DJB1's 2003 Regular Cab

Nothig wrong with a Ford. We have almost all Ford’s in our relatively small fleet. Had a maroon colored Ranger that just went on for ever.

BUT! You just can’t go wrong with a Toyota.

And yes, this is a shitty time to need a vehicle.

 

Yeah, it was insanely lucky I didn't even need an overnight stay. It happened so fast I didn't even have the reaction time to get scared. One second it's a normal commute to work, the next second some dudes are holding up the passenger door hoisting me out of the wreckage. I wasn't until I went to the wrecking yard to sign paperwork and get my belongings out of the truck that I realized how bad it was. I'm just so glad to be OK that losing a vehicle in the incident seems completely trivial and minor.

Rumors floating around the internet say the 4th gen Tacoma gets a turbo 4 cylinder and the Tacoma has always had an available manual gearbox.

 

Sorry to hear that my friend but good to know you’re alright..

RIP Whitey..!! You were an inspiration to us all…

 

Sorry to hear of your loss. Last month I had a similar experience. Someone pulled a pit maneuver on me and it caused my taco to roll twice. I feel lucky to be alive.

I’m inspired by your build because I replaced my ‘02 double Cab with a ‘00 regular cab and want to build it more as a “farm/poverty spec” to be my work truck

 

Glad to hear you made it! Gonna need to see photos. As much as I've been enjoying the indecisiveness of what to get for my next camping truck (Heep? FJ Cruiser? 4th gen Tacoma? wait for the new 4Runner?), it's still 1st gen regular cabs that fill my heart with lust the most.

 

I will be picking up an imported Toyota HiAce turbo diesel 4x4 for my camp vehicle with ‘00 Tacoma Regular Cab as my daily work truck. Check out the HiAce’s! Killer deals

 

The new GX 550 Overtrail looks pretty sweet.

 

Yes it does. It's the first Toyota truck newer than 2004 that has styling I really like. Kinda reminds me of the 80 series Land Cruiser. 479 lb.ft. of torque in a mid-size SUV is pretty rad, too. I'm also anxious to see the new 4Runner

 

I love my wife's Ranger, we went for a Tacoma and came home with this one, I have never regretted that choice.

 

Like @Phessor I can second the Ranger, Went for a 3G taco, hated it and ended in a Ranger. 3 years later, still couldn't be happier.

 

It appears the Land Cruiser is officially returning to the US market, which is intriguing to me.

 

What I've read in the various automotive outlets is that the new USA-bound Land Cruiser will be based on the Land Cruiser Prado platform, not the 300 Series Land Cruiser platform, so if that's true it will be closely related to the Lexus GX and 4Runner. I'm anxious to see both the 2024 4Runner and Land Cruiser. I love the looks of the new GX550.

My BFF has a newish 3G Tacoma, a double cab long bed. Powertrain didn't seem that bad to me until we took Highway 12 over Boulder Mountain, at which point I got to experience the infamous gear-hunting issue. The outward visibility and low roof height are pretty bad, though. Felt like I had to fold myself in half every time I got in or out, and my head constantly rubbing the headliner and inside door pillar got old. I'm not even that tall, a mere 5'11.' So now I've driven a 3G Tacoma, didn't hate it but didn't love it either. Also driven my younger brother's 4 door Jeep Wrangler, tried to hate it but absolutely loved it. A few weeks ago my youngest brother got a 2023 Ranger so I'm looking forward to trying that out. And a few days ago my next door neighbor got a new 2 door Bronco, which I'm anxious to go for a ride in but I won't have the presumption to ask if I can drive it.

 

My BFF has a newish 3G Tacoma, a double cab long bed. Powertrain didn't seem that bad to me until we took Highway 12 over Boulder Mountain, at which point I got to experience the infamous gear-hunting issue. The outward visibility and low roof height are pretty bad, though. Felt like I had to fold myself in half every time I got in or out, and my head constantly rubbing the headliner and inside door pillar got old. I'm not even that tall, a mere 5'11.' So now I've driven a 3G Tacoma, didn't hate it but didn't love it either. Also driven my younger brother's 4 door Jeep Wrangler, tried to hate it but absolutely loved it. A few weeks ago my youngest brother got a 2023 Ranger so I'm looking forward to trying that out. And a few days ago my next door neighbor got a new 2 door Bronco, which I'm anxious to go for a ride in but I won't have the presumption to ask if I can drive it.[/QUOTE]
For me the biggest issue with the 3G was on the test drive of a Manual Sport Access Cab, was upon leaving the dealer lot and going up a hill in 3rd at 45-50mph, which I knew I would have easily been able to do in my 1st gen, but it struggled so much I had to get into 2nd and up towards 3500rpm to maintain the speed limit. I also just knew to match the stock power of the ranger the Tacoma needed gears and a super charger and then I still would feel like it had less power. This is based on driving truck I have built here for customers, some are running Magnusons with 5.29s on 33s and still feel lazier than my ranger on 33s with 3.73s(stock).

However, the Broncos have been super cool, we had a 2dr on 35s with the manual in the shop and with the sasquatch package and that a truck is one that everyone here loves seeing and all of us want to own out of the cool factor alone. There is some curiosity from me about the new Colorado/Canyon, and the New Frontier with the 9speed.

 

I might get really sensible and buy a new 4Runner TRD Off Road. I tried one out the other day on a whim. Not the biggest fan of the exterior styling, but everything about it just felt right. You see them around town lifted with big tires and they look huge, but bone stock up close they are quite compact. I really like that they're kinda small on the outside yet spacious inside. Head room is great and all the controls are very logical and simple. Back seats take mere seconds to fold down and there's plenty of room for me and a dog to go camping on a whim and sleep inside. Powertrain is not very exciting but it is stupendously reliable. Both dealers near me have plenty in stock and with no price markups. When I get home from a work trip this weekend I'm gonna have to take an extended test drive up Parley's Canyon and make sure it doesn't struggle too much. Not expecting to do 85 MPH with instant throttle response, since the wreck my driving habits have drastically changed to what my wife calls "grandpa style."

 

+1 for the 4Runner. There’s a reason so many of them are on the road.