What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

rust issues. I do, until June, then we're moving to MS, then fall/winter I have a job opportunity in Va, and i may end up staying up there.

Sweet, I really like classics.

 

Ah... Eh, it's not hard to keep things from rusting in my opinion. All you have to do is keep them clean like you should anyways.

Yeah, my dad's finally getting around to working on his 68. Gah, I love that thing. First thing I ever drove too.

 

One would think that but I took an extensive trip touring Colorado a few years back. The gas mileage jumped back up to 21. I figure NM has crappy gas.

 

Or live in the desert.

 

installed a Softopper last week and went camping over the weekend. easy install, great top

 

If you don't mind me asking where are you moving in MS? You can PM me if you like

 

The only reason why I care about MPG is because I like to go out on adventures with my truck.

Often that includes driving several hours to get to the trail head or destination. It's nice having some fuel efficiency so that one, I'm not having to stop every so often to refuel, two, not spending a fortune getting to and from somewhere and three, have a better chance at not running out of fuel because I'm venturing into the middle of nowhere.

Would it be nice to have a beast like Frank or the many other sick trucks on TW? Absolutely. But I like trying to find the balance and keeping my truck mostly stock so that it suits my needs better.

tl;dr version: I like having a range of 300-330 miles per tank.

 

It'd be easier to carry a couple extra gallons of fuel than worry about mpgs.

 

I do carry 5 gallons of fuel.

But I equate that response to the typical, "it's a truck dude" reply when ever anyone asks questions about:

1. keeping the exterior clean
2. keeping the interior clean
3. trying to figure out power issues
etc



I'd much rather have a stock/near-stock Tacoma that has a range of 300+ miles than a beefy built up one that only has a range of 150+ miles.

That's just me though.

 

I'm with you on that one. Its all about trade-offs. I've had a vehicle that could take me anywhere on or off road but I only got 10mpg...and this was when gas was still about $1.25/gal. Apples to apples, I'd need a vehicle to run about 34mpg to pay the same at the pump today...which ain't gonna happen.

A near stock Tacoma is still going to take you places that would leave most stranded and having the extra range is a bonus. I've also learned that there is a "tipping point" with daily drivers. The more you modify, the more you enjoy driving it UNTIL it gets to a point where its so modified that you'd almost rather drive a stock vehicle daily.

 

when I use my fuel perks I carry this bad boy in my bed:

http://www.flo-n-go.com/products/product_duramax

 

This is why you have a truck and a bike. Acceleration for days and wheeling for days.

 

Gah! Wtf fun is a near stock tacoma!!!
I want my truck to be able to go over whatever it damn well wants.
You get 25 miles per gallon, I get 25 smiles per gallon

 

lol

Ol' Red has taken me every where I've wanted to go. And places where he had no business being.

I got all my hard core wheeling needs out of me when I was younger. Time and responsibility has put me in a new bracket where those days are behind me. Plus he's my only vehicle so I can't get with the "break it fix it" mentality.

 

That's another component to my deal.

This is my only vehicle. So it is my DD, grocery getter, school shuttle, etc.

So not only does it have to satisfy my adventure needs, it has to take care of my daily needs as well.

I think with the new suspension I'll have found a great balance of everything.

Then all I have to do is figure out a bolt on/bolt off transfer case skid.

 

You guys make a good point. When I go to upgrade my suspension I'll be asked what my main objective is. That is to find a happy medium between stock and off-road capability (which the tacoma already is). I'm thinking a mild 2" lift. Same 265/75/16's on it. I don't want to do drop brackets and all that stuff. Basically trying to get back to a square stance while sitting a tad higher.

That makes me wonder. Anyone put a little 1-2" lift on their seat brackets? Hell if it feels like I'm sitting higher I'll go with it. I'm half kidding...maybe.

 

Same here. I don't like the OEM suspension so that'll eventually go but I'll only lift about 1"-1.5" and keep the 31"x10.50"'s. My focus is/will be mostly armor (skids, sliders, etc.) and recovery (D rings and shackles front/rear for a winch or come-a-long point). Lastly, reliability as a DD is my top focus. I love wrenching on it but I can't afford to have it sitting in pieces for days on end.

 

Here's my bulid - wallet lol

 

I've gone on some pretty rough trails basically stock minus sliders and tires. It really makes me reconsider money spent on lifts bumpers etc. I wouldn't even bother getting my bumper if I didn't rip the last one in half.

 

Armor is the best investment. These trucks are stupid capable offroad. I'm one of the smaller rig in my offroad and I go most the same if not all the places they go in Jeeps on 35's. The only reason for wanting lift is so I'd stop hitting the damn skid plate all the time, still do just not as much. I did alot on bald 32's and armor, just have to know how to drive. Brake throttle modulation is where it's at.