I love my truck.

You all know I love my truck...

Ford seems to be the #1 full-size truck of Nomad's, followed by the Toyota Tundra, and then the Dodge (I guess it is now called a Ram?) truck.

The mid-size trucks are far and away led by the Toyota Tacoma with Nomads in popularity. The four-door model is even made in Baja California at the Toyota factory along the road to Tecate, outside of Tijuana. The Nissan Frontier seems good, but you just don't see too many. Even rarer is the Newly redesigned Honda Ridgeline, New GMC & Chevy Colorado, the Mitsubishi (what is their truck called? I used to own a Mitsubishi Mighty Max 4x2 and it was great).

Fishbuck mentions the power inverter... It was the TRD model Tacomas that first appeared with a 110v outlet in the bed back in 2005. The Off Road TRD Tacoma comes standard with a locking rear differential and the 4x4 Off Road model has a traction control system that mimics a front locker (and works the rear end too) without the steering problems a locked differential has.

With all those features, the main reason I think we Toyota owners love our trucks is reliability. Unlike when I owned a Jeep, I can do hard four wheeling on the weekend or on a Baja trip and dive it home and use it as a daily driver. Things just don't fail typically or require fixes constantly. The quality is high and workmanship is solid on a Toyota. It is also comfortable to drive on the highway, even far above the speed limit...

So, I am on my third (and final) 4x4 Off Road TRD Tacoma.

The first was a 2001 2-door Xtra cab... Not an issue for 136,000 miles in 4 years... replaced a water pump when the timing belt was changed at 90,000 miles.

The second was a 2005 4-door Double cab... I had it for 4 years and 102,000 miles. It had some brake noise until new pads installed and ABS braking issues (my 2001 didn't have), the rear springs were too soft (requiring my adding Ride-Rites), and the clock-spring wire (as they call it) in the steering column needed to be replaced. Other than that, it was great and roomy for passengers or more gear on the inside.

The third is a 2010, also a double cab. I got it in December 2009 and after 8 years it only has 111,100 miles (far less driving per year as my first two Tacomas with the drop in business). This one has been fantastic (no ABS brake issues at all) and is my favorite 4x4 of all I have owned. This is because of the A-TRAC (now part of the new Multi-Terrain-Select & Crawl) system that is like having lockers on the front and back. Makes the Tacoma climb and crawl like a tank. I have been unable to get this Tacoma stuck. No longer does one front tire spin and the other does nothing in a stuck... same on the rear, but I could engage the locker so they both would get balanced power.

Fails? Yes one, as you may have read last October (at 109,000 miles), my rear brake cylinder seal failed on the road to Mike's Sky Rancho from El Coyote. With some borrowed rubber hose (thanks, Michael Diogo) and vise grips (thanks, bajatrailrider, Larry)... I could drive home.

Not bad for over 100,000 miles and never any engine or transmission issues. All were V-6 automatics. The first was a 3.4 liter with a 4-speed and the next two were 4.0 liter with 5-speed automatics. I changed the oil on time or sooner (3,000-5,000 miles) and have switched to synthetic on the current one, going 10,000 miles max. The differentials and transfer case oil is changed about every 30,000 miles (synthetic Mobil 1) and the synthetic auto tran fluid was changed at 85,000 miles (100,000 recommendation).

Modifications:
*Increased the tire height 1" by going from the stock 265/70-16" to 265/75-16". This raised my minimum ground clearance from the stock 9.25" to 9.75". The speedometer now reads accurately, too (made to read 2 mph faster than you are really going at 60 mph)... but the odometer is 4% slower, which I adjust for my trip reports, but when deflated for dirt, it balances out.
*Installed Ride-Rite Air Bags on the rear springs to stiffen/raise the rear suspension for hauling cargo and keep the truck level. I had these on my 2005 Tacoma whose springs were too soft. The 2010 didn't need them until a few years later.
*Installed Bilstein 5100 shocks all around... the fronts have a height adjustment, and I set them at the first level above stock, 0.85". The other two choices are 1.75" and 2.5". These babies are near twice the shock of the stock Bilstein Toyota puts on the TRD Off Road Tacoma, but are not expensive.
*Light bar and four Cree 7" LED lamps in front. My step-son Josh, a mechanic/ fabricator at Stewart's Race Works made me a custom light bar for my 2005 Tacoma and that got transferred onto my 2010. I had first the Kragen HIDs, but Baja washboard roads eventually cracked their plastic bodies, next, all-metal big Hella lamps from an off-road racer, and I converted them to HID, and in 2016 I was given a pair and bought two more of these Cree LED lamps... instant bright (HID needs to warm up) and small power draw.
*Removed the stock mud flaps. They are a hard plastic so they don't give if you drop into a rut or drive over big rocks like I do. That snaps them off (and you can snap them back on). The back ones have 4X4 on them and is the only identifier that the truck is four wheel drive.. but reattaching them over and over gets old.

The Off Road TRD Tacoma really doesn't need much to go most anywhere, but there are many mods available to raise it more, and bigger tires, etc.


Coming down the grade west of Rancho San Antonio, headed fo Bahía Blanco.




[Edited on 3-16-2018 by David K]

TW, your Toyota Tacoma is not too bad either... Pulls Ford Broncos on the Pole Line Road with ease!









[Edited on 3-16-2018 by David K]

I like um all but careful to get the right model Nissan Diesel/ Toyota off road/ Dodge diesel / ford bronco with mustang GT engine.

Quote: Originally posted by norte

Too bad more people do not buy the HONDA. Toyota is falling behind...better keep your old one. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/compact-pickup-...

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Quote: Originally posted by norte   Too bad more people do not buy the HONDA. Toyota is falling behind...better keep your old one. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/compact-pickup-... My 3.5l Honda Vtec engine has become problematic with only 146,000 miles on the odometer. They are nice, conservative automobiles that get you to work each day, but are not designed for rugged environments, imo. Engine sludge, an expensive valve adjustment, now the engine has a misfire and roughly 10,000 miles before it will fail - according to the Technicians who worked on it. The shocks are rough/hazardous above 65 mph, the steering rack is leaking - set to fail soon. The paint is peeling with exposed sheet metal rusting. All on a 2006 Pilot. My 2003 ½ Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has 181,000 miles,no engine problems, ORIGINAL clutch, and good transmission. Failures: The plastic clips holding the connectors to the ECU became brittle - requiring zip ties to maintain a tight connection. The fuel pump failed requiring a new one. The clock position sensor also failed. A brake caliper seized up. Other than that, my Jeep is ready to hit the trails. One vehicle seems to be a long-lasting value, one vehicle appears to be ready for the recycler.

My truck is a F-150 3.6 Twin Turbo 4x4 Sinaloa Blue with a Bull decal, just like El Chapo's fave.
Sometimes they salute me at the checkpoints

Quote: Originally posted by chuckie

Tacoma is made in 3rd world country on the edge of failure....isn't it? It is a little truck, and judging by the number of after market products one must add to make it do anything well, you don't gain much by buying one..

Quote: Originally posted by norte

Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke   Quote: Originally posted by norte   Too bad more people do not buy the HONDA. Toyota is falling behind...better keep your old one. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/compact-pickup-... My 3.5l Honda Vtec engine has become problematic with only 146,000 miles on the odometer. They are nice, conservative automobiles that get you to work each day, but are not designed for rugged environments, imo. Engine sludge, an expensive valve adjustment, now the engine has a misfire and roughly 10,000 miles before it will fail - according to the Technicians who worked on it. The shocks are rough/hazardous above 65 mph, the steering rack is leaking - set to fail soon. The paint is peeling with exposed sheet metal rusting. All on a 2006 Pilot. My 2003 ½ Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has 181,000 miles,no engine problems, ORIGINAL clutch, and good transmission. Failures: The plastic clips holding the connectors to the ECU became brittle - requiring zip ties to maintain a tight connection. The fuel pump failed requiring a new one. The clock position sensor also failed. A brake caliper seized up. Other than that, my Jeep is ready to hit the trails. One vehicle seems to be a long-lasting value, one vehicle appears to be ready for the recycler. HONDA Ridgeline has been running the SCORE races including the BAja 1000 the last couple of years with class wins. No jeeps in the races.

Shows how little you know The ridgeline run in Baja mil is not the one you buy or could have. The ridgeline on street good but one of the weakest off road yes the one you buy.

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider

Quote: Originally posted by norte   Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke   Quote: Originally posted by norte   Too bad more people do not buy the HONDA. Toyota is falling behind...better keep your old one. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/compact-pickup-... My 3.5l Honda Vtec engine has become problematic with only 146,000 miles on the odometer. They are nice, conservative automobiles that get you to work each day, but are not designed for rugged environments, imo. Engine sludge, an expensive valve adjustment, now the engine has a misfire and roughly 10,000 miles before it will fail - according to the Technicians who worked on it. The shocks are rough/hazardous above 65 mph, the steering rack is leaking - set to fail soon. The paint is peeling with exposed sheet metal rusting. All on a 2006 Pilot. My 2003 ½ Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has 181,000 miles,no engine problems, ORIGINAL clutch, and good transmission. Failures: The plastic clips holding the connectors to the ECU became brittle - requiring zip ties to maintain a tight connection. The fuel pump failed requiring a new one. The clock position sensor also failed. A brake caliper seized up. Other than that, my Jeep is ready to hit the trails. One vehicle seems to be a long-lasting value, one vehicle appears to be ready for the recycler. HONDA Ridgeline has been running the SCORE races including the BAja 1000 the last couple of years with class wins. No jeeps in the races. Shows how little you know The ridgeline run in Baja mil is not the one you buy or could have. The ridgeline on street good but one of the weakest off road yes the one you buy.

Norte, please post photos of your Ridgeline four wheeling in Baja! That would be awesome...

Quote: Originally posted by norte

Quote: Originally posted by bajatrailrider   Quote: Originally posted by norte   Quote: Originally posted by Ken Cooke   Quote: Originally posted by norte   Too bad more people do not buy the HONDA. Toyota is falling behind...better keep your old one. https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/compact-pickup-... My 3.5l Honda Vtec engine has become problematic with only 146,000 miles on the odometer. They are nice, conservative automobiles that get you to work each day, but are not designed for rugged environments, imo. Engine sludge, an expensive valve adjustment, now the engine has a misfire and roughly 10,000 miles before it will fail - according to the Technicians who worked on it. The shocks are rough/hazardous above 65 mph, the steering rack is leaking - set to fail soon. The paint is peeling with exposed sheet metal rusting. All on a 2006 Pilot. My 2003 ½ Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has 181,000 miles,no engine problems, ORIGINAL clutch, and good transmission. Failures: The plastic clips holding the connectors to the ECU became brittle - requiring zip ties to maintain a tight connection. The fuel pump failed requiring a new one. The clock position sensor also failed. A brake caliper seized up. Other than that, my Jeep is ready to hit the trails. One vehicle seems to be a long-lasting value, one vehicle appears to be ready for the recycler. HONDA Ridgeline has been running the SCORE races including the BAja 1000 the last couple of years with class wins. No jeeps in the races. Shows how little you know The ridgeline run in Baja mil is not the one you buy or could have. The ridgeline on street good but one of the weakest off road yes the one you buy. See you are not only uneducated, but you know nothing. All vehicles need some modifications. This stock Ridgeline did too. You can buy one and do the same thing...Assuming you had a job and some money. I guess you can lead a donkey to water but you can not make him drink. http://www.fourwheeler.com/project-vehicles/129-0605-desert-... [Edited on 3-19-2018 by norte]

Again the more you talk the more show nothing you are not only not educated. Also clueless as any baja race truck is nothing in common with daily driver. Nor could you afford to mod the Ridgeline. As all trucks need mods maybe but not like the weak Ridgeline. Your way better off to not speak on trucks as to not show your lack of nada. OHH have you ever done mods to truck I think not.

Quote: Originally posted by chuckie

Tacoma is made in 3rd world country on the edge of failure....isn't it?

MAGA.

John

Toyota Rules



[Edited on 4-24-2018 by Marc]

[Edited on 6-7-2018 by Marc]

[Edited on 6-7-2018 by Marc]

[Edited on 6-7-2018 by Marc]

[Edited on 6-7-2018 by Marc]

Quote: Originally posted by Marc

Toyota Rules

Quote: Originally posted by norte

Quote: Originally posted by Marc   Toyota Rules What is that weird ugly thing on the front of your toy truck? Little added extra weight to keep it from blowing away?

Does come in handy under certain circumstances. Actually removed it a while back. (Copper Canyon 2013)


[Edited on 3-25-2018 by Marc]

actually those are brush guards.....key word "brush"