Opinions on owning two Tacoma’s?

I would like some second opinions in case I’m not thinking clearly or overlooking some issues

I currently own a 2013 DCSB prerunner with 152K miles as my daily driver. I’ve made it fairly capable offroad but I want to get more into heavier trail riding and overlanding. I’m at a crossroads now whether or not to convert my prerunner to 4x4 or buy a 1st gen Tacoma to mod out for my off-roading needs. Not really interested in selling my 2013, way too many “permanment mods” and meticulous maintenance with only one other owner (I know it’s been treated well to last a long time). I don’t plan on ever selling, i love that thing. I know the cost and labor associated with the conversion, don’t care about resale value, and I have the means if I went that route. If I went the first gen route, I’d be getting a high mileage 95-00 access cab tacoma (love that body style year) 4x4 1st gen. I used to own a 2002 4x4 and absolutely loved it so I know what I’m getting into. I’m open to either option, just wanted some opinions or other options/issues I’m not considering.

General Info: Single, can afford either option, space isn’t an issue, 2013 is paid off.

 

If I could own two Tacomas, I would

l say..Go For It!!!!!

You could have the best of both worlds!!

 

I'd go 3.4 V6 4runner, same feel, but better for camping and adventuring (my opinion) , that way you don't have 2 pickup trucks.

 

Well that’s exactly the kind of opinion I was looking for. Interesting, I’ll have something else to consider, thanks!

 

Look at the cost of conversion + owning one vehicle to do it all

Vs.

The cost of purchasing a second and owning two vehicles.

When it comes to sheer numbers I think a conversion will cost less no matter if you save money and do a lot yourself or even pay out the butt and have a shop do it.

Plus your truck as you’ve stated is already heavily modded to your liking and you won’t have to repeat any favorite mods a second time. If you love your current truck and want to wheel it harder, convert it.

The only scenario I see being in favor of the 1st Gen is if you want to baby your current truck and not beat it up too bad. Then you can get an old money pit beater and beat the piss out of it and not care if it gets damaged and dinged up. As you know 1st gen will also be smaller/lighter which is great for a woods exploration rig.

Still sounds like you should just convert in the long run rather than dumb endless money into a second project. Especially since you love your current truck so much. But only you know!

 

I’ll second the considering 3rd Gen 4Runner as well as a Tacoma if you want that vintage. I love my ‘99. But either way the above is still the main question

 

If you want a dedicated off-road rig then get a dedicated off-road tube chassis rig like an ibex and just tow it around with your 2nd gen

 

Get another. I have a first gen as a daily driver and 3rd gen for road trips / for the kids.

 

Id for sure get a 4runner as well

 

Having 2 is awesome. Wheel either one or get a better daily to put more towards the truck.

Or get a 4runner as others suggested. Lots of options.

 

4runners are also way cheaper than a 1st gen taco.

My dad had 2 3rd gens, I've only had a 1st and a 2nd. I tried to buy a 3rd once, but it had totally fucked headgaskets, steam out the rad...pass.

 

I have 2.

A 2010 DCLB with 300k and a 2015 DCLB TRD with 90k.

I drive the 2010 most the time because it just still runs great, and i like to save the miles on the 2015 for long roadtrips and offroading.

 

I have a ‘78 Ford that’s beat, rusty, multi colored, and ugly. I have a BLAST with it because I don’t care if I hurt it or get it filthy muddy. “Oh darn. I bumped a tree and bent the bumper.” Even though I have probably $6K into it to make it very capable and reliable off road, I’m not afraid to hurt it. (Short of flipping it on it’s roof.) My Taco is a DD that I keep very nice looking and just barely get muddy. My point is you can have way more fun off road if you’re not worried about scratching the paint. “I hope this 5’ wide ATV trail comes out somewhere”. True story. Branches scraping on both sides. Luckily it did.

 

Agree with a lot of the others, if you have the means to own a second vehicle that’s the path I would go down. Allows you to build something out to the max you’re interested in without having to worry about daily driving it. You’ll likely end up having more repairs with it being an older/built vehicle but the benefit of keeping a clean, less modified daily driver is you can let it sit for a bit without being repaired if you need to. I have no experience with 4x conversions but I have to imagine you’re opening the door for issues sooner than later had you not, which can be a real pain if you’re relying on it as a daily.

 

Like others said. 2 tacos or a 4runner. Or a sequoia. I think those are going for cheap now too.

 

I think I’d rather do a Tacoma and something else. Probably 4runner, sequoia or land cruiser

 

I was in the same situation. Started off with a prerunner and realized I wanted to upgrade. The downtime on a conversion and a high probability of issues down the line were my two primary concerns. I also realized that my 2nd gen had no mechanical issues w/ 150k and ran like the day I bought it. Why screw with something that isn’t broke? I say buy a first gen, build it, and enjoy it.

 

Nothing wrong with having two trucks. I have a 1st gen base regular cab 4cyl 4x4. 3rd gen is a fully loaded dcsb trd off-road. They are as different as they are similar and one couldn't take the place of the other.

 

There is absolutely no reason why a converted PreRunner would be less reliable on any level. In fact, a converted PreRunner is likely to be more reliable than a factory 4x4 Tacoma because it has less parts to break.

I vote for a second vehicle as a 4wd and my vote is for a FJ40. 4Runners are cheap but OP stated he can afford either option that he presented and Tacomas aren't cheap, just like FJ40's aren't cheap. Come on, who doesn't love a FJ40?

I'd rather own a Toyota 4x4 from mid to late 1980's with a 22RE than another factory 4x4 Tacoma, pertaining to the "running into a tree" factor.