2wd to 4wd conversion questions for 2016 Tacoma

It’s kind of funny to watch people who have never had to move in their lives talk about how this guy should just dump the truck and get a new one. If some guy that lives in Texas with a 4x2 got stationed in Alaska, he’d barely be able to give his 4x2 away, let alone trade it in or sell it up here. Do you have any idea what a loss that would be? I certainly do not, but I did work with a guy that bought a new Ranger back in the day because they accidentally sent a 4x2 up here. It was for little more than what it would have cost to send it back to Seattle.

Anyhow, please give us more info about your situation, OP. Why do you want to upgrade? Where are you? How much entertainment is this for you, really?

 

Most people here have idea no what it takes to do the conversion. I've done it on a 2nd gen and it was a lot easier and cheaper than everyone said it would be. Having said that, I'm not sure how similiar the 3rd gen is.

Instead of just naysaying, why don't we try to put together some information about how to do a conversion on a 3rd gen.

1. The front drive train is essentially the same as the 2nd gen. I imagine you can find all the necessary parts from a junk yard and bolt them on to your truck.

2. Does the transfer case have the same bolt pattern as the 2nd gen? If so, you might be able to bolt up an FJ cruiser t-case. That would avoid a lot of the electronic issues. If that's the case, I think you could realistically get this done for $2500 plus labor.

 

You have not heard that about a 3rd Gen. I'm not even sure it's been done on a 3rd gen yet. Very doubtful.

What you hear about is older models, guys who DIY, guys who have a full donor vehicle(s) to garner parts from.

Some very nice, quite successful swaps made there, sometimes budget friendly.

Your best option (given the need to outsource the work) is to sell your truck outright to a private party (you always lose on a trade) and then buy a 4wd of your choice. You could even go back in years to a '13 or so and let that absorb some of the $ diff between the 2 and 4wd.

But as @Shwaa asks, exactly 'why' do you need 4wd now? What's changed?

 

Well there you go. It’s easy peezy. Anyone else done a 3rd gen 4x4 conversion yet?

 

use these when it snows and save yourself a lot of time without a truck and money.

http://www.tmart.com/10pcs-Universa...0HnEFXTNGjuFq2LRi2nECGwNuTuOhXnUaAmfiEALw_wcB

 

Have you used those? Do they really work?

 

I moved from the southwest to the northeast in a bro’d out prerunner. I underestimated how poorly a long travel 2wd 01 on fresh ko’s would do in the snow. Had I known I would have offloaded the 01 and figured out something else to drive. I’m glad I didn’t, and eventually bought a 4x4. As someone who has made that move, I stand by my original response. Unless the OP wants to convert or swap. Then I’m all popcorn.

 

I haven't, but I've seen them on cars before. It wouldn't hurt to keep a few handy if you ever got stuck in some snow.

 

Why not look at adding a Locker?
http://www.rockridge4wd.com/i-21254...se-xd20830-mechanical-automatic-xd-24930.html

https://www.google.com/search?safe=......0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.1rEz_6IqzeQ

I bought 4 extra rims at the junkyard for winter use snow tires.
I then keep cable chains mounted on two of my street tires.
When it looks like snow I take a my floor jack and extra tires with me.
We don't get that many snow days in St. Louis.

 

Yea they might help on the front tires. But on the rear chains have not bit and would last longer

 

Here you go

https://www.instagram.com/spartanxtaco

 

I know this thread is quite old, but I am curious...what would the part list be for a 3rd gen 4x2 to 4x4 conversion?

 

Same as a 2nd gen, tranny, tcase, front diff, front driveshaft, cv axles, 4x4 front hubs, and proably swamping our some computers, since I doubt a fj case will mate to the new tranny.

 

Not worth doing lol

you wouldn’t get your money back out of it since it’s vin is a 2wd and finding donor trucks will be way harder.

 

Ok cool, thanks alot for that.

 

I hear ya, I was really just curious. Thanks for the info.

 

I’m in the same situation, bought 2wd 2019 Tacoma prerunner with off road package while in Texas. Worked good. Now in Colorado and barely made it up a few modest hills with loose dirt. Snow coming in several months. —— The problem with trade in etc is you lose over $2000 immediately from taxes, then another $8000 upside down. Plus I already have a painted $1800 fiberglass bed cover. If I could pay a reputable shop $7000 to $9000 for 4wd, that would be my preference.

 

Why $8k upside down?

 

Sounds like you should get some snow tires and weight in the bed.

 

Justify it however you need lol. Or buy a truck the same color and keep the tonneau cover.