Keep and modify or trade up??

I have an 04 5-lug reg cab and don't know if it's worth the trouble to lift it and put new rims and tires on it or if it would be better to sell it and put the money I would have put into the lift, rims and tires toward a 01-02 xtra cab prerunner. Anybody lifted a 5-lug truck and liked the results or would I be wasting money?

 

What do you want it to look like and what are you wanting to use it for?

 

I want it to at least match up with the Prerunners as far as height goes and maybe have better performance. I want a truck that I can pull my boat (15ft. aluminum jonboat) with and have the traction to pull it out of our ponds and be able to get it out of the fields we hunt in if it gets a little muddy. and maybe have a little fun in the mud too

 

Sounds like you would greatly appriciate the rear locker in the prerunner TRD off road models. Either that or 4x4

 

Yeah I really wanted the 4wd with a TRD package but this truck came along for $5,000 and I couldn't pass it up (was drivin a 94 accord at the time so you do the math 10 year newer tacoma for $2,000 plus the 3 we got for the accord) I don't know if I'd feel right about selling it yet. Family friend who's husband drove it and died from a stroke gave us a great deal and I don't think I could sell it and make a $3000 profit off her only 4 months after I bought it.

 

Upgrading any vehicle is quite often money down the drain if your truck gets damaged, as insurance generally will not cover your costs. As well, resale doesn't correspond with the cash outlay. I say trade up, as I have been burnt in both these scenarios.

 

You need a 4wd...if its the least bit wet you'll be stuck in a field in no time. The rear just doesn't have enough weight to get traction. My old 2wd could get around the fields but you'll be spinning all over the place to get around and then it tears up the field and makes it harder to get around the next time you go that way.

 

5 Lug option from TC - I can't remember for sure, but I believe the wild color one is also a 4 banger?

http://www.chaosfab.com/projects/tacoma/tacoma.html
http://www.chaosfab.com/98000.html

 

I've got a 5-lug 2.7L too and there are many options out there for the 5-lugs, you just have to look for them and research. Any moddification is going to cost money, but it's all worth it if the end result makes you happy. I will agree that the 2wd aren't very trail friendly but you can still have fun if you stay out of the mud and are careful...you have to know your boundaries.

 

Trade it and get a 4x4. Just my $.02

 

I dunno about a 5 lug, but I have been thinking the same sorts of things, do I want to mod or upgrade to a 2nd gen?

I'm throwing around the idea of a SAS, buying a quad and then in a few years when I'm a full time FF, buying a newer vehicle.

different situation, but lots of options... being a 2wd, it's much easier to get lift out of the front suspension as there are no cv's to deal with.

it's also a nice light truck, I'd say giver shit! turn it into a nice prerunner style race truck!