I need some advice. My 4x4 '84 Blazer (S10) died last month and I need to replace it. I need some savvy and experienced advice.
I will be towing a small boat (1000 lbs with boat, motor and trailer) and fishing off Ceralvo Island (Jacques Cousteau Island), Bahia del Los Muertos
(Bay of Dreams) and Punta Arena. Usually you have to travel a dirt road 3 miles to get the launching beach at the lighthouse (El Faro). I need a
truck that can do the job in soft sand, dirt & mud (after a rain) and on sandy beaches.
I am very impressed with the 4 Cyl, 4x4 Toyota Tacoma, circa 1995 to 2001. Gets the best 4x4 gas mileage and is very reliable , I am told. I am only
going to drive it a maximum of 6,000 miles a year and I am going to keep it in La Paz. Anyone know if the pre-Tacoma models of the 4 cyl Toyota
Pickup or the Nissan 4x4, 4 cyl Pickup trucks will do the job (pre 1995)? I prefer the 4 cyl 4x4's beause of the great gas economy. I want something
that they can readily fix in Baja, also.
Oh, yea, what's a "locking differential" and do the models that I mentioned above have it?
A locking differential is where the differential locks the left and right axles together, not allowing any slipping between the two tires... and thus
both tires get equal torque to keep you moving.
An 'open' differential (normal differential) allows one tire to turn differently than the other... as needed in turns.. the outside tire needs to
rotate more times than the inside tire.
When in a poor traction condition, such as up steep grades, sand, snow, mud or ice... one tire will often have less traction than another... and that
'free' tire will spin away... the other just stays stuck, and you don't move.
The locker will make both tires turn, (not just the free tire) and that helps you to move. The downfall is that steering is difficult and the truck
wants to go straight with lockers... so, they should be unlocked as soon as the truck is moving. It is a nice tool to have, and I have used mine many
times in Baja on my 2001 and 2005 Tacomas.
Limited Slip Differntials... They can be internal using clutches inside the differential itself or they can use the ABS brake system to slow down or
lock the slipping tire(s).
The new Tacoma (2009 +) has limited slip 'TRAC' in 2 or 4-Hi and 'A-TRAC' in 4-Lo which gives the advantages of a locker by making both tires get
torque, not just the free tires, but without the disadvantages of the locker tracking the truck in a straight line (dangerous on a narrow mountain
road). I also still have the rear locker, just in case! Go Toyota!!
The rear locker was standard on all 'Off Road TRD' Tacomas (2WD and 4WD)... but not sure what year that began... Neal Johns older Tacoma is from the
late 90's and has it...
Here is a 3 min. video of a Toyota FJ Cruiser climbing a soft sand hill, using A-TRAC... which is very close to lockers front and rear... as you can
see in a poor traction scenario that all four tires are working... true four wheel drive, not just one in the front and one in the rear. The tires are
fully inflated as the object here was to show what tires received torque with the limited slip Active Traction Control, by watching the tires spin and
kick up sand. :
The pre-Tacoma years were great for reliability. The 4X4 works decently if you are familiar with momentum and low air pressure. Mine is a real
workhorse in hauling wood or getting around in the snow. But don't count on great fuel economy. Mine gets around 20 mpg.
BTW, we also have the same identical FJ cruiser (color and all) as in David's you tube. And the snow capability of the FJ is totally amazing. The
street we live on has a 13% incline. We back the FJ to the middle of the street, and with the road being completely iced-over, the FJ climbs to the
top of the hill with no wheel spin...amazing!
Thanks a bunch, David. I have been looking for that info in a straight forward way for a long time. Many, many thanks.
Thanks Udo for the input on the pre-Tacoma 4 cyl 4x4 pickups. Do you think that if I were to get a 1988 Toyota 4 cyl 4x4 pickup in decent shape, that
it would most likely be able to handle 1,000 lb boat with trailer on baja's sandy beaches and in mud after a rain?
Mitchman...
In my opinion, the 4 cyl 1988 Toyota will definitely handle the 1000 trailer load.
The only thing I would add is a receiver hitch instead of using the bumper with a trailer ball.
My truck (157K miles) has hauled 3/4 of a cord of oak, and did not protest at all.
I now have a lumber rack on it and shlepped about 1200 lbs of lumber on it ok.
My hubby has been driving around an '89 Toyota 4X4 for the last few years. Great engine although it's seen better days. Has some revving action
going on, so he just uses it to haul around his welding gear. I think it's made 2 trips down to the tip and back. Don't think he's hauled anything
behind it, but lots of stuff in the cab. We used to have a camper on it, so I remember a great camping trip out on the beaches near San Jose del
Cabo, great 4X4 action!
Pulls boats, Jet ski's, and stuck trucks on steep inclined beaches easily.
4 cyl., 5 speed, AC
The secret is 33" tires (BFG All Terrain of course) and airing them down to 5 pounds. Swear. They don't even leave a mark in the sand whether dry or
wet sand.
Wow, this is perfect! Just what I wanted to hear. Done deal, I will getting one of these 4 cyl 4x4s very soon. Great tip on tires, BajaWarrior.
Good pics too.
Ya, well um... they are gone amigo... those were made in 2005, in Tijuana... hundreds went out! Glad they brought so many smiles to amigos de Baja
Nomad!
Originally posted by David K
Ya, well um... they are gone amigo... those were made in 2005, in Tijuana... hundreds went out! Glad they brought so many smiles to amigos de Baja
Nomad!
I have had a 1986 Toyota 4WD Pickup with a 4 Cylinder engine for about the last 10 years. It has over 200,000 miles and still runs great. I use it
to run around the sandy areas on the lake shore and to launch my 17' Bass boat. My boat and trailer probably hit 3000 pounds. I use 4WD Low anytime
it is steep or sandy so I can get the torque that the little engine doesn't have in High gear. This is a Great truck for boat launching. I only have
to go about 3/4 mile to the water so it doesn't get many miles per year anymore. I also have added a front hitch so I can push rather than pull the
boat- much easier to maneuver. I also have a 10,000# hydraulic winch for those times that a good pull is needed. I usually use the winch to pull
others out since I seldom get stuck.
1986 4X4 PU 22r carb 5 spd with 255K -original drive train-gets 20 -22 MPG lot's of torque. fine for pulling 1000 lb for short distances., Not
suitable for long distance towing.
1993 4runner 4X4 3.0 V6 5 speed 175K gets 15-19 MPG and has NO torgue=gutless .
I would go for 96- current Tacoma 4 or 6 cylinder - both get decent mileage. Nissans are comparable..
My personal favorite .. 85-95 Ford F150 5.0 6 cyl with 4 speed granny gear- tranny!
Times have changed a bit and I no longer bring a spare truck in my truck. For the last few years we've been driving some of the most common vehicles
in BC,early push rod 4.0 V6 manual 5 speed ford explorers. Cheap, low tech, decent mileage, towing and easy to get parts. Are parts for the Toyotas
readily available? I'm very interested in moving to FJ 62's for space, in the field serviceability and off road performance. Any advice?
Yes, even before Toyota was a legal import to Mexico (and now made in Baja) they were considered the Numero Uno 4WD small truck. There are many FJ-40
Land Cruisers owned by Mexicans as well. Parts (if they ever break) should be not a problem.
Jeeps are very popular too... many Cherokees in Baja.
I know that you all are focused on the Toyoyas but I just thought I would mention something. I found out last summer that my F150 with 18" wheels has
problems finding tires in La Paz, took me 2 afternoons (after fishing of course) to find new ones for a safe trip back to CO. Just something else to
think about when planning the next trip.
Dave
I moved to CO and they made me buy a little rod to make it feel like a real fish
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The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
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