In Defense Of The Prerunner

Mind if I ask how much the truetrac parts/install ran you? Got a weird quote for the TT up here in the Bay Area, seemed waaayyyy too expensive to be true.

 

I have a friend who actually did that. He bought a 4x2 assuming it was 4x4. In his defense, he asked for a 4x4 and the salesman brought around the 4x2. He ended up eating about $7000 in trade to get the 4x4 instead.

 

We have a '99 prerunner that is approaching 300k with no issues but brakes and an alternator. Love that truck. The old man bought it to defeat any pothole the crappy streets of Washington DC and I95 had to offer.

Man I love those first gens....

 

True dat.

 

I just love Toyota trucks. I don't care what another guy drives - though I just think it's a tad... mmmm....poseurish... to rock decals that would make an uninformed person think the truck is a 4WD.

"TRD Off Road", despite the locker and the upgraded suspension, really sounds like it should be reserved for 4WDs.

But then, I have a 4WD and I removed all the badging designating it as such.

 

I have to agree with the op. The prerunner has more pep Than a 4x4. After I converted i could tell there was a difference. Must be because of all the moving parts in the front.

 

In Canada we only get 1 4x2 model,
Access cab, 4 cyl. We get shafted on the different models available! And package options! Lol, such as no short box TRD sport auto haha

 

I have a 4x4 but the locker makes a huge difference! ! Look at my struggle!


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It cost me 1100 installed.. for the truetrac..install kit.. a rear end rebuild (new seals and bearings).. a filling of gear oil ..and labor.

A trans shop up north of San Diego actually quoted me 1250... but the 4wheelparts store in Chula Vista did it for 1100 with a 1 year/15k warranty on the labor.. parts are lifetime on Eaton products usually.

 

When I lived in San Diego my 01 5 lug was awesome. So much fun. Saved money and built it as fast as I could get parts or could fab them myself. Could never see the usefulness of 4x4, it was heavier, more shit to break, and I always thought it had no use in high speed desert fun therefore it has no use period. I drove that bastard rattles, squeaks and all across the country and ended up in beet root county NY. I've been here years and haven't seen a truck like it, it's kinda cool being unique but sometimes the attention is aggravating. I did feel like a baller though. Until it snowed and I learned that my rad socal built dirt rig doesn't mean fuck all in the snow. At all. I could be in first gear 10mph and still bust a 360 in an intersection. I had to adapt or straight up die. I got a Subaru mostly because kool aid/got a deal/didn't like 2nd gen body style at the time, and the Subaru just wasn't for me. 3rd gen came out, loved the body style, gave away the Subaru and got a 4x4 because I learned a valuable life lesson. 4x4 is a real thing and outside of my magical socal bubble the real world exists- and 4x4 was the answer to those problems I hadn't encountered before. I'm a changed man. Also OP, 4x4 doesn't make you a man, but neither does any truck or thing.

 

I ran a 2wd pickup for 21 yrs in NW Arkansas where they let the snow pack and turn into ice. I live down 1.5 miles of dirt with 2 900ft long hills. Both have 30% grades with hollers on each side. I ran a lock right locker for years until it crapped, studded snow tires and 400lbs of weight in the back. I'd still sometimes have to climb out on the hill with curves in it and strap on emergency chains to make it up. As I am getting older this sucks more and more.

I said when I bought my next rig it would be a 4x4 and just got mine in Dec. If not for those hills I would have kept my 2wd. I couldn't bear another winter of tire switching, weight loading, chaining, and fishtailing with the pedal on the floor with the risk of rolling into tree filled hollers (ravines to yankees ). No hate on 2wd owners if you can get it done with it. I just got tired of messing with it and worrying about it every winter.

 

A full time locker? Trying to figure out what locker is $400..

 

Yep, exactly. Aka "lunchbox" locker. I've heard great things about the Detroit True Trac and how it's more like a limited slip instead of an always-on locker like Powertrax.

$536 Powertrax 9220803002 No-Slip Traction System, 8", 30 Spline Open

https://www.amazon.com/Powertrax-92...6430&sr=8-1&keywords=powertrax+no+slip+tacoma

 

Ya, would like to know too. I'm guessing a Powertrax? If so, I'd love to read a full street drivability review. If it's the TrueTrac, well, shit I'm sold.

 

TrueTrac still costs a lot have installed though. I've been sitting on the fence about one for like 3 months. About $1400 or so installed, including the parts. Powertrax is like an hour or two of labor, so could OTD cost is like $700 or so.

 

Lazy copy/paste from another thread

 

Damn. That's interesting. Thanks. Might be a deal breaker. My truck only sees dirt that proves challenging a few times a year. Truetrac might be better call.

 

Definitely a compromise. I lost street driveability in exchange for true 50/50 torque split out in the dirt..... for a mere $400 & some diff oil. If money were no object, ARB all day. But money is an object and I had to weigh out the pro's/cons and this one has not caused me 1 second of buyer's remorse. Driving a truck in the city means you already know it's easy to lay rubber while turning/merging, just exaggerate that a bit with this.

 

Living in the northeast a pre runner wouldn't make sense but where you are I totally get it

 

Okay you like your 4x2. But you haven't done "major mountain offroading" as if you tried what that really is in a 4x2, you wouldn't make it. This isn't to bash a 4x2, or to say you can't do some types of offroading in a 4x2, but you will be severely limited.