Excluding the vaunted Land Cruiser (someday) - between the 1st 2nd and 3rd gen stock tacos or runners - what would everyone consider the better trail ready rig? As far as the IFS later model tacos and runners which one would you take? Gotta love the 1st gen runners, then again the early yota pu's are pretty bad as@ -

 

Toyota didn't start calling their trucks Tacoma's until 95.5 before that they were just called Hilux's or Pickup's, i would go with an older rig, because eventually your going to get body damage and it hurts less on an older truck, i would go with a 85 or older, unless your capable of doing a SAS (Solid Axle Swap)

 

Just traded in my 98 runner for a 97 taco V6, 5spd - I't rocks. I dont really do too much trail stuff -there just id not much legal/open stuff in NE....I tend to mostly just charge through large snowbanks and find snow filled open parking lots for donuts - no need for SA there....

 

i say get a first gen runner or a second gen truck.... and then do sas to them..... if they dont already have it.....

 

Out of the box, a Tacoma 4x4 with the TRD package is pretty sweet. That is my vote.

 

Yeah the old runners and pu's are sweet man...your truck rocks - I dig those guys - if I ever get a trail only rig it would prob be one of the early pickups....The 1st gen runners are great - I love how they are basically glorified pickups - man what ever happned to solid axles and manual windows?...Death to the rav4 and crv!


Actually come to think of it I actually have power windows and they are kinda nice but the rav4 is still the worst excuse for a truck I have ever seen