Upgrade to 4X4?

Hey guys I'm new to this website so bear with me.
I bought my 1st Tacoma this weekend (not all that new to the whole Toyota thing, my dad's always owned them and swears by them)
Anyways, I have been away at school but wanted a truck for when I graduate and go back home. I mainly needed one for hauling my fishing boat, getting firewood, getting through snow etc, etc. so naturally I was looking at 4X4's. I came across a good deal on a 05 Toyota PreRunner SR5 double cab that my buddy's dad was selling so I took it, maybe too impulsively??

It really is a beautiful truck, but I'm still not thrilled with the fact that it's 2X4. I really like to do off-roading stuff but thought maybe the mileage would be better and it would work fine to serve my needs.

I was wondering if anyone out there has owned both a 2X4 and a 4X4 or is familiar enough with both that they could tell me if the 2X4 are even remotely as capable as 4X4? My thought was that since it was a V6 it would still get a significant amount of power, but now I'm really thinking I should have held off and waited for a 4x4 to come along?

Any thoughts? Should I stick with the 2X4?

 

Buy once, cry once. If you wanted a 4WD, then you should have gotten a 4WD. Converting to 2WD to 4WD after the fact is probably prohibitively expensive.

oh, and what's up with your user name? Tacogirl2? But your gender is listed as male? Edit: never mind

Welcome to TW, btw.

 

Lucky for you resale value is good on your new truck trade up if you need it I guess

 

If you put a locker in it that should help you get just about anywhere.

But if you are into deep mud, rock crawling, really steep dirt hills, really deep snow or really soft sand then it might not be enough.

The good thing is if you got a really good deal on it you could sell it for more than you got it for?

But you would be surprised what a locker can get you through.

 

def need 4wd. i lost my 4wd the other weekend and was getting nowhere with just the rear locker

 

Im in canada, own a Prerunner TRD OR. Didnt think I needed a 4x4 and didnt unitl I got into offroading. Prerunner does great hauling anything, flat gravel and dirt roads and even snow i havent had a problem.

In mud, deep snow, or any wet/loose gravel slopes, hardcore offroading that we have here, Need to get a 4x4. Im trying to upgrade at the moment, going to be at least $6k+ for a stock dcsb with 40k more miles and selling mine the way it is.

BTW Welcome to TW

 

If you got such a good deal, you should be able to sell for a profit and get your 4x4

 

I had a 2wd 2009 Trd sport long bed and it was a great truck, but I always knew 4wd was the way to go. So 3 years later I traded for 2012 Trd off road 4x4 and couldn't be happier this truck goes places I would never even consider on previous truck. If you can I say go for it.

 

First off, welcome to TW!

Coming from a guy that drove a PreRunner for a while after having all 4x4 trucks...don't drive something you aren't 100% happy with.

I went 4x4 this time, with nearly every other truck on the road around me being a PreRunner and I couldn't be happier. I could have saved several grand going with a 2WD/PreRunner but it was 100% worth it for me to have 4x4. Maybe I've watched too many episodes of The Walking Dead and want to be sure I can get the hell out of Dodge if something happens?

As others have said, your truck should still have great resale value. If you have a CarMax near you, have them appraise it. They've always been good to me.

Fink

 

Give it 6 months and see if it works for you, if not sell and go for 4wd.

 

Thanks everyone! I know in the end it's something I have to decide for myself but I appreciate the input. I think I'll go ahead and stick with it at least for another few months until I finish school. Maybe test 'er out on the roads back home and start thinking about looking for a 4X4 depending on how well it hauls the boat on some steep roads. I'm pretty sure if it came down to it, I could sell it for a little more than I paid.

Anyone have any more insight on how it might handle in the snow?

 

4x4 is awesome

 

I was a firefighter back home and when I wasn't at the paid FD, I was volunteering and would usually use my Tacoma ('07 TRD Sport at the time) to respond. It was 4WD but I would usually run in 2WD until I absolutely needed it.

Even with 6-8" of snow on the road with another inch or so packed on top, as long as you were smart about how you drove, it was easily passable. Chains were also a HUGE help even with 4WD.

In my experience, 4WD gives people too much courage. Just like carrying a concealed gun...people get way too cocky. You have to keep your head on straight and be smart. As long as you do that, you will be fine.

Fink

 

I had a 4wd truck Before I bought my 2012 AC PreRunner. The reason I did not get a 4wd this time is because I cause a lot of expensive damage to my old truck. I don't even want to be tempted. I would rather save up money and buy an old toyota beater than beat on my Daily Driver that I may not be able to afford to repair. Just my .02


Also my old truck I NEVER need 4wd, unless I made it so....

 

Prior to my Tacoma I had an older 4wd Toyota Pickup and I found the 4WD to be super helpful. I don't know if you live in an area that regularly sees snow/ice, but that's where I found the 4WD to be most helpful. There were a few times leaving my apartment complex that I was on ice on the drive wheels, so unless I put it into 4WD, I was going nowhere. Granted, I was on Uniroyal Laredos at the time and had no weight over the back wheels, but it was still frustrating trying to drive out onto the main road with no forward momentum.

I also took it down to the Cape onto the beach and found myself hopelessly stuck in the sand (bumper was on the ground!) because my good natured but non-gearhead friend didn't understand how to properly lock the front hub and I was only in 2WD.

That being said, if you don't think you'll regularly be in situations that you'll require the 4WD and just like the look of the 4WD truck compared to the 2WD truck, I think you'd be fine.

 

Not so good, in Workman's opinion. One of the worst trucks in 2wd on snow/ice that He has ever driven. Where Workman lives it is below zero pretty often during the winter months with HEAVY snowfall. The plastic bed is very light and causes the pass. side rear tire to spin out very easily. Weight in the bed, around 200# make it a little better. 4x4 makes a night and day difference. With 4wheeldrive the truck performs great, even better with weight in the bed.

ABS on this truck is absolutely the worst on any vehicle Workman has owned when it comes to ice, but that is another story, downright dangerous and very touchy......did he mention dangerous?

Workman still loves his tacoma, and its stock 4wheeldrive capabilities are awesome!

 

Why not put it for sale for a profit and keep an eye out for a 4x4 for sale. If both work out you're moving on up, if not, well, be happy with this one until it does.

 

Does Workman often refer to himself in the third person?

Fink

 

X2 WTF!

 

I wouldn't get anything but a 4x4. Not been without it since I had an accident on snowy roads 25 years ago. Use 2-wheel drive most of the time, but it's there when needed.