What's wrong with Pre-Runners?

I've had front diffs go bad on both my Tacomas. The first one at 25000 miles, this one at 10500.

My other truck has has three CV shafts go bad in 90K.

 

As an investment, I'd definitely go with a 4x4. They hold their value better.

 

Look buy a truck for what you use it for. I bought a 4×4 to mod and go off roading where 4wd, front and rear lockers are a must . Not everyone likes off roading. But to buy a 2wd lift it and put off road tires on it is just ridiculous. I get most of you on here don't even off road you just want to look like it. Mall crawlers.

 

There is nothing wrong with PreRunner's, it's all a matter of what you want or need. Mine gets me everywhere I want to go and back again without any problems. And I see a lot of 4x4 Mall crawlers around here as well.

 

4×4 Mall crawlers are the worst. I see tons of new jeeps around here like that. All built up and never even a sniff of dirt on the tires. It's like strapping a snowboard to your roof in winter but never using it .. just looking the part. So lame.

 

I pull my bass boat out of the lake on a steep ass ramp with absolutely no issues in my PreRunner, plus my 3 year old thinks it's a Transformer and PreRunner is his name. Got to admit it sounds like a Transformer name. So do you want a 4x4 or a Transformer?

Logic.

 

Lol these replies getting hostile.

Buy what you want, buy what you need, buy what you can afford. Simple as that.

 

Maybe... Just MAYBE... some of the 4x4 owners are over compensating for other area's in need of a lift?

Remember... I said SOME.

 

I'm pretty sure the guys in 2wd trucks lifted to pretend they have a 4x4 are compensating here

 

Yeah I agree I'd never lift my truck being a 2wd. Just my opinion. I also don't want one that looks lowered (non PreRunner 2wd) because I do tow a boat etc.

 

Awesome

 

Word ...

 

i have 2006 tacoma trd prerunner sport package #2, ordered and bought new, best truck i ever had by far! it has been through everything you can think of, 125deg days, 0deg days, sand, mud, clay, swamp, snow, long treks on the interstate, saltwater, pulled poles out the ground, pulled out MANY larger chevys and fords when stuck (had to jerk the hell out of them to!), i even have buried it up to where the body was sitting on the ground several times.

if you do your maintenance, change oil (use good oil), change trans fluid every 30K miles or so, change rear diff. oil every 50K or so, you CANT KILL IT! i have about 130,000 hard miles on mine, cranks up and runs like the day i picked her up as they were unloading her off the truck at the dealership.

tips...
which ever package/model you choose, make SURE you get the towing package with the extra engine oil and transmission oil coolers and high output alternator, the extra expense is well worth it specially if you run high draw lights, amps, etc or plan on running at high rpm's, etc

with TRD sport package the ride and handling is very good for a truck. i cant comment on off-road package because i never owned one.

suggestion...
if you plan to lift it and want a better than oem ride DO NOT use spacers in the front or billstein 5100 and stock coils. i tried both. replace the coils and struts for the lift. i recommend ironman coils and struts "rating C" for the rear DO NOT use blocks, use add-a-leaf, with the blocks i got very bad body roll when cornering on the road. i use 'dakar' brand add-a-leaf and am very happy with them, although there are several other great AAL out there.

since your thinking about a purchase i will be fair, here are the negatives....

- (BIGGEST NEGATIVE) after the 2008 model toyota stopped using mechanical LSD differentials (lockers) in prerunner , now they use an open differential with a brake assisted "limited slip" , so to have any true locking rear end you need to get the "off-road" package which has true E-Locker for the rear. hinse my next one will have the off-road package.

(hopefully they will do the sport package upgrades, hood, color matching, etc and the off-road package this time, i fought tooth and nail last time and they said CBD!) thats can't be done, lol

- the bed is carbon fiber NOT METAL so the tailgate is VERY week, do not put over 300lbs-500lbs load on the tailgate! it will bend!, so if you have 4-wheelers, motorcycles, etc to haul YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE TAILGATE OFF to load with you ramps or you will bend the tailgate!

- bed load hauling capacity is a little low, at 500lbs you will notice a pretty good sag with oem suspension. the most i think i ever loaded it with was about 800lbs of raw steel and the oem suspention in the back was pretty maxed, it would bottom out on small bumps.


in any case, you CAN NOT go wrong with a tacoma, YOU WILL be happy with your purchase on any 6-lug model you get!


hope that helps

 

Ummm I bought it 7 months ago (see OP) , but that's good info nonetheless! Sounds like you have put yours through the ringer and is holding up fine.

 

LOL! have not had much experience building trucks have you?

it all depends on what you do with it, with a locker in the rear and an experienced driver a well planned out 2wd can do almost everything a 4wd can do on flat ground. 4WD is only a MUST when dealing with inclines, descents, high approach angles like rocks crawling, etc.


also ever wonder where the name prerunner came from? ever watch any races? no 4wd! because the extra weight and moving parts would be a negative.

every year there is a 2 day trip along a trail in north lousiana, the vehicles that always do the best and make it through are 4WD older trucks and jeeps, with the front drive shaft removed, 12"+ lift, tractor tires in the rear and 2WD tractor tires in the front so basically the front tires or only for steering, no huge tread, just those ribs that run around the circumference of the tire, no cross tread. the rear when locked plows through anything, the front is just for steering.

also, if you need to have a truck that can haul and pull decent size trailer or boat on the highway, a well built 2WD with a locker is much better because less weight and less maintenance.

i have built more jeeps and trucks and broncos than i can count, each designed for the purpose i had in mind. i have had a 2wd broncoII with 6" suspension lift, cut-out fender flare, and 31" sand tires because all i wanted to do was run it on a track.

i could go on forever. i have not been here that long, but i have read hundreds of posts trying to learn all i can from the other members and i have to say thats about the dumbest thing i have seen posted here...

 

sorry about that i did not read the all the posts. congrats on the new truck, just curious which did you end up buying?

 

2013 Prerunner TRD Off-Road. Pretty sweet, I am happy with it and have yet to really "break it in".

 

nice choice!!!! that will be what i get next

 

i have been toying around with doing 2WD to 4WD on my prerunner as a project for years. BUT its paid for, i do not have to drive it everyday, and i would only do it if like a friend totaled a 4WD and i can harvest parts for free or trade them something, etc...

i agree with you that it is not practical. the cost and time would be way more than just selling the 2WD and getting a 4WD tacoma. unless its just a 'project' and the truck is just a toy, meaning you do not have to worry about it being on the road monday for work or worry about resale, the conversion doesn't seem attractive at all to me.

thats just been a thought, probably never do it, but what i would do given the chance is swap the rear on my prerunner sport with one that had E-Locker in it. DoorDing, any idea how much is involved in that?

 

cool thanks!