Toyota vs SxS

[Ramem7mm]

Yes driving home is definitely a concern. I used my truck on an Aoudad hunt in Texas this year where the main road to get to the hunting locations were cut for a side by side. The truck handled the terrain just fine but it did bottom out a couple times and the Texas bushes put some gnarly pin stripes down the side of it as well. Guess that's why I got it though is to use it.

 

[180ls1]

That's a "big" leap.

Consider a suzuki sidekick/ geo tracker / related.

 

[WRO]

I ran a 2016 though multiple suspension set ups, the bilstein 8100/8110 with UCAs and OME rear leafs is where I ended up. Best suspension for the money and covered road just as well as off road.

You’ll want a high clearance front bumper with a winch, sliders are a must, and a high clearance rear bumper.

Make sure your wheel offset allows you to run chains and get the rear locker. Skinny 32s are my favorites. Get 16 or 17” wheels.


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[ctafoya]

I would go closed cab (Defender/Expedition) or a 4 runner. I have a RZR Pro R and an XP4 Turbo and HATE hunting out of them. I'm selling the XP soon to free up funds to go another route. I like the idea of a 4 runner more to haul more gear and keep it dry and clean. Cheaper than going with a closed cab SXS and it will last a lot longer.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Then I thought about buying a Tacoma. Something in the 2012-2015 range with around 100k miles. I would get a good suspension installed on it so it rides more like a SxS.

The Toyota route would cost the most. But I also see it lasting longer. I haven’t priced out a suspension since I don’t even know which one I would want yet. I can get a truck in decent shape with 100k miles for around $20k most days. $10k more for the suspension? And I’m at $30k. I would hope to easily get another 100k miles out of the Toyota. I could also just drive the Toyota from the house and skip trailering the SxS.

Am I missing anything? Is a good suspension more like $20k? Anyone ditch the SxS for a pickup with a good aftermarket suspension?

I'd take the pickup. I would spend a lil less for a huntin truck. You would be amazed how far in you can worm a cheap pickup that you dont care about. Even more so if you get one in a nice scratch free color..white,tan,white,silver,white are all fairly scratch free colors.

I'd round up a 1st or 2nd gen tacoma and be into the thing for $10k-$12k. Toss maybe a grand into it to get the thing solid. Lot less plastic and gizmo's on the older rigs...

I'm not happy with my bilstein suspension. I'll probly go kings and a some deavers next time around.

You could put together a pretty badass lil rig for under $20k


The other horrible thought that has bouncing around my head lately. $10k-$12k-ish on a 6.2l f250. Give carli some money. Trim for 37's. If your patient you can find rigs with 4.30's in them. Most seem to have an E-locker. Would also make for a pretty legit rig for around $20k

 

[RichardSkinner]

This is exactly why I hunt from my 1st gen 4runner. It can handle hardcore rock crawling trails, is street legal, and everything has been upgraded. Hunting trips aren't going to break it.

A first gen taco is a fantastic base for a hunting rig and you can fit way more gear than a SXS.

 

[JakeSCH]

No wrong answer, just depends on how you hunt and how you want to hunt. Both options are good tools and I would look at it like this:

A) SxS: If you like to set up a primary camp and do day trips from that camp, do not move campsites often, hunt in a place with many narrow 2 tracks or OHV only roads, more comfortable on rough trails, can get you closer to animal for shorter packouts.

B) Taco: Want to be able to move camp quicker, travel further on day hunts, want something a little more reliable / easier to get parts / faster to repair.

Doesn't mean a lot, but might mean a little that I own 2 off-road shops (first one focuses on jeeps / taco's / trucks - doing lift kits, regearing, etc and the second shop focuses on SxS upgrades / repairs).

I have taken SxS (especially with snow tracks) to places I would have never get a truck to...but they do break and getting parts can be annoying...but they are easy to work on.

Why not get both!

 

[dirtytough]

I debated the same thing and ended up with a Toyota due to the fact that most places I hunt I can drive a truck to and don't need to use a side by side to get to harder spots. The Toyota stock suspension is pretty good as well so you may not necessarily need to change it out. The SXS suspension is much better and you can cover ground much quicker however you just have to weigh out your options and what fits your needs best. Good luck.

I’ve ridden in Toyotas and they aren’t as comfortable as my F150. Which is way off from my SxS. I could get anywhere I would want in a stock vehicle. It would either be really slow or rough.

That's a "big" leap.

Consider a suzuki sidekick/ geo tracker / related.

Those won’t work for what I want.

I ran a 2016 though multiple suspension set ups, the bilstein 8100/8110 with UCAs and OME rear leafs is where I ended up. Best suspension for the money and covered road just as well as off road.

You’ll want a high clearance front bumper with a winch, sliders are a must, and a high clearance rear bumper.

Make sure your wheel offset allows you to run chains and get the rear locker. Skinny 32s are my favorites. Get 16 or 17” wheels.


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Not rock crawling or anything like that. I won’t need high clearance or sliders. Think muddy BLM type roads with ruts etc. Or rocky roads a stock truck can make it through but you might break a tooth or drive 2 mph.

I would go closed cab (Defender/Expedition) or a 4 runner. I have a RZR Pro R and an XP4 Turbo and HATE hunting out of them. I'm selling the XP soon to free up funds to go another route. I like the idea of a 4 runner more to haul more gear and keep it dry and clean. Cheaper than going with a closed cab SXS and it will last a lot longer.

If I was to go SxS I would probably get a Commander or Defender. But overall a vehicle would be more useful. A 4 runner won’t work. I will put a topper on the truck if I go that direction.

Why not get both!

If I had the room I probably would. That’s on the list also. A piece of property and building a shop.

Pretty sure I’m going to sell the SxS and get a Toyota. Put a more comfortable suspension under it and hope it is close enough ride wise I won’t be disappointed. I saw a used Defender pop up and it was $33k. If I knew it would last 50k miles I would probably buy something like that. I have my doubts it would last 25k miles though.

 

[Steve300xcw]

sxs money is just insane to me.

for what you are doin, I'd round up a rig with a factory locker and 3 pedals. Never heard anybody bitch about king or icon suspension.

You will still be well below this $30k you are talkin about

 

[WRO]

I'm not happy with my bilstein suspension. I'll probly go kings and a some deavers next time around.

Which bilsteins? I have run the 5100s, 6112s, and 8100s. The 5100s I hated.

 

[WRO]

I’ve ridden in Toyotas and they aren’t as comfortable as my F150. Which is way off from my SxS. I could get anywhere I would want in a stock vehicle. It would either be really slow or rough.

Those won’t work for what I want.

Not rock crawling or anything like that. I won’t need high clearance or sliders. Think muddy BLM type roads with ruts etc. Or rocky roads a stock truck can make it through but you might break a tooth or drive 2 mph.

If I was to go SxS I would probably get a Commander or Defender. But overall a vehicle would be more useful. A 4 runner won’t work. I will put a topper on the truck if I go that direction.

If I had the room I probably would. That’s on the list also. A piece of property and building a shop.

Pretty sure I’m going to sell the SxS and get a Toyota. Put a more comfortable suspension under it and hope it is close enough ride wise I won’t be disappointed. I saw a used Defender pop up and it was $33k. If I knew it would last 50k miles I would probably buy something like that. I have my doubts it would last 25k miles though.

Sliders will save your bed and quarter panels, I don’t rock crawl at all. Sliders have definitely saved some damage and bolt ons aren’t much more there steps which I’ve destroyed on every truck.

High clearance are nice for increasing approach angles in washouts etc, plus a winch is really nice to have when you need it.

 

[Scottf270]

There are several 2024 Kawasaki Ridge HVAC utvs for sale. I'm seeing prices as low as $21,000 including fees.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Which bilsteins? I have run the 5100s, 6112s, and 8100s. The 5100s I hated.

6112's on the front, 5100's rear.

Rides like ass. Like my very blowed out 140k mile, been jumped at 60+mph oem crap rode better. Easily hands down the worst purchase I have ever made. And I dont have them cranked up all that much...

Gutted the OME springs and it helped but the front just sucks. If I could do it over, I would never spend the money on that crap

Been lookin into kings, and a spring under, long shackle deaver setup. Not quite there yet though

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I went with a tacoma when faced with the same choice. Found a 2015 with 40k miles for 20k last year. Freaking love it.

 

[SloppyJ]

I like your plan and if the trails you go on allow it, I think its a better setup. Get some Kings or upper end Fox remote reservoirs, control arms, and the works.

However, the cabbed Rangers are pretty damn nice too! If you travel far, it'd sure be easier trailering a side by side rather than an entire vehicle.

 

[Fowl Play]

Just to throw this out there in case “street legal” is a major concern. A Montana LLC will allow you to bypass sales tax, get plates, get full insurance, etc on a side by side. That plus blinker, horn, mirrors makes that vehicle street legal in most states. Double check state particulars though as it doesn’t work everywhere. Colorado being one out west. But I have driven my Montana plates side by sides in many states, that do not allow the registering of a side by side on their own, with no issues.

 

[Steve300xcw]

If you travel far, it'd sure be easier trailering a side by side rather than an entire vehicle.

I have read, that some people will actually drive a rig down the hiway. Then onto the backroads. Then onto the dirt roads and its on... Then they will even drive the rig home......

 

[CorbLand]

Which bilsteins? I have run the 5100s, 6112s, and 8100s. The 5100s I hated.

I had the 5100s on my old Tundra. Fantastic on the pavement. Fantastically horrible on dirt. 10/10 do not recommend.

 

[dirtytough]

sxs money is just insane to me.

for what you are doin, I'd round up a rig with a factory locker and 3 pedals. Never heard anybody bitch about king or icon suspension.

You will still be well below this $30k you are talkin about

$30k was an estimate without much research. Obviously I would be fine if it was less haha.

Agreed on the price of SxS. Crazy to think a used one is selling for $30k plus.

I went with a tacoma when faced with the same choice. Found a 2015 with 40k miles for 20k last year. Freaking love it.

Have you done anything to the suspension or is it still stock?

I like your plan and if the trails you go on allow it, I think it’s a better setup. Get some Kings or upper end Fox remote reservoirs, control arms, and the works.

However, the cabbed Rangers are pretty damn nice too! If you travel far, it'd sure be easier trailering a side by side rather than an entire vehicle.

SxS are nice ride wise for sure.

I probably wouldn’t trailer this much if I got a truck. I’m thinking a Toyota version of a Raptor. If it wasn’t reliable or comfortable enough for me to make a 20 hour trip I wouldn’t really want it.

Just to throw this out there in case “street legal” is a major concern. A Montana LLC will allow you to bypass sales tax, get plates, get full insurance, etc on a side by side. That plus blinker, horn, mirrors makes that vehicle street legal in most states. Double check state particulars though as it doesn’t work everywhere. Colorado being one out west. But I have driven my Montana plates side by sides in many states, that do not allow the registering of a side by side on their own, with no issues.

My SxS is street legal. I’ve used it in multiple states around the west without issue. Definitely worth it depending how you use it.

 

[SloppyJ]

I have read, that some people will actually drive a rig down the hiway. Then onto the backroads. Then onto the dirt roads and its on... Then they will even drive the rig home......

I've had my fair share of offroad trucks and jeeps. There are none of them id drive more than an hour or two away.

Some people have 10+hr trips to get to where theyre hunting.....