New from SoCal

How's it hangin' guys?

Little background before I move onto the "goods."

I own a 1996 Ford Ranger xlt, 2wd, 5-speed, 2.3L 4-cylinder and was a member over at the old "ged-edge" site and the more recent, still existing, www.ranger-forums.com. The truck's got Camburg's mid-travel set up in the front, just some longer shackles in the rear, and she's wrapped in 31" BFG a/t's. My first truck and will always be mine. I still drive it to work and plan on making it my "project vehicle" as funds allow.

Two weeks ago I picked up my 2009 Tacoma. Great truck. Fell in love almost at once. My uncle has a 2nd gen (I believe that's what you call 2005+?) and I had driven it a few times as well before this. The battle was between a 2008 F-150 FX4, Double Cab, short bed, 5.4L V8 and the Tacoma, and I suppose I already spoiled the ending for you. The 150 was just WAY too big of a truck for me. I'm not a fantastically huge guy and would slide around in the leater 150 seats. Tacoma says "outdoor adventurist" which is definately what I'm going for. And, fresh off the lot, I feel the Tacoma will prove more off-road worthy than the F-150 (although I've seen stock 150's do some amazing things).

So in case I've bored you already...

The specs again...

2009 Tacoma, DblCab, Short Bed, 4x4 w/ TRD Off-Road package.

The plans are to keep the truck fairly stock for the most part. New tires eventually. Perhaps a new exhaust (what do you think of the TRD exhaust Toyota offers?) and maybe later down the road SAW coilovers and a color-matched ARB bumper... we'll see. The Ranger will be the one continuing to get the mods for the most part.

Onto the good stuff...











And, the Ranger...

 

Welcome to TW.

 

welcome man.

 

Welcome to TW! Fellow socaler

 

Howdy

 

Welcome....congrats on the new ride.....

 

welcome aboard!

 

Welcome to TW

 

from one socal brother to another: welcome to the culb!

 

Welcome and I also dig the ranger. Both nice trucks

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Thanks guys!

Been looking at some of the "Cheap/Free/Easy Mods" and I'm definitely gonna have to get out there and work on some of those!

Been thinking about a hard tonneau for starters. I searched through some of the threads but I haven't seen anyone (yet) who has what I'm looking for. Any suggestions? Hard tonneau, flat flat flat, none of that little dome stuff goin' on in the middle. Color matched to the truck of course.

There's that, and the motor oil question. I've been running Valvoline dino oil in the Ranger and it seems to like it pretty well, especially over the Penzoil dino that I use to run.

5000 miles seems like a lot. I'm use to changing the oil every 3k. Any thoughts?

I did a search and it seems that a lot of guys on here run Mobile 1 or Amsoil. The dealer said that switching over to a synthetic would "confuse" (<-his words, not mine) the PCM/ECU. I call BS cause it seems that a lot of you are running synthetic.

Where's a good place to pick up a case of oil filters online?

Thanks for any and all of your input! 'preciate it!

 

I think the general consensus is that the switch confusing the ECU is BS

 

Nice Taco! Welcome!

 

Welcome, Slick rig!

 

I wish i kept my Ranger. Not a Tacoma but a fun truck.

 

Nice lookin' Ranger! Great, fun trucks... great platforms to build up. What were you running up front?

 

It was a 98 4x4 and there was not a thing out there for it. I had some custom made upper control arms w/ 2'' uniballs. It cycled around 8" or 9" of travel. Was'nt bad for a 4x4.