axles, etc. The 4runner has a more sophisticated rear suspension (4 link w/coils vs the Taco's leaf springs) but other than that they are very similar. FWIW the 4runners were built in Japan while all of the Tacos were built in the US.

Being a "car" as opposed to a "truck" the 4runners also seem to be a little more "plush." I don't think I've ever seen a 3rd gen 4runner with manual-crank windows, for example. Remote keyless entry was also standard at least after 1999 (there were big changes to the 4runner starting with the 99 model year.) I believe AC was also standard on 4runners (although to be fair I don't think I've ever seen a 1st gen Taco that didn't have AC.)

I think one other difference you might find is that AFAIK the locking rear diff only came on the Taco with the TRD package (I may be wrong but every factory e-locker Taco I've seen was a TRD.) OTOH, the locker was a fairly common option on even the SR5 (i.e. base model) 3rd gen 4runners up through 2000 (the e-locker was not available on the 2001-2002 4runner.)

The other chief difference between the 1st gen Taco and the 3rd gen 4runner is that the 4runner was available with a "multi-mode" Transfer case that permitted full time 4wd use on paved roads (basically like AWD.) On the 99 - 2000 models this T-case was only available with the "limited" package, but starting in 2001 it was standard on all 4wd 4runners.

In terms of reliability and longevity, though, they are very much comparable. There are lots of folks who have 200k+ on 3rd gen 4runners with all of the original running gear. My 3rd gen has 122k on it and is still running strong, and still feels "tight."

 

[Stealth 4x4]

We bought our D-cab new as a TRD Prerunner, and were initially bummed we could not get it in a 5-speed manual. But since then we have learned to love the auto trans as well. It does make some things easier, but more importantly it has held up to some hard trail abuse, and hard pulling duty hauling trailers full of firewood through the mountains. The auto has proven itself to me. I think a d-cab Taco is a great choice, because I own an '03 in silver (converted to 4wd, with a few other mods). Check out my build thread to see what mine looks like these days. http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115481 Jump on in and join the '01-04 D-cab taco club!

And while you are taking care of the general maintenance, go ahead and clean up the throttle body and run your favorite fuel system cleaning to clear up the fuel injectors. Some Taco owners neglect to do that, and it does effect fuel economy.

Only other advice I can offer about owning/wheeling a D-cab is that they are heavy, so you might want to keep weight savings in mind as you build it up - so tube instead of plate bumpers, synth winch line instead of cable, stuff like that. I pulled out the back seat to gain cargo space and cut weight as well, but my family is just the wife and I, so 2 seats is plenty.