Making my truck 4x4

3rd gen is not doable. Only way is find a perfect donor and switch the body. I know OP doesn’t want to let go of the 2wd truck, but if it’s 4x4 you wanted, just trade/sell it. That would be the cheapest option.

 

Those are both false statements. The 3rd gen process is same as 2nd gen. The fj case bolts directly to the trans. The parts can be had for at or near 2 grand. Good luck selling a 2wd and then trying to buy a 4wd for only 2 grand more in today's economy.

 

I like how you say it with confidence but you’re completely wrong.

 

You guys are correct. I clearly said not doable. I should have explain it better to avoid this. I had a 2017 2wd and wanted a 4x4. I ask many local shop if it’s doable. They all told me anything is possible if you have money. But for a 3rd gen Tacoma, its better just to sell and buy another. It’s not like the 1st or 2nd Gen. It would be a lot cheaper. I end up doing that and got a 2021. And Brian is correct too. With this market everything is mark up, its harder to sell/buy.

 

It’s pretty similar to the 2nd gen.

 

Yes very similar. I’m no mechanic but I remember talking with yotamaster and primo Motorsport back then, they both said 1st and 2nd have all the wiring ready to go and not like the 3rd need new wiring and more electronic which complicate things more.

 

That’s interesting, what wiring did they say exactly? Because you don’t have to do a single ounce of wiring unless you want to. The only wiring I did was the ADD switch but that is completely separate from the truck, it’s standalone, only connected to a switch (and it’s optional, you can permanently leave the front diff engaged). And the other wiring is if you want the dash lights to light up but that’s optional too

 

Why would you want the front dif permanently engaged?

 

You have a 2nd gen, OP has a 3rd gen (2019) therefore it does need new wiring due to all of the electronic stuff (according to yotamaster & Primo Motorsport) and I have no idea what kind of wiring. By the way, both of those shop are well known for 4x4 conversion. This was back in 2018 when I decided to switch over. If one day I am bored, I’ll call them up and I’ll ask and I’ll update lol.

 

Since we know that the j-shift FJ transfer case bolts up to the 3rd transmission and that the A.D.D. system is the same as the 2nd gen, then we know that the process is the same as 2nd gen and doesn’t require any additional wiring or electronic stuff. If you talk to those shops again you can tell them the good news.

 

They are probably talking about rewriting the truck for the electric knob actuator like factory. That’s a waste of time and is Inferior to the fj case. If they a conversion shop and not doing Jj shifts I wouldn’t consider going to that shop cause they don’t know what the hell they doing lol.

 

I thought of that, but I’m pretty sure the 2nd gen isn’t wired for all the stock 4WD electronics either. At least my truck wasn’t and I haven’t seen anyone mention it in all the conversion threads. By now someone would have written that conversion up in a thread. So, I don’t think they are correct on that point either.

 

Value of your time and labor is $0? Reasonable dollar value for that should be included to compare price difference on swapping the truck out.

 

• https://www.ebay.com/itm/233440294806?fits=Model:Tacoma
• https://www.ebay.com/itm/274787781618?fits=Model:Tacoma
• https://www.ebay.com/itm/313809544482?fits=Model:FJ+Cruiser
• https://parts.olathetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-remanufactured-cv-axle-434300402084
• ADD button and switch can be made for less than $20.

• All hardware going to cost around $100-$150.
• https://www.ebay.com/itm/142113920567?fits=Model:Tacoma
• Modify rear driveshaft $100

Just going off what i have linked total would be around $1800. You could certainly do it for more if you wanted better lower mileage parts but that's just an estimate to show you that is not that expensive.

Provided you do the work yourself. even if you had to pay someone to weld the cross member for you it still would only be like $2100.

 

Here’s my build with list of parts and cost.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2wd-4wd-conversion.745264/

 

Nice good job my man. Wasnt as bad as everyone says huh?

 

i still value my time at greater than 0 so saying the cost is $1800 greatly underestimates the real cost. You do it cause you like to do the work - excellent. To compare trading it in and buying a 4WD I think the labor should be added in.

 

Ok fine you can pay yourself a $1000 if you want too. I wont judge.

 

Do you tell your kids you can’t hang out with them unless they pay you your hourly rate?

Maybe for some people that is valid. But I don’t typically pay myself to do my hobbies.

 

I’m not comparing their cost to trading in on another kid