Help with a Tacoma

Post by **AlexS** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:48 pm

Hello,

My name is Alex, I attended the meeting after the last ride with my buddy Logan and introduced myself. For those who haven't met me, I just purchased a 2010 Tacoma and am highly interested in learning about off roading and how to make my truck trail ready. I would gladly take any advice and help, and would like to compensate those who help with free calzones from DP Dough and possibly some booze if you're of age.

What I was thinking so I can still navigate backstreets of Blacksburg while making deliveries for my restaurant, is to just do a 3" suspension lift with 33" all-terrains. I was also talking with Logan about putting on a tow package and rear differential. Also in talks was re-gearing. Any thoughts or ideas? Anybody know a lot about Tacoma's and want to shoot the sh*t let me know. Thanks again.

Alex

97JEEPTJ · Post by **97JEEPTJ** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:06 pm

Nice to see you on the forums. Any idea what gearing your Tacoma has from the factory?

Post by **lantozzi42** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:07 pm

u mean a locker jackass

Post by **Stinson** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:24 am

go do some reading here.....

marlincrawler.com
allpooffroad.com

Post by **Yoda** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:51 am

ttora.com best resource there is. Theres lots of newbie threads on there. I think you are going in the right direction with 3" and 33's. I ran that on my Tacoma when I first got it until I sold it. If you have a factory locker you are a little ahead of the game. You would know if you have one if you have the TRD badging and a little push button on your dash. Since your truck is so new, I would seriously look into getting some protection for it ie. rock sliders, bu mpers, and some aftermarket skids.

Post by **Stinson** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:08 pm

Im just going to go ahead and give my 2cents, you will much further ahead if you find yourself an older toy pickup, say 81-95. You can get a decent truck for about 1000-2000 dollars, put some used tires on it and a locker in the back and have twice as much fun as you could have in the '10.

The progression usually goes, guy starts building up there DD, eventually you need a new DD cause you have gotten to the point, where you want to do stuff that you shouldnt do with a DD.

So, id say keep your new clean truck clean and get an older pickup and do some wheeling with us. I bet you will have more fun and be cheaper too.

Post by **shmoken875** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:49 pm

Whats your background as far as offroading goes? What is it that intrigues you? Trail riding and hitting some light obstacles, or are you fascinated with built up rigs and rock crawling? Basically how far are you looking to take your truck and do you think this is a hobby that you'll pursue farther and farther?

We will no doubt help you with your truck and hope you'll come wheeling with us, but try to gauge what you're going to be doing with this truck because like Stinson said you may need another truck in just a few years. If you don't see yourself getting too carried away I would say definitely rock the 2010, it would be a great vehicle to do so, but like Yoda said just protect it.

I know I'm guilty, I bought a $7500 cherokee when I was 16 and destroyed it over the next few years and now I drive a $900 DD :lol2:

Post by **AlexS** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:36 pm

Thanks for all the links, i'll check them out these next few days.

I didn't get TRD, so I don't have a factory locker, which is why I was thinking of putting one in depending on if it is needed with what I do to it. The gearing is also all factory (havent looked up the gearing ratio yet).

I have done some field/creek and small trail rides in my old Liberty and some buddies Wranglers. I rode around with someone who had a T100 he had lifted and done up, but thats the extent of my experience. I HOPE to eventually get an old wrangler (probably 3-4 years down the road) to really let loose and play with once I get some experience, but for now I had some novice/intermediate trails with the Tacoma in mind till I learn the Do's and Don'ts.

Still want to do something to the truck so I can take on any freak weather at any given moment that Blacksburg decides to have, as well as enjoy some less serious trails and crawling.

Thanks again, and once Fall is over i'll be able to join you guys on some trail rides.

Post by **shmoken875** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:55 pm

AlexS wrote:Thanks for all the links, i'll check them out these next few days.

I didn't get TRD, so I don't have a factory locker, which is why I was thinking of putting one in depending on if it is needed with what I do to it. The gearing is also all factory (havent looked up the gearing ratio yet).

I have done some field/creek and small trail rides in my old Liberty and some buddies Wranglers. I rode around with someone who had a T100 he had lifted and done up, but thats the extent of my experience. I HOPE to eventually get an old wrangler (probably 3-4 years down the road) to really let loose and play with once I get some experience, but for now I had some novice/intermediate trails with the Tacoma in mind till I learn the Do's and Don'ts.

Still want to do something to the truck so I can take on any freak weather at any given moment that Blacksburg decides to have, as well as enjoy some less serious trails and crawling.

Thanks again, and once Fall is over i'll be able to join you guys on some trail rides.

I'd say rock it then man

Just make sure you get tow points, sliders (rocker guards) and skids first.

Post by **VerticalTRX** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:48 pm

I think you should wheel it some as it is before you decide to do any mods.My DD is a '97 Tacoma, 4cyl, 5spd, stock sized tires, open diffs and it really surprises me where it will go. Now I'm not sure how much they have changed with the new body style, but I suspect that the new trucks should still do well off-road. A good set of all-terrains in a stock to 31" size and disconnects for your front sway-bar should be all you need to wheel bobcat, mountain lake, Uwharrie, as well as any winter weather we might have here in b-burg. If that doesn't suit your needs then a rear locker would be my next suggestion. Don't feel like you have to have a built to the hilt rig to have fun with our club, depending on the trails we are running I sometimes take my stock Tacoma over my full-size Ford which is a fully built trail rig.

Post by **AlexS** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:40 pm

Yeah i'm just gonna protect the under carriage with sliders and such for now, but i figure if i'm buying tires, might as well wait and get the 33" and buy tires once. As far as making space for them, i'm posting a link to a 3" susp. lift kit. Opinions on the type I am thinking? Would I need anything more to complete it?

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi ... 52907.html

Thanks again!

Post by **Jwlman** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:41 pm

AlexS wrote:Yeah i'm just gonna protect the under carriage with sliders and such for now, but i figure if i'm buying tires, might as well wait and get the 33" and buy tires once. As far as making space for them, i'm posting a link to a 3" susp. lift kit. Opinions on the type I am thinking? Would I need anything more to complete it?

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi ... 52907.html

Thanks again!

While I may no nothing about toyotas, I do know that add-a-leaf kits are not the ideal way to go. It will cause your truck to ride and flex rough

Post by **BadnewsCJ** » Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:01 pm

AlexS wrote:Yeah i'm just gonna protect the under carriage with sliders and such for now, but i figure if i'm buying tires, might as well wait and get the 33" and buy tires once. As far as making space for them, i'm posting a link to a 3" susp. lift kit. Opinions on the type I am thinking? Would I need anything more to complete it?

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi ... 52907.html

Thanks again!

dont know about their toyota stuff but tough country is not known to be very good quality when it comes to bolt on jeep parts

old man emu makes a good bolt on kit its what im running on my '01

deaver makes nice rear springs and companies such as donahoe make adjustable coilovers for the front

or get a total chaos long travel kit

thats what i would do.....

Post by **Yoda** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:14 am

You would need new shocks in addition to that kit. I would stay away from the AAL/Spacer combo like BadnewsCJ said. I ran a similar Toytec kit on my old Tacoma. It was not the greatest ride, but I didn't care too much. I would think on a brand new truck you wouldn't want to sacrifice that. Look into the companies that are listed above.

Post by **alk1174** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:50 am

I am going to go against the grain a little. I am running an allpro AAl on my 04 tacoma and I have no complaints about how it performs. It only slightly stiffened the ride and flex is probably no better but also no worse than before. It helped the load carrying and also cornering abilities by adding a little stiffnes to what I consider a factory spring rate that is a little too soft. Also have them in the 63" chevies on the back of my 83 and no complaints there either. You just need to pick the right AAL for your springs.