Hello from Carroll County Maryland

Hey Everyone:

Two weeks ago I bought my first Toyota. 2021 Tacoma TRD Sport in Cement.

Been a Ford guy most of my life, last truck was a 2012 F150, and many more before that all the way back to the 70s. I'm 63 and retired now so my list of vehicles over the years is extensive. Sold the 2012 when I stopped racing Mustangs in 2017.

I went to Ford but the new F-150s and Rangers didn't resonate. Something just didn't feel right in mild off road conditions during test drives. Colorado was the same, and the Ridgeline felt like a car with a truck bed. Nothing wrong with anyone of them, just didn't feel right or resonate in my gut.

Was driving by the Toyota dealership and said what the hell. Everything changed.

For a medium sized truck I was blown away by the handling and feel of the vehicle. Competitive models from other companies just didn't float my boat. I tried the larger Tundra but for a couple with modest needs it just seemed more truck than necessary.

So, what to do? I've rarely owned a vehicle I didn't upgrade or improve in some ways.

The goal is to have a comfortable commuter and travel truck, with modest off road capabilities. I thought the TRD Off Road overkill even for us active seniors. BUT, I want decent tires that can handle the occasional forest trail or gravel or dirt road with minor terrain. And occasional winter snow. I want to put in bed organizers, perhaps a sliding gun rack (I still shoot competitively). Cargo mounts...I guess a daily that is ready for bugging out if needed. Running boards so the missus has something to step up, and I guess me as I get older.

Lots to think about. Am looking for truck accessory companies, especially anything local to north central Maryland that can do installs now that we've downsized to a smaller home--the last house had a lift in the garage but now I'm stuck on my back on cold concrete.

We'll see. Looks like fun.

Happy trucking.

John

 

Nice and welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW, John!

Any pictures of the Mustang?

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Congratulations and welcome to the club, don’t forget to join us over at the MD thread- here.

Lots of opinions and options out there to go through. For cool looking and practical things there is @MESO and @FreshMexicanTaco. Suspension there is @HeadStrong Off-Road and the list goes on.
Tires have plenty of choices too. You can theoretically fit 255/80/17s on yours without and mods. You would need to double check for the offset on your stock wheel, OR wheels work in 255/85/16.

 

The 2005 is the last one in the fleet. The '68 and '71 are long gone. My '97 vert went to a nice gal as a 16th birthday present, the 2004 was t-boned by a drunk driver, the 2011 found a home with a guy that wanted a turn key street/strip machine. Frankly, my Fox Bodyies were so numerous it would take serious thought but maybe 9 or 10 of them. My son burned up my 85 SVO at Summit Point in WV. That one hurt the most. The others just became street strip and my son eventually became a mechanic.

Here's the 2005. I've removed all the drag racing parts except the tubular suspension and built trans. It passed inspection and is street legal. It ran a best of 11.5 naturally aspirated in racing form on pump gas. I had the inside gutted for weight savings, and tuned for high performance comp cams. That's a small block 281 engine with bolt ons and cams running mid 11s. Maybe 3450 lbs with me in it.

 

Good to know there's a MD thread. I missed it when I joined up. I'll say hello soon.

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!