MARYLAND TACOMAS

Ok, so nothing to improve there. In my opinion.

I'd still look at the two choices. Locker vs Winch. Yes, a winch adds a sense of danger if used improperly but lockers aren't the save all, every time. Stuck is stuck, you can't change slippery conditions and with a portable version winch, you can always just have it in the bed when you know your going.

Both will sit (so to speak talking about the locker) unless you need it so....

 

Hold up, I'm still looking around for this young man you speak of......

I crack myself up

 

Yea, it's definitely a A+ report card, that's for sure. With the milage you have, you'll likely be able to double it at your rate.

Growing up we were taught 3k miles but that was right after the invention of the wheel so.....

 

I appreciate that, I try to be very meticulous about my maintenance. Like I really do love this rig. I don’t know why, but I do. Bought it when I was a kid, and it’s been with me over the years. It was totaled in 2017 by a drunk driver, bought it back from the insurance and fixed it out of pocket, drove off in it the night I got married, now it has two car seats in the back. Man how time flies…

But I have absolutely every intention of driving it until the wheels fall off. So until then, short OCI’s for me.

 

I think you have convinced me to get an electric locker and a portable winch.

 

Thats fantastic, what a beaut

 

Oh God yes!
Desert dune metallic, limited?! Drool… I had a 96 base 2.7L shortly after high school that was desert dune. Was my very first vehicle, actually. I fell in love with the desert dune color. Now I have an old man tan (dorado gold) 01.

 

Yup, 1A5 Desert Dune metallic in the Limited trim. I was trying to find a Autumn Blaze Metallic rig but it wasn't happening, too rare of a color. I love the look of the DDM when I keep it clean. I like the Multi-mode t-case and the e-locker. I think that the only option this runner didn't have was the heated seats. It's a labor of love to keep it going, but still worth it. It's more comfortable ( to me) to drive then the '15 Taco.

 

That's a fantastic bio.

Dude, tell me about it. It feels like just yesterday I joined the forum and it's been over 5 years.

 

Factory e-locker, too? Sheesh, I’m very jealous. I’ve got multi-mode 4X4, but that’s it. I can “lock” my transfer case, but it doesn’t provide me with any extra benefit like your e-locker does. Auto or 5-speed? 3.4 or 2.7?

 

Well please talk to others. I'm only telling you what I would do if I were in your shoes. That certainly doesn't make it the best, or even the only options. I do know that after buying the Sport, and then learning what added capabilities a Offroad or Pro had over it I wondered if I made the right choice. However, until it was totaled, like you, I was happy as a pig in shit with it and ready to be buried in it.

If I hadn't dropped so much money into it making it an offroad worthy and soured by the whole experience, I probably would have done it again. Fortunately, I got a tremendous deal on the Pro and even though the baseline was more, I'm ahead not having to build it up like before.

Now, have I spent money on it? You bet, but mostly cosmetic stuff. I'm not done either. I still want a winch, and armored bumper to mount it on.

Oh, and since I've had it, I've only been legitimately offroad only once. But it was fantastic time with some freaking awesome people, and I could never put a price on that.

 

Not mine and I have no idea if this is legit, looks cool though.

 

Good Morning MD

 

Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey… Morning MD

 

Morning MD

 

Morning Maryland

 

TY

 

Morning MD! Another wet and chilly day off to sit on the couch… at least till I have to start that “honey to do list”… ugh!!

 

...just some things to think about maybe...

"Need" is a funny word. Most of the time a hard-mounted winch will stay on the front of your truck and do nothing but weigh it down and cost money; it's not just the winch that you'd need but mounting and likely front suspension upgrades. I once created a formula to measure absolute value of an item; taking into account it's price, it's weight, frequency of use (over a year), and a wildcard data point to show how catastrophic NOT having the item might be.

Off the top of my head, I figured it'd cost me $2000 for a winch, bumper, springs, install, etc. Then I guessed I would actively use it maybe 15 minutes, one weekend a month (assuming one or two pulls per camping trip) - or 3 hours per year. Then i took the weight and size into account - which translates to lower fuel economy by some amount. Finally, I figured no more than about half the time I could use a winch, not-having it would be catastrophic; the other half the time I could use a winch, i'd have other means (traction boards, digging, friends to pull, etc). Winches scored low in my formula - whereas something like a fire extinguisher scored among the highest 'needs' as not-having one might always be a complete disaster.

The same might be said of a locker - that having a locker means about 20? minutes of use per month - but there is no measurable weight/storage penalty - just something that sits there until needed. Not-having one would almost never be truly catastrophic. But figure $2000 to buy and install.

My truck has neither lockers or a winch and to-date I have not been hampered by either for MY particular needs. The truck goes everywhere any other rig has gone. And the $4000 or so it'd cost me for both could buy probably 10 overlanding/camping trips worth of fuel (yes, that number is dropping).

So we are back to this: If you need a locker or a winch - what is that actual need? How is the need really gonna be measured? Could better tires? taller lift? more gear? More gas or something else end up being more important to getting you out there into the woods?

I think I will pick up a winch eventually; and a rear locker...but in the mean time, my truck with solidly-good tires has done very well. Again, for MY needs of course...and yours are likely different.

 

I usually dont put this much thought into things. I am impressed with your write up. I think I "need" a rear locker. I will probably do a rear locker and call it a day.