Better than Jeep? I guess we will see...

I bought a '00 TRD taco a year ago for use as a work truck. I am now turning it into a toy, because that's what I do. I have long been a Jeep guy and love my XJ. I'm in the middle of a lift/suspension/steering rebuild on the Toy. About all I can say is that my angle grinder is my best friend and parts are retarded expensive. I've driven it for a year to date, and my XJ will out drift, out wheel...basically destroy the taco offroad in every way, shape, and form. Parts are cheaper, it's easier to work on, and no matter what won't be screwed if I brake something on trail. I really hope that the taco will live up to my expectations after the rebuild is complete. On the plus side, they have a high resale value.

 

Resale doesn't count much when you are grinding anything. And comparing a Jeep to a Tacoma has never been a realistic comparison.

Go nuts.

 

So finally got my Taco finished (for now), and I must say that it impresses the Hell out of me. It fought me every inch of the way. Had to cut out and replace the shackles, every bushing had to be torched out, etc. Well worth the expensive pain in the ass. With everything up to the steering rack brand new, She's a whole new animal with crazy good handling. Better than my Jeep? I'm going to have to say Yes.

 

Good way to make friends with your first post...


Redemption on your second... Welcome to TW

 

Try Rock Auto and Camelback Toyota for cheaper parts.

 

Picts or neither of them exist!!

An angle grinder and only ONE month?

I'll be impressed if I see a Solid axle swap on that toyota in one month.

Chop, chop.....PICTS!!!

I've had a nicely built streetable YJ....I want to be impressed.

 

easier to work on because you're always working on it. My '94 XJ was a nightmare and nowhere as capable off the lot as my '03 Taco. Damn things didn't even come with tow hooks, had to buy a $300 kit. I do miss the solid front axle but that's about it.

Welcome!

 

Should've bought a YJ..... I haven't had a lick of problems with either of mine. That is...nothing that didn't involve me.

 

I never dug the YJ, not enough cargo room. Seriously was considering an '06 TJ Ultimate last year before I started the major mods but my Taco has been providing 10+ years of bulletproof service. In the 6 years I owned an XJ and before it ticked over 100k miles I had to:

1. Replace the rear diff carrier bearings
2. Replace the t-case drive chain then deal with the slip yoke seal not sealing.
3. Replace the water pump
4. Replace the power steering pump
5. Replace the heater core
6. Replace the A/C
7. Deal with a PITA clutch job because of 2 torx head bolts on top of the bell housing
8. Buy $300 worth of tow hook kits
9. Replace the gear shift knob 3 times because the undersized manual transmission heats up too much.
10. Replace the electric engine fan because the body cracked.

I do not have fond memories but I learned plenty.

 

Yeah man, they exist. Will post pics of both when I get to it. (And) the only thing that I have chopped or cut out of the Taco, and done so extremely carefully, are replaceable parts. Seized in...gotta cut. Chop Chop? No...

 

If it doesn't have a solid front axle on it.... then, no....it's probably not better than a Jeep offroad.

If there's no cutting, then you haven't worked hard enough.

 

Janster, every build depends on the intention of said build. I could build a Pinto Wagon into a crawler if I wanted (I have time). Clean, simple, and reliable build. That's what I wanted so that's what I did. Sorry if you are too cool for my taco.

 

^^ Sounds like fun.

 

You're the one who was comparing a Jeep to a Toyota. You don't talk about Jeep VS Toyota without some sort of heated debates. It's been that way for years. Sorry, if that offends you - wasn't meant to.

I was expecting a real (and fair) comparison (offroading and solid axles). Because everything else, there is no comparison.

I was just messin with ya....so relax.