Hello all..

I'm new to your forum.. I'm looking at replacing a 4x2 1998 Nissan Frontier that's served very well with a slightly used Tacoma. Currently looking at a couple 2015s and 2016s.

I'm still researching and i have a specific application in mind.

I have motorcycles and am somewhat vertically challenged, so loading them in the truck is always a sketchy operation. It's been tough enough with the 2wd Frontier but all of the modern trucks including the Tacos are much taller. I'm interested in either lowering one (noticed a kit from SOS Performance) or seeing if there's a temporary (air?) system that can drop the back end for loading if it doesn't get crazy expensive.

I'm wondering what it will do to the carrying capacity. I do wind up loading a 1,000 lbs plus. I'll try to find the right place for my question.. but, if you can point me or have some info i'd appreciate it..

thanks all..
fencr/Marc

 

Welcome! You should check out the 5 lug tacomas. They are very similar to the "normal" tacomas that you see, but they're 2WD, lower, and have 4cyl engines. I'm unsure on carrying capacity, but you could do some reading in the 5 lug section here. They're called 5 lug because there are literally 5 lug nuts that hold the wheel on as opposed to 6 like the rest of the tacomas. Another benefit is they're a bit cheaper.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/5-lug.114/

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

Welcome to TW-Good luck on your search

 

Welcome to TW Marc

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Thank you all for the welcome and thoughts.. I've had a 4x2 Frontier for 15+yrs (n 212k miles). I was thinking as long as a new truck is in the cards eventually and anything new is higher than my old one. I may as well try to get into a 4x4. Part of that is my understanding that both the 4x2 and 4x4 are built on the same frames/suspensions (at least for the SR & SR5s) meaning the 2 and 4 wheel drive versions are going to be pretty much the same bed height. I don't need 4wd all the time but, i have gotten stuck in the city with my rear wheel drive car and my 2wheel Frontier.

Ok.. a quick look at the forum doesn't turn up anything on lowering a truck (i'll look more).

 

Howdy

 

@fencr Welcome to TW and yes this is exactly what you would want. My folks have a first gen with the older wimpy 2.4 4cycl and it does just fine the newer 5lug with the 2.7 would be fine. Or you could try finding an xrunner with the 4.0l v6.
I can upload pics of my folks 1st gen with 2 old school full size bikes in the back and it did just fine!

 

Welcome!

 

welcome