Florida B.S. Thread

I'm pretty sure that 5k is near the upper limit of a Taco's tow rating (6k, IIRC). Personally, I think I'd go with an F150 and if I had the money, one with the 3L turbo-diesel (which stupidly is only available on the higher trim levels so it's like you're paying a double premium to get the diesel), otherwise, the 5L V8. Be a lot less strain on the tow rig.

 

Nice.
I’ve been wanting a new mtb for awhile. Did a lot of riding when I lived in CA. Not so much in FL. But the itch is there. Bikes have changed a lot since my riding days: geometry, suspension, components. I am at a loss when looking at the new stuff.

 

Me too, my last bike which I still have i bought in 1994. I jumped in feet first on the new one. Did a bunch of reading, but didn't ride any before buying.

So much has changed. 1x12 drive train, dropper seat post, disc brakes, wide handlebars and tons of smooth long suspension travel.

My conclusion from this point of view is as long as the bike fits you, you can't go wrong. Modern bikes are just really good

 

The 5k estimate could be way off. Heather and I want a pop-up camper. That's all that would be towed. That and maybe a small flats skiff down the road, but they're under 1500 pounds.

What do pop-ups normally weigh?

 

I went from a v6 04 Prerunner to my v6 2017 Limited. Some experience with Toyotas as 3 live in the driveway now. Daughter had 3different Toyotas in 4 or 5 years (kept trading to meet new conditions) I have now had 8 various Toyotas. I do not off road so I can not speak first hand to the ability of either in that arena, so someone else will have to address that. That said... I love my "new" Taco

Pro of the 17 vs 04 ** Remember there have been quite a few changes from '17 to '20 (or '21)

• Just plain bigger
  
  • Maybe this is a con for some
  • Mother-in-law "can't" get in the truck
• Windshield go-pro mount
  
  • does nothing for me
    
  • it is there and lots like/use it
• Considerably better MPG
  • About 5 mpg increase
    
  • 04 was getting 15-- 17 gets 20 with my lead foot
• Ride quality much improved
  
• Road noise - HUGE reduction
  
• Much more comfort features
  • Leather
  • Push to start
    
  • Wheel mounted controls
  • Sliding visors
  • 10x better head unit (blue tooth)
  • Heated seats
  • Parking brake in center console vs under dash
  • Power back window
  • Power locking tailgate lock (SET added)
• Safety features
  • Blind spot alert
  • Reverse camera
  • Backing sensors
• Better mods
  • I know this one is more me than the truck
• Appearance
• Bed
  • Utility rail
  • No plastic bed liner catching who the "F" knows
    
  • Cubby storage
• Outlet
  
• Better tow package
  • 7pin & 4 pin 04 only had 4 pin
  • Added cooler (not sure the 04 had it)
  • Upgraded alternator (04 did not have that)

Cons 17 vs 04

• Tires are more expensive
  • 18" vs 16"
  • 04 had 50K? high profile all terrain tires about 280 each
  • 17 has 70K road oriented tires a bit over 400 each
    • FYI tire estimates are from same shop
• More expensive buy-in
• Dog comfort
  • Entry/exit height
  • Slick plastic on back of seat
  • Smooth leather on front of seat
• Big ass hole in the roof
  • AKA moon roof
• Drivers side grab handle gone
  
• Tech features can be annoying
  • Reverse sensors after FL rains alert due to water on/in sensor
    
  • Complains every time you get out with it running

I have towed with both and had no issues other than a big drop in MPG, but that was true of both. Wish the 17 had a simpler O/D off button like the 04. Towing a light/empty trailer is like any other truck, annoying especially over 70 mph.

The back seat is bigger and has more leg room. My son as a teen was over 6' so either would not be great, but the 17 would be considerably better. My parents road in the back seat and the only complaint was entry primarily due to height, Mom is somewhat vertically challenged and in her 70's.

I hope that all helps a bit. Good luck!!

 

Thanks for taking the time to go so indepth. I really appreciate it.

Guy

 

I'm going to add this, even though it's likely quite a bit different on the 3rd Gen Tacos...

The center diff T-case. I have one in my 3rd Gen T4R. I was a bit skeptical about it at first, but I quickly realized the primary benefit...All Wheel Drive mode (basically 4WD with the center diff unlocked). It's great for driving on slick surfaces like wet roads and ice without binding up the drivetrain between the front and rear end. The down side is, there's more stuff to go wrong and it's probably more expensive when it does. Also, you defeat the whole purpose of AWD mode if you put anything but a selectable locker in it. Only thing I really hate about the system is you can't turn the traction control and Vehicle Stability Control off, so you can't drift it around corners in the sand, but I think you can turn that stuff off in the Tacos. In the end, I could probably figure out how to spoof the VSC unto thinking the truck was in 4WD mode with the center diff is locked, which only shuts down the VSC, but leaves the traction control running, but it would take quite a bit of studying the wiring diagrams and it'd be a lot of work just to act the fool on occasion on the trails.

Bottom line: for a 95% road driven vehicle, the center diff T-case is great. I wouldn't change it unless it became a dedicated trail rig. Even if I SAS'd it, I'd try to find an axle like Dynatrac that would work with my ABS sensors so I could still have VSC, Trac, and AWD mode.

Dunno how much a pop-up weighs. I figured you were looking for a tow rig to haul the T4R to out of state adventures. I'm sure a Taco would be fine for towing a pop-up. I plan to regear the T4R to 4.56s, add a trans temp, oil temp, and oil pressure gauge so I can tow a 14'x7' cargo trailer. (The engine oil temp and the oil pressure gauge, aren't really necessary for that, but I no longer trust the factory temp gauge to tell me if I'm over heating after that time at Richloam when I cooked the Taco engine while the temp gauge never rear higher than normal). One thing I would do for a tow rig...or any rig these days (it's only a matter of time before I do it to the T4R, is completely cut the radiator ATF cooler out of the system and just run a bigger after market trans fluid cooler, probably installed in conjunction with the ATF temp gauge). I plan to use Autometer 2 1/8" Cobalt Digital gauges for the engine oil and trans temps and a mechanical Autometer [probably 2 5/8s] Cobalt full sweep analogue gauge for the oil pressure.

Fun fact: you can get a stand alone transmission controller that will tell you the running trans temp, what gear it's currently in and you can map several custom shift point sequences for various loads and activities.

 

You doing a high clearance?

 

Undecided on that. I have a design in my head but not sure I want to make the change on this truck.

 

If you decide Im willing to do a even swap bed and bumper.

 

Just checking in ,,James from Otown

Picked up a 012 crew last week .
I'll be in & out looking for parts & checking the BS

 

Welcome. Hide your wallet, this place will empty it lol.

 

And then you end up with a 4runner like the rest of us, lol.

 

Traded in the old taco on 2020 4 runner last year , The wife now has taken the new truck over.. I missed the taco so we have been looking for the right truck for weeks . You know-how hard it was to find a nice 012 to 015 right now.

 

I hate it when that happens. Back when I was married, I couldn't go to work two nights in a row without having to readjust pretty much everything in my '90 F150 supa cab 4x4. Even though the wife had a brand new Honda Civic to drive, I don't care if she had to move the truck 3' (and she always seemed to find a reason to do so), she had to frack with every damn thing from the tilt of the steering wheel, to the seat back and bottom position, to the mirrors and the radio. It used to drive me freakin' nuts. I could never get everything back to "just right" and I couldn't get used to the "slightly off" because it would all change the next day.

 

12-15 are hard to find why

 

Last of the 4.0 are going nowhere but up on the $$

 

Gotcha

 

New build thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dent-bucket-2-0.710074/

managed to find a nice 2014

 

i have had multiple 3rd gen tacomas, then went to a 4runner, then missed having a bed, found a "great" deal on a 2021 colorado Z71, traded the 4runner in for it... Multiple issues, fuel delivery, electrical, coolant issues... died on me a couple times, radio was possessed, hard starts.... It was faster than the tacos and 4runner, could tow more... But otherwise a real POS. Made lemonade out of the lemon, and back in a 2021 TRDOR. Happy to be back.

Now im just having a tough time deciding how to do my lift. Already have the eibach stage one here, with 2 sets of rear blocks, 1" and 2"... Also have the new eibach stage 2 kit ordered with the rear shocks, ordered a diff drop, top spacer for taco lean, longer bolts etc....

But now thinking i should probably get a set of AAL and run them instead of the blocks. ECGS bushing too while im at.... Ride quality is very important to me and dont want any vibes... But its rare i have any added weight in the bed either though. SO not sure if the AAL would be better "enough" to justify another purchase, or the blocks i already have would be good enough...

Too many choices makes it damn near stressful piecing stuff together LOL