4:20 am
The reality that I have way too many cars that are bleeding me for insurance and registration is really sinking in. I’m seriously considering thinning the fleet. I figure if I sell the 4Runner, Corolla and possibly the Ford I can build/buy a daily driver that will meet most of my needs and save some money. It won’t be as big or as capable as the 4Runner but it will get me where I need to go. I’m leaning toward early 2000s double cab Tacoma or an FJ60 – come on…a jeep would be like cheating. The vision is something that can run the Rubicon and still get me to work. It won’t be Hammers/Fordyce worthy but it’ll get me where I want to go. I figure I can pick up something like the red truck below or a cruiser like this one (http://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-traile ... ve-ca.html) and swap a motor in it. Anybody daily drive their rig? Love it? Hate it? Will I regret it?
4:26 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline Elena and I always wanted a lifted FJ60. Cool family wheeling rig. The 4 door Toy is a good choice too, another one of my favorites.
As far as having a daily driver and wheeling rig pulling double duty, not my favorite. If you break on the trail, it gets pretty hard to get to work the next day. At least keep the pickup as a backup work rig and wood hauler.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
2:24 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline When I started out with my Jeep it was also my daily driver. I was always concerned about breaking it and not being able to get to work the next day. It sure took a lot of the fun out of four wheeling. Eventually I did break it and it took a while to get it repaired. Fortunately we had the RV that I could drive to work for a couple weeks.
If you can do it, keep the old truck around. It would be good for your firewood cutting plus you could drive it to work or to fetch parts if necessary.
2:52 pm
July 15, 2005
Offline I say get the Toyota Tacoma. Use it to wheel on Strawberry and other mild trails. When the kids get older and the economy gets better then you can look into a trail rig again. Buy a wood trailer for hauling wood. Your Ford and Runner sit far more than they get used..Do the sensible thing. If you ever get the urge to wheel on Fordyce, Hammers, or Rubicon, there are always going to be plenty of seats for you, and you are more than welcome to drive my rig on any of those trails (as long as i am in it 😀 )
__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan
3:01 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline "RobD" wrote: you are more than welcome to drive my rig on any of those trails (as long as i am in it 😀 )
Me too? I want to see how fast I can make it through the Little Sluice 😈
I used to wheel a lot. . .
3:13 pm
July 15, 2005
Offline NO, I have seen you drive, you are not even allowed to look at my Jeep
"JohnDF" wrote: [quote="RobD"] you are more than welcome to drive my rig on any of those trails (as long as i am in it 😀 )
Me too? I want to see how fast I can make it through the Little Sluice 😈
__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan
3:27 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline "RobD" wrote: NO, I have seen you drive, you are not even allowed to look at my Jeep
No fair... 👿
I used to wheel a lot. . .
3:43 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline I have contemplated the same thing many times. I think it would be great to have an enclosed rig with creature comforts, room for the family, comfortable and safe to drive, and still capable enough to wheel through the Rubicon with the use of a few bypasses.
But then I think I would miss the harder stuff. I still really enjoy running the Hammers, Little Sluice, Fordyce, and Barrett. I don't think I'd risk wheeling hard with a daily driver again.
So for me the choice is easy. I will keep my Jeep for my primary wheeling rig. Then I will keep working the wife to let me buy something like an FJ60 for a fun family wheeling/camping/fishing rig. And of course I'd keep my truck, just can't get along without one.
I know that doesn't help you out much, but that's my plan.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
5:58 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline I'm not sure of your price range, but the Tacoma idea sounds like a nice compromise.
Have you thought about a higher mileage 05, rather than the older body style? The engine puts out over 50hp more, gets better mileage, and has more rear seat room. I have an 05, I bought 3 years ago that had 100K on it back then.
I think you could mildly build a Tacoma and it would still make a great daily driver.
12:28 am
"FAM" wrote: Fortunately we had the RV that I could drive to work for a couple weeks.
That's a tough daily driver.
"BKGM Jeepers" wrote: Have you thought about a higher mileage 05, rather than the older body style? The engine puts out over 50hp more, gets better mileage, and has more rear seat room. I have an 05, I bought 3 years ago that had 100K on it back then.
I thought about the newer body style, but I like the smaller truck for potential future wheeling. I didn't realize how much better the motor in the newer trucks was though...great, more options. 🙄 😀
11:35 pm
I deal with the same problems you do. I have 4 cars and only really drive 2 of them insurance and reg sucks! Wife dirves the 06 vw and I drive a 2000 dodge truck that gets 13 mpg. Then there is the 4runner (no ac) and my 73 vw camper bus (I don't ever plan to sell it). So I have contemplated selling the runner, in fact its on Craigslist now for $5500 if anyone is interested, but if I can't get a reasonable offer I'll just hold onto it and keep eating the insurance. Not sure what I will get next? Maybe sell the dodge too and get a dual purpose car like you're talking about?
Anyways before I got the dodge I used my runner as my daily driver.... I always hated thinking if it breaks how do I get to work? And for a dd not having some of those nice creature comforts sucks. With that said if you had to pick one, I like the looks of the cruiser, but I'd probably go with the tacoma, its newer and can probably still wheel pretty good.
2:35 am
"844x4" wrote: ...So I have contemplated selling the runner, in fact its on Craigslist now for $5500 if anyone is interested...
If you get that let me know. I'm thinking mine is worth 7,000 on a good day.
2:52 am
I vote for: talking you into it (going with the flow here)
Early 2000 double cab(still fits between those two trees on the trail)
Keep the ford(It will be pathetic trying to haul as much wood in that toyota as you seem to like to stack 
also some mods take longer than a weekend so you'll need a backup)
Thats my two cents 🙂
4:23 am
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline 2005 Tacoma V-6 = 245HP (fits a rear facing seat without forcing your chair all the way forward).
2000 Tacoma V-6 = 190HP (good luck with a rear facing baby seat here - or two).
2005 gets better mileage by about 2MPG, but that won't be enough to sell you on the extra $$'s, so I'll stick with the HP numbers!!! 
"The new-generation Tacoma moves well beyond the compact-truck dimensions of the previous model. Regular Cab 4x2 models are built on a new 109.4-inch wheelbase (an increase of 5.9-inches); PreRunner and 4x4 Regular Cab Tacomas sit on a 110-inch wheelbase; 4x2 Access Cab models ride on a 127.2-inch wheelbase (an increase of 5.3-inches); Access Cab PreRunner and 4x4 wheelbase is 127.8-inches. The Double Cab with the standard five-foot bed shares the 127.8-inch wheelbase, and the new Double Cab long-bed models ride on a 140.9-inch wheelbase.
Front and rear track have been widened by nearly four inches, yielding more than four inches of additional shoulder and hip room. The Tacoma Access Cab models add dual rear access doors for 2005. Rear doors on Double Cab models are more than three inches longer than before and open to 80 degrees to give passengers easier access.
Even with its larger dimensions and increased passenger room, the new Tacoma offers a stronger, stiffer chassis and improved maneuverability. New suspension and steering tuning improve off-road performance and on-road ride and handling. "
The 2005 Tacoma line features two engines: a new 2.7-liter VVT-i DOHC four-cylinder engine that produces 164 horsepower and 183 lb-ft. of torque and a revised 4.0-liter VVT-i DOHC V6 that produces 245 horsepower and 282 lb-ft. of torque (replacing the 190-hp 3.4-liter V6 in the 2004 models). Both feature a new Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence (ETCS-i) that helps improve performance and fuel economy.
Tacoma features a new integrated hitch and bumper design. Properly equipped, the V6-powered Tacoma models can tow up to 6,500 pounds, a 30-percent increase over the 5,000-lb towing capacity of the 2004 V6 models.
8:42 pm
"Bender" wrote: [quote="844x4"]...So I have contemplated selling the runner, in fact its on Craigslist now for $5500 if anyone is interested...
If you get that let me know. I'm thinking mine is worth 7,000 on a good day.
Yeah I'm pretty much fishing for the right guy to ocme by and take it for that price. I had a guy offer me 5300 a month ago and I probably should have taken it.
Now I'm looking to get at least 5 or I'll just have to keep it. I probably have more than 8 in it haha!
12:16 am
Just don't stand on the tailgate of the 2005 and up tacoma's otherwise it will end up a taco. I took my tailgate apart(2008 Tacoma)talk about glue or body putty.....
Just don't do it ❗
The new Tacoma's are fast though.
1:00 am
July 15, 2005
Offline 6500 pounds is a lot. My Jeep and trailer weigh less than that, but I am not sure I would want to tow my Jeep on a trailer behind a Tacoma..What do you think?
"BKGM Jeepers" wrote:
Tacoma features a new integrated hitch and bumper design. Properly equipped, the V6-powered Tacoma models can tow up to 6,500 pounds, a 30-percent increase over the 5,000-lb towing capacity of the 2004 V6 models.
__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan
1:51 am
"844x4" wrote: I probably have more than 8 in it haha!
It's best not to think about stuff like that!
2:08 am
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline "RobD" wrote: 6500 pounds is a lot. My Jeep and trailer weigh less than that, but I am not sure I would want to tow my Jeep on a trailer behind a Tacoma..What do you think?
[quote="BKGM Jeepers"]
Tacoma features a new integrated hitch and bumper design. Properly equipped, the V6-powered Tacoma models can tow up to 6,500 pounds, a 30-percent increase over the 5,000-lb towing capacity of the 2004 V6 models.
I thought about that for a hammers run two years ago and figured that much weight back there would scare me going up and down the grades. Hauling = Tundra!
I have hauled wood and my jeep trailer behind it without any problems however.
3:15 pm
"Bender" wrote: [quote="844x4"]I probably have more than 8 in it haha!
It's best not to think about stuff like that!
That is a good point.
So have you decided what to get yet??
Not that it matters because stuff isn't selling very quickly these days.....I'm seeing lots of good deals but have no $$$$. 😛
Trades and barter are going pretty good though.
4:52 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline Most things I list for sale are resulting in calls for a trade of some kind.
Luckily there are still people with money out there and I am able to sell things still.
3:19 am
"BKGM Jeepers" wrote: Luckily there are still people with money out there and I am able to sell things still.
People with money don't buy Toyotas.
I bought a can of paint to touch up some of the fenders. With any luck I'll get the 4Runner on the market by the end of the weekend. I think. Gonna be tough to post it. 🙁
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