Am I stupid?

[thezentree]

I have a decently built 3rd gen 4Runner (33s, gears/locker, armor). I bought it from my sister after she'd had it for 14 years with the intention of beating the shit out of it in the woods and using my Sierra as a DD, but having had it for 3 years or so, I've come to love it as a DD and have made it pretty nice. The Sierra sits 29 days out of the month. I've been wheeling the 4Runner when I can, and up until a couple weekends ago at Windrock I hadn't had to back out of a trail, but I found my limit. I came pretty close to caving in quarter panels and doors, despite sliders and bumpers, and at this point I don't want to wrinkle it up.

Anyway, I've been looking at $1500 1st gen Tacomas on fb all week and sorta want to build one that I don't feel bad about wadding up in the rocks. 4Runner gets relegated to DD/camping duties, and the Sierra is now a tow rig.

Thinking:

Single cab/short bed, ~2" lift/1" BL, SPC UCAs, 5.29s/ARBs, skids/lightweight armor, 35s, and a trailer. OBV all the eimkeith and plastics guy bits, duh. Eventually dual cases.

I'm a 4Runner guy, so no idea what's a good rear setup, but not planning on carrying much more than a cooler and some tools. Really want this to be as light as I can make it.

Did single cab short bed 4x4s come with 3.4s, or are they all 2.7s? I'm assuming I want a 5spd if I can't get a 3.4.

 

[4runner DOA]

Once I got my first dent and major scratches, keeping my 4th gen nice went out the door. I also couldn't daily it because gas would kill me. Having an actual beater for the trails is definitely nice.

 

[Itaro]

I have a decently built 3rd gen 4Runner (33s, gears/locker, armor). I bought it from my sister after she'd had it for 14 years with the intention of beating the shit out of it in the woods and using my Sierra as a DD, but having had it for 3 years or so, I've come to love it as a DD and have made it pretty nice. The Sierra sits 29 days out of the month. I've been wheeling the 4Runner when I can, and up until a couple weekends ago at Windrock I hadn't had to back out of a trail, but I found my limit. I came pretty close to caving in quarter panels and doors, despite sliders and bumpers, and at this point I don't want to wrinkle it up.

Anyway, I've been looking at $1500 1st gen Tacomas on fb all week and sorta want to build one that I don't feel bad about wadding up in the rocks. 4Runner gets relegated to DD/camping duties, and the Sierra is now a tow rig.

Thinking:

Single cab/short bed, ~2" lift/1" BL, SPC UCAs, 5.29s/ARBs, skids/lightweight armor, 35s, and a trailer. OBV all the eimkeith and plastics guy bits, duh. Eventually dual cases.

I'm a 4Runner guy, so no idea what's a good rear setup, but not planning on carrying much more than a cooler and some tools. Really want this to be as light as I can make it.

Did single cab short bed 4x4s come with 3.4s, or are they all 2.7s? I'm assuming I want a 5spd if I can't get a 3.4.

If I’m not mistaken the first gen single cab with a v6 was a unicorn. I’ve seen one listing for one. I think it was only offered a couple of years and not sure if they’re 2wd or 4wd

good luck finding one, it’s what I’d want for a trail toy

 

[AssBurns]

I say do it! I'd rather have a pickup than an SUV for wheeling any day. Only reason I have a 3rd gen was because I couldn't afford a clean 1st gen double cab at the time. An access cab would be pretty nice too since you'll have a little more room for things inside the cab for storage and comfort.

For rear suspension, the great thing about pickups is you have so much room for a lot of options depending on your budget and goals. You can get a basic lift pack, a spring under kit, or get custom with some chevy 63's or something that is longer and softer. The best option is links, but that more work and money. Check out what we did on @Hank's truck (2nd gen, but same idea can be had on any truck). His performs great and has room for ton's of up travel and bigger tires.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

If I’m not mistaken the first gen single cab with a v6 was a unicorn. I’ve seen one listing for one. I think it was only offered a couple of years and not sure if they’re 2wd or 4wd

good luck finding one, it’s what I’d want for a trail toy

This. They are very rare and you wouldn’t be getting one for $1500 unless you found a wrecked one. Most examples I’ve seen pop up are north of $5k, but we’re talking Socal here, and most owners know they have a rarity.

 

[Stairgod]

Just get an access cab and bob it. That way you get the 3.4 and still have a short wheelbase. Can always move the axle forward when you go with custom longer leafs or links.

 

[thezentree]

Thanks for the input y'all. Now I just need to convince SWMBO that I need yet another 4x4.

Once I got my first dent and major scratches, keeping my 4th gen nice went out the door. I also couldn't daily it because gas would kill me. Having an actual beater for the trails is definitely nice.

Exactly why I don't want to beat this up. It's all downhill until it's totally used up, and I have yet to see a back-halfed 3rd gen that I think looks good.

I say do it! I'd rather have a pickup than an SUV for wheeling any day. Only reason I have a 3rd gen was because I couldn't afford a clean 1st gen double cab at the time. An access cab would be pretty nice too since you'll have a little more room for things inside the cab for storage and comfort.

For rear suspension, the great thing about pickups is you have so much room for a lot of options depending on your budget and goals. You can get a basic lift pack, a spring under kit, or get custom with some chevy 63's or something that is longer and softer. The best option is links, but that more work and money. Check out what we did on @Hank's truck (2nd gen, but same idea can be had on any truck). His performs great and has room for ton's of up travel and bigger tires.

Yeah I rarely, if ever, have anyone in the truck with me when I'm four wheeling, so no need for a back seat. If I did it'd be my wife and she has no interest in four wheeling haha.

I was wondering about chevy 63s. I'm not afraid to move spring hangers.

This. They are very rare and you wouldn’t be getting one for $1500 unless you found a wrecked one. Most examples I’ve seen pop up are north of $5k, but we’re talking Socal here, and most owners know they have a rarity.

lol $5k is about what I want to have in the whole thing

Just get an access cab and bob it. That way you get the 3.4 and still have a short wheelbase. Can always move the axle forward when you go with custom longer leafs or links.

Access cabs seem more prevalent around here anyway, and it looks like they're only ~140lbs heavier than a single cab. I am not a fan of the bobbed bed look though, even if it improves departure angle. Also I hate bodywork haha.

 

[4runner DOA]

Thanks for the input y'all. Now I just need to convince SWMBO that I need yet another 4x4.



Exactly why I don't want to beat this up. It's all downhill until it's totally used up, and I have yet to see a back-halfed 3rd gen that I think looks good.



Yeah I rarely, if ever, have anyone in the truck with me when I'm four wheeling, so no need for a back seat. If I did it'd be my wife and she has no interest in four wheeling haha.

I was wondering about chevy 63s. I'm not afraid to move spring hangers.



lol $5k is about what I want to have in the whole thing



Access cabs seem more prevalent around here anyway, and it looks like they're only ~140lbs heavier than a single cab. I am not a fan of the bobbed bed look though, even if it improves departure angle. Also I hate bodywork haha.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to bash in my quarter panels and blow out windows like @AssBurns and @theesotericone but I won't cry (much) if it happens.

 

[Itaro]

Thanks for the input y'all. Now I just need to convince SWMBO that I need yet another 4x4.



Exactly why I don't want to beat this up. It's all downhill until it's totally used up, and I have yet to see a back-halfed 3rd gen that I think looks good.



Yeah I rarely, if ever, have anyone in the truck with me when I'm four wheeling, so no need for a back seat. If I did it'd be my wife and she has no interest in four wheeling haha.

I was wondering about chevy 63s. I'm not afraid to move spring hangers.



lol $5k is about what I want to have in the whole thing



Access cabs seem more prevalent around here anyway, and it looks like they're only ~140lbs heavier than a single cab. I am not a fan of the bobbed bed look though, even if it improves departure angle. Also I hate bodywork haha.

Access cab and remove bed. Done

 

[Stairgod]

Thanks for the input y'all. Now I just need to convince SWMBO that I need yet another 4x4.



Exactly why I don't want to beat this up. It's all downhill until it's totally used up, and I have yet to see a back-halfed 3rd gen that I think looks good.



Yeah I rarely, if ever, have anyone in the truck with me when I'm four wheeling, so no need for a back seat. If I did it'd be my wife and she has no interest in four wheeling haha.

I was wondering about chevy 63s. I'm not afraid to move spring hangers.



lol $5k is about what I want to have in the whole thing



Access cabs seem more prevalent around here anyway, and it looks like they're only ~140lbs heavier than a single cab. I am not a fan of the bobbed bed look though, even if it improves departure angle. Also I hate bodywork haha.

That is easy. Make a flat bed. Can end up looking awesome. And no worries about dented bedsides

 

[Stairgod]

Thanks for the input y'all. Now I just need to convince SWMBO that I need yet another 4x4.



Exactly why I don't want to beat this up. It's all downhill until it's totally used up, and I have yet to see a back-halfed 3rd gen that I think looks good.



Yeah I rarely, if ever, have anyone in the truck with me when I'm four wheeling, so no need for a back seat. If I did it'd be my wife and she has no interest in four wheeling haha.

I was wondering about chevy 63s. I'm not afraid to move spring hangers.



lol $5k is about what I want to have in the whole thing



Access cabs seem more prevalent around here anyway, and it looks like they're only ~140lbs heavier than a single cab. I am not a fan of the bobbed bed look though, even if it improves departure angle. Also I hate bodywork haha.

That is easy. Make a flat bed. Can end up looking awesome. And no worries about dented bedsides

 

[Captain Magma]

Those $1500 Tacoma's are a scam, they’re all over craigslist. I see ones stating their in Phoenix with lush green lawns and thick woods in the background. I know you covered that already but I spent a year looking for my double cab and hated those damn ads!

1st gen tacomas are getting harder and harder to find good clean examples of, kind of like how 80 series LC’s are almost never bone stock and in good shape for you to build out. My 4wd double cab is a little rough around the edges and may need a engine sooner rather than later, due to a lot of deferred maintenance by the previous owner. Don’t settle by any means, but being too picky may have you chasing your tail.

If you see a good one you gotta be ready to move on it, they’ll be gone in less than a day. Our prerunner double cab sold an hour after we posted it and the guy was surprised he was the first caller, thought it would have been gone.

The single cab v6 was only an option I think in like 96-97, so a really small pool to find one in. They’re out there, but you’ll probably have to pay good money if you find one. Not sure where your located, but no matter what CHECK THE FRAME on any truck you look at, especially by the leaf spring hangers. Rusty frames have easily killed more of these trucks than anything else. Bring a ball peen hammer and tap all around front to back. Seen lot’s of people get burned by a trashed frame and it sucks even more when the truck is cherry otherwise

Sorry for the damn novel, but having bought my last two 1st gens, it’s a weird and frustrating market because a half of the people think they can fund their retirement off selling their beat to shit truck and the other half don’t realize they have a unicorn until 50 people are begging them to take their money.

 

[thezentree]

Those $1500 Tacoma's are a scam, they’re all over craigslist. I see ones stating their in Phoenix with lush green lawns and thick woods in the background. I know you covered that already but I spent a year looking for my double cab and hated those damn ads!

1st gen tacomas are getting harder and harder to find good clean examples of, kind of like how 80 series LC’s are almost never bone stock and in good shape for you to build out. My 4wd double cab is a little rough around the edges and may need a engine sooner rather than later, due to a lot of deferred maintenance by the previous owner. Don’t settle by any means, but being too picky may have you chasing your tail.

If you see a good one you gotta be ready to move on it, they’ll be gone in less than a day. Our prerunner double cab sold an hour after we posted it and the guy was surprised he was the first caller, thought it would have been gone.

The single cab v6 was only an option I think in like 96-97, so a really small pool to find one in. They’re out there, but you’ll probably have to pay good money if you find one. Not sure where your located, but no matter what CHECK THE FRAME on any truck you look at, especially by the leaf spring hangers. Rusty frames have easily killed more of these trucks than anything else. Bring a ball peen hammer and tap all around front to back. Seen lot’s of people get burned by a trashed frame and it sucks even more when the truck is cherry otherwise

Sorry for the damn novel, but having bought my last two 1st gens, it’s a weird and frustrating market because a half of the people think they can fund their retirement off selling their beat to shit truck and the other half don’t realize they have a unicorn until 50 people are begging them to take their money.

I've def seen the pristine $15k tacos out there listed for $1200-$1600, sold by Becky's Hair Care or Linda's Real Estate. Yeah sure ok, seemslegit.gif

I'm looking at the rusty(ish) ones where someone used a potato to take the ad pics and types in broken English. That's the guy I'd expect to be selling a $1500 truck haha.

I need to sell the wife on doing this first (but she was open to me buying a WP PVS14, so there's hope!) This seems to be kind of a weird area for Tacoma prices though. Back home in NC you can't buy the wheels off one for less than $5k, but out here there are a surprising number in the price range I'm looking in. Surely they've got more rust than southern/western trucks but some of them seem clean enough for my purposes.

At any rate it's just a thought exercise at this point, but my buddy is getting ready to go nuts with his Ramcharger project and I'll need to be able to hang with him.

 

[clntg]

Here is a hell of a link for everyone...

https://www.copart.com/search/nolic...false,"searchName":"","freeFormSearch":false}

 

[thezentree]

Here is a hell of a link for everyone...

https://www.copart.com/search/nolicenserequired/?displayStr=No License Required&from=/vehicleFinder&searchCriteria={"query":["*"],"filter":{"DRIV":["drive:\"4x4 w/Rear Wheel Drv\""],"ENGN":["engine:\"3.4L 6\""],"FETI":["lot_features_code:LOTFEATURE_0","lot_condition_code:CERT-D"],"MAKE":["lot_make_desc:\"TOYOTA\""],"MISC":["lot_features_code:LOTFEATURE_0"],"MODL":["lot_model_desc:\"TACOMA XTR\""],"TMTP":["transmission_type:\"MANUAL\""],"YEAR":["lot_year:\"2004\"","lot_year:\"2003\"","lot_year:\"2001\"","lot_year:\"2000\"","lot_year:\"1998\""]},"sort":["auction_date_type desc","auction_date_utc asc"],"watchListOnly":false,"searchName":"","freeFormSearch":false}

If I could quit buying gun parts I might be able to click that link....

 

[Migraine]

Here is a hell of a link for everyone...

https://www.copart.com/search/nolicenserequired/?displayStr=No License Required&from=/vehicleFinder&searchCriteria={"query":["*"],"filter":{"DRIV":["drive:\"4x4 w/Rear Wheel Drv\""],"ENGN":["engine:\"3.4L 6\""],"FETI":["lot_features_code:LOTFEATURE_0","lot_condition_code:CERT-D"],"MAKE":["lot_make_desc:\"TOYOTA\""],"MISC":["lot_features_code:LOTFEATURE_0"],"MODL":["lot_model_desc:\"TACOMA XTR\""],"TMTP":["transmission_type:\"MANUAL\""],"YEAR":["lot_year:\"2004\"","lot_year:\"2003\"","lot_year:\"2001\"","lot_year:\"2000\"","lot_year:\"1998\""]},"sort":["auction_date_type desc","auction_date_utc asc"],"watchListOnly":false,"searchName":"","freeFormSearch":false}

*groan* yes it is... gun parts and ammo have consumed my expendable budget

 

[kasnerd]

Here is a hell of a link for everyone...

https://www.copart.com/search/nolicenserequired/?displayStr=No License Required&from=/vehicleFinder&searchCriteria={"query":["*"],"filter":{"DRIV":["drive:\"4x4 w/Rear Wheel Drv\""],"ENGN":["engine:\"3.4L 6\""],"FETI":["lot_features_code:LOTFEATURE_0","lot_condition_code:CERT-D"],"MAKE":["lot_make_desc:\"TOYOTA\""],"MISC":["lot_features_code:LOTFEATURE_0"],"MODL":["lot_model_desc:\"TACOMA XTR\""],"TMTP":["transmission_type:\"MANUAL\""],"YEAR":["lot_year:\"2004\"","lot_year:\"2003\"","lot_year:\"2001\"","lot_year:\"2000\"","lot_year:\"1998\""]},"sort":["auction_date_type desc","auction_date_utc asc"],"watchListOnly":false,"searchName":"","freeFormSearch":false}

you evil bastard, don't post such dangerous links. This supposed to be safe space.

 

[Itaro]

you evil bastard, don't post such dangerous links. This supposed to be safe space.

 

[clntg]

Well I contained it to Tacoma... I could expand it a bit if you want more shit to drool over.

 

[clntg]

In fact...

Now including 3g 4Runner - you can filter based on the type of damage in case you just need a parts car. BUT they are all supposed to "run and drive" so remove that filter and the flood gates will really open up.

Hope you didn't have anything else to do this weekend... "look at that one... but this one has... hmmm, maybe both."

https://www.copart.com/search/nolicenserequired/?displayStr=No License Required&from=/vehicleFinder&searchCriteria={"query":["*"],"filter":{"DRIV":["drive:\"4x4 w/Rear Wheel Drv\""],"ENGN":["engine:\"3.4L 6\""],"FETI":["lot_condition_code:CERT-D","lot_features_code:LOTFEATURE_0"],"MAKE":["lot_make_desc:\"TOYOTA\""],"MISC":["lot_features_code:LOTFEATURE_0"],"MODL":["lot_model_desc:\"TACOMA XTR\"","lot_model_desc:\"TACOMA DOU\"","lot_model_desc:\"4RUNNER SR\"","lot_model_desc:\"4RUNNER LI\""],"YEAR":["lot_year:\"2002\"","lot_year:\"1999\"","lot_year:\"2000\"","lot_year:\"2001\"","lot_year:\"1998\"","lot_year:\"1997\"","lot_year:\"1996\"","lot_year:\"1995\""]},"sort":["lot_year asc","auction_date_utc asc"],"watchListOnly":false,"searchName":"","freeFormSearch":false}