Do I want a Tacoma?

[NTAPHSE]

Please forgive my longwinded post, but if any of you can give me your opinions, I would appreciate it.

I am seriously considering buying a taco, but first I want you guys to tell me your opinions and hopefully I can get an idea of whether I'll be satisfied with one. I am going to sell my 94 Caprice lowered on 20's, and my 87 Samurai, and try to round up the cash for an 01 ext or double cab, V6, AT, 4x4, TRD. I am trying to get the best of both worlds, daily driver comfort and weekend offroad capability.

My Samurai is springover, locked front and rear, and has 32" MT. No gearing, and a horribly under powered 1.3 liter. I usually take it out to Sycamore, and the hardest thing I've tried is Rocker Panel, which it made it through, but it took all 60 hp to make it over the rocks.

How do you guys think my Sammy's performance would compare to a 4wd TRD Tacoma with a 3" coilover lift, stock elocker, and 33" MT?

This will be my DD, so I don't want it to be too uncomfortable to drive. It sounds like I need to spend the money on at least SAW's in order to get a smooth, soft ride. Agree? Disagree?

TIA for any help you guys can give.

Keith

[NorCalTRD]

re-gear, i think that you would enjoy the truck a lot more with the 33s. When i installed my donahoes i loved the ride compaired to stock. with the TRD shocks i felt the truck was "sloppy" on and off the road, but the donahoes make the truck ride what i thought that it always should. even when i was stock i was very suprised how well my truck did off-road. in my opinion i think that you will love the power and the ride of the tacoma.

[Heatstroke]

I'd keep what you got if you like your rides. Re-gear that Sammy and I think you'd be amazed at where it can go and what it can do, especially since you already have it locked up.

If you are set on selling, a Tacoma is a great way to go. What you are talking about running sounds like a decent rig for daily use and decent off road capabilities.

Honestly, if you geared the Sammy, I think you would have a great trail rig for a lot less money. If it has a/c, woo-hoo. Do you need the room of a Tacoma? Does the Sammy fit better in places you go? How much are you in the vehicle every day? Soo many things to look at in order to make a decision that's right for you. Take inventory of the things you do most, what you want to do, and just how much you are willing to spend, and just how much you are willing to sacrifice. That ought to give you a good perspective as to which way to proceed.

Look around for pics our board and the main TTORA board to see what our Tacomas are capable of.
Check out Zuks of Arizona ( http://www.zuksofarizona.com/pages/655982/index.htm ) for some perspective as to what your Zuk can do.

Good luck on your decision making.

[NTAPHSE]

Ian and Mike, thanks for your opinions. I guess I just want to get a newer, nicer vehicle, but this is a catch 22 because I want to wheel it and of course that will take its toll on the truck. My Caprice has 160k on it and is a project in itself, the Sammy is of course an on going project, and meanwhile I have my chopped 51 Kaiser leadsled sitting there not getting worked on. I just have too many projects, so part of my reasoning is to trade 2 vehicles for 1, then I can focus more on my Kaiser and get it finished. I just dont want to end up with a Tacoma that wont wheel anywhere and is a pain to drive everyday, when I could've kept the Caprice and Sammy and had the best of both worlds. I think I need to go wheelin with you guys in my Sammy and see how it compares. Thanks again for your input.

[Kaistie]

Keith, whats up. This is Nate, I met you at Ace the other day. Like I said to you the other day, you are always welcome to come wheeling with us. I think I may be going to Table Mesa this weekend to run a few trails with a few friends. I think it will be a night run, maybe Friday night. You are welcome to join us.

I don't think you can go wrong with a Tacoma. There are tons of things that you can do to customize it from sliders, bumpers, lifts, and tires, all the way to solid axle conversions. It really depends on what you want out of your rig. As I mentioned to you the other day I drive my truck every day to work and wheel the crap out of it almost every weekend. I was becoming tired of getting to a certain point on the trail and having to stop and turn around because my rig was not capable. When I took you for a ride the other day would you say that it handled nice? I know it was hard to tell from the passenger seat, and the short ride, but that is what you can expect from a leaf sprung SAC. In fact, you could probably have an even smoother ride with high quality springs. If it is built right you should be bale to beat it up on the weekends and drive it to work on Monday morning with no probelm. It will, as you know, require a lot more maintainance, but if you stay on top of it you can manage it ok. Like Mike said, you can't go wrong with a Tacoma, and the customization possibilities are endless. Also, there are several people in the valley that are very capable of doing fab work for you in the event you want to get the most out of your rig, hint hint...solid axle conversion. Give me a call later this week and we can figure out a time to go wheeling. 6027226771.
Later,
Nate

[mk u fms]

go with the vehicle upgrade. i had a bagged d-dropped blazer on 20s, and then got a roadmaster that i bagged and used for my daily and tow pig for the blazer. THEN, i got smart and realized that i just needed something different, and went with a '03 double cab, brand new. it was the greatest thing in the world to go anywhere i needed to, and not worry about blowing lines or bags, or dragging the shit out of it. if you got a sled as a side project, the tacoma will pull it anywhere and then you have the best of both. simple bolt on stuff for the front and rear make these trucks awsome. plus, you should post pics of the sled :)

[NTAPHSE]

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9985/kaiserwebrear9ge.jpg


MK here's a pic of the Kaiser. It still needs some work, but I've built it all myself. You must know exactly how I fee
l right now. At some point you just get sick of all the projects and want something new.

Nate- I'm glad you saw this post, and thanks for the ride the other day. It definitely made me want to get a Tacoma. I put the Sammy in the trader and already got a call on it, so if I still have it this weekend, we'll go out. If not, maybe I can catch a ride with you?

[Tacominator]

Keith, Tacomas are huge piles of crap all of these fawkers are making shit up and lying to you so you buy one and then you can join all of us and sulk in our disgust with our ownership.

[Heatstroke]

Tacominator shows his sarcastic funny side. (lol)

[NTAPHSE]

Keith, Tacomas are huge piles of crap all of these fawkers are making shit up and lying to you so you buy one and then you can join all of us and sulk in our disgust with our ownership.

Well I guess that settles it then...

[FAUX X 4]

Keith, Tacomas are huge piles of crap all of these fawkers are making shit up and lying to you so you buy one and then you can join all of us and sulk in our disgust with our ownership.

You're just upset because the kids in your neighborhood use it as a jungle gym! ;)

[Tacominator]

:lmao:HAHAHA!!! That's so true too!

[mk u fms]

SIK! is that laying frame?did you just shorten the bottom of the pillars and reangle the windows? if you live near 67th ave and peoria and need help with that, let me know (air stuff, fabrics, hacking!). thats bad ass

[NTAPHSE]

mk- I did a lot to chop that car. I recessed the windshield behind the dash, took 6" out of the B-pillars, angled them in, and moved them back about a foot. Then I stretched the front doors and welded the back doors shut to make it a 2 door. The back window came forward about a foot, and I made a filler panel to go between the trunk and window. What else? I built it on a 95 caprice police car chassis, so it had an LT1, 4 wheel disks, modern suspension. Its bagged on 1/2" line, 12 gallon tank, york compressor, and yes it drags. Hopefully you can check it out one of these days at Pavillions or something. Later.