Interested but know nothing....

4176 Views 25 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Oppositeboy, Dec 23, 2004

John Doe

Discussion Starter · Dec 13, 2004

Got my drivers license almost a year ago, I love to go Camping and Mountain Biking. Any chance I get to take my Car on any sort of Dirt, I take it "who am I kidding, I never get the chance". I am very interested in four wheeling, But dont have any knowledge, the right Vehical, or anyone to show me the ropes.

I found out about this site from the Episode of "Tough Truckin" on Spike TV. I have been recently been shoping for my dream truck, and have spent a fortune "in my head". I have an idea of what I want, but no idea of how to get it, how to put it together, or how to use it.

What would you guys suggest?

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

1noobie

· #2 · Dec 13, 2004

John Doe said:
Got my drivers license almost a year ago, I love to go Camping and Mountain Biking. Any chance I get to take my Car on any sort of Dirt, I take it "who am I kidding, I never get the chance". I am very interested in four wheeling, But dont have any knowledge, the right Vehical, or anyone to show me the ropes.

I found out about this site from the Episode of "Tough Truckin" on Spike TV. I have been recently been shoping for my dream truck, and have spent a fortune "in my head". I have an idea of what I want, but no idea of how to get it, how to put it together, or how to use it.

What would you guys suggest?

Buy a Tacoma, you should've known that was coming.

Bryanccfshr

· #3 · Dec 13, 2004

John Doe said:
Got my drivers license almost a year ago, I love to go Camping and Mountain Biking. Any chance I get to take my Car on any sort of Dirt, I take it "who am I kidding, I never get the chance". I am very interested in four wheeling, But dont have any knowledge, the right Vehical, or anyone to show me the ropes.

I found out about this site from the Episode of "Tough Truckin" on Spike TV. I have been recently been shoping for my dream truck, and have spent a fortune "in my head". I have an idea of what I want, but no idea of how to get it, how to put it together, or how to use it.

What would you guys suggest?

Buy a used Toyota 4x4 or Tacoma. Try to get a good deal, use edmunds etc.. no need to go to far in debt on a newer truck if you want to get into the wheeling game you will need the money for the buildup. Once you have a 4x4 that is stock or close to stock find achapter near you and get to the trails. There you will discover what you want your truck to be able to do.

And study hard, and finish school. You will need a good job to support this hobby.

John Doe

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 14, 2004

Once im out of school money wont be an issue. I will be making $20 starting.

What kind of budget do you suggest for the truck alony??? I like the New Tacoma, but it would be very expensive somthing like $20,000 base Reg cab. Im seeing a Xtra cab 4x4 used 2001 for about $15,000, would somthing like that be a good start? The truck I get will probly be my only Vehical for the next few years.

tenntaco

· #5 · Dec 14, 2004

John Doe said:
Once im out of school money wont be an issue. I will be making $20 starting.

What kind of budget do you suggest for the truck alony??? I like the New Tacoma, but it would be very expensive somthing like $20,000 base Reg cab. Im seeing a Xtra cab 4x4 used 2001 for about $15,000, would somthing like that be a good start? The truck I get will probly be my only Vehical for the next few years.

If it's for wheeling, get something a lot cheaper. A note on $15k isn't going to leave you much left over for building up. If I had it to do over again, I'd have bought an old 4runner or toy pickup. I'm in too deep now, though

John Doe

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 14, 2004

Ok, Go Cheap, what Model year are we talking about "so I have an idea"

ElBandito

· #7 · Dec 14, 2004

if you want to just get into wheeling, find a daily driver vehicle, then pick up a used solid axle 85 toy pickup that some grandpa just drove to get groceries. you should find one for under 3k. wheel it, get use to it, build it, wheel it somemore, break it, fix it, build it up somemore, wheel it, then head over to pirate4x4.com to get some ideas on making a buggy

Bryanccfshr

· #8 · Dec 14, 2004

ElBandito said:
if you want to just get into wheeling, find a daily driver vehicle, then pick up a used solid axle 85 toy pickup that some grandpa just drove to get groceries. you should find one for under 3k. wheel it, get use to it, build it, wheel it somemore, break it, fix it, build it up somemore, wheel it, then head over to pirate4x4.com to get some ideas on making a buggy

I have been looking for the Papa 85 grocery getter for a couple of years..

More realistic to get a 86-95 4 runner or truck.

zszac111

· #9 · Dec 14, 2004

John Doe said:
Got my drivers license almost a year ago, I love to go Camping and Mountain Biking. Any chance I get to take my Car on any sort of Dirt, I take it "who am I kidding, I never get the chance". I am very interested in four wheeling, But dont have any knowledge, the right Vehical, or anyone to show me the ropes.

I found out about this site from the Episode of "Tough Truckin" on Spike TV. I have been recently been shoping for my dream truck, and have spent a fortune "in my head". I have an idea of what I want, but no idea of how to get it, how to put it together, or how to use it.

What would you guys suggest?

I was in your situation once

buy a cheap 85 truck or 4 runner,find someone in your states chapter, (where are you from anyway) get them to show you the basics, (safty, what do do when and all that good stuff) take it out stock and wheel it for a while, once you learn how to drive it stock, then start putting some money into it. put gears and lockers in the front and rear axles, a little lift, cut the fenders, put bigger tires on it. then go do the same stuff you tried when you were stock, it will make you appreciate all the time and money you have spent. speaking from experience, this sport is very adictive, i bought a brand new 2001 ext cab v6, power everything, bla bla bla, back in october of 2000. well now that new tacoma is so beat up that its not even funny and is a trail rig only now. if i had to do it all over again i would do what i suggested above, it would have saved me 21K on the brand new truck

zszac111

· #10 · Dec 14, 2004

Bryanccfshr said:
I have been looking for the Papa 85 grocery getter for a couple of years.. More realistic to get a 86-95 4 runner or truck.

true, 85 is a very hard find...

Mike

· #11 · Dec 14, 2004

John Doe said:
Got my drivers license almost a year ago, I love to go Camping and Mountain Biking. Any chance I get to take my Car on any sort of Dirt, I take it "who am I kidding, I never get the chance". I am very interested in four wheeling, But dont have any knowledge, the right Vehical, or anyone to show me the ropes.

I found out about this site from the Episode of "Tough Truckin" on Spike TV. I have been recently been shoping for my dream truck, and have spent a fortune "in my head". I have an idea of what I want, but no idea of how to get it, how to put it together, or how to use it.

What would you guys suggest?

I see you're in Sacramento. When you get your rig, go to http://www.norcalttora.com/ and sign up. Show up to some events and wheel with us. We are always glad to show people around.

Later,
....Mike

zszac111

· #12 · Dec 14, 2004

there ya go, your close to a chapter who has tons of members and will help ya get involved. just wish i had a chapter that had more than 2 active members when i got started

John Doe

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 15, 2004

Thanks Guys for all the feed back.

John Doe

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 19, 2004

Since Im so short on cash, It might be a good year till I get some wheels. Any thing do till then? besides work on getting the money for the truck. I would love to learn all I can until i get the Truck.

Squeaky96

· #15 · Dec 19, 2004

Gald to see you wanting to get into the sport. i wish that there was a chapter for my state that i could wheel with. i know you are looking for a nice looking truck that you can build up but most of these guys will tell you that you are going to get your feelings hurt bad the first time you take the truck out and slide into a rock or something. i would trust what most of these guys are telling you. the first truck that i had built up was an 89 and i had it for a long time( wish i still had it the build up process would be a lot cheaper for me) but i did a little checking around on EBAY and you can find some pretty chep truck that are probably in good condition. if i were to buy a truck off of ebay i would do some research and get a carfax report or something like it, ask the seller a bunch of questions and if it felt right bid on it. be careful there are people out there that are going to try and sell there no good junk to people on ebay but there are good honst people on ebay as well and looking from what i saw on there. there are alot of trucks around your area. ask the seller if you can come look at it, if he agrees and you know a person that knows alot about cars take him along. or if you get in good with the local chapter there mabye one of them might help you out. i don't know if they would but since you are new to the game mabye they would. but try to get a used truck looked at by a professional if possible. good luck and have fun on the trails

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01tacoboy

· #16 · Dec 19, 2004

First thing I suggest, ride shotgun on some runs. I know several people usaully have an open seat on runs. This is a great way to know if you want to get your own rig and wheel. But also will teach you basic safety and wheeling techniques. If you decide to get serious about wheeling I suggest getting an older toy. They are one of the easiest and cheapest rigs to build. I am in the process of building an 81. I will have less than 10 grand into it and it will get me just about anywhere I would think possible. If you want a nice DD/mild trail rig, a tacoma is a great truck for that. Good luck to ya.

snutty

· #17 · Dec 20, 2004

spent 4k on a pre 90s truck.. i got my 85 is execlent shape for 4k...then u can have some money left over for another bike.

John Doe

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 20, 2004

Thanks again for all the feed back. Now if I can only get in contact with my local chapter. I have there web page bookmarked, but I do not see any contact info. '
I love the idea of a ride along on some of the Trail rides. If anyone from the Norcal chapter would like to get in touch with me Feel Free, my email is in my profile or send me a private message.

Thanks again Guys

snutty

· #19 · Dec 20, 2004

John Doe said:
Thanks again for all the feed back. Now if I can only get in contact with my local chapter. I have there web page bookmarked, but I do not see any contact info. '
I love the idea of a ride along on some of the Trail rides. If anyone from the Norcal chapter would like to get in touch with me Feel Free, my email is in my profile or send me a private message.

Thanks again Guys

we are going to pismo next month, you should post in the pismo tread in the upcomming events folder..

tacodab

· #20 · Dec 21, 2004

snutty said:
we are going to pismo next month, you should post in the pismo tread in the upcomming events folder..

Snutty
how is your truck? I know you said the engine was not sounding to good when we went to the snow....did you check it out?

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

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