Opinions Wanted: Going Full Retard

So... I'm at a bit of a crossroads. My truck is no longer my daily driver and I've been kicking around the idea of buying a Jeep JKU and going the route of building one of those into an overland vehicle. I have had a couple of TJs, a stretched XJ and am fairly familiar with the benefits of a solid front axle and a built Jeep. What I haven't done, is wheel with an IFS rig much and I'm wondering if the truck will cut it and be a better rig overall compared to a JKU.

So the options I'm trying to weigh are... 2-4" lift on a JKU w/ 37s, Dana 44s and lockers or... My 2013 DCSB w/ a build really similar to @DefconBrix @ckeene or @loco 's old truck... Some sort of LT w/ 35s and expedition style leafs in the rear, high clearance rear bumper, etc... It comes down to going full retard with the taco, or leaving it as a beautiful (but stock) truck and thrashing on something else.

Anyway, opinions are welcome.

 

For the amount of money you'll throw into the Taco to fix it up with LT, lockers and everything else you'll put on it, probably $15-20,000 you can sell the Taco and buy a older truck and make it a dedicated wheeler and still have $$$ left over.

 

Go full retard.

 

My only real dilemma is that I still want something capable of towing, so I either need to keep the Taco and it will remain a very long term investment as a street / mild utility truck or the next vehicle needs to be halfway capable of towing... I think a JKU is only rated around 3,500. I'm practically looking at keeping the Taco no matter what.

 

Land cruiser FJZ 80!!!!

 

Keep the taco and use it to tow an Arctic Cat Wildcat or a Polaris RZR. You'll go anywhere the Jeep or the Tacoma will go in half the time and twice the comfort (unless it is cold, lol).

 

once you go LT theres no turning back, be prepared for more expensive prep work, repairs and upgrades but if you use you truck to what its capable of its well worth the enjoyment.

 

This is tacomaworld, build the Taco

 

Enjoy your Tacoma for what it is. Build a Jeep - or better yet, build an old solid axle Toyota pickup.

 

If you want to run fast in the desert stick with the IFS Taco. If you want to wheel hard in the rocks articulation is the key so go with a solid axle Jeep. Plus, having a wheelbase shorter than the DCSB is better on tight trails. Or actually go big and do an solid axle swap to the Taco.

 

Doesn't matter what you do to that truck, a Jeep with comparable upgrades will always be a better off road vehicle thanks to the wheelbase, approach and departure angles. If you really need that towing capacity, just upgrade your Taco, chances are you can still do anything you would have off road with it anyway and you keep your larger towing capability.

 

I may have gone full retard lol
Very capable and still a very comfortable daily when I'm not riding the Harley.
Worth it!

 

Go full retard. Taco is life.