How capable IS a Tacoma?

[XJxplorer]

Okay, it may be heresy here to ask but why are you going to lift it if that's all you do? I do trails up to 4/5 (on the traildamage.com 1-10 scale) in my 04 Tacoma and it's bone stock, except for the tires.

I def have been in areas with the XJ that needed the lift.. I guess I don't JUST stick to backroads and what not.. Some of the roads are rated circle, square, or diamond(like ski runs) and I am frequently on the square rated roads... If the road is pretty bad, but I want to get to whatever is at the other end, I will take that road.. I have friends with stock ext cab tacomas and they couldn't go where I go, sometimes. We have tried and it didn't turn out to well.. So that is why I would lift it... I would be going to a 265 tire which is only 1" taller than the stock tire.

For the price of a lift kit you can put a lot of gas into that 4 cyl motor, or you can put the money into other mods that you will get more use out of. Storage? RTT? Shell?

A bed rug, and a SnugTop shell are on the first list of mods, as well.

I have to ask - have you ever owned a single-cab pickup before? Because you will find out very quickly just how inconvenient it can be to have ZERO storage ability in the cab. Especially if you have the manual transmission (which takes up floor space) and are carrying a passenger. If you go this way I would seriously recommend either a shell/topper or a toolbox in the bed to carry your stuff.

I have actually been paying attention to what I bring with me and what I use the back seat for in the XJ a lot, lately. My conclusion, is that I don't use it for anything.. It has been empty for the last month. The only thing I will ever take with me in the jeep is a drink or some food. If I go camping/fishing/snowboarding or whatever, the shell will be there.

The 05+ reg cabs are actually larger than previous years.. I am 6' 200lbs and I actually have to slide the seat forward to comfortably use the pedals. If it is pushed back all the way, there is too much room between my feet and the pedals... I had a second job for a while delivering blueprints. The truck I used was a 2005 5lug Taco. I was in the thing for 8 hours 2 days a week. I was really surprised with the room, power, and mileage.

 

[FshTaco99]

I've owned nothing but Jeeps until three months ago. I drove a 99' Xj with a Rusty's 8'', Detroit's, and 4.56's... As my DD. Stock a Cherokee is also very capable. BUT, they do not come with a factory locker, sit lower then the Taco, and are unibody. I purchased a Taco because I got tired of putting dead animals in the back of my Jeep. I work(ed) on a farm and really needed a bed. A regular cab truck is what I originally looked into. You'd be miserable going from the Xj to a regular cab. I'm still adjusting to the extended cab of mine. Personally though, I cannot compare a severally modified Cherokee to a stock 99' Tacoma. Gas prices made me change vehicles... Now I'm stuck with a Jeep no one wants... Everyone will see it forsale on here and NAXJA soon.

 

[sami]

FWIW, i drove an '03 Xtra cab Taco while in Alaska for 8 months. I loved it, but I vowed that if i ever were to get a Taco of my own, it'd be a double cab. I want more space...

 

[maxama10]

While I'm all for the move to the Taco, some things you might want to know.

Throwing on a lift kit isn't as simple as it sounds to get "right"


To really do a lift right on the Tacoma's you need new UCA's. IFS trucks are a little different to lift than with the solid axle XJ

Most people scrape by without them, as you will notice few members on this forum actually have them. Without them though you will run out of adjustment for caster and camber for your alignment. This can cause crappy handling at high speeds and also tire wear as your tires will more than likely(like mine) be pointing inwards \ /

It's really up to you but have it in mind to spend an extra 600$ possibly less for the new UCA's if you're picky about the way your truck drives.


Just something to consider. and IMO the Tacomas are very capable and the rear suspension flex is awesome! I also vote for a locker in front or rear or both!


good luck

 

[XJxplorer]

While I'm all for the move to the Taco, some things you might want to know.

Throwing on a lift kit isn't as simple as it sounds to get "right"


To really do a lift right on the Tacoma's you need new UCA's. IFS trucks are a little different to lift than with the solid axle XJ

Most people scrape by without them, as you will notice few members on this forum actually have them. Without them though you will run out of adjustment for caster and camber for your alignment. This can cause crappy handling at high speeds and also tire wear as your tires will more than likely(like mine) be pointing inwards \ /

It's really up to you but have it in mind to spend an extra 600$ possibly less for the new UCA's if you're picky about the way your truck drives.


Just something to consider. and IMO the Tacomas are very capable and the rear suspension flex is awesome! I also vote for a locker in front or rear or both!


good luck

If I go the Tacoma route, my plan would be....

Allpro/Fox 2.5" coilovers for the front
Camburg UCA OR the Allpro UCA, you get a $100 discount if you order there coilovers and UCA together.
Spindle Gussets
Sway Bar links
OME 3" leafs
Fox rear shocks
265/75/16 OR 235/85/16
4.88 gears(depending on tire size)
Stainless rear extended brakeline
Fab up some new shackle/shackle mounts... They have inverted shackles which limit rear flex considerably.
ARB air lockers front and rear
Allpro front bumper w/warm M800
Snugtop shell
Bed rug

I'm sure there's a few other things I am missing...

If I were to go this route, half of those thing would be done right away and the rest as time goes on.

 

[maxama10]

Well gosh and to think I thought you were talking about capable stock. Throw those parts at anything and its gonna go places! :elkgrin:

Yeah though, steer clear of those camburg arms, they won't fix the alignment problems. Send a PM to Toku58 for more about that if you want to.

The lightracing arms look pretty good.


I'm looking forward to this build and to be honest I'm pretty jealous of that list of parts you've got going on there.

-Max

 

[haven]

Here's a very capable Tacoma, with a few custom parts!

 

[heeltoe989]

Here's a very capable Tacoma, with a few custom parts!

That's awesome! Love the wheels

 

[jh504]

I have owned two older tacomas and I am currently driving an XJ with a 6" lift. My vote would be for the 01-04 body style for sure, but I am biased. If I had the money to throw at a new tacoma verses the old, it would definitley be the old with low miles. I would get an 04 extended or 4-door with the e-locker. Add a 3" lift and go anywhere you want. I did have trouble with the stock ground clearance and departure angles. A 3" lift went a long way to remedy that.
But then again, if the XJ is payed for I would keep it! Which is excactly why I am driving my XJ. No monthly payments means more money for trips, modfications etc. My XJ has 170,000 on it and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it X country, wheel it, and drive back home. A well taken care of (and well cooled) XJ will last a long time.

 

[XJxplorer]

Is it possible to run the Rubicon with 3" and 265's in a Tacoma??

 

[a.mus.ed]

My vote would be for the 01-04 body style for sure, but I am biased. If I had the money to throw at a new tacoma verses the old, it would definitley be the old with low miles.

X2
I've owned an '01 and an '07. There's no question about it, I'd take the '01-'04 over the '05 and up, even if they were the same price.

 

[XJxplorer]

X2
I've owned an '01 and an '07. There's no question about it, I'd take the '01-'04 over the '05 and up, even if they were the same price.

In your opinion, why is that??

I have not owned either, but have driven both and I am leaning towards the 05+ because of the space, mainly.. And it felt like there was more power.

 

[calamaridog]

Is it possible to run the Rubicon with 3" and 265's in a Tacoma??

I recall several IFS Taco's have run the Rubicon, although most of the ones I remember may have been running 285's.

 

[jgolden]

Is it possible to run the Rubicon with 3" and 265's in a Tacoma??

I heard they (toyota marketing) ran the Rubicon in a stock FJ Cruiser? I have nothing to back this up, a friend told me. He also said there's some "either / or" routes on the rubicon.....like an easy way around the difficult stuff.

Can anyone shed more light on this?

 

[mcm4090]

X2
I've owned an '01 and an '07. There's no question about it, I'd take the '01-'04 over the '05 and up, even if they were the same price.

X3. If they were still sell that Generation in 2005 I would still be driving a Taco.