PreRunner as an Expo Rig?

Must be snowing in Workman's neck of the woods......to cold to go outside?

 

fo sho.

well then you have made this thread WAY in advance haha

 

A company called TJM builds an ARB styled bumper out of aluminum. TJM is also an Aussie company. Might be worth a look.

 

Hmm.. I'll have to look at more places than i originally thought

This is way off in the distant future but i figured i'd ask anyway for those out in the TW universe who have the same questions as I but just dont post the questions.

 

Nah, Workman went out this AM to help his buddy fill his elk tag. No luck there, but there is about 30in of snow above 9000ft in Workman's neck of the woods. 4x4 was a MUST today, and last week was the first time that Workman needed more than just 4x4 to get through a few mile section of straight clay/mud. If it wasn't for his locker, Workman would have been stuck in the middle of nowhere with a dead deer in the back of the tacoma!

 

Well then, good to hear you got out of there in one piece lol

 

Just buy a 4x4.

 

No type of explanation? You've done nothing but raise your post count mate. Lol

 

What do you consider the 'distant' future? 1 year, 3 years, 5?
I have to agree with the concept of form following function. Think about each mod, what benifit it provides, how often you'll use it, and how much it costs.
Given what you've said your intended use is, I'd prioratize like this:
- Tires. Good ATs and your locker will get you where you want to go.
- Camping set up.... A cap on the bed maybe? Keeps your gear dry and gives a place to sleep.
- Place for spare fuel/tires/ basic tools/ camping gear.
- Lights. Gotta see where you're going and light up the camp.
- Underbody armor. Protect the vitals.
- Front bumper and winch. Keep it lightweight.

 

it depends on where you want to go OP.
Hard wheeling places in loose stuff, you would want 4x4.
places across vaaaaast flatlands, you should be fine in 2wd
but being that it's an expo rig, IMO, I'd want 4x4 because expo rigs don't always go out with other rigs, getting stuck with 2wd would be a pain in the ass alone, especially if there's no place to winch out of

 

Red= done. BFG At's Rear Locker
Everything else will have to weighted to see if it's best for me.

Im hoping for flat lands... o.o

The winch thing will have to be sorted out as well

so much to dooo dodo

 

Ya know I am in this same place OP, here on the East coast you wont find too much stuff like the west has, but we've got a good mix of everything.
I am a few years ahead of you, (27) but have the same thoughts, I've coe to the conclusion as these guys have said, build for what you currently do and add to itonce you feel it is necessary.
I'm waiting until my factory tires are worn down and I run into a situation where I need an upgrade.
Under body armor
Light weight bumpers
WINCH
Bed roof rack, depends on how much gear you have or if you plan on being the exit vehicle
Did I mention a winch....

I was all like oh I need stage 1 Icons and Arb bumpers and blah blah, it looks sick as hell but turns your truck into a less functioning rig.

Pre runners!!! learn to love your truck and test its abilities.

Have you even been in a situation to use your locker?

Have fun and rubber side down!

 

I've climbed steep hills using the locker just to climb it, I've backed into a ditch lol and i used it there and got out without a hitch.

Im really at the point in life where i shouldnt be looking for the next mod, im in college and money is not squirting out of the ground. I want to go on trips, expedition-like trips and then graduate eventually(if need be) to the more serious type builds, I just want fx-r retros(lighting) and get started for the "stage 1" part of my build. College-getting the money for my mods is my first step.

 

Go for it OP.

IMO most of the equipment on "expo" style trucks is geared toward either self vehicle recovery, or making camp more comfortable, not necessarily making the truck more capable offroad. I see no problem in adding recovery gear, sliders, winches, tents and awnings, lights etc. to a 2wd truck. Whatever you think you need to make you more safe and comfortable out there is fine by me. And if it looks cool too, so be it, we would all be lying if we didnt say we didnt want our trucks to look cool too.

 

Your first mod should be 4x4. The more weight you add the less likely you will be to make it through in 2 wd even with locker.
If you not planning desert racing then Expo rig out of pre-runner is really for show.
Yes there is girl wetness factor in build up rigs but it quickly runs out when your rig is stuck in 2 inches of sand.
Couple years ago had to save young lad on the trip with his smoking hot girlfriend which was wearing t-shirt two sizes to small. His 2 wd 6 inch lifted, armored expo truck was stuck on the hill climb and buried itself to the axle. With no trees to winch out he would have have been there for a while. he was little upset after I pulled him out because his girl was more interested in my truck then his. My wife was quick to point out I am married with kids but you get the point.

 

He speaks the truth.

 

I'll have to take 4x4 as a real possibility when you put it that way. I didnt think i'd need it but it's better to have it and not need it then vice-versa.

 

Armor is good for any type of off roading. You can get body damage riding old forest trails just as you can rock crawling. Approach angles and departure angles still come into play, its still easy to get hung up, and there is always stuff that you don't necesary want smashing into your undercarriage on the trail. If you actually take your truck to the woods and use it, not reason not to protect it, 4x4 or 2wd.

If you don't plan to take your truck more off road than a well maintained dirt road to a campsite, then armor and snorkels become irrelevant.

I'd like a snorkel because I do find myself in deep water in FL. A lot of the trails out here have gravel lined water crossings, so you can find yourself in deep water and be fine even in 2wd unlocked. The snorkel definitly would make me feel more comfortable in any amount of water.

 

As of right now, I want to go beyond a maintained road that even cars can move about on easily, I just think the order of the mods that I want need to be in a certain order, depending on the amount of money/time that i have to spend into my truck.

So will i run into water crossings? Perhaps,Rocks? most likely in order to go where I want to go on that particular trip. I just need to sort out the mod side of it so i dont waste money elsewhere.

 

see OP