Toyota vs SxS

[dirtytough]

Thinking of selling the SxS and buying a Tacoma. Most of my SxS usage is hunting. Usually either rough rocky roads or muddy roads. I don’t really off-road or anything like that.

I’ve got a 2020 Can-am Maverick. It’s a good machine overall. But there are 3 of us sometimes. It’s not fully enclosed so the wife gets cold. And on the muddy hunts we get covered in mud.

I thought about buying a 4 seat Can-am Commander. That would allow all of us to hunt together. It wouldn’t necessarily fix the mud and the cold though.

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?

 

[jimh406]

Just throwing another option out there, there are 6 seat UTVs with full cabs with AC and Heat like the Polaris Northstar. They aren't cheap either.

Depending on how much you drive on the road, the Tacoma or a Four Runner (or other SUV) could be better since it wouldn't require a trailer.

Old Man EMU suspensions are well liked for Toyotas/Lexus, but I don't have one. They have suspensions from basic to high priced.

 

[CorbLand]

One thing I would make sure that you check on is width restrictions in the areas you will primarily be.

Not sure the width on a Maverick but Tacomas are somewhere around 75 inches wide.

 

[dirtytough]

Yea lots of people have fully enclosed machines out here. I want to say a new Defender Max is like $33k. Would it have the same longevity as a pickup? I doubt it.

One thing I would make sure that you check on is width restrictions in the areas you will primarily be.

Not sure the width on a Maverick but Tacomas are somewhere around 75 inches wide.

I use it on roads. If I got a tag in an area I needed a SxS I would rent one if I went the pickup route.

 

[CorbLand]

Yea lots of people have fully enclosed machines out here. I want to say a new Defender Max is like $33k. Would it have the same longevity as a pickup? I doubt it.


I use it on roads. If I got a tag in an area I needed a SxS I would rent one if I went the pickup route.

If you do it, let me know how it works for you. I have had the same thoughts but either is so far down the road for me, I haven’t really looked into it much.

 

[Duh]

The good suspensions, upper control arm upgrade, and a leaf spring upgrade shouldn’t run you more than 5k on a Tacoma.

I’ve got a 2019 Tacoma with Icon 2.5s on it. The suspension is fun as hell to run across rough terrain fast but it’s still not as smooth as a SXS. The Icons have not held up well in the ND cold and ice melt on the roads. The started leaking around 10k. I’m going to swap them out for a set of Bilsteins because I really wasn’t using the icons to their full potential. There’s also not any well known or reputable shock rebuilders in ND. So when they start leaking, you’ll have to take them off and mail them to a shop to rebuild.

I had the SXS and didn’t use it as much as I thought. Same issues as you mentioned. I bought a sweet jeep TJ and that did everything I wanted but didn’t have enough room. Then I made the switch to a Tacoma and I think I’ll stay with that for a while.

 

[swavescatter]

IMO you give up speed for anything out there except a Raptor, and those don’t fit on many tight trails. There’s no perfect vehicle, but I tend to gravitate to my Jeep the most. Getting to different trailheads in one day might require pavement which is a no go for SXS in my state (mostly). My Jeep is quieter as well. It’ll go anywhere my SXS will and more maybe.

However, on crappy two tracks I’m doing 10mph max in the jeep, 5 mph in my F350 or 20mph in the SXS. Covering ground from a glamp camp might chew up hours each day and a SXS can cut that in half.

Basically you need an HD tow vehicle, SXS and Jeep. And maybe livestock. Also good boots.

My wife and young sons hate the cold so we plan around the SXS or jeep for them. For me, I’m leaning more towards lighter base camp at the end of a gnarly Jeep trail, then boot it from there…

 

[yfarm]

Scouting and hunting in remote areas of NM and Colorado one of the more common vehicles in nasty places is a box stock beat up Toyota pickup with half worn tires. I always chuckle when I see maxed out Jeeps and sxs being trailered to the same spots. Friend took his polaris ranger in for some repairs and dealer tried to get him to trade for anew unit at 30k, was thinking about this exact situation. No question you can cover more distance quicker in a sxs.

 

[dirtytough]

Scouting and hunting in remote areas of NM and Colorado one of the more common vehicles in nasty places is a box stock beat up Toyota pickup with half worn tires. I always chuckle when I see maxed out Jeeps and sxs being trailered to the same spots.

Sure a stock truck can go the places I’m thinking of. I’ve done it in my F150. It’s just slower while not being as comfortable ride wise as a SxS.


After researching it looks like there are decent options out there for Toyota suspensions. It won’t be as nice of a ride as a SxS or Raptor though.

 

[ewade07]

I have a 1999 Rav4 AWD 5pd with the locking differential and i have taken that thing on the shit backroads and it does pretty well. It will crawl up just about anything, is lightweight and the wheel base is pretty much the same as a big SxS.

 

[justinspicher]

I sold a 96 Tacoma single cab about a year ago that took all over the place. It went anywhere I needed to go that I could use an ATV/sxs. It was a rough ride on just about any terrain, to include pavement.

I’d definitely take it over a sxs though if I had a choice.

 

[Weldor]

Same here, I trailer my SxS because the ride is much better than my JKU. I also have a Polaris x2 quad. They all have their quirks and purpose. Arizona has some pretty rough terrain and they all do there job when needed. We can also Drive on paved roads with ATV and UTV.

 

[Cady Creek]

If I had to do it all over, or when I do it all over, I'd go with your exact plan. Like mentioned above, the sxs is a pain due to trailering, noise, temp, etc. I use a 04' Wrangler TJ with 4" Suspension lift and 35" tires. Goes pretty much anywhere, can drive from home to hunting camp, and has heat. However, it has major downfalls as well. Primarily space. We are pretty dedicated archery hunters, in which the Jeep is turned into a one seater. Fitting a SKB hardcase in a Jeep is a task in itself. Fitting a critter in a Jeep is another task. I use a hitch carrier which works until said critter is covered in mud and road grime if not tarped. And, the ride sucks, plus its a slow one at that. Somebody above said there is no perfect vehicle, but you're on the right track imo. I bought a cheap Tahoe prior to the Jeep which worked great, until it didn't. Factory stock didn't help the cause there though.

 

[Weldor]

I've been down the CJ, YJ, TJ, and the JKU. They all work, but like said above no space. I towed all but the JKU. That worked out the best. Truck handles all the gear, the Jeep handles the rough stuff. The JKU has more room if you rack it, but we all know you load them down they have limited range between fill-ups. My back prefers the SxS, but it's 64 years old and broke twice. LOL.

 

[Poser]

In terms of just front and rear suspension, you don't need to spend 10k. Now, if you are going to rely on the suspension to get you where you're going, I'd absolutely plan on replacing the UCAs, LCAs, tye rods etc at the same time on a used truck.

 

[KurtR]

The good suspensions, upper control arm upgrade, and a leaf spring upgrade shouldn’t run you more than 5k on a Tacoma.

I’ve got a 2019 Tacoma with Icon 2.5s on it. The suspension is fun as hell to run across rough terrain fast but it’s still not as smooth as a SXS. The Icons have not held up well in the ND cold and ice melt on the roads. The started leaking around 10k. I’m going to swap them out for a set of Bilsteins because I really wasn’t using the icons to their full potential. There’s also not any well known or reputable shock rebuilders in ND. So when they start leaking, you’ll have to take them off and mail them to a shop to rebuild.

I had the SXS and didn’t use it as much as I thought. Same issues as you mentioned. I bought a sweet jeep TJ and that did everything I wanted but didn’t have enough room. Then I made the switch to a Tacoma and I think I’ll stay with that for a while.

There is a guy in Huron sd that does it and probably the closest. Most guys will re charge them and dont even rebuild them right. Most the so called shock shops dont even have a dyno or a spring crusher and cant even tell you what the shocks are doing. My brother has been building shocks and suspension and racing for 20 years now but he is out in Idaho now.

 

[Ramem7mm]

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.

 

[Duh]

There is a guy in Huron sd that does it and probably the closest. Most guys will re charge them and dont even rebuild them right. Most the so called shock shops dont even have a dyno or a spring crusher and cant even tell you what the shocks are doing. My brother has been building shocks and suspension and racing for 20 years now but he is out in Idaho now.

Yeah that guy charges about $300 per shock. You can get them rebuilt for half that in other places though. I might have to bite the bullet and send mine down to him.

 

[KurtR]

Yeah that guy charges about $300 per shock. You can get them rebuilt for half that in other places though. I might have to bite the bullet and send mine down to him.

Thats about what my brother charges to. The places that charge half that dont replace anything or use junk parts and couldnt tell you if its cavitating under use or what is actually happening inside of the shock. Ask most shops for a dyno report and they wont have one.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

I have been hunting out of my '03 Tacoma ext Cab w/ Camper Shell since 2013. I have around a little more than $5K into the suspension but it has been very good to me.
2.5in Adjustable Lift w/265/75/16 tires for best fuel economy, avg offroad is 13mpg on road is 18mpg
Total Chaos Upper Control Arms w/Uniball
Total Chaos Lower UniBall Conversion
King Coil Over Shocks
Total Chaos Spindle Gussets
And some other stuff I can't recall.

With the tires aired down to 15-20 PSI it will ride about as soft as a SxS. I carry a small portable compressor to air up afterwards.

The only real downside I see to using a Taco for your main hunting vehicle is that if you break it out in the sticks you dont have anything to drive home in, If you didnt trailer it to the hunting spot. That happened once to me(broken spindle). It is extremely rare for me to find a trail I can't drive unless it has the width restrictions. My truck is only a few inches wider than my brothers SXS Polaris General and we use my truck way more than his SXS for all the reasons mentioned.