Long time lurker. Finally signed up.

Howdy, howdy!

Currently driving a 1997 Taco XtraCab 4x4 with over 211k miles on it. It's been such a great truck from the day I purchased it brand new originally for the wife back in 1997. She needed something bigger in 2008 to tote the kids around in, so I took it and got her an SUV.

The 97 is my second Toyota truck and equally impressed with it as I was with my 1985 Toy XtraCab 4x4. Wish I could find my old '85 and buy it back!

Now that my son is 15 and learning to drive, I am going to hand the 97 down to him, and be buying another NEW Taco for myself.

Anyways, I'll stop lurking and actually see if I can contribute here.
Oh, and I love kayak fishing, off road and camping!

-Craig

 

That first picture parked on the beach looks very nice!! Where is that? Oh, and welcome to TW

 

Thanks Kevin, the top picture on the beach is 6am prepping to launch at Cape Kiwanda on the northern Oregon coast.
The back light of the sun coming up behind me really lit up my kayak and made for cool shot that I just had to get.

 

Looks very nice. I'm from SOCAL and was planning a roadtrip up to Oregon next summer. I may have to stop and check this place out!

EDIT: I forgot I saw this video on youtube,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNiZ3yxIpW4

Some people just have to ruin things for the rest of us. Ruining landmarks for future generations. There was also an out of service bridge somewhere in Washington that was a beautiful landmark and many people went to see it. Sadly, it is being taken down because people have burned sections of the wooden bridge on fire making it unsafe.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld! Run now before you drool over everyone's builds and empty your wallet

 

No worries Nick. I have plenty of self control with spending, and not new to modifying stuff.
I've owned five 4wd trucks over the years, and lifted two of them. The rest I left alone, as I have other toys that I wanted to modify instead.

I do plan to add a 3" lift, wheels and bigger tires to whatever new Taco I end up buying next year.

 

FIFY.

Welcome!

 

Welcome!

 

taczilla... Talk to me man. You not a big fan of the 3rd gen?

 

disregard his comment, to each their own on opinions of the 3rd gen.

with that being said, check out that section of the site and you can make your own decision. Like previous new versions of vehicles, it does have some recurring issues that are frustrating people. of course, if you aren't planning to buy until next year, maybe some of those issues will be worked out.

 

Yeah, I've been watching the threads on issues with the new gen. So far most I see are related to the automatic and the leaky third light on the DC.
Any motor issues I hope have been ironed out by spring 2017. I plan on getting the manual anyways, as I really love rowing my own gears. As well as the AC for the shorter wheel base. I don't need the seating of the DC, and no way I am giving up the 6' bed.

I was bummed at first when I found out that this AC/LB/MT combo is not available in the OR model, but then thought about how often I actually ever needed a rear locker in all the years of wheeling. I don't rock crawl (my trucks anyways, rather my ATV's), we mostly have sand, dirt, gravel, and rocks.

The Sport has the AC/LB/MT option and I can ditch the 17" wheels in favor of some 16" wheels for more sidewall rubber to air down with. If the time ever comes that I need a locker, I can always install an ARB or other at that point (but I highly doubt that day will come).

Really at this point, I am just trying to dial in what color I want.
-Super White is timeless and doesn't show dings, scratches as swirls like dark colors. And is really easy to match paint for repairs or mods.
-Quicksand (tan) is non metallic and also has been around on several years of Toyota and still looks good after 10-20 years of use. Should be easy to paint match as well.
-Inferno Orange is a really cool color today, just not sure if it will phase out and not be so great of a color in 10-20 years from now. But, I like it.
-Magnetic Gray is also timeless, and flows well with the lines of the Taco. However, I cannot not stand the heat it absorbs in the summer. It's on my short list of optional colors to choose from.
-Silver Metallic is a clean look, but not my thing.
-Blazing Peal Blue is a beautiful color, and blue is actually my favorite color. Currently have three vehicle right now that are blue. However, I don't like blue on the Tacoma body. Just doesn't look right to me.
-Barcelona Red, hell NO. I don't do red. Definitely not my thing.
-Black, again too damn hot in the summer and EVERYTHING shows up on it. Small dings look like cancer, and light scratches look like gouges.

Anywho, I have time and not an impulse buyer for sure.

 

When I bought my truck I had the same line of thinking about the 4x4...and then I moved to a climate that got freezing rain and snow. Kicked myself every time it snowed because I couldn't get up my own driveway without a running start.

 

Take your Son to the dealer and ask him which truck he wants. After you buy the truck toss him the keys and tell him to take care of it

 

Wait... what???

 

..... that's right

 

welcome

 

Yeah, that's not going to happen. Have you met my son?

I've yet to have ever purchased any new vehicle for myself, only the wifey.
So, I will just go ahead with my plan to buy myself a new truck, and let my son and daughter fight over the '97.
Th upside here is if either of them wreck it, it was their only chance to live the Tacoma dream, because if it is not completely totaled, then I will take it back and make it a project truck for off road only.
I have tools and not afraid to use them.

 

Understood. Fuck him.