BajaNomad

David k.

4baja - 7-26-2004 at 05:54 AM

i heard awhile ago that you were thinking about getting a new tundra, right now toyotas offering 1% financing for 5 years. we went and picked one up last friday. quad cab, 6 foot bed with 4x4 action and posi rear. it will be the new truck when the familly goes too baja other wise it will be my tacoma for the boys trips. :coolup:

David K - 7-26-2004 at 06:50 AM

Thank you Steve.

Bob H - 7-26-2004 at 08:30 AM

David.... think F.O.R.D. !! ;)

land rover Freelander

capt. mike - 7-26-2004 at 09:29 AM

anybody know about this vehicle?

4baja - 7-26-2004 at 07:42 PM

sorry bob h. but i have seen plenty of fords brocken down there and have seen zero toyotas, if you can send me your e-mail i have a few pics to send you. some of my friends only buy big trucks because of the room for there familly and what they can pull but all of them say that if it wasnt for that they would buy a toyota in a heart beat as all of them have owned them trouble free. i have owned 4 toyotas in a row with zero problems and sold the last two with over 250000 miles on them with zero problems and i think that it speaks for it self don't you. any way good luck with your ford and hope to meet you some day.:coolup:

David K - 7-26-2004 at 08:44 PM

My Tacoma has 104,000+ miles now, less than 4 years old (2001 model). It is ubelievablely reliable... It is the first Toyota I have had... won't be the last.

The only thing close to being as trouble free were the three Subaru 4WD wagons I owned ('77-'94). My Mitsubishi truck and my Mazda MPV van was pretty good too.

What was terrible? My Jeep Cherokee Chief, and my Plymoth Grand Voyager.. both American made...

I did go to Ford first before Toyota (for a Ranger)... thank God they wouldn't deal with me and take the Plymoth as a trade in. I went to Toyota, and they were happy to help me into a new truck.

You guys know where I have taken my Tacoma, and it has never let me down. The only 'problems' that have cost me money? Well, at 90,000 miles when I had the timing belt replaced, they suggested I replace a water pump as it was leaking a little. A sensor was the only other non-maintenance item that went bad.

Well, with that kind of quality and great 4WD-ability, I don't think I will shop much.
Neal Johns, Bajaboy, BajaTaco, BajaNomad, 4Baja, fishuntr, and many other Nomads all swear by their Tacomas, and so do I!!!

Fords it is!!

thebajarunner - 7-26-2004 at 08:54 PM

DK,
Trust me... Fords are Baja Proven!!
I raced em, I pre-ran em, I fun-ran em and I highway cruised em.
They are the best...
Besides, your Tundra will be too pretty to 'pinstripe'

Baja Arriba!!

Markitos - 7-26-2004 at 09:18 PM

Got ya beat David ... 144000 on a 2001 f 250 .... oh sure I can't afford the gas any more but the ole girl does love baja :yes:

Bajaboy - 7-27-2004 at 01:04 AM

187,000 miles on my Toyota with many of those on Class A and B 4x4 trails. Any Fords out there with that kind of mileage on them and still running on an original engine?

I've replaced clutch, brakes, radiator, O2 sensor, shocks, timing chain, and that's about it.

Zac

TMW - 7-27-2004 at 07:15 AM

Discussing who has the best truck is somewhat like discussing your sex life and salary, the first liar can't win.

David K - 7-27-2004 at 07:23 AM

TW, as I recall you also drive a Toyota truck!

TMW - 7-27-2004 at 04:28 PM

Yes I do David, with 122000 miles on it, and I think they are the best. I also think Chevy, Ford etc have come a long ways and get better all the time.

My reference point is to get under,around and over the truck and check out how the gas lines, wiring, water hoses and A/C lines are run and attached. Even the spark plug wiring. Toyota does a first rate job. I have a 91 chevy that's been all over Baja with 222,000 miles on it. I did to it what Toyota did to my Toyota. I just purchased a GMC Z71 in March and it is built much better and I'm very happy with it. But like the other auto makers including the Nisson Titan they still drop the rear shocks 3 or more inches below the axle, something Toyota doesn't do.

I think Dodge builds the worst trucks. I have a 2001 2500 4x4 at work that I use. I think it's the biggest pile of *#@! on the market. It is the roughest riding truck I've ever been in. I test drove the Tundra on hwy 99 and it was the smoothest riding of any new truck I tested and anyone who has been on 99 near Bakersfield knows it's bad. I didn't buy it because I got a special deal on GM trucks from a friend who works for GM. But I am eyeballing the new Tundra crew cab or what ever they call it when they come out with their 5.7 L V8 engine they talked about.

Desertbull - 7-27-2004 at 10:15 PM

Dodge Ram Cummins Turbo Diesel, 4x4, 200,000 miles including countless Baja dirt miles...20+ miles per gallon with adventure gear and mounted MotoSat...it has gone places you wouldn't think and I didn't think it could make it...solid axle front end is the best...comfortable, reliable and safe.

Dodge Ram Cummins Turbo Diesel has 30% less moving parts than competing trucks including gasoline counterparts.

I use to have a Toyota...good trucks---for light travel, they are dependable, but cannot match the load capacity and comfort that the Dodge has...I always run Hwy 99 at 78-79 mph with the best ride in the world...and that's all about suspension set up. TW is right about factory suspension...but that's the way it is with all three of the big truck makers.

And lastly, try running 125 MPH in a Toyota...Hmmmmm, Is that possible??? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Good truck thread...I love em'

[Edited on 7-28-2004 by Desertbull]

Tacoma for me.

mcgyver - 7-28-2004 at 02:52 AM

After much reserch I went with the 2004 Tacoma 4 WD extracab. At my age and its cost it will have to be the last truck I ever buy. Now at 7000 miles it beats hell out of the Chevys I have championed in the past. The one thing I am alittle POed about is at 5000 miles the front end was out of alignment, the San Felipe /Puertocitos road is not that bad, even the Chevy could take that.
If they could just build a full size truck as good as my '98 Geo Tracker (187000) it would be great, it has had a muffler & tail pipe & clutch & pressure plate, all my fault, no other repairs, just routine matainence.

bigboy - 7-28-2004 at 07:03 AM

I have a 89 Ford Bronco with 225,000 miles that has been all over Baja and the California deserts. No problems other than the normal maintenance stuff. Same engine and trans......new radiator and power steering pump.

Bob H - 7-28-2004 at 07:51 AM

I've said this before... drive by ANY construction sight and count the number of Ford trucks compared to any other brand. I've driven Ford trucks for years (currently have two of them) and I've never, ever been let down. Anywhere!
FORD
Bob H
PS: Remember, BUY AMERICAN!

[Edited on 7-28-2004 by Bob H]

4Baja????

Debra - 7-28-2004 at 01:20 PM

Did you have your eyes closed everytime you passed my 4Runner? It's running great now......but, I've had to have the engine rebuild TWICE, ( I bought it on Christmas Eve, it has 188,000 miles on it) Ive paid $560 dollars to have the back window fixed (it's broke again now) just to name a few problems......I know I have a tranny problem...I leave Bahia for home tomorrow (let's hope I make it!) :biggrin:

Herb - 7-28-2004 at 02:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob H
FORD
PS: Remember, BUY AMERICAN!
[Edited on 7-28-2004 by Bob H]


That's getting harder and harder to do by label alone. I own two Nissans, both designed in La Jolla, CA and built in Tenessee. The last car I bought before those was a Dodge, built in Canada. :?:

One nice thing that my mechanic mentioned to me is that all cars are actually being built better these days. Making it to 100,000 miles used to be an accomplishment with a vehicle years ago. Nearly all of them go that far without any major problems now.

TMW - 7-28-2004 at 06:27 PM

Herb your right. They are getting better. Funny thing in 91 I bought my wife a Toyota Camry and a few months later I got a new chevy 4x4. A friend of mine gave me *$#! for not buying American (the Camry). I said it's kind of how you look at it. The Camry was built in Kentucky and the Chevy was built in Canada. My new GMC Z71 is also built in Canada.

I believe that your vehicle will be as good as you maintain it. Change the oil and filter regularly and fix what is broke ASAP or needs attention and they will last a long time. The only car/truck I ever owned that I thought was a lemon was my 1977 Chevy Vega. I got rid of it just before the warranty was out.

4baja - 7-29-2004 at 07:03 AM

sorry deb but i believe your problems stem from a lack of normal maintainence from the prior owner. allso a poor engine rebuild. good luck getting back as i will be leaving for down there soon hopefully.:coolup:

Mexitron - 7-29-2004 at 07:38 AM

I'm a landscape contractor so I have to buy trucks that do both work and Baja in mind. Bought a 92 Toyota(same engine as yours grover 22R)--took it to Baja until 175,000 miles....bought a Chevy Silverado 4x4 with a 3300 pound payload capaciity in 2000....still doing great at 87,000 miles. I kept the Toyota, which now has 227,000 miles, use it for light duty days--still gets about 22 miles per gal. For all the hauling and Baja abuse I'd say that's a pretty fair testament for Toyota. Hope the Chevy does as well too.