Focus...Truck or Bike?

First time poster here guys. I'm a long time member over on TTORA and TS, but never ventured here much. Looks like a pretty good place, so I thought I would join.

A little history about me first. I got involved in TTORA back in late 2003 when I started college. I built up a 96 Tacoma into a mild crawler (5.5" lift, armor all around, softopper, 33x12.5r15 Trxus MTs, 4.88s, etc). I sold that last winter due to needing a more capable DD with more towing/hauling capability, and the fact that actual wheeling parks in PA have all but disappeared.

Anyways, I purchased an 05 TRD AC 4x4. Love the truck, and it's still bone stock except for my 265/75/16 Nitto TG's. It's VERY hard for me to keep it stock. I love the look of lifted vehicles, but I'm also a person who doesn't believe in doing something up just for looks...I like to see vehicles used.

Well, now I'm kind of a crossroad of sorts. I have 75K, but rear springs are all but sagged to nothing, my front springs have sagged. I do use my truck to haul things, and it's going to increase now that I have home projects to do since my fiance and I purchased our first home. I could keep this truck stock, and probably get by on the stock setup, but I could also re-do the suspension all together. My plan had been for a full OME setup OR dakars out back with SAWs up front. I had Kings on my 96, and the only reason I'm leary of coilovers is the corrosion from the salt on the roads here in PA (even though I wash my truck once a week in the winter).

Anyways, I've also always been a huge dirtbike/quad rider. I have a TON of fire roads and backroads I can explore where I live (fairly rural PA). I don't have a ton of actual wheeling trails, but I have the same roads, etc to explore in my truck. Eventually I will have no problem affording both the bike and the truck hobby, but for right now, I think I need to prioritize.

I like the looks of a lifted vehicle, but I don't really wheel to the true definition of the word (I would certainly have it offroad quite a bit at the cabin, etc, but no rock crawling). So I keep asking, do I really need to lift it, get worse mileage, and for what?

With a bike, I would certainly use it quite often, but it's only seasonal. It's also more costly to get into, but once you're in it, gas is cheap on a dual sport.

So, if you guys had a choice right now. Lift your truck (and lift in my case would be a suspension improvement, because I would do it right...no spacers, and new spring pack in the rear), or keep it stock (knowing you won't be taking it hardcore wheeling), and focusing a bike?

I know I can make my own decisions, but I'm curious to hear what you guys would do.

Great site, btw.

 

Man you do have yourself a little dilema. I have always had both so I cant really give you any priotrities, but I guess that is probably also why I am single but in my opinion I would have to tell you that if you have people to ride with then go with the bike, but if you dont then go with the truck. It isnt exactly safe to be riding by yourself off road. I dont know if this exactly helped you out at all but thats my $.02

 

Well most of my riding would be alone. I have a friend that lives about 20 minutes away who rides occasionally. However, no friends that live here near me do. I do have a brother in law who got me into the Toyota scene. He had a lifted 98 Tacoma RC. He got rid of it for a 05 Silverado (I know I know). But he does have a ~1.75" lift on it running 275/70/17 MTRs. We have a few fun mountain trails we can run if we want. If anything I would set my truck up to be a bit of an expedition truck to explore fishing spots, camp out of, and work (hence the reason I would put Dakar's in the back to improve load handling).

 

I'd put off the bike, but thats just my opinion. Its not as fun as it might seem having an enduro and spending all the time riding solo, its what I do, I have a supermoto. It is still fun but its better with a group. But it is really up to you on which one you want more right now.

 

where at in pa do you live? anyways put a little bit in both here and there. thats what i do.

 

Count me in the "both" club!

Of course only you can determine what's best in your situation. But there are a lot of good dual sport bikes out there that can be bought used for very modest prices. They sip gas and are fun to ride! I just sold my '04 DRZ400S (street legal) and instead I picked up this! An '04 CRF250X. Not street legal but I realized almost all my riding was in the mountains or the desert where a plate isn't necessary. Good luck!

 

Where you from??

Have I wheeled with you before?

I was an old TTORA (PA TTORA) members from years past - like from 99 till gawd knows when. Used to wheel the snot outta my 96 tacoma back then. And then I bought a trail rig (jeep).

Welcome to the forum!

You can never leave a vehicle alone. I just stopped off at the truck accessories shop today and I swear to gawd, everytime I got in there I wanna buy something for my truck!!

Hell - leave the truck 'as is' and get the bike. You can always go wheelin with the truck anytime you want in its stock condition without any problems. If you need some peeps to go wheelin with, let me know. Our club goes out monthly.

 

I choose dirt bikes because that is what I ride and love. I enjoy being alone on back fire roads or in the middle of a deep forest. When I'm with others, I push myself and enjoy and the speed and control I have over my bike.

Wheeling in a truck would be fun but is more technical and slower (in PA anyway). I've been stuck in mud holes, stopped by rock gardens and deadended by fallen trees and just get frustrated by it. Plus, I use my truck as my daily driver and don't want the scratches, dents and other problems caused by wheeling.

I do enjoy light wheeling on dirt roads but mostly do it to get to a fishing or swimming hole. Stock, my truck is capable of that. Even with sagging springs, you should be OK on dirt roads.

2 wheels is always better than 4!

 

BTW...you can pick up a used KTM300exc for relatively cheap (under $1K for a 2001+). It's a 2 stroke that rides like a 4 stroke (some call it a 3-stroke) and it's cheap to maintain.

This bike can crawl through rock sections, zip through single track or take you 60mph down the highway.

 

Janster, I'm Toyo4x4 over on TTORA. I'm the webmaster for PATTORA. I never got to wheel with you, but I wheeled with Scott, Mark, Brad, etc at Paragon a few times. I know of ya pretty well, though

I have a really bad modification obsession...and I'm also a bit of an obsessive personality, so I tend to go over board on hobbies I do enjoy the 21-22mpg highway in the summer, though.

 

Are you over on Thumpertalk? I think I found the post you made when you bought your truck. Man, it seems everyone is pretty familiar in this thread to me. I've researched a little about plating an "offroad" bike in PA, but I know they're cracking down on it more and more which is why I was leaning toward and already street legal bike from the factory.

 

Cogan Station. Just north of Williamsport. I know where Beech Creek is. My brother-in-law used to ride quads out there.

 

Yup...veccster at TT (and all other forums). What OHV parks allow trucks in the Central/Western PA region? Can you wheel in the ANF? We are trying to plan a trip to Marionville this summer but only for our bikes.

We have some back country wheeling areas around here that I may explore once I get a lift and some rubbers.

 

Bike. If you go dual sport you got it all. Good off-road and road legal. I ride an oldie, but love my Yamaha 81' XT500. ATV trails, singletrack, fire/jeep roads, and not bad to cruise on pavement. If I dump it no big deal, it'll fix easy. Do that w/ the truck, I'm broke. Dont know about you but I NEED the truck for everything.

 

oh yeah thats sweet. does he have a camp out there? whats his name?

 

I don't condone this sensible "priorities" type of thinking....GO FOR BOTH!!

LOL....I'd go with the truck personally- but I have a street bike and spend hours a day in an uncomfortable airplane seat- so the sporty comfort of my seats in the truck is welcome...=)

Welcome to the board!!

 

There are portions of the ANF that are accessible to vehicles, but like Bald Eagle stateforrest, they're not that challenging or fun. I really think I might lean toward the bike, because really in truly, 5 years down the road, I foresee a fullsize in my future, or at least a double cab LB tacoma. I'm already needing more cab room. Just stinks I can't get the bike for this summer. Too many expenses, but they're good expenses (house remodeling, wedding, etc). Who knows.

 

Rausch Creek Offroad Park near Tremont, PA
http://www.rauschcreekoffroadpark.org/
Been there tons of times!

Rock Run Recreation Area in Pattoon, Pa
This is primiarily a motorcross area but they do have OPEN wheeling weekends for 4WD vehicles (check the schedule).
http://www.rockrunrecreation.com/
Never been there myself, but hoping to get up there this year.

 

Very cool!
I knew there had to be a connection somewhere. Our clubs should get together as a dual club event sometime. I'm the Events Coordinator for the Keystone Krawlers. I'm always trying to think of new events & things to stir up interest. Things have been pretty damn slow lately (I hate it!!)

 

Nope, he doesn't. Actually now that I'm thinking of it, I may be getting that mixed up with Blossburg, lol. Somebody I know has ridden up a beech creek