Sold our Sprinter with great relief and joining the Tacoma group.

Hello. Noob here…..anyone else get a basic pickup (Gen 2, 5 lug, 4 cylinder, 2WD base model, access cab) and decide to build a weekend 4WD separately? I’m hoping to find an old 4runner. Getting way harder to find however. Im no newcomer to owning vehicles but this is my first Toyota. I’m enthralled how nice it is to use and only had it a few weeks. New tires and shocks needed as it is bouncing down the highway like a rabbit. I’ll check out the 5 lug threads. So the only upgrades it will have in the short term are bigger wheels (245/65 R17) and upgraded shocks. Otherwise it blends in with the thousands of white pickups in the desert. The sprinter I had was a rare 2002 4x4 but dealing with the nuances of owning a rare German vehicle wasnt working for me. I started out with Japanese workhorses (Datsuns) and like them.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome to the TW

 

It’s great to be part of the group even if I only have a 5 lug. I’ll go see if I can get it stuck. Shouldn’t be too hard. Lots of sand around here. Maybe that’s why the PO swapped to wider rims and bigger tires. These 2.7L engines sure run sweet. Happy as a bug in a rug with it. I’ve been reading the 5 lug section and see a few lift kits. Might go that route but will just drive it and change all the fluids first.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome to TW!

 

235 75 15 on OE 'spare' wheels with stainless trim rings. No lift, rubbing or alterations required. Enough sidewall for a nice ride, actually 'corrected' the speedo to read right.

I have no need for any more truck than this. Does all I want. Boxes, bicycles, kayaks etc.

Swapped on a chrome grill surround that no one wants to lighten up the look of the front end an make it a touch less 'pool truck' looking, just like the wheels and trim rings.

 

Welcome and I know you’re stoked to get rid of that Sprinter. Some have a great experience, others not so much.

My buddy got stranded in his Sprinter due to it going into Limp Mode. That was a crazy ass story, but he did survive!

That yota is a solid choice!

 

That’s essentially the same truck as my 2011 except the seller installed bigger wheels and tires. There’s very rocky roads here so bigger tires is important.

 

Stock is 215 75 15

My 235 75 15 are substancially bigger and are the largest OD to run w/o clearance issues.

 

Mine are 245 65 17 which might explain why the fender liners are missing.

 

Welcome to TW!

I myself am also an admitted Datsun nerd! Grew up building a really nice 240z, and my best friend had a 510. We couldn’t kill those things!

Also dabbled in Sprinter ownership with a 2015 we owned 5 years. We replaced the Mercedes with a Ford Transit van, and find the cost of ownership much lower.

Still LOVE my Toyotas though!

 

While only .66 larger dia, it could be a factor

More of a factor could be wheels that vary from factory specs a good bit.

 

Those are some sweet rigs you had and have. I had about 20 Datsuns but this is my first Toyota. I’d like to drive a few others to see how they are. I have nostalgia for the Sprinter but dont miss it. Im way to cheap for a sprinter lol. Have never been in a Promaster. Looks great!

 

Point taken. The wheels may be an issue. I jacked up the truck to start replacing all the shocks this evening. If that doesn’t help enough I’ll see if I can borrow some stock wheels and tires and see what that does. Thanks. Enjoy paddling. I paddled across the Everglades by myself in a canoe. Saw some wild and crazy stuff lol.

 

I put 300k on an ‘84 Nissan 720 2wd KC. Best vehicle ever