In Defense Of The Prerunner

Posting this again because it deserves reposting.



Fast forward to 1:45, all I needed to see to be totally OK with a prerunner. Yeah I know if mud is involved it gets infinitely more hairy & at the end of the day more drive wheels is always better, but honestly I think prerunners make for "smarter" offroaders who are maybe a little bit more thoughtful before burying themselves axle deep in shit because they think 4x4 is a magical crutch.

Anyways regarding the lockers...

I totally get that. I keep thinking I want to get an e-locker just because I don't like the idea of an air locker. If there were a MANUAL locker that I could actuate with a cable or something even better, I'm a fan of simplicity.
Problem is these options are $1200 and up JUST for the locker. Ooof. I've thought about lunchbox lockers but I don't think I would like the characteristics of it.

 

That's a pretty mild hill. That's also a lot of wheelspin and things can break real easy like that.

 

I was just waiting for that rear diff to go boom

 

Or something...

 

Wheel spin isn't horrible until you get the axle in the air and don't let off the throttle. Some people disagree with spending $ on a PreRunner and immediately say "just buy a 4x". Well for me the gas mileage, maintenance & insurance hike with a DUI are not yet worth the hassle of doing that. I've gotten my locked 2wd places that Jeeps on 37's had to put in 4x to get through/up/around, all because I know how to use my truck's momentum & modulate my throttle to keep the tires working efficiently without going up in smoke. Obviously every driver/rig has different skills/abilities and not all of my statements apply to all scenarios. Once these guys go into 4x you won't see me beating my chest bragging about how I can get everywhere they can. I weighed my options and this worked best for me. So it won't get me through the deepest mud bogs & over boulders in the Rocky Mountains, I'm not saying it will, but it more than doubled my truck's abilities for $400 and a few hours of my labor. This thread is not comparing 2x to 4x abilities, stop making it about that. It's about PreRunners making the most out of what they have. Motorcycle riders of all bike types have a saying: "we're all in the same wind". Who cares if my rig isn't as capable as yours, shall I wash your feet while you regale me with tales of your super-human feats?

Edit to add: Taco drivers = DGAF what drivetrain. I remember that video, all he needed was momentum!

 

Was that an OR in the video? Wonder if a Trutrac would offer the same results.

 

Damn I love this thread.

 

I put a PT Lock Right in my 7.5" 2WD Ford Ranger rear axle to try and get away with not having to chain it up to get up to my house every night when it snowed. It worked in that both rear tires pulled but it sucked donkey bawls on the street. It wouldn't unlock easily in turns like a friction clutch type limited slip diff and would pop and bind.

If you took a hard right followed by a left, it would bind up and push you forward against the brakes. At around 38,000 miles on it, it got really scary. It would lock and unlock driving at highway speeds, yanking the truck side to side and popping/jerking.

Called PT and they said the gears were worn and needed to be switched side to side to get new surface friction on the teeth. I took it out. A few years later the ring gear side carrier bearing shit and the pinion spun on the ring gear breaking many of the gear teeth off.

I think all that binding really hurt the carrier bearings.

 

Lmao this sounds awful! Sorry dude

 

Bump

 

LOL these threads bring some entertainment.

Buy want you want, it's your damn money.

If you buy a truck because you like the way it looks, there is nothing wrong with that.

I see plenty of Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Aston Martins, ETC driving around south Florida, and I bet not even 1 in 50 has been on a track.

At least most 4x4 trucks have been on dirt at some point.

I don't need a 4x4, I actually BARELY need a truck. Just got tired of loading bulky shit into my wife's SUV.

As for the bedside sticker, I'm going to shit-can those things soon and replace them with something far more tacky. But to imply that a truck can't be "Off Road" because it is 4x2 is just ignorant.

 

OK, this thread has been eye opening to say the least. Was going to start a thread asking for advice on the best options for turning my 2018 DCSB SR5 into a prerunner type truck but now I think asking that questions would just be starting a dumpster fire.

When I bought my truck I decided to go with a 4X2 to save some cash and because I honestly couldn't remember the last time I engaged the four wheel drive in my previous truck (F250). The most I do "off road" is getting into some muddy areas of my hunting lease from time to time but never really into a situation where I really need 4x4 if I just drive smart. I do however want more ground clearance and more aggressive tread on my tires for those times when I do need to push the limits of my truck. Hadn't really considered a locker before but now after reading here I might. I guess skid plates wouldn't be a bad idea either, so if I do all that my truck is sounding a lot like a prerunner wanna be...

So let's get this dumpster fire going. What would be my best options for where I want to go and still keep it Retired Marine budget friendly?

 

Locker. Fiberglass. Huge rubber. Maxtrac spindles.

Here for love of pre runners and d fires

 

spindle lift, some cooper at3 4S tires, new leaf pack in the rear like dakar. you can go a lot of places with this. maybe new skid plates if you plan on hitting rocks. i've been in all types of terrain with this setup. locker is nice but im waiting. so far my limited slip (mechanic) has done well offroad

 

Read this: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2017/02/turn-your-2wd-into-a-badass-overland-vehicle/

 

I remember reading a thread where someone asked why Toyota even makes a 2WD or why someone would want one-something like that-and my 1st thought was simply, "ground clearance man!". And I still feel that way. For years I felt the other way and didn't see ANY point in buying a truck or SUV that wasn't 4WD coming from the north. But after several years in the south I learned, for MY needs/use, a 4WD was just an extra expense and extra maintenance for something I may never use. And in the 14 years I've had my Prerunner there was only 2 times I could have used 4WD. Both were after a big, rare snowstorm. A friend had got caught travelling during the snow and wound up in a ditch, called me thinking I had a 4WD to see if I could try to get him out. I simply couldn't risk it and didn't go-and who knows if I would have safely/successfully gotten to him, got him out and got back home WITH 4WD? The other time I got stopped on a hill in traffic that had started to freeze back over towards evening. I still made it up the hill but I had my locker on and my foot in the floor almost the entire way up the hill just hoping I didn't get stopped again before the top! There has however been Plenty of times that I've been "off the road" and easily got around due to ground clearance and A/T tires. Shoot, I've never even need to use the locker in the places I've personally been, but I also really like my truck and don't want to beat it up so I definitely don't go crazy! lol Plus it's my primary vehicle and I can't afford to break stuff! As others have said, these trucks are amazingly off-road capable and for general, non-hardcore off-road use- good tires, perhaps and locker and airing down if necessary will get it done.

 

What part of Georgia are you in?

 

Spent about 13 years in north metro Atlanta till every time I left my house I felt like ! So now out in smalltown USA about 45 min north of Columbus. Love it out here!

 

Know what you mean, love life in the boonies myself. Hate goin anywhere near Atlanta!

 

I think a 2WD would actually make a be a better vehicle for regular truck work such as hauling payloads and towing. They are lighter with higher payload and towing specs. Plus better fuel economy which is beneficial to businesses running fleets of vehicles.