Anyone here come from a Wrangler (JK/JKU) to a 3rd Gen Taco?

I'm really torn between a 2016 Tacoma TRD Offroad and the 2016 Jeep Wrangler Willys Wheeler. I'm pretty much looking for the most off-road capable, 4 door truck or suv off the factory floor for around $35,000USD.


Anyone here come from a JK/JKU Wrangler to a 3rd gen Taco? If so, How do you like it? What are the pros and cons of each?

 

There's tons of jeep guys that have both come from jeeps or still have one. But I don't think the Tacoma is the most OffRoad capable. Especially out of the box brand new.

 

Just for wheelin', Jeep. Daily driving, Tacoma.

 

If I'm being completely honest, I'd wait for the Jeep truck that's supposedly coming out soon. Then I'd test drive the Taco, the Jeep Wrangler, and the Jeep Truck. I know a common complaint for 3rd gen is the massive long hood that stunts visibility when OffRoad.

 

If your primary focus is for off-roading, the jeep wins 100 times over. It comes with basically all the same 4x4 features as the Tacoma (except crawl and MTS if you go automatic trans), except the jeep has significantly better approach and departure angles. I believe it even has better ground clearance. I know if you were looking at the Rubicon Hard Rock, that is basically the best 4x4 under $50k straight from the factory.

 

If you haven't already, test drive them! The wrangler looks great on paper but after you try one it will become quickly apparent if it's for you or not.

I own and have owned several jeeps, I currently have a 1947 2a and a 2006 LJ--and as much as they have improved (in terms of comfort and handling) there is no doubt they still drive like a jeep. I drove 4 JKU's over the course of a few months, and while they are nicer than my jeeps--each time I came away quite disappointed. Good weekend toy, but not the best daily driver. Add to it the SIZE of a new JK (or a double cab Tacoma for that matter)--it's just too much of a compromise for me. Too big for the trails I want to go on and too expensive to actually use/scratch up but not nice enough for my primary vehicle.

 

I daily drove a JK for 6-years. Have cycled through a 5th gen 4Runner, 97 fzj80, now the taco. If you want a jk I'd save some coin and go for a pre-owned, or wait for the new gen in 2017. Speaking frankly, go drive them on extended test-drives. I loved my jeep but they're nowhere near as safe as a Toyota. I test drove one before I go my Tacoma and was quickly reminded of all the things I disliked about them, in terms of a daily driver at least (handling, interior comfort, etc). Off road it depends, I've wheeled them all. To get into terrain where the jeep will made a considerable improvement over the Toyota would involve 35-37 inch tires and a whole boatload of aftermarket modifications (5-10k in parts). Heck guys run the rubicon in tacoma with 3'' lifts and 33s, I ran fins and things out in moab last year in the 4runner and it performed great, that had 2'' lift and 33's. I'd ask yourself what you need out of the vehicle and go from there. I loved my jeep but have trouble recommending them as a primary vehicle. Lastly, the 4Runner is going to have better angles than the Tacoma, so you may want to look there. A used Land Rover LR4 is also way up there in terms of capability, reliability issues aside. This topic can get really heated and strung out, I'd seriously just go out and drive them for awhile and make up your own determination.

 

Just fyi, I went to Jeep.com and did the build and price on a Rubicon Hard Rock. They say the base price is basically $39,000 so I wonder if you could find a dealer that would come down to your price range. Of course that's if you like the included options without extras. And definitely test drive all options. Don't be afraid to go a little outside your initial thoughts too. 4 Runners are good off-road and so are Xterras and Fj Cruisers (you would have to go used on the Xterra and FJ though as they have been discontinued).

 

I was also looking into the 4Runner Trail. They're a tad bit more expensive then the Taco TRD OR but at the same time the 5th gen has some really good dealer incentives since it's been around longer. Anyways, I'm off to talk to both dealers about a possible extended test drive. Thanks for the advice!

 

i bought and built an 08 JKU Rubicon had it on a 3.5" lift and 37s and to be honest the crazy amount of offroading you can do, the size tires and the amount of flex you can get out of a JKU with minimal modification cant be matched. but i will agree with everyone else on here it was my play car for 3 years and i wheeled the shit out of it but when it came down to needing a nicer daily driver i sold it and bought a Taco. Now i was running a pretty decently built JKU so you can get away with doing things that make it nice for DD but i would say if DD is the main focus try a modified one out see how you like it driving around town and especially the freeway (mine was miserable at anything above 65) the JKs are amazing and i really hope i get to build another one some day but i just couldnt do it as my daily driver anymore.

 

The Tacoma is extremely off road capable for a truck right off the lot. With that said a stock Jeep Wrangler right off the lot is probably the most off road capable vehicle currently in production today.

 

If your really going to play hard You want the Rubicon over the stock wrangler. Just like you want the Offroad over a base 4x4 Tacoma. But if it were me I would wait until the Jeep pick-up comes out. But you will probably have to anti up for it. For myself my new Offroad 4x4 fills the bill and when I want to really play hard I will use my 1974 Bronco.

 

Do any of the other Wranglers come with a Dana 44 up front or just the Rubicon? A base Wrangler is still a very cable off-road vehicle, and you can build it up with lockers, Dana 44, etc., on your own as you decide you need more off-road capability. My only qualm with the JK is the questionable reliability. I've had a lot of bad experience with Chryslers in the long-run, but if you just plan to sell it once the warranty is up then I guess that's not much of a concern. I considered one because they are awesome off-road, but I went with the Tacoma in the hope it would be the more reliable long-term vehicle.

 

I cant speak for anything older than the JK but in the JKs the Rubicon is the only one that has a D44 up front but it isnt a "true" 44 the tubes and Cs and knuckles are all the same as the D30 the only difference is the pumpkin. So gives you bigger gears more room for the E locker etc but thats the only difference thats why you still see everyone even with the rubicon getting C gussets and sleeves because its a hybrid front axle.

 

Gotcha, I didn't realize it was just the pumpkin. Jeep says it's better and stronger than older Dana 44's though, is that true then?

 

like i said i only worked on and ran JKs i really have no idea how it compares to the old one but there are plenty of people out there that ran the d44 hard and bent it but for the average person its plenty strong i beat the crap out of mine (relatively compared to the avg weekend warrior) on 37s with no axle problems but it all just depends on how you drive it because i know someone that bent theirs on 35s it really just all depends. the stock D30 will still be plenty fine for most people too the only big problem is when you go bigger tires you get smaller gears and now your R&P is your weak link... pick your poison haha

 

I agree with this. Came from a '13 JKU. For me jeep for wheeling taco for everything else.

 

I traded a 2015 JKR on my Tacoma. 1 year, 20,000 miles and a ton of dents and dings later I got about $1,500 less than I paid. I was happy with the Jeep but needed an extra seat and missed having a truck bed. I'm into the 4x4 capabilities of the Jeep but didn't feel I was losing too much moving back into a Tacoma since they're very capable off road machines as well. Overall the Tacoma is much more refined than my jeep was. My wife also seems more comfortable in the Tacoms that's for sure. I wouldn't change a thing if I could do it over again.

 

Had a JK and JKU Rubicon and my wife still has a JKU Rubi for a daily driver...I love the jeeps for the off road capability and fun factor...plus they're easy to wrench on and build up...just traded in November for a '16 TRD OR Tacoma...and can honestly say for a daily driver...I won't go back to a Wrangler

Jeep Pros:
Off road capability
Removable top and doors
Cheap and easy to lift (compared to most trucks)

Jeep cons:
Rougher ride and handling
Fuel mileage
Aerodynamics (you'll fight it on the highway on a windy day)

My personal opinion...unless you plan on doing a lot of crawling and off-roading...get the Tacoma...way more practical, and still plenty capable

 

So, I'll share my experience. I'm of the opinion that any vehicle can suffer a breakdown, but going simply from the data available Toyota's have a better track record than Jeeps. When I go on trips I'm always as prepared as I feel I can be for a breakdown, regardless of the make/model of vehicle I'm in.

I know guys who have had almost zero issues with their JK's. With mine, I had the transmission grenade at about 5k on a beach in baja, starter went out at around 15k, clutch throw out bearing was replaced around 25k, and I went through 4x mopar batteries until I finally replaced it with an AGM battery at my own cost. Everything was covered under warranty but there were a lot of days involved where I was without my jeep. My stereo was also replaced 3x under warranty (head unit kept failing), and my steering box was leaking and radiator was cracked by 60k. The biggest concern was the "lightening bolt" that would strike randomly. It happened three times, the first being within the first 10k miles. A lightening bolt indicator would light up on the dash and the whole vehicle shut down, while driving. I'd have to physically remove the key from the ignition and re-insert it to get the engine to turn over again. It happened twice while going over the grapevine on highway 5, just north of LA. If it happened on an icy road in Tahoe it could have spelled catastrophe as, without power, I assume you'd have no traction control or power brakes. I talked to Jeep each time and they reassured me that their computer update would solve the problem. Talking with fellow jeepers indicates that it was a problem unique with Rubicon models, but not the rest. Who knows.

Moving on, I'm not recklessly hard on my vehicles but I do push them offroad. I daily drove and wheeled my 5th gen 4runner for 40k miles and never had a single issue (2'' lift with fox coilovers, total chaos uca's, 33'' cooper stmaxx tires). I have a lot of lust for wranglers but until/if ever I can afford to have a pure play vehicle it's just not a logical solution for me.

Regarding the dana44 question, as far as I know the front jk dana44 isn't a true dana44, but it's much better than the dana30 (ring and pinion are true to size). Tons of info on this online and this isn't the place for it. The jk dana44 can be trussed to be plenty strong for 35s. If I were to do it again, depending on my needs, I'd go with either a Rubicon model with dana44's under warranty or a used sport/base model and swap in dana60s, with the later being preferable. Full cage would be mandatory for me, the factory "sport cage" is absurd. Word is the next gen wrangler will have a truly enclosed body with removable roof-panels, aiding rollover protection. Again, check other message boards for info on this.

True to the OP's questions, I believe the best off-the-lot 4x4 with requisite reliability to be the 4runner. Throw a 2-3'' lift and 33's and you'll be set. Tacoma's are nearly the same, but the longer wheel base may be a hinderance in some circumstances. Now if you want to talk overall practicality and universal capability, you can imagine why I/we're all in the new Tacoma

I'll echo what everyone else has said here as well.. great comments.

Some obligatory pics:


JK Flex test


My bro relieving himself



Wampa Sr. & Wampa Jr... may have posted this shot already but I like it nonetheless


*edited once for a spelling error, had plenty in my first post.