2nd gen questions

I'm financially at a point where I can afford a truck again. I sold my 01 Taco 2 years ago for a Forester. I needed 4 doors for dogs/kids/grand kids, etc. I drive about 15k miles a year (+80% highway). About 6 or 7 times a year, I cut and haul firewood for personal use. I take my dogs out for walks in the nearby fields and drive on dirt roads to get there, washboard, nothing real bad. I plan on using it on the beaches in Delaware (taking kids and grand kids for fishing and sun) about once a month or so. I don't do any real off road. While I never say never, I don't have any plans to lift the truck. I want to get the best gas mileage that I can (for a truck) on my commute to work (55 miles a day)

I was planning on a 1st gen double cab this time around, but am now leaning towards a 4x4 05 or 06 DC. While there is only 1 version of the 1st gen DC, it's more like Baskin Robbins for the 2nd gen. I'm just not sure what package I should be looking for. I want an SR5 for the convenience items and would love to get the 6500 pound factory tow package (I may have boat in my future, not now, but before I sell this truck).

I've read a lot of threads but still have questions. After reading consumer guide, it seems to me that, besides the cosmetic differences and wheel/tires, the real difference between the TRD Offroad and TRD Sport are the LSD and the suspension. I really don't know the difference between the two suspensions (sport v offroad). Comments? Is one or the other better for my wood hauling application? On my 1st gen, I installed large rubber stops (can't remember the name) because it would bottom out under load. I have read that there is still a problem with the 2nd gen's. Is that prevelent? Does it make a difference if I got a long bed vs short bed? I would prefer the short bed. I would guess it get's better gas mileage with less weight to haul around.

I regularly used the rear locker in 1st gen, particularly when hauling trees out of brush to be cut up and in the deep snow. And I would expect that it would be nice to have on the beach. I've never had a LSD. Any thoughts on how the LSD would workout in these two situation?

I've seen threads on the problems with the front differential and CV joints. Does this only happen when the truck is lifted? Does it occur in a large percentage of trucks?

Buying used, I always take my vehicles to a dealer to be inspected (I ask that the do the evaluation they do on trade in when they decide if they are going to keep them), but I would like to be able to screen my choices so that I take a good truck to a dealer as I have to pay for that. Where are the potential weak spots if a truck hasn't been well maintained (for example, on the forester it is wheel bearings and head gaskets).

I'm sure there are more question that I should be asking, but this getting to be a short story instead of a thread, sorry for the length.

Any and all input is welcome!!!

 

the suspension on the sport and OR are the same bilsteins, the OR has an E-locker and the sport will either have an open diff or an LSD, if you're going to be hauling a lot of stuff, maybe the long bed would be more suited to you, but i mean if you'd prefer the short bed, just get a trailer for the wood, also i think the locker would perform better in deep snow than an lsd, just my .02

 

While mowing the lawn, I thought of 2 more questions.

I love manual transmissions, I've only driven 1 that wasn't. I read in ... road and track or a mag like that, that the transmission wasn't hydraulic anymore, that it was cable. They also said that on the 6 speed that they were testing, the engine stayed at higher revs even when the clutch was pushed. Anyone have similar problems. I could probably live with the auto in the 2nd gen as it is a 5 speed. Also, anyone know why the EPA estimate for the manual is lower than the auto?

I skipped over the non-TRD suspensions. Any thoughts on how they would do in my service?

Thanks again.

 

Non hydraulic clutch in this day and age? They must be on something because I haven't seen a non hydraulic clutch on any of these newer rigs. I have the 5 speed manual with the 2.7, but my RPMs drop when I push the clutch in. And my fuel ratings are higher than the auto, not sure why that isn't the same for the V6.

 

BUMP? anyone else?