Which 2nd gen base is best to buy with lots of off-roading mods in mind?

Spec musts:
4x4
dcsb

I was thinking I'd get the TRD OR but I've read that some people wish they'd gotten the 4x4 sr5 since they mod the hell out of it anyway.
Thoughts?

 

Welcome!
I preferred the OR over the others because it came with the rear locker installed.

 

Totally dependent on what changes you know you will make.

Truth is 95% of Tacoma owners will do just fine in either model with a modest tire upgrade and some driving skill.

So buy the best maintained / conditioned example you can find in your budget.

A '13, '14 or '15 with around 8k mi per year average and a rust free frame would be a great starting point

 

if you're going to be modding the crap out of ur 2nd gen I think you should just get a sr5. that's just my opinion tho

 

The off road gets you a factory locker on the rear axle and a dandy traction control system.

if you plan on running giant tires and regearing, you can add an air locker or lunchbox locker at the same time for not much more additional cost.

 

I got a 09 dcsb 4x4 base. No trd or sr5 packages and added what I wanted since Toyota prewires everything. It did come standard with the Fancy abs system though.

Added fogs, intermittent wipers, tow package, auto dimming mirror (with camera screen) truck had the camera in the tailgate from the factory.

Planning on modding as I go, so why do I need all the extra stuff when I’m going to change it anyways.

 

I have the OR, but if you know you will upgrade the locker regardless, getting a taco with the 8.4 rearend makes a lot of sense. My fellow Knoxvillian@Newlife actually upgraded a 2wd to 4x4 with an FJ Cruiser transfer case and i cant help but feel he has a superior taco in a lot of ways between that t-case and the 8.4 rear. Also not having A-track means he could upgrade to the sequoia master brake cylinder and run disc brakes in the rear more effectively than I. So there are a lot of different ways to go about it.

it all depends on what you are planning to do.

i love my truck, don't get me wrong, but i also realize the Tacoma is a great platform no matter which way you go.

Good luck!

 

If you're modding it anyways I would find the cheapest one I could that the frame was in good shape and the engine was also in good shape. You're going to be changing everything so save yourself some money and get a cheap but reliable base to start with and go from there. That's kind of what I'm doing now. I bought mine from an insurance auction after it was rolled and the engine was seized for $3700 and now have a low mileage engine and a few upgrades for under $9000.

 

Thanks all!
My eyes are actually bigger than my wallet. I have student loans that I need to pay off before pouring thousands into sweet mods. What I should probably do is get a TRD OR that is ready enough to take up trails. I don't intend to do any crazy off-roading. Sure, the wisest thing would be to wait to buy any tacoma until any debts are paid off. But I'm dying for a tacoma. And I have plenty of time to pay off debts. At 30, I'm not getting any younger haha.

 

Checking out this listing

https://www.elvistaautosales.com/Ve...1=2000&yr2=2011&kw=tacoma&&stk1=4513&dlr1=300

Pics show it's a TX Pro
but the experian auto check link lists it as a sr5

 

Have you looked at Frontiers? They are probably the best value in the mid size market.

 

Tacoma’s are overpriced dude. If you want something for off-roading get an older suv for cheap and mod it. I love my truck, but it’s not super special and I certainly wouldn’t go into debt for it. Also if you want a short bed odds are you can get away with an suv anyways.

 

I agree but a Toyota will get you there and back provided you don’t destroy something. Cheap old wheeling vehicles won’t make you shed a tear when you dent it but you’re always catching up with repairs there and back.

Everyone has a different idea what wheeling looks like and a different tolerance for scraping and bashing. Some guys cringe at pin striking old trucks and others laugh as they bounce off rocks in brand new rig.

 

I went with a 13 dcsb sr5 4x4 since a truetrac in the rear end made more sense for me. Aaand I knew I was going to mod the hell out of it