Thinking New hunting truck

[darcytribe]

Can you run cam lock V bar chains all the way around?

Side question- I recall reading a thread years ago about a recommended tire chai manufacturer that was out west, Wyoming I believe. Do you happen to know what the name of that business is.

 

[PNWGATOR]

I use Blue Jay Industrial in Hayden, ID for all of my chain needs. They make them for everything from skidders to snow blowers and everything in between. I’ve had great customer service and their prices are fair.

 

[Roofer1]

Just got back from a guided New Mexico hunt. Guide had a 2019 Tacoma with minimal mods. He took that thing in places I'd be nervous to run my SxS. Go for it.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Best friend bought a 2009 Tacoma SR5 brand new. Still owns it to this day and it has zero rust and has been bulletproof pheasant and whitetail hunting off roads in Iowa. Great truck, and agree with everybody about the advantage of being more nimble than a full size. He stepped up a size in tire height and went with a middle of the road AT after the stock tires wore out. It makes great traction and has good ground clearance.

 

[WRO]

Best hunting truck imho, make sure it's a v6, upgrade the rear leaf springs to ome mediums, and get some bilstein 6112/5160s and better tires. I have the 8112/8110s and they're awesome, but they're 6k over you do the upper control arms.

Also don't get factory running boards or predator steps, you'll tear them off (did it) get some good bolt on sliders.

I don't have a locker, (had one on my old truck) but I never use it.

I'd look harder at a 16 or 17 as they don't have all the bullshit sensors. 13-15s are awesome as well, that 4.0 is a better engine imho and you can supercharge it.

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[philson208]

I own a dodge 2500 & Toyota 4runner. I have hunted out of both and much prefer the yota for its size and capabilities vs a full size truck.

 

[Marmots]

Can you run cam lock V bar chains all the way around?

No, the control arms on Tacomas don't allow for any kind of chain up front. It's my single least favorite thing about the truck.


I've fit cam lock v bars on the front tires of my 2010 once, but that was to crawl straight out of a ditch with the wheels pointed straight ahead.

 

[Eyeman]

No, the control arms on Tacomas don't allow for any kind of chain up front. It's my single least favorite thing about the truck.


I've fit cam lock v bars on the front tires of my 2010 once, but that was to crawl straight out of a ditch with the wheels pointed straight ahead.

Have you tried wheel spacers?
I put them on in case I needed to use chains but have not tried the chains on yet.
Any input?

 

[WRO]

No, the control arms on Tacomas don't allow for any kind of chain up front. It's my single least favorite thing about the truck.


I've fit cam lock v bars on the front tires of my 2010 once, but that was to crawl straight out of a ditch with the wheels pointed straight ahead.

Huh, I put them on mine before I stuffed bigger tires on it.

 

[CoStick]

The new tacomazilla looks awesome. I have a 09 SR5 and take it where most TRD have never been. Great truck

 

[zion zig zag]

I just went from a stock 13 Silverado 1500, to a stock Tacoma (no more towing, kids are grown, etc.) and it's surprising how good it is off road. Outside of some better AT tires, I probably won't change much. It's more capable of going places than I am willing to take it there.

 

[The Ri Guy]

Tacoma's are great, Colorado ZR2's are better.

 

[WRO]

Tacoma's are great, Colorado ZR2's are better.

Based on what?

It's not reliability, resale, or build quality.

They have more options I'll give them that, but they'll be in the shop more long run..

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[Eyeman]

Tacoma's are great, Colorado ZR2's are better.

I ALMOST sold my Taco and got the diesel zr2.
Im thinking the reliability factor on the Taco is better though.
Do you have the diesel?

 

[The Ri Guy]

Based on what?

It's not reliability, resale, or build quality.

They have more options I'll give them that, but they'll be in the shop more long run..

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I ALMOST sold my Taco and got the diesel zr2.
Im thinking the reliability factor on the Taco is better though.
Do you have the diesel?

This is all personal experience + opinion -- YMMV.

We have a 2010 Tacoma (Stick, approaching 200k miles on it) and a 2017 ZR2 Diesel (60k miles on it). We are the original owners of both vehicles, and we follow best maintenance practices and do check-ups regularly for both rigs.

Tacoma is in the shop with problems 10:1 over the ZR2, constant sensor and electrical problems even after replacing them multiple times. In terms of reliability, I give it to the ZR2 handily, granted issues with the Tacoma didn't start until ~2019 and the ZR2 we've had for ~1/3 the time.

In terms of resale, we bought the ZR2 for $40k in June 2017 and a Dealer offered us $29k in trade in as of last week. The Tacoma we bought for much less, but it has tremendous resale value still, especially being a manual. I give them a tie there for now. Expect the ZR2 to maintain it's value as they're not offering the diesel engine for much longer in that package apparently.

In terms of build quality, impossible to say until they're equal time of ownership and equal mileage, but we've had no major negative issues with either short of the last two years of Tacoma problems. The ZR2 came with one damaged injector from the factory (damaged in transport, dealer took care of it when it got to the lot).

We get 30 MPG cruising on the highway with the ZR2, Tacoma can't touch it in that regard. Even better after tuning.

If I had to pick one over the other, it would be the ZR2 all day long. Way better mileage, way better visibility (sits much higher), way better power, just as quiet, more modern features without being overly chipped out to the point you can't work on it yourself, and most importantly a significantly better ride. Standard front and rear manual electronic lockers, optional bumper and winch upgrades from the factory, and still tows 5K with the tricked out suspension. I will say, the Tacoma has vastly superior cup-holders, but that's the only thing its got going for it over the ZR2 IMO.

The ZR2 is the perfect hunting rig for 2 guys, I never have any desire to drive the Taco over it for any reason other than being a manual.

 

[hobbes]

I had an 06 Tacoma double cab short bed TRD from 08 up until 2020 when I bought a used Tundra. The Tacoma had 230,000 miles on it still going strong. I drove it all over the mountains of Colorado, Pine Ridge in Nebraska, and east to west in Montana. I chained up in Colorado snow deeper than I thought I could go through, Montana ice that I should have never gotten on, and fought my way through Nebraska and Montanan mud slicker than I realized existed.

I preferred it in off-road situations over the Tundra because of its size. I went with the Tundra because traveling to hunt with a buddy across state, sometimes with a couple bird dogs, was a very tight fit. It did it but it was uncomfortable.

My son was buying the Tacoma from me at bargain price, so I'd planned to still use it occasionally for a couple nasty roads that I hunt from. However, he totaled it last summer. I was just glad she came through for me again and kept him in one piece and alive.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy one for a hunting truck.

 

[WRO]

This is all personal experience + opinion -- YMMV.

We have a 2010 Tacoma (Stick, approaching 200k miles on it) and a 2017 ZR2 Diesel (60k miles on it). We are the original owners of both vehicles, and we follow best maintenance practices and do check-ups regularly for both rigs.

Tacoma is in the shop with problems 10:1 over the ZR2, constant sensor and electrical problems even after replacing them multiple times. In terms of reliability, I give it to the ZR2 handily, granted issues with the Tacoma didn't start until ~2019 and the ZR2 we've had for ~1/3 the time.

In terms of resale, we bought the ZR2 for $40k in June 2017 and a Dealer offered us $29k in trade in as of last week. The Tacoma we bought for much less, but it has tremendous resale value still, especially being a manual. I give them a tie there for now. Expect the ZR2 to maintain it's value as they're not offering the diesel engine for much longer in that package apparently.

In terms of build quality, impossible to say until they're equal time of ownership and equal mileage, but we've had no major negative issues with either short of the last two years of Tacoma problems. The ZR2 came with one damaged injector from the factory (damaged in transport, dealer took care of it when it got to the lot).

We get 30 MPG cruising on the highway with the ZR2, Tacoma can't touch it in that regard. Even better after tuning.

If I had to pick one over the other, it would be the ZR2 all day long. Way better mileage, way better visibility (sits much higher), way better power, just as quiet, more modern features without being overly chipped out to the point you can't work on it yourself, and most importantly a significantly better ride. Standard front and rear manual electronic lockers, optional bumper and winch upgrades from the factory, and still tows 5K with the tricked out suspension. I will say, the Tacoma has vastly superior cup-holders, but that's the only thing its got going for it over the ZR2 IMO.

The ZR2 is the perfect hunting rig for 2 guys, I never have any desire to drive the Taco over it for any reason other than being a manual.

I paid 34k new for my 16 tacoma, I was offered 32k for it with 90k hard miles last month.

It'll be interesting to see how the zr2 holds up long term..

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[Jon C]

Tacoma's are great, Colorado ZR2's are better.

I’d break the Colorado if I got ten feet from it. I can’t drive any Chevy built in the last 15 years for more than 200 miles without going to a mechanic.

 

[Trial153]

I’m not waiting around for things to get better, they might not, you only have just so many days. Thanks

Amen

 

[IdahoElk]

Make sure you tart it up with all the overland accessories and weigh it down even further to make that little powerplant really work!

Supercharger and gears will fix that quick