Hi there everyone, my name is Moe.

It's my first time posting here and, to be blunt, I know so little about vehicles I don't even know where to start my search. I'd appreciate any help you fine folks could throw my way.

I'm interested in taking a pre-05 Tacoma TRD (4x4 V6 extended) with a camper shell and making it into my every day driver (high Rockies of Colorado) and a vehicle that can sustain long trips into the back country.

I've seen the various threads on constructing a platform in the bed and I'm working on laying that out right now. Wood and carpet I can work with. Vehicles? Not so much!

So I'd like the Tacoma to stay above 16mpg after the work is done. I don't want anything so large that it's unwieldy driving around a city and I doubt I'll ever do anything that would qualify as "serious offroading". I'm going to be using the vehicle to live out of for a while during my travels and I need it to be affordable to drive.

What configuration of suspension, engine, transmission ,or whatever modifications would you recommend for me?

Thanks again for your help!
MOE

 

Your best bet for sure 100% is going to this forum instead and read here: http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...Tacoma-4Runner

ExpeditionPortal is a great site..IMO YotaTech is geared more towards repair tech/wheeling. Not much expedition builds here sadly.

 

Stock stock stock stock stock. Worry about mods later after you've gotten to know your truck and exactly what you want from it that it can't do already. You don't need all that bling to get out and about, and many aftermarket mods can make your truck less reliable unless thoughtfully chosen and installed. First make sure your truck is in good mechanical shape (do this yourself, so you know how to repair something if it breaks on the backroads), then pack a solid spare and a bag of recovery/repair tools, throw an air mattress and food and water in the bed, tell somebody where you're going and when you'll be back, and get out there. There's quite a few threads on what tools and spares to pack, search and read. No offense intended, but your truck is far more capable than you are right now even in stock trim, so forget the mods for now and go get dirty.

If you have to spend money, the first thing you need is an exhaust jack and a handwinch (make sure you have good recovery points). Then invest in a good set of AT tires. If you're in the rocks a lot, a set of sliders will protect your body and paint, but it sounds like that's not really your speed yet so they may not be necessary. If you're REALLY getting remote, far enough that it'll take more than a day to walk out, a long-range CB or ham radio is good insurance. There's nothing wrong with carrying a mountain bike on the roof either, in case you have to leave the vehicle.

Stay away from ExPo, they're a bad influence.

 

First gen Tacomas are pretty tough as is, definitely capable in most simple terrains. What answer you get is going to depend greatly on what terrain you will be tackling. Since you said "no serious offroading" and you travel a lot I'd say you're actually pretty set up at stock. The one thing the Tacos are really lacking in out of the box is their suspension. Were I you, I would upgrade to some OME shocks (if you want a mild lift you can order OME coils for the front and a simple AAL for the rear-Wheeler's Offroad can hook you up) and maybe some good all terrain tires (depending on what you have now).

As far as living out of the truck for a few days at a time, just think camping pretty much. Sleeping platform will be nice, any extra comforts you want, whether you rough it or want to bring the whole portable shower and put a fridge in the bed is up to you.

Personally, I'd do OME suspension, a slightly taller tire in a non aggressive AT good on the road, and build a sleep platform and call it a day. Up to you man.

Let us know if you need more specific advice such as tires size or other mods.

Your engine and everything are fine stock. At most you could swap out the exhaust for a few more horses/mpgs. Maybe think about switching to synthetic fluids, get an AFE Pro Dry S air filter that's washable if you like that sort of thing, little stuff.

 

This is more than you'll probably ever need but an example for some ideas.

http://www.expeditionswest.com/vehic...oma/index.html

Expedtionportal and Tacomaworld have a lot of builds to look at too, and info for research

 

Did you ever take that Tacoma and do, what you spoke off? I'm considering making an arrangement, like the one you described, myself.