In Defense Of The Prerunner

All you need to know about PreRunners and off-roading:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/recovered-bottom-of-miller-jeep-trail-socal.456064

 

Both look like stock Gen 1 tacomas to me in the video. Yes its in your head engines are identical.

 

Okay, I didn't go through all 27 pages of that but I can see it's about a stuck 2wd on something called the "Miller Jeep Trail". Again, this doesn't seem to be a first hand experience from a person driving a third gen 4x2? And I'm sure that I would not be on something called "The Miller Jeep Trail". But, heck I dunno. Maybe it's fun. What type of 4x2 got stuck? And what was it stuck in? Mud? What tires? Did it have locker etc?

 

Like I said, irrelevant. Not you. Not third gen.

 

I've taken 2wd rental cars where people are afraid to take their precious 4X4s... I don't see any issues here with a 4X2 Taco.

Great thing about being middle aged; great insurance coverage and if outside the policy, we can afford to break shit without looking back and get another on the spot.

 

I'm not middle aged yet, but over that high risk age bracket. I know what you mean!

 

The story in a nutshell:

 

That's awesome, how'd you make that?

 

Holy hell, that's impressive if you just coughed that up? Even if not... that's super cool.

 

Kudos on all of that. And I'm really into this trim... even though I just stumbled onto it. I haven't exactly been "trying" to get stuck. But I haven't stopped myself from going anywhere yet.... Third gen 4x2 might be a completely different monster than previous gen 4x2s if they were really that bad.

 

LOL at the people saying they're the same because the engines are the same.... let me load up a hundred or so pounds of front drivetrain in the bed of my prerunner and see if it doesn't effect driveability. C'mon people, extra weight (rotational, sprung AND unsprung in this case) is the same as less power. OP I don't have a 3rd gen but I can assure you I've yet to regret my 4x2 enough to justify another $5k. I spent $400 on a locker & haven't stopped smiling. 2 weekends this month I've been out wheeling with some pretty built Jeeps, more than a few times they turned around on the trail expecting a recovery, but I was still climbing up a few corners behind them! One of them switched back to 2wd in a sandy wash and said he wasn't confident enough to go very far. We did 15+ miles in a wash with sand deeper than my tire sidewall, even when stopping and turning not once did I have to dig myself out. Am I doing Miller Jeep Trail? No. Anyone that wants to pay the difference for me to get 4x, PM me for my paypal info.


+1 on this topic. PreRunner lives matter!

 

Credit goes to @GHOST SHIP:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...jeep-trail-socal.456064/page-26#post-13466992

 

Most decent 4X2 can get most places with a rear locker, the 4X2 OR has it right? Same as the previous gen TRD ORs?

 

Yes sir.

 

That is correct sir!

 

In what way would it be better? It's the exact same, 2wd with locking rear diff. There's no magic traction control going on when the diff is locked.

 

I got no problem with them then, really good desert trucks with 1/2 the maintenance requirements.

 

When I bought my 4X4 Tacoma 9 years ago the small town dealer didn't have a single 4X4 on the lot. All Pre Runners. They had to locate one from another dealer and didn't understand why I insisted it had to be 4X4.

I don't object to anyone choosing a 4X2. But there is a guy locally who bought a brand new Pre Runner about the same time I bought mine. He went with a huge lift, 35" super aggressive mud tires, and just about every accessory he had room to bolt on somewhere. He must have spent $10K modifying his truck, and he still can't get it out of his driveway when it snows. That I have a problem with.

The way I see it; long term there are no down sides to owning a 4X4. I've been driving 4X4's of some sort since 1977. At the time I paid about $500 more to get a used 4X4 truck vs a comparable used 4x2 truck. Every time I've bought/sold or traded I paid more for the 4X4 than a 4X2. BUT, the 4X4 I sold or traded in was WORTH more than a comparable 4X2. Long term it works out about even in my experience. And while I rarely HAVE to have 4X4, using it makes it a lot easier to get where I'm going and the peace of mind is well worth the small price difference.

 

Look, I have no idea. I'm uneducated. Don't have the beta. I don't know first or second gen tacomas. I went straight from an '87 to a 2017. I'm just hearing them get flamed here and wondering if they are really as bad as y'all (and that earlier posted video) are saying? I would guess not. But, again, I only know the third gen. And I'm impressed. Someone with a second gen posted above and sounds like he's killing it with it though.