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Toyota Tacoma

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by FinoCJ, Jun 29, 2021.

  1. Jun 29, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    I keep saying we are going to move on from my 2010 tacoma one of these days - its been the best DD I've ever had. We bought it at one year old with a bit under 10k miles, and I've had it since and now has 170+k. I've been slacking just a bit on maintenance as I haven't been planning to keep it much longer, but the price of used and new vehicles post Covid is pretty insane. So as the truck is going to have to hit the road again later this summer and fall for more big trips, I am biting the bullet and putting a bit of money into it to make sure its good to go for the next year and then maybe a replacement can happen. Of course, last fall it got a new frame from Toyota as part of the recall, and I put some new (albeit slightly budget) tires on it. I was feeling like it was time for new shocks - still running the OEM bilstein 4600 after 170k.

    I was figuring I'd just replace with the same, but it seems the new tires are ever so slightly bigger then the previous sets of the same size from a different manufacturer and its causing some annoying rubbing under compression/sharp turn. Maybe the front springs are starting to sag just a bit etc, plus with the new frame, it also got fresh new rear leafs that lifted the backend up just a bit and it seems to have more rake angle than ever before...I thought I'd look around for the adjustable ride height bilstein 5100 shocks and found a set lightly used on FB marketplace and they even included new OME front coils. But the coils are not stock replacement, but rather 2.5" lift springs (the shocks are OEM replacement length).
    [​IMG]

    The price was a good enough deal just for all 4 shocks (2 rear non-adjustable and 2 front adjustable coilovers, and swaybar relocation spacers included). If I use the OME springs - which usually have great ride quality - all the better deal, but guessing I might be posting up some OME tacoma lift springs for sale and recoup a good chunk of money.

    After a day of thought, I don't think I am going to use the coils - 2.5" of lift is probably more than I want. I was planning to just use my OEM springs and set the strut ride height up about 1" to help the front tire clearance and level the truck a bit, but I still want a bit of rake and don't want to be riding low in the rear when the bed is loaded. The coils are OME 888x springs - which are tall/longer than stock, but also soft for flex. Some complain that if the front end is loaded down with additional weight like heavy aftermarket front bumper and winch, the spring will sag a lot (there is a different spring that has a higher spring rate for heavier set-ups)...I don't have anything aftermarket on my front end, but taller soft spring doesn't side like something I want to do on my DD...Using the stock spring with the strut positioner, the spring will get some pre-compression and will ride a bit stiffer, but thinking of only going to the first position for just just about an inch of lift (and not the higher 1.5-2.5" positions) and with all the street use it gets, it might even ride a bit more stable in the corners? Whaddaya yall think?
    [​IMG]

    Anyone here is a comparison of the shock tube diameter of the OEM 4600 and the aftermarket 5100 - amazingly, the old 4600s still seemed to have a lot of life left in them after 11 years and 170k miles. I guess I am used to the cheapie hydro shocks I run on my jeeps - they don't seem to last a few years.
    [​IMG]

    After dealing with some frozen up fasteners (and this thing was just apart less than 9 months ago!), I got the rears installed...fronts are a work in progress...
    [​IMG]

    Time to finish up the front coil-overs (and new serpentine belt going on while the front skid plate and other stuff is off). Need to get the windshield replaced as well - but apparently the hail storm from a couple weeks ago has everyone way backed up and I can't even get a quote or returned phone call. I replaced the front brake pads for the first time at close to 120k, but didn't do the rotors...and the rear drums have never been touched (I checked them when tires are rotated). Might be time for complete brake overall, and I am not sure about some of my steering linkage and cv joints etc, but they may be on the list as well. I am sure as soon as I do all this, I will find the perfect replacement vehicle and have to sell it!
    Willys? Do I have a willys project I am supposed to be working on? Just ignoring that for now...need a break from that frustration.
     
    ITLKSEZ and Fireball like this.
  2. Jun 29, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    Those are the kinds of repairs that make such an improvement, you’ll wonder how you were driving it before, and you won’t want to get rid of it.

    That’s why my car has 464k on it and I can’t bring myself to scrap it. I know it would only take a few hundred $ to make it feel new again.
     
    OldAdobe likes this.
  3. Jun 29, 2021
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2008
    Messages:
    4,716
    As long as it isn't an uphill battle against rust I'ld say you are ok investing a little into maintenance issues.

    Our little Flex just got new front A arms and front wheel bearings this summer. It has it's front wheel drive weaknesses when towing but overall I enjoy driving it and it does everything I need 6 days a week.
    Can't let it do everything or I won't need a jeep.
     
  4. Jun 29, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    Maybe if it could get a bit bigger bed and more towing capacity that would be true...its been the perfect truck for the past 10 years, but situations and desires change.
     
    Twin2 and ITLKSEZ like this.
  5. Jul 1, 2021
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    Got the front Bilstein 5100s in....I first tried to put the entire new OME coil and Bilstein assembly in as I know the OME coil springs are really nice. But the 2.5" lift was just too much for what I wanted (and ideally would use new UCAs), and without a small spacer or AAL in the rear, the truck was looking tail low - which is not my preference. So pulled them back out, and swapped the new Bilstein 5100s into the old factory coil springs, and set the adjustable ride height 1 notch above the lowest (factory) height. Reportedly this is around 0.75" bump in ride height when using the factory springs. Removing the old shocks from the old factory springs was as expected using the standard, 2-threaded clamp spring compressor. But the new OME spring did not have enough gap between the individual coils to fit the clamps - I finally gave up and took them to a local shop that sometimes does little cash projects I just can't or don't have the tools to do....Anyway, got the new shocks into the old springs with just under an inch of lift on the front and everything seems great (except the odd, dual thread bolt that holds the wheel speed sensor bracket to the control arm - thread is all mangled and a new one on order from dealership).

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    With the Nankang tires I put on last summer, although they are the same p-metric size, they are physically just a bit taller than the previous sets of Hankooks I ran, and have been getting just a bit of rubbing on the front at full stuff and lock - seems like that maybe gone testing around and on the neighborhood curbs. And after 10 years, I do like the slightly more level look although its still raked about 1.5 inches higher in the rear which is good. Basically it was time for new shocks, and seemed like it an easy way to get both quality new shocks and address the front ride height easily. I'll have a set of OME 888 (2.5 lift) springs for sale along with the sway bar spacer. Next up is shop work for alignment and new windshield glass next week.
     
    Jw60 likes this.
  6. Sep 12, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    Sorta feel like this was the last step of the move....sold my beloved Tacoma today. My last photo:
    [​IMG]

    This is the day I brought it home - I think I took good care of it:
    [​IMG]

    That weekend, we took it on its first camp/hike/4wd trip - We camped near the trailhead to Mt Shavano, and then hiked Shavano and Tabaguache. It didn't have the rack or bed cover on it yet....
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    It took us all over the country and on many skiing, hiking, biking and camping trips across the west with lots of fun backroad 4wd exploration (especially in Utah and red rocks country). Although at one time, I wanted to lift it a bit and make a better wheeler out of it, I bought the cj a year later, and as that turned into a trail running, wheeling specific jeep, there was less need to build it up. It has 172k miles (of which I am responsible for 164k) and was still running great with new factory replaced frame - and overall it was still a very clean and mostly pristine looking truck....I started to sell it a couple times over the summer, but between being busy and both and Jen and I having some separate travel plans etc, and not really excited to see it go, I didn't try all that hard. But as we've settled in nicely here and essentially only need one primary vehicle with the new Ford for most things - it was time. Plus, with the 58 now having an OD and running well (along with the CJ), there is always a another vehicle for me to use for simple stuff. Sold it to a MSU college student who wants to put a topper on the back and build a platform to sleep on and ski bum etc in. Pretty much why I got it....anyway - was a bit sad to see it go. I honestly like driving it better than the Ford for most DDing, but then again, Jen loves the Ford, and its essentially become her truck and DD - I get to drive at her discretion or on road trips. We towed the cj down to Leadville in August, and it does tow it like a dream compared to the Taco. Fare thee well....
     
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  7. Sep 12, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2008
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    4,716
    Did you post the f150 in off-topic or the quits?
    I think the command Trac transfer case will shine soon.
     
  8. Sep 12, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2013
    Messages:
    5,593
    Not sure if I posted much about it...we bought it just before making the move from Denver. There is a lot more selection and better pricing in Denver (I think...hope?) and as we had it registered directly to MT, we don't pay any sales tax - so best of both worlds. We bought it, and then basically used it to haul a uhaul trailer from Colo to MT....
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Its an F150 XLT, short(ish) cab with 6.5" bed, v8, 10 speed auto, and Fx4 package with a few interesting add-ons - most importantly a 10,000lbs tow package including upgraded electrical, cooling and lower gears.....if you believe the dealer, they ordered it for a customer last fall who selected quite a few unique upgrades for a work/business truck, without going full Lariat model, and then when it was delivered in January, the customer (or maybe the dealer due to financing concerns?) never completed the sale. The dealer kept it around for 4-5 months as their loaner and we bought it with 3500 miles. Basically, the only thing we've done is I bought a retrax sliding/roll hard cover (a little more secure than the vinyl roll-up I used on the taco), and then mounted up the rack and cross-bars etc from the Tacoma.
    [​IMG]

    For me, I am worried a bit about the long term reliability etc - coming from a number of Toyotas, my wife and I went a decade and well over 150 k on each vehicle without ever needing much done to them. For the Ford, the really big selling point was the Coyote v8/10speed auto combination....Of a lot of the modern automatics we've driven, this match is seemless. The v8 runs in a low rpm power band which I am more accustomed to than the higher rpms liked by smaller turbo set-ups, and given that it pulls well at low rpm, it seems to always find the right gear in the transmission without having to 'search' or drop down gears multiple times. We test drove some eco-boost models over the time, and even had one as a rental last summer in Cali, and while the engines seem to have plenty of power, there is always a delay in response to the pedal as the transmission seems to downshift and then downshift again. We've seen this same issue with the new Tacomas as well, and in the new Chevy Colorado (non-diesel of course)....this combination of engines that have higher rpm power band but computers and transmissions that focus on fuel mileage and over upshift to drop rpms and gain mpg kind of messes up the drivability. We drive this v8 in 'economy' mode unless towing, and it gets well over 21-22 mpg easily. We just drove 850 miles round trip to eastern WA and back on the interstate at 85mph the whole way and got 21mpg. If I wanted to be a bit more fuel conscious and went a bit slower, it'd probably get well over 22mpg - all of that is better than my tacoma.

    Another selling point for the Ford is it is the only remaining full-size truck with option for an 'extended cab' with suicide style doors. We didn't want the full 4-door cab as we wanted the longer 6.5' bed but wanted to keep overall length reasonable, and with just the two us, the back 'jump seats' are more about storage space than anything. Plus, compared to the taco, the jump seats are quite comfortable....other companies make similar size cabs and seats, but they do the 'mini' 4 door set-up, and we just prefer the suicide style - maybe because we got used to it on the tacoma. At this point, we've had the truck for 3.5 months and put about 6500 miles on it including towing the uhaul and the cj to Leadville - it drives great other than I don't love the full size for around town DDing - although Jen doesn't seem to mind and she's driven it a lot more than I have around town anyway. But for road trips, towing, camping from (and sleeping in the bed), its meeting and exceeding all expectations. The only question will be about long term reliability or maintenance issues.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2022
    Twin2, Ol Fogie and Jw60 like this.
  9. Sep 12, 2022
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2008
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    4,716
    I'll say I luv our 10speed but i wish ours had the low range transfercase. I get about 15mpg with my CJ in tow, 17 with the windshield down and driveshaft removed. It's nice being able to pass a vehicle quickly if needed and have a firm guidance with the jeep in tow.

    I can squeeze about 23mpg if I'm not towing or in a hurry.
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
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