Decision Time: Stock 4x4 or 5-lug with lift and locker

Don't worry about it. Really what truck I get is going to depend on what I can find. I doubt ill pass up a good deal on low mileage 5 lug, but 4x4 seems to be way more common on the used market around here, so thats what I'll most likely end up with. Besides I was more than happy with 99' 4x4. I just never even used the 4x4 the whole time I had it. I also have had a lot of experience building/driving jeeps with lockers and stuff. I used to have to get into some pretty gnarly stuff before I'd have to resort to 4x4.

Really the only reason I'm even considering the 5 lug is that I thought I could find a nice one for way cheaper than a 4x4 and then spend the extra money on some nice wheels/tires/locker/gears and suspension plus end up with something more unique than the everyday 4x4 taco.

I wish a regular cab 5spd pre runner existed

 

That is the only reason why i got the 5 lug over a prerunner. I love that I only know about 4 people that have a truck built up like mine in socal. But mine is a desert truck. What kind of terrain is in Kentucky? I think all the regular cab 5spd prerunners are in cali.

 

I didn't even realize they made 1st gen regular cab 5spd pre-runners. Maybe I have an excuse now for a motorcycle trip to the west coast.

 

They are still rare. I barely see any first gens reg cab prerunner 5spd, but was behind a 2nd gen reg cab 5sp prerunner on my way to work yesterday.

 

Yeah I was checking out autotrader/craigslist in cali and saw a bunch of nice 2nd gen reg cab 4cyl 5spd prerunners for sale in my price range with low miles too. It's got me really thinking about it. People around here are asking in my opinion way too much. I just checked out an 07 reg cab 2wd with a salvage title and he wanted $8,500!!! Seems like a lot for salvaged vehicle. I'd really like to stay 1st gen, but if I can get a lower mileage 2nd gen prerunner I just may have to jump on that. These kind of decisions are tuff.

 

Don't get the 5 lugger if you plan on lifting it. That engine is great, just underpowered. my 2.4 litre is the reason that I decided against a lift/wheels/tires.

 

2nd gens aren't cheap. Taco's hold crazy good value.

 

I'm pretty sure I've decided against the 5 lug, after a lot of time reading countless forums and thinking about it. Unless I found a really good deal it looks like a 5 lug would end up costing almost as much as just going with a 4x4 or prerunner from the get go.

So I've narrowed it down to either a 2nd gen prerunner or a 1st gen 4x4.

 

Let me put it this way, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say "I really wish I wouldn't have gotten 4wd."


But I sure as hell have heard the opposite.

 

I would go with the 1st gen 4x4 but that's my opinion another factor to look into is the weather, if it snows like crazy where your at in Kentucky i would defiantly go with the 4x4. And if not consider the pre runner.

and the insurance thing as long as you have a good driving record it won't be that much for a 4x4. I pay less for my 4x4 then i did for my old car and it was an Olds alero.

 

Ive had many 4x4's and Im contemplating 4x2, so maybe i'll be the first one? Or maybe ill end up like all those other people wishing they had 4x4.

I guess if I didn't have so much experience off roading with rwd and a locker I would be leery of only having 4x2. But I'm very confident in what I can and can't do with 4x2, and I really have no desire to take my daily driver on hairy trails. Been their done that. It sucks having a new vehicle with dents all over it. Not saying im for sure in the prerunner boat...just saying I think I'd be fine with one. If I was 100% 4x2 I wouldn't have started this thread. It does bug me a little bit at all the prerunner hate I see and the "aint a truck if it aint 4x4" comments. Anyway...

To address the snow issue. It doesn't snow much where I live, but I do plan on moving to Maine in a couple of years. Ive lived in Colorado and Michigan..both snowy states, and have never gotten into a situation where Ive needed 4x4 (excluding off road) although all my past vehicles have always had it. Good snow tires are better than all seasons plus 4x4, although 4x4 with snow tires is great! I know I can do fine with 4x2. However I would put a locker in the prerunner if it didn't have one.

I did just find an 07 prerunner with 20k miles in my price range and close by, I may just have to jump on that. If I go with a prerunner I can get a newer lower mileage vehicle for the same price as an older higher mileage 4x4. I'm not concerned about insurance at all, I know the two will be similar and right now my insurance is pretty cheap on my 4x4.

 

Heres some pics showing off my previous rig....I know its no tacoma, but at least you can see that I'm not lying about my previous off road experience. And I like showing off that ol' jeep.

 

nice CJ!

My buddy has a pretty nice lime green TJ

 

This is what the CJ looks like now. John Deere Green. Being able to fix dents/scratches with a rattle can is nice! I used to have a pretty nice TJ as well...33's locker and 4.10s with rancho rockcrawler susp. The TJ is what made me realize I'd rather just have a dedicated trail machine. It was way too nice/expensive to treat it the way I did.

 

That is a clean 4x4! I'm going to have to get a 4x4 truck in the future when I get the prerunner bug outta me.