Question about re-gear when going to SAS

I'm broke and 18 years old but want to save the most money in the long run.

I want to get as far as I can on the trails and my end goal for the truck is 10/10 trails where I need tons and 40s.

At the moment I'm on 33's with a rear locker. The next step for me is 35's. I know if I get 35's I'll need to regear but I don't want to spend 2k and then have it wasted when I eventually SAS. I won't be SASing anytime soon but I'll probably be broke until 22 and graduate college so I want to save all the money I can.

My question is, is there anyway to save the front diff that's regeared or am I forced to sell it?

I doubt this is the case but could I swap in the front diff and shove it into the rear axle (toyota axle) that's now on the front? I read some stuff about it not working like that due to steering n shit but maybe there's a way to modify it?

What's my best option? Just SAS, go 37's, regear then. My other option is regear now, get 35's, buy rcv axles and straight to tons when I'm 25. I'm confident I can do 80% of the trails on 35's with skill, winch, and thought.

I know I can't afford tons and 40s for a long ass time so my plan for the SAS is Toyota axle with leaf springs. I know about the costs involved with that but I know it's a lot cheaper than tons and 40s. I'm willing to waste a bit of money making my truck daily drivable by sinking money into "worse" axles and buy tons when I'm better off.

There's a guy selling a toyota axle near me for $300 so it's sparked my interest of swapping one in the front.

Edit: What I mean by sinking money into worse axles is buying higher quality parts that improve drivability rather than bottom of the bucket "yeah I did my SAS for $2500 but I can't do 55 without it shaking"

 

I don’t want to be that guy but I’ll be that guy anyways and say it. Take it with a little grain of salt and then some.

95% of folks who wants a SA, maybe 3% will go through with it while the other 2% ponder and end up losing interests after calculating cost, energy, and time involved. TBH, you’re better off buying one built vs building one yourself. It’s cheaper to buy someone else’s junk, lol.

No, you cannot shove the clamshell to the rear when you SA. You won’t be able to save money because you want wonton. If not, 5.29 for now and retain the rear, only having to add the front. Cheapest will be waggy axle, even the trail broken gear RA is over priced used.

 

The only SAS I've seen in my years are guys who have fab experience, welding experience and a lot of work space.

Pipe dreams are part of the hobby but they need to be reasonable. Many on here started with puck lifts and worked their way up to crazy builds, including solid axles. But as you say, very few.

 

Nothing wrong to dream TBH but like you mentioned, skills along with specialized tools are needed. For years, I kept everything simple with leaf spring front until I got a lift. I couldn’t imagine doing link without it now.

Even a leaf spring setup can take weeks with full time commitment from sunrise to sunset, not your YouTube 3 day episode. My truck took me 2 years, between full time work, full time school, and a family. Have a 25x30 shop in my backyard where I didn’t have to move crap around.

 

I will always have my dreams of having a SA unless I can find an 80's series Landcruiser and then my Tacoma can go fuck it's self anyways.

I appreciate the help. What I mean by saving money is doing something the right way the first time, not having 50 different changes.

 

As I'm still young I'll have to do everything my self. I'm lucky enough to have a step dad with has fab experience and has done solid axle swaps before. I know without him I'd be shit out of luck. Once I get a job I'll have a shop do my major work so I'll admit that. Whenever I find myself working on my truck, I always think to myself "I hate being poor, I hate working on my truck, I can't wait till I have money for some guy can do this for me"


Edit: I understand that I'll have to buy 50 12 packs and wait a month for it to get done but it'd be done

 

Majority of us been there, done that. Like I said, nothing wrong to dream. Just make sure your dream is reachable. Don’t believe in the “shoot for the stars and land on the moon” crap. That’s nonsense, lol. Make sure you set small reachable goals, one step at a time.

As to your “doing it right way the first time” statement, I truly believe you don’t need a SA. Front and rear lockers with IFS, crawlbox, 35” tires with beadlock will go a long way. That setup will do 90% of the trails around me. Plus, depending on the group of pros you hang out with, they might not even enjoy offroading like you do. Don’t go “light bars before lockers” method like most Jeep.

If you insist on SA, I recommend creating a spreadsheet with a parts list and price. View that thoroughly and it may change your mind. A leaf spring setup average $10k too makes it turn key, depending on what you want. Link suspension can easily double, triple, or quadruple that price when it comes to custom parts such as axles, coilovers, and what not.

 

Why not just put the money into an 80 to begin with if thats where you want to end up.