Realize My Life Has Changed Help

[sfsmedic]

Like stated above I went through the same thing as you. I shopped and weight my options. I looked at the jeeps and the frontiers and the tacos and decided to go with the taco double cab TRD off road. I wanted it as capable as possible in stock form as well as able to haul the load of stuff that comes along with the kids. The frontier was a tad to small for car seats in the back seat and me comfortable in the front. The jeep was more than a capable trail rig but didn't have enough room for all the stuff that comes with kids let alone camping and kids.

I went from this

To this

And couldn't be happier. You say you want to be as close to dual purpose as possible. From my experience the tacos are pretty easily made into good fast desert rigs and after yesterday I'd say little to nothing HAS to be done to make them very capable trail rigs unless you want to improve departure and approach angle etc.


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[some_dude]

And couldn't be happier. You say you want to be as close to dual purpose as possible. From my experience the tacos are pretty easily made into good fast desert rigs and after yesterday I'd say little to nothing HAS to be done to make them very capable trail rigs unless you want to improve departure and approach angle

+1

Depending upon your definition of "trail" the Tacoma can do a pretty good job in stock form. I had a 4 door/short box for 5 years and it performed really well.

I wheel with a Jeep club from time to time and the only issues I've ran into is ground clearance and approach/departure angles. Even though i technically have better ground clearance than many of them their short chassis get them over ground I high center on, and I once followed them through a bowl that had my front and rear bumpers on the ground with all 4 wheels spinning.

That said, I live in the prairies and the terrain isn't extreme rock crawling country so your mileage may vary.

My plan this winter is to install a long travel kit, high clearance bumpers, some trail armor and a set of 33" tires. The 2" long travel kits seem to be becoming popular with trail guys since they offer more articulation than a simple lift or a "mid" travel kit.

 

[Clutch]

I would look at the Nissan Frontiers too, Total Chaos makes LT kits for them.

http://www.chaosfab.com/

http://www.expeditionportal.com/veh...-vfotw-flippac-outfitted-nissan-frontier.html

 

[sfsmedic]

The frontiers back seats are to small for car seats.


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[Clutch]

The frontiers back seats are to small for car seats.


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Ahh, didn't know...I never been inside one.

 

[sfsmedic]

That was the only problem I saw with them.


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[Crom]

Plus one for the Tacoma Double cab short bed. I bought mine in 2009 before my daughter was born in 2010. The second one will be here in less than two months. It's a wonderful truck and really performs well.

 

[resqd1]

Man seems a lot of guys are leaning towards the taco, wish they werent so pricey, we sold our ext cab 2002 trd to pay for the 2006 4runner sport for my wife, but that is her grocery getter and she wont let me drag it through the brush and put fenders on it . I was hoping there were some more "seasoned" vehicles that I may have not thought of. Weird no one has mentioned the explorer with a TTB front end on it. I was leaning that way but no one mentioned it, wonder why.

 

[sfsmedic]

TTB is great for long travel desert stuff but very expensive to make strong for crawling from my understanding. Did you see the pic of my avalanche up above? That's got TTBs on the front, cut, Lengthened and turned.


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[resqd1]

yeah I saw that truck when it was for sale i believe.

 

[Clutch]

Man seems a lot of guys are leaning towards the taco, wish they werent so pricey, we sold our ext cab 2002 trd to pay for the 2006 4runner sport for my wife, but that is her grocery getter and she wont let me drag it through the brush and put fenders on it . I was hoping there were some more "seasoned" vehicles that I may have not thought of. Weird no one has mentioned the explorer with a TTB front end on it. I was leaning that way but no one mentioned it, wonder why.

Probably because this is more an "expedition" forum, and not Race Dezert or Dezert Rangers, plus Tacos are very popular here, people tend not to think outside the box.

It all comes down to how much money you want to spend, and what compromises you are willing to deal with...as there really isn't a "Do-It-All" vehicle...especially combining high speed desert and rock crawling, kinda at the either end of the spectrum there. Almost need two vehicles...or decide what direction you want to go. Have to compromise somewhere.

Anyway here is some Explorer p0rn: :ylsmoke:



could always do a Sport Trac, pick those up cheap...



Or how's about a full size Bronco? Nice short wheelbase, decent break over angles....damn near bolt on LT TTB's...
a bit of pain to get the kiddies in and out while they are in car seats, but plenty of room on the inside.

http://www.off-roadweb.com/tech/1207or_enlightened_ttb_camburg_long_travel_juice_bronco/viewall.html

 

[resqd1]

If sprt tracs werent so ugly..... yeah i know what you mean hard to do it all, but it doesnt hurt to try . Thought about the bronco but like having the four doors.

 

[sfsmedic]

yeah I saw that truck when it was for sale i believe.

It's going back up of sale as soon as the dash is done. I can't say how happy I am with my yota and just don't have room for two vehicles in my family life.


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[Clutch]

If sprt tracs werent so ugly..... yeah i know what you mean hard to do it all, but it doesnt hurt to try . Thought about the bronco but like having the four doors.

of course these would suck for rock crawling...

This Centurion was for sale a while back in the neighborhood of
$10K or something like that...



this F250 has LT TTB 50 under there, plenty beefy...

 

[resqd1]

yeah too long