Affordability: Tacoma vs. Wrangler

A properly modded can make it down that without breaking a sweat. Keep in mind a stock Jeep wouldn't make that either....

 

A stock Wrangler with a disconnected sway bar can definitely do that. I wheeled a relatively stock TJ for years on obstacles like these in the woods of western PA, eastern OH, and northern WV.

Design features like a short wheelbase, solid front axel, and flat body panels that are inside the factory wheel stance make stock Wranglers incredibly capable off road vehicles, not to mention gobs of low end torque and very low Low Range gearing. Granted, this comes at the expense of on-road ride, especially in the older generations.

My Tacoma is a MUCH better daily driver, but it can't keep up with my buddies that still wheel Wranglers, even with a 2" lift and bigger tires. The stock Tacoma just doesn't have the approach/departure angles or wheelbase to keep up.

 

Why not?

 

Almost man, but it has no SCOOOOOOOOOOOP!

Coot

 

This

 

Def some true points, all joking aside Jeeps have some impressive capabilities. Didn't know they could handle being airborne, but as @Arailt stated, if built right why not.

Coot

 

My 2012 wrangler has been the most trouble free vehicle I've owned (no-jinx). Its a vehicle of compromises no doubt, but the fun / cool factor has a weird way of leveling the playing field.
My stock 2005 tacoma trd sport was generally good, but it had some issues that the dealer was never able to sort out for any length of time. The steering wheel would shake at highway speeds, leaf springs sounded like a 30 year old ford ... Despite those issues, I'm considering buying another tacoma for the added utility.

 

Im not gonna lie, if I ever got around to owning a dedicated rock beast I would probably look into a dinged up jeep.

Coot

 

A properly modded Wrangler will outperform a properly modded Tacoma every day, in extreme off-roading and rock crawling conditions. Anyone that disputes that is a fanboy, that can't see through their rose colored glasses. The Tacoma is way more enjoyable on road, and for light to medium off-roading. Except for the whole the transmission constant shifting up and down gears at highway speeds thing. I've owned both, and appreciated them both for what they were designed for.

 

Im thinking the same thing...its hard to beat that solid axle with IFS in regards to articulation. Also I don't think I would be bummed if I dinged the sides of a jeep vs my taco I would be sad.

Coot

 

Exactly. Also, the Tacoma metal is much easier to ding up because it protudes outward and there is a lot more of it exposed. That's why sliders that extend away from the body are a must-have on Tacomas, while simple rocker guards are usually sufficient on Jeeps.

 

Ah very true as well as the squarish body style of a jeep which might be a tighter and more streamlined body platform as well.

Coot

 

With enough money I can make a jeep jump.

With enough money I can follow jeeps and tube buggies around in a Tacoma, question is, what will my Tacoma look like on the other end of a knarley trail strewn with big rocks and trees. I cant count how many times I used body panels as a pivot point in my old Rubicon. I never rolled it end to end but there were multiple two wheel events where I barely saved it. I did flop it on either side about half a dozen times when the front would get light going up an off camber line. They were typically easy to drive out of backwards and pick a different line. There wasn't a straight body panel on it when I sold it lol.

 

Tacoma 4x4 vs Wrangler: They are two different animals with only 4WD being a common factor.
One is a truck and l-o-n-g, not good for drop offs and ruts, and the other is a, well... Jeep!
I really wish the Jeep Truck (whatever they will call it, Comanche, Gladiator, Honcho, etc.) would get produced again. They have been teasing us about it for years. Just so we have a better comparison between the two.
The FJ Cruiser was closer to the Wrangler, followed by the 4Runner.

 

Note: I drive a Ram 1500 rn but have owned a 1st gen taco so I think I can be less opinionated as others. (hopefully)

I have driven a Wrangler, and also have been t-boned in one. The only reason why it didn't flip is because my friend who owns the jeep floored it before we got hit and the lady ended up nailing the rear axle and trashed the entire rear suspension. Side airbag went off and my friend got a mean concussion from it. The whole vehicle spun around 180*.

Personally, the Jeep rides alright but is pretty loud on the road (especially a soft top). The stock suspension likes to bottom out in the front too. Oh and the gas mileage sucks just an FYI. The drivetrain is nice but if you plan on lift and larger tires you definitely will have to regear. It's a big ass box on wheels.

Test drove a new Tacoma. Quiet, nice ride but still feels like a truck, and the perfect size. The automatic transmission sucks major balls though. Totally would find a manual one which would be in your price range. No idea about safety.

In the end, I'll probably be getting a Blazing Blue Pearl TRD Offroad with the manual. That's why I'm still creeping around on this site.

A Wrangler with a manual is still on my radar just for the aftermarket support on those and what you can do with them. Stock vehicles are for the boring.

 

We'll see how his front straight axle handles it. I learned the hard way at 16 years old with my bronco, lesson learned buy a 2wd for shit like that.

 

Anything that high in the air, will end up as spare parts.

 

And 4 wheel drive magazine named the Nissan Frontier their 2016 pick... which leads me to think it's a bunch of BS. Also JD Power rated the new ridgeline their truck of the year. AYFKM???

 

Lots of photoshop going on here...

 

Truck is due fall 2017 or early 2018.