Show me your old Tacos (4Runner, FJ, Landcruiser, bronco etc)

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

So I went on the Toyota site and added my name/email to get updates on the LC, but are y'all saying you've put down deposits directly at dealerships?

[troph 24781]

well, looks like we are a tacoma family now... all I need is the red bow for my son and this sucker is his on Christmas Day (he turns 16 Jan 11). 2021 TRD Sport, dual cab, 5 ft bed. With blind spot assist, lane departure, dynamic cruise, auto emergency braking, and car play with a ton of air bags.  with that out of the way, more importantly it's V6 3.5L, 4x4, tow hitch, tow connector and towing package. and a grill guard so he can be cool. kiddo wants a mini camper in a few years as his first real purchase of something that's his, so this should pull a small one for sure. it comes in next week. I'm so jealous. 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by troph

[Incredulity 11654]

looks like he can run down a rhinoceros with that thing

[AUinHsv 579]

If that front bar isn't from Toyota you might want to try to figure out how it affects the front airbags. Not sure anymore but 10-15 years ago it was an issue.

[Updawg 2266]

That’s a good point. And maybe other sensors.

[topochico 1049]

Not to pile onto the brush bar situation, but any small tap in the front will likely end up damaging the hood and front fenders as the bars get pushed back. Those things can turn a simple bumper fix into expensive body work pretty quickly. Awesome truck though, your kid will love it. 

[troph 24781]

1 hour ago, AUinHsv said:

If that front bar isn't from Toyota you might want to try to figure out how it affects the front airbags. Not sure anymore but 10-15 years ago it was an issue.

 

48 minutes ago, Updawg said:

That’s a good point. And maybe other sensors.

 

39 minutes ago, topochico said:

Not to pile onto the brush bar situation, but any small tap in the front will likely end up damaging the hood and front fenders as the bars get pushed back. Those things can turn a simple bumper fix into expensive body work pretty quickly. Awesome truck though, your kid will love it. 

 

this is why I post here.  we will look into it  -  the grill guard concerns.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

And perhaps of lesser importance, the weight of the grill guard. Tacoma’s already don’t have the best fuel efficiency, any extra weight will make it worse. Maybe marginal, but just saying.

I’m sure he will love it. I loved my two Tacomas.

[Damor 1236]

Earlier in this thread, I asked about grill guards, and while I managed to escape the experience without getting much smarter (and a few thousand bucks lighter), I'd just advise that you look up the model and see what people with experience with it have to say on places like Tacoma World.

My kid's was a 2017, so I didn't have to worry about sensors, but I think that the dynamic cruise sensor was one of the more likely to be affected by guards.

And yes, a lot of guards can get pushed back into the bumper/hood/fenders in a wreck, but read up on how it's attached.  The one I ended up going with was a bumper replacement and had all kinds of heavy duty attachments such that yes, he should be able to bulldoze a rhinoceros.  This was part of the point for him, since we sent him off to school in Colorado and my fear was him meeting a mule deer on a mountain pass.  At night.  Alone.  In the rain.

One other thing he needs to be aware of is that with that guard on there, if he pulls into his parking space just a little too quickly and taps the front end of the cute car the junior girl parks in the space across from him, it will fucking obliterate it in very expensive fashion.  Ask me how I know.

Here's the ARB we ended up going with:

[troph 24781]

that's a great looking truck. and my instincts to get the one with the grill guard was for similar reasons. he's super interested in using a truck for what a truck was made for.  we also don't have mule deer where we live but we do have deer, lots of them and plenty of dark windy roads to be surprised by them.

I may read up on it, I may just take it to a dealership and ask them about it / remove it / replace it / leave it alone if it's all copacetic.

as for bumping the junior cute girl's car, I mean that's one way to meet them, amirite?

Edited November 21, 2023 by troph

[troph 24781]

17 hours ago, Damor said:

  This was part of the point for him, since we sent him off to school in Colorado and my fear was him meeting a mule deer on a mountain pass.  At night.  Alone.  In the rain.

 

 

at the risk of being called a naive parental unit, he and I have discussed his desire for a gap year. He wants to explore the west with a small camper. That's also part of the equation of wanting the guard. In any event, the deal is handle your shit the next two and a half years (he's straight A's and pre-AP or AP classes right now), apply to college, get into a preferred college you want, and if they allow a one year deferment then we can discuss a legit 9 month plan.  There's a huge issue over going alone or with someone. He's even asked me if I'd go with him if he's alone. I told him maybe for some of it even a lot of it but I still have to work and he has a younger brother still in school. So the negotiation continues, but this truck will set him up for some version of that plan if we do it, even if only for 2-3 months over a few summers.

[Damor 1236]

That sounds really awesome, Troph.  I hope it works out for him, and it sounds like a hell of an adventure.

I will say that while a brush guard can end up causing additional damage in an accident, it's probably no worse than the mess we encountered hitting a deer without one.

And if someone on here knows a reputable off-road shop in your area, that might be a good place to take it for another opinion.  While they might have an incentive to upsell you on something else, they might have better insight into the current one, how it's attached, and how it might affect sensors/suspension etc. than the dealer.  Who will probably try to upsell you on something else. 😛

[ohchaucer 1443]

That’s a great truck and I’m jealous if that AND the gap year plan. Ah to be single and young again.

But agree you might more of an ARB-like integrated bumper and grill guard. Otherwise you’re most likely dealing with what they call over on ih8mud a “damage multiplier.” Of course, they are pretty snobby Land Cruiser and Taco crowd.

[utee94 15807]

I think the grill guard looks great.  If it's not interfering with the factory safety devices/cameras, then I'd leave it on.

 

[Your Mom 4805]

When the time comes your kid might like the simplicity of a camper shell instead of hauling a trailer everywhere. This is my set up, but I have the longbed.  
The drawer under the mattress runs the full 6’2” length of the bed. I have a second plank I can bring along to span the rest of the way across and make it a double bed when needed. 
I’ve only had the truck a couple of months but I’ve spent 6 nights in it so far. Best set up I’ve had. I was in a cruiser with a roof top tent before this. I like this much better. 
 

 

[troph 24781]

@Your Mom there is a significant debate on this very thing. I'm ok with the camper but my wife says he should do what you did (I passed on a model that was for sale with the shell but it was second behind the one we chose).  She thinks his options for city exploration and back country exploration are greater with just the camper shell. She's 100% right. But then if he's not just dreaming and he gets to pull this off, then it's really his choice I'd think (subject to graduation money to buy it).  I don't know if he wants to do city travels too or just national parks, and national forests. I think with the short bed it might not work out as easily.

I'll say, I don't really know where his plans will go, I had a similar dream but nixed it when I was 18, mostly for lack of funds and zero support. I never got passed looking at paper maps for possible routes. sigh. but yeah, @ohchaucer I'm super jealous if we can pull off the acceptance and deferment with a gap year at 18 years old. this truck is perfect in that he can keep moving that direction or if he bails on that plan it's still a nice ride. but fuck I didn't do it right back then. ugh. All I can do is help him learn from my stupid mistakes.

oh, and who trusts folks who post about their trucks on a site called "I hate mud"??  jk

[blacklab 11926]

As soon as the kiddos are off to college we're planning on doing a bunch of overlanding across the west. I have an FJ cruiser and when I'm alone or with one dog it's fine to camp in, but 2 dogs and two people are too much. I've been looking for an off road camper for a while, will probably pull the trigger in a year or two.

https://www.opuscamper.us/

https://taxaoutdoors.com/

https://www.blackseries.net/

Taxa has some little ones that would be good for 1 person.

[troph 24781]

Taxa is advertising Black Friday 40% off close out models. Damn! 

[UnivTex34 1763]

1 hour ago, blacklab said:

As soon as the kiddos are off to college we're planning on doing a bunch of overlanding across the west. I have an FJ cruiser and when I'm alone or with one dog it's fine to camp in, but 2 dogs and two people are too much. I've been looking for an off road camper for a while, will probably pull the trigger in a year or two.

https://www.opuscamper.us/

https://taxaoutdoors.com/

https://www.blackseries.net/

Taxa has some little ones that would be good for 1 person.

https://xpeditiontrailers.com/features-%26-options

 

I covet one of these. Lifestyle Overland on YT just got one. 

[BHMCruiser 1813]

Just to double down, a bull bar (like ARB) and a grille guard are not the same thing. The latter are affectionately known as "damage multipliers" in the Land Cruiser community. They do not provide any real protection or benefit and tend to get scraped up - at best - and can really mess up your truck with very minor contact. The bull bar is a structural improvement that does provide protection. It's also heavy. You're better off with no grill guard at all. Just my two cents as somebody who's gone both routes.

And the ARB product is awesome.

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

Speaking of ARB Bull Bars, anyone ever repainted one? Mine is kinda shitty looking now.

[BHMCruiser 1813]

32 minutes ago, Anton Chigurh said:

Speaking of ARB Bull Bars, anyone ever repainted one? Mine is kinda shitty looking now.

Just black spray paint for a spot paint. It looked fine. I used Rustoleum

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

Just black spray paint for a spot paint. It looked fine. I used Rustoleum

Yeah, I figured that or the “bumper paint” I’ve seen.

[BHMCruiser 1813]

I think the bumper paint may be textured. If you want the smooth black of the original paint on the ARB the rustoleum black worked pretty well for me. I used sandpaper and then cleaned the spot first. 

[Mittens 8258]

Buddy of mine bought an 82 Datsun to fix up for his kid.  Just got it back from paint - cheap paint/decals but good enough to look slick from 10' away.  All the black parts are rhinolined now as well.

Start: 

 

Today:

 

 

[Hate 20106]

Anyone have any thoughts on the 2024 Tacoma models coming out soon? My son will be of legal driving age next year, and I’ll most likely just give him my car. I want a truck that I can fit into my garage, gets good gas mileage, but can do all of the things a truck needs to do. From what I’ve read, the 2024 models have substantial upgrades in MPG. 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Anyone have any thoughts on the 2024 Tacoma models coming out soon? My son will be of legal driving age next year, and I’ll most likely just give him my car. I want a truck that I can fit into my garage, gets good gas mileage, but can do all of the things a truck needs to do. From what I’ve read, the 2024 models have substantial upgrades in MPG. 

I loved both of my Tacomas. Neither ever went to a mechanic for anything beyond wear and tear type things. As far as fuel economy, it looks like there is a slight bump. I suspect on average you would get something like 21mpg. My 2021 4runner with slightly larger tires than factory gets about 18mpg.

[Mittens 8258]

Until Toyota gives me a reason not to, I'll continue to drive a 4Runner or Tacoma.  Fairly bulletproof and I typically buy around 100K and sell around 250K.

[Your Mom 4805]

I’ll probably be buying one of the hybrid 2024 Tacomas. Been reading up on them quite a bit since they first announced them. Nobody is expecting the gas mileage to increase much. In fact, just today they released the non-hybrid mileage numbers and prices. I think they get like 1 more mile per gallon than the old model. The hybrid might improve on that a little bit, but not as much as you would think. My understanding is that the hybrid motor is designed to give it more low end power and acceleration, not necessarily to give it more miles per gallon. The old Tacomas are fairly anemic when it comes to acceleration, and the turbo hybrid is more a solution to that than gas mileage.

All that being said, I’m excited to get one when the hybrid comes out in the Spring.  

[Hate 20106]

I assumed it would pick up a few MPG based on the hybrid motor and the 8 speed transmission. Doesn’t the hybrid kick on at highway speeds or am I misunderstanding how that works…which is entirely possible.

[Texzilla58 4732]

Gap years are better after college than before. Just sayin.

[topochico 1049]

19 hours ago, Mittens said:

Buddy of mine bought an 82 Datsun to fix up for his kid.  Just got it back from paint - cheap paint/decals but good enough to look slick from 10' away.  All the black parts are rhinolined now as well.

Start: 

 

Today:

 

 

That's a great truck. I considered something similar with my old 93 Toyota truck and my son. Then I started really looking at the thin A pillars, zero air bags, no crumple zones and how terrible the MT tires were in the rain. We got him a VW with pre-collision breaking and blind spot detection instead. At least it was a manual transmission and he will get to learn about VW reliability first hand. 

[Your Mom 4805]

11 hours ago, Hate said:

I assumed it would pick up a few MPG based on the hybrid motor and the 8 speed transmission. Doesn’t the hybrid kick on at highway speeds or am I misunderstanding how that works…which is entirely possible.

I think that usually how it works but in this case primary purpose of the hybrid is to deliver a lot more power at lower RPMs than the previous versions without sacrificing mpg. If you look at the Tundra which is already available in a hybrid, it gained 2 mpg in the city and 0 on the highway vs its non-hybrid version. 

[smuggs 9353]

Motortrend 1st drive review. No mileage numbers though:

 

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2024-toyota-tacoma-first-drive-review/

 

Edit - detailed mileage numbers for each trim level:

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2024-toyota-tacoma-pickup-truck-fuel-economy-mpg-rating/

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2023 by smuggs

[BHMCruiser 1813]

21 hours ago, Mittens said:

Buddy of mine bought an 82 Datsun to fix up for his kid.  Just got it back from paint - cheap paint/decals but good enough to look slick from 10' away.  All the black parts are rhinolined now as well.

Start: 

 

Today:

 

 

that's badass

[ohchaucer 1443]

that's badass

That is really badass. My dad had a yellow one of those back in the day - hard to believe he’d drive me and buddies around just jumping the bed of the truck. It also used to get stuck in reverse from time to time. Good memories. I’ve always thought it would be cool to restomod one. ETA: if that’s an 82 I’m surprised it’s not Nissan badged - they switched in the US in 1981. Badass either way.

My grandfather and uncle raced for Datsun and then Nissan back in the 70s and early 80s (Baja, etc). Here is my uncle driving the September 1983 Vegas-to-Reno race.

[EdTomBell 31]

On 11/21/2023 at 6:21 PM, blacklab said:

As soon as the kiddos are off to college we're planning on doing a bunch of overlanding across the west. I have an FJ cruiser and when I'm alone or with one dog it's fine to camp in, but 2 dogs and two people are too much. I've been looking for an off road camper for a while, will probably pull the trigger in a year or two.

https://www.opuscamper.us/

https://taxaoutdoors.com/

https://www.blackseries.net/

Taxa has some little ones that would be good for 1 person.

Rented an Opus 4 for a long weekend.  Inflatable top is a cool concept and light weight for towing, but on a cold, rainy and windy long weekend in March it kind of sucked.  

[troph 24781]

On 11/22/2023 at 11:29 AM, BHMCruiser said:

Just to double down, a bull bar (like ARB) and a grille guard are not the same thing. The latter are affectionately known as "damage multipliers" in the Land Cruiser community. They do not provide any real protection or benefit and tend to get scraped up - at best - and can really mess up your truck with very minor contact. The bull bar is a structural improvement that does provide protection. It's also heavy. You're better off with no grill guard at all. Just my two cents as somebody who's gone both routes.

And the ARB product is awesome.

my other truck is a bumper replacement. honestly I did not see the difference when purchasing but this thread has been insightful. I'll probably upgrade him later. he's going to need new tires within a year too. We are working on his work/bills/responsibilities now so we can factor in all of that. 

of immediate importance, now its time to convince him he's not getting this for Christmas.  operation mean mrs santa claus in full effect.

[troph 24781]

Monday is the big day I can’t wait. In other news the corvette was repossessed by momma and sold. Hoping for a better outcome here. Raising teenage boys is not for the faint of heart. 

[morehornsepower 887]

1 hour ago, troph said:

Monday is the big day I can’t wait. In other news the corvette was repossessed by momma and sold. Hoping for a better outcome here. Raising teenage boys is not for the faint of heart. 

Ouch...sorry to hear that...

[Mittens 8258]

Nice OG in the hood today.

[troph 24781]

On 11/29/2023 at 1:06 AM, Texzilla58 said:

Gap years are better after college than before. Just sayin.

I agree. He’s living right so I’m not saying no at this point. It may run its course and fade away, he likely has no one to do it with which could impact that plan. He’s  done everything I’ve asked for so I’m just being patient right now. 
 

DL test tomorrow, did the parallel parking last bit of practice last night he’s a champ.

[texasdago 7568]

I have a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser so there's my taco..... BUUUUUTTTT...

Anyone have a new Jeep Wrangler with crappy battery issues?  Not talking an old one.  I'm talking a brand spanking new one or newish one?  

Here... have some 2021 snowmageddon fun...

[utee94 15807]

11 minutes ago, texasdago said:

I have a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser so there's my taco..... BUUUUUTTTT...

Anyone have a new Jeep Wrangler with crappy battery issues?  Not talking an old one.  I'm talking a brand spanking new one or newish one?  

I have a 2017 Wrangler Rubicon, no battery issues on it so far.  Not sure if that's newish enough to meet your criterion?

But there's also a specific Jeep thread that you could hit up for answeres.

[texasdago 7568]

13 minutes ago, utee94 said:

I have a 2017 Wrangler Rubicon, no battery issues on it so far.  Not sure if that's newish enough to meet your criterion?

But there's also a specific Jeep thread that you could hit up for answeres.

This is our third Jeep on a lease.  Just got it... seems like the new Jeeps might have garbage OEM batteries.

[Chewbacca 7767]

Anyone have any experience with Unimogs?  I'm kicking around the idea of getting one to drive around up in the mountains.

[locodos 5387]

[LebongJames 1791]

17 minutes ago, locodos said:

Is this AI or real? If real I hope this is the direction of the next generation 4Runner.

[locodos 5387]

41 minutes ago, LebongJames said:

Is this AI or real? If real I hope this is the direction of the next generation 4Runner.

idk but I do like that FJ70 series look

[Your Mom 4805]

That looks like what the future version of Marty McFly would’ve been driving.