REAR DIFF FAILURE! - Not impressed.

You left out.............

Just because you see it being done in our commercials doesn't mean it's OK to go out and do the same thing in the same type you bought from us.

 

I'm Code 4 on this one. I'll be Code 7. Out.

 

Oh that's your line!!!

 

Well Toyota Fanboys, wait till your trusty (expensive) rig lets you down,(for me, first time out with it) doing the exact same thing you have done with all your previous vehicles. Then you'll understand.
As for the OffRoad package not meaning anything.....why does it have a locking diff? Or ATRAC? Does this also mean that I cannot use the full cargo capacity as well? Is that the way it works?
For the record, I'm no GM fan, but, my chev 1ton work rig has a rated load capacity, and has been between 90 - 105% GVWR since the day it came off the dealer lot in 2006, If GM can do it....It is still going at 138 000kms......hmmm.
So if it's operator, why have I not destroyed my previous trucks (that had years of me driving them), or my overloaded work rig? Wake up fellas.....

 

Good sport

 

I maintain my original stance: You've got a lemon. Plenty of people on here wheel stock rear ends plenty hard without breakage...but then they haven't had driveline problems from day 1. With all the driveline shit going on with your truck, I just think it was assembled wrong and it's tearing itself apart.

 

Hahaha! I was out having fun with my truck, just did not bother taking it down to the powerline when I saw everyone getting stuck. I was looking pretty good by the end of the day.

 

I just read my owner's manual (not the trucks) and it clearly states that, due to my weight, and a abnormally high level of adrenaline, I'm not to drive anything less than a Dana 60 equipped truck, and Rockwells are strongly recommended. Man I wish I read my instructions!

OP it is not our fault! Its a disease!

 

The moral of the story:

Don't wheel when your truck already has issues.

Problem is now you can't tell what caused it. I can't see you getting stuck so something was not right. I think that is why you got stuck in the first place. Something died and you played around and really broke it. If it was not shifting right from 4 low to 4 high that is telling you right there something is wrong.

 

I have to agree with Chris and jandrews. The Tacoma is built well. It has some shortcomings but nothing as to make it unreliable. Since I have owned my truck I have logged over 1000 miles in solo off-road expeditions. Some of which involves difficult technical rocky terrain. My destinations have included Death Valley NP, Mohave National Preserve, Joshua Tree NP, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Yosemite NP, and lots of National Forest areas.

Being that it was my first truck I take care not to abuse it and it has rewarded me with plenty of pleasurable back-country experiences. I find it remarkable that the truck can do 30+ miles in hard rocky terrain and when it hits the pavement, the ride is as smooth as glass. It's a great truck!

I chose the Tacoma because it was best in class and looks better than anything else out there. I am proud of my Tacoma.

 

X2 with the exception that I am on my THIRD Tacoma for these reasons... and I am hard on the truck as it was made to be hard driven... but I do the maintenance services as recommended but do the oil changes even more (3-4 k miles vs. 5).

 

this scares me... hopefully my 4.10s hold up better than some peoples 3.73 w/elocker

 

^^^Nothing to worry about, the 4 cyl has 2/3's the power, and a tougher rear end.
An update, my second set of gears were getting louder and louder after my 6000 mile towing trip, so the same dealer put a THIRD set of gears in,(and a new stereo, blower motor, and ordered a wiper motor, because mine is going, big surprise), and the loud whine is gone. I recently had to chew through a field while hunting, and nothing went wrong.
To those who claim the first diff was abuse related, well, a truck should take it for a few years (like all 5 other trucks I owned, which not coincidentally, had larger / beefier rear ends). And it takes spinning at about 30 mph to clean the BFG's and keep the truck moving in the gumbo. And that's only abuse if you drive a Celica. DW and I agree, it's extended warranty time, or break the lease. We'll see.

 

I grew up in a truck/car repair shop... setting up gears the right way is EVERYTHING - Somewhere I have some wear pattern of some beautify broken in gears and then there the messed up ones. One word: ECGS!!!

 

Dang it Paul! Now I'm hungry!

 

Pssst... Four words... One acronym???

 

I have some other o+pinions too. With the latest trucks we have a lot of systems working all at the same time... things that in soft snd and mud may work as designed. On granite walls I think they can be a liabilty in breaking the preload on the gears ever so much. I would love to know some stats regarding surface and system configuration leading up to failure.