Mountain Vehicle Toyota or Jeep

[Nick Muche]

Got a Taco and a 4Runner, love them both!

 

[Aron Snyder]

Yep, the Taco has aftermarket uppers, but the artculation is too much for the axle shafts. It's not the Toyota's fault, but more the lift is to big and the power/angle/torque is to much.

 

[ssliger]

I love my Rubicon Unlimited!

 

[fillthefreezer]

ive never had a jeep, had lots of toyotas. from stock to mild lift to sitting on 40's and 1 tons with 160ft of tube. they were all tough and went ALOT of places. the 1 ton diesel is the woods rig for the last few years and it goes just fine, only time it really brings the suck is when you have to turn around though.
ive really had my eye on a rubicon LJ. 35s, maybe 37s. metal cloaks. winch. bumpers. skids. F ya.

 

[Nick Muche]

I'm driving my ford POS sport trac into the ground and have been thinking along the same; Toyota? Nissan? Jeep? SUV? Pickup? I like the Tacoma but would need a shell and that would probably kill MPG or a 4runner or xterra but the xterra may be too small.

My 2013 Taco with a 3" lift, oversized tires/rims and a shell is getting 18.5 to 19 mpg.

 

[Sundodger]

My current hunting/fishing/camping rig is a 1st gen 4runner. It's really perfect for me, small, light, narrow, good fuel economy, reliable, and I can still sleep in the back easily (I am just over 6'). A number of the places I hunt and fish on the coast my rig is as wide as you can get down the trail, it's nice that it cuts down on the traffic since other than sami’s and ATV’s there is not much smaller. If I had to replace it with a new rig I would go with a 4 door Rubicon or F-150 ecoboost.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

I've had a couple Toyotas and a couple Jeeps.

My last Toyota was a 2003 Tacoma Crew Cab. Great little backcountry truck when you put all terrains and a shell on it. My buddy has the newer (post 2005) Tacoma and it is not the same truck - too big for trails IMHO. If they still made the old Taco I would buy it.

I've had two four-door Wranglers. Currently drive an orange 2011 Wrangler Unlimited Sport and love it. I've taken these to Moab and they will basically go wherever you need to go.

Until someone makes another small trail worthy truck again, I will probably buy Jeeps.

 

[bowinhand]

Nick, is that city/low speed, highway mileage or an average? Cool rig by the way, that's what I was pondering for my next rig. I wonder if they make carbon fiber truck bed shells?

 

[bbrown]

Yep, the Taco has aftermarket uppers, but the artculation is too much for the axle shafts. It's not the Toyota's fault, but more the lift is to big and the power/angle/torque is to much.

Ha - not too many people get to say their Taco has too much power/torque. I think AllPro and a few others make upgraded/beefed up half shafts if you wanted.

Nick - I really like how that looks.

Sometimes I miss my '06 (6 speed TRD with on 30K miles) that was totaled out when some dumb chick did not see me and turned in front of me on a straight 4 lane highway. But it was pretty much a pavement queen, frat boy truck with a crap lift that rode like crap.

 

[cmeier117]

Toyota, never owned a jeep. Mine is a 1993 with lockers and hasn't failed me yet.

 

[Nick Muche]

That is mainly an average of highway and dirt roads... I don't do much city driving, if any. That truck is the best thing I have ever spent my money on. Been stuck twice and both times I was able to get out of it without any help from another rig... Great little trucks!

 

[bowinhand]

Been stuck twice and both times I was able to get out of it without any help from another rig... Great little trucks!

Reminds me of my old 4runner

 

[Rizzy]

Unless your planning on rock crawling, I would refrain from the lift kits and oversize tires. That is the root of all problems with the trucks, especially tacomas, it reduces the life of the truck significantly. Changing the geometry of the driveline and suspension wears everything out faster, and the oversize tires eat wheel bearings, bushings, and steering components. I know no one wants to hear this, but I'm speaking from experience here
When your vehicle outlasts the payments, life is good
There has yet to be anywhere I went with my lifted truck that I haven't been able to go with my stock taco. The big jump in capability is with my dads jeep that he built from the frame up for rock crawling. I don't know if that's really a jeep anymore though.
I will say if your looking for a stock vehicle that is reliable and capable you can't beat a tacoma, if you want something you can mod out to be more capable then start with a Rubicon.

 

[fillthefreezer]

Unless your planning on rock crawling, I would refrain from the lift kits and oversize tires. That is the root of all problems with the trucks, especially tacomas, it reduces the life of the truck significantly. Changing the geometry of the driveline and suspension wears everything out faster, and the oversize tires eat wheel bearings, bushings, and steering components. I know no one wants to hear this, but I'm speaking from experience here
When your vehicle outlasts the payments, life is good
There has yet to be anywhere I went with my lifted truck that I haven't been able to go with my stock taco. The big jump in capability is with my dads jeep that he built from the frame up for rock crawling. I don't know if that's really a jeep anymore though.
I will say if your looking for a stock vehicle that is reliable and capable you can't beat a tacoma, if you want something you can mod out to be more capable then start with a Rubicon.

stock vehicle, how about snow? navigate washouts with significant approach and departure angles. anything that has significant breakover angle. downed logs. etc
these are things i often encounter that would not be capable in a stock vehicle. my truck sits on 36s and in the winter im always sweetly reminiscing of my 40s.
it gets me half tempted to the old 4mpg ford on 44s out 8)

 

[huntography]

I'll be the oddball here say I love my 03 Dodge Durango. Been good to me traveling the country.

But, I've always drooled over hooking up a Tacoma or Tundra. Love the pics of some of your rides.

Rudy

 

[shaun]

Shaun, what kind of chip/tuner/jets are you running to get a sub 4.5 second 1/4 mile from that monster??? A z06 is no joke to smoke!

KMD a better question is what haven't I done haha parts are pretty much as follows.
Elite Diesel Injectors, Rails, Stage 2 compound turbos, Deleted dpf cat and egr of course, Fass Fuel system feeding everything, transmission, spartain diesel 375horse tune and a 350 shot of go go juice. Plus all other work that goes along with these to keep motor together (studs etc)

 

[alecvg]

I love Tacoma's, and was planning on buying one, but I wasn't willing to make payments so I bought an 87 chevy. Like it too, and will probably keep it after I eventually get a Taco.

 

[bbrown]

KMD a better question is what haven't I done haha parts are pretty much as follows.
Elite Diesel Injectors, Rails, Stage 2 compound turbos, Deleted dpf cat and egr of course, Fass Fuel system feeding everything, transmission, spartain diesel 375horse tune and a 350 shot of go go juice. Plus all other work that goes along with these to keep motor together (studs etc)

Damn - how do you still have a license might be a better question? Ha

 

[shaun]

I don't drive it as a daily driver anymore I have a company vehicle that I drive daily for work. But it is nice to jump in it and let her stretch her legs a little on weekends.

 

[flyinsquirel]

Damn - how do you still have a license might be a better question? Ha

Or how do you pass smog?? Mariposa registration? 375 without the juice sounds low to me with all those mods. Fess up!