Making my truck 4x4

Hahaha I love it when the "Sell it" crowd shows up. Always a good time.

FWIW I did my conversion by myself in my driveway for $1700 bucks finding deals where I could. It was 5 days of hard work but if for some reason I ended up with another 6 lug 2WD Tacoma I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Now I have nanny-free 4WD. Outside of the homemade trans crossmember, cutting the hole for my TC shifter, and some angle iron for my rear DS, it's plug and play.

Everything comes down to cost-benefit with this stuff and the amount of work that it takes may not be for everyone, but for me it was well worth it! Do what you want with your time and money

 

I guess, but the thought of buying a Pre Runner or any variety of 4x2 never entered my dumb, fat, lazy head.

 

Sometimes we end up with what we end up with. For me, I needed a double cab. Couldn’t afford the V6. If I wanted 4x4 and double cab, it had to be with the V6. The difference was about $10k to upgrade. So I ended up with a 2WD 4-cyl automatic double cab short bed. Probably the least desirable configuration Toyota Tacoma available.

When I later realized I really wanted 4WD, I was in no better position to buy a more expensive truck. I have more time than money. I knew I’d be willing to keep the truck until it’s last mile so I made it what I wanted.

Not only did I convert it to 4WD, I also converted it to a manual. I’m not sure it’s more desirable but it’s certainly a unicorn configuration that Toyota never made. A 4WD 4-cly 5-speed manual DCSB. They made essentially the same config with an access cab but not a double cab. It’s weird but I love it.

Sometimes we make do with what we have. The effort I’ve put into it makes me enjoy the truck even more each time I drive it. But if you can’t tell, I’m a strange one so this isn’t for everyone.

 

For me it was my first car and the insurance was way cheaper where I was from. My pops didn't want me doing dumb stuff... then I moved to CO for school and realized I needed 4WD. I had money to buy $100-200 parts every so often but not enough to buy a 4WD Tacoma in CO

 

Converted fellow here, since I own a 2nd gen I haven’t look for conversions on the 3rd gens. If possible, have some money and basic mechanical skills then go for it. If not, do what makes you happy. Cheers.

 

You're lucky to have that cool of a first ride, mine was a '73 Dodge 100 that was broke down more often than it ran. I had to replace the transmission in H.S. auto shop.

 

To the ones that say "sell it" or "trade it in" probably don't know what it's like to lose a 10mm socket.

 

I wish I had lever controlled 2Hi-4hi-4Lo too. Even the old hubs I liked.

 

You've got a 3rd gen, go ask the question of those nuts, https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/3rd-gen-tacomas-2016.186/

 

Lol