NoLookingBack

Well, in my quest to purchase a Tacoma V6, I keep seeing the PreRunner and am wondering if I would be just a well off with one of these. But since this is a truck that I want to marry and really am open to doing some light off roading in the future, I am not sure if this is a good idea. I can see why they sold so well, 4wd height without the extra cost and decrease in fuel mileage/complexity etc.. But what else is there different?


Is the suspension different? Fuel Mileage? How does one ride compared to the other? Funny thing is that the price I see out there is almost the same for either a prerunner or 4x4.

The other day I was driving a PreRunner V6 extra cab and I was not too keen on the quivering the body did when it went over bumps. It would seem like the 31's are just too cumbersome for this truck. ( it actually surprised me to learn they are standard) I did some checks and yes, it was a real prerunner with the bilstein shocks etc..

So is one so much better than the other even if i don't do hard core off roading? To me the pre runner is simply a regular Tacoma lifted..

Any help is greatly appreciated!

pete

crolison

4x4 all the way man, same truck, same suspension.

The only difference for the prerunner is different transmission, no front diff, no cv's or anything like that.

4x4 will hold its value longer and if ever get into wheeling or even light offroading the 4x4 will be tons better. Try to find a trd 4x4 and call it done

scuba

Well the prerunner has a 4wd suspension, just minus front axles and the diff and transfer case, Everything else is mostly the same..

If you happen to find a prerunner thats trd WITH a rear e locker, id say why not on the prerunner, if your only doing light wheeling then sure.

BUUTT, Me thinks once you get off road for the first time youll realize you should have gotten a 4x4..

It sounds weird that a v6 with 31's seems cumbersome..

Myself, Whell Im partial to a 4x4..So yea.

Anything else really inparticular, your post seemed kinda vague on what you were actually asking..

crolison

I'd take a 4x4 non trd over a prerunner trd, easily. Lower gearing offroad and some places 4wd will get you while 2wd locked won't.

okie81

Of course everyone here is going to tell you 4x4 (myself included). You mentioned you don't do any hard-core offroading so if that's the case and money is an issue, maybe you'd be better suited for a prerunner.

SnowRunner98

2wd is better for a Longtravel prerunner for the desert, 4x4 is good for everything else.mud/rocks/snow
since most of the time its hard to LT a 4x4, but can be done on a taco with tundra axles. depends on what your going to do, price, and where you live. camburg.com, chaosfab.com for the desert. Me i had no choice, I needed the 4x4 slick roads in winter etc.

dport

A locked prerunner is actually pretty capable. The one thing to worry about is where you may "want" to go in the future and whether or not you'll have someone in a 4x4 with you to pull you through just in case you get jammed up. A few months ago a buddy of mine followed us with his prerunner on a camping trip into a national wildlife refuge. We were concerned since he's running street treads, but he pulled through it. This was a fairly lengthy trail that was up and down loose rocks, with several washout along the way. Crossing a few of the washouts left you flexed out with only two wheels on the ground. I would do my best to get a 4x4, but if a few months went by and nothing showed up, maybe you were meant for a prerunner. If you can look closely at my avitar, note the rear pass. tire is stuffed, the other is drooped out into a wash. Not a good pic, but it is from the trail the prerun went down. That pic is from a mild portion of the trail.

Dan.3

For now a pre runner might be suited for you but down the line if you really get into off roading, you will kick yourself for not getting the 4x4. From what I seen the 4x4 holds its value better. So even if you dont get into off roading and when its time to sell you can get a better deal for it because of 4x4. Look at prices of older truck with and without 4x4 and you will see what I mean

INFINITY

4x4= less winching and being pulled out by a 4x4 truck
i would 100 times go for the 4x4 over the locked 2wd.