Member I
Hello all!
I'm new to the forum and found my way here while searching for information on a built truck I've just purchased --> this one...
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/threads/toyota-tacoma-lots-of-mods-georgia-35k.13596/
My 97 4Runner with 345,000 miles is fairly worn out aside from the drivetrain and my 93 built FZJ80 is in pieces while I rebuild the engine, so it has been time for something new to me.
I started my search this past November with an open mind and was entertaining many different vehicle types. The key was simple- something that puts a smile on my face when I drive it.
I'm 48 years old and have been driving 4x4's since my first truck, an '82 Toyota 4x4 long bed Hilux. I've primarily driven Toyotas for the past 31 years, with excursions in the way of a 72 K5 Blazer with a drinking problem (6mpg) and a 77 CJ7 Golden Eagle, so I was initially looking to broaden my horizens and consider a sports car.
There was one, or one type only, in mind. That was a Porsche 911. I deviated slightly and test drove a 2009 Cayman with PDK. It definitely put a smile on my face and was super quick. No reason not to love it, but for some reason it wasn't enough. So I perused the forums and classifieds for a 911, or newer Cayman S. There was always something that just held me back.
The week before Easter I inspected a local HZJ75 Troopy, test drove it, and while I liked so much about it, it just didn't make me smile the way I needed to. As much as I love the nostalgia, the lineage of the 70 series, it didn't do as much for me as my 80 series, so it too was not enough.
This past weekend I was driving by a local used car dealer and my son wanted to look at a truck there so we pulled in, and long story short, 30 minutes later I owned this 2014 Gem of a Tacoma.
I knew that there was no way that the PO (previous owner) did all of this work to this truck and didn't document it somewhere, so off to the net I went and dug until I found the deleted craigslist ad and eventually the thread on OB.
So here I am, to discover more about the Tacoma, to join in, to share my experience and to learn.
Plans for this truck: the PO took a few things with him like skid plates and the ARB fridge that was on a slide out, so I'll replace them. Otherwise, I don't see much that I want to do.
I'll be taking my sweetheart on her maiden camping trip soon and introducing her to the lifestyle. She's and avid hiker and is learning about outdoors, being from The Bronx. She's ready and willing. once she is comfortable, we'll be planning longer, multi-day trips until we have it down and can do a cross country trip. I'll spoil her with intermingled hotel stays to keep her feminine side pleased. ;)
My own experience is hard to quantify. I've been on multi day trips for many years, whether exploring dirt roads and old single track, looking for locations to camp or shoot or fish. I fell in love with being able to go where most couldn't. I suppose I was overlanding before it was "overlanding".
I was fortunate to grow up with a couple friends that would call and ask "do you want to go explore?" And we'd just go. if the road or trail wasn't posted, we'd see where it went. One particular in the 82 mini took on down a trail and a few miles in, we realized we were on a motorcycle trail and were just squeezing between trees out of luck. Backing out a mile was not good for the neck.
Then there was the abandoned nuclear test facility north of Atlanta (Dawson Forest) back before it was idiot proofed. We found a man sized hole, shimmied in and took inflatable rafts and floated/paddled around with flashlight in a submerged underground building for a couple hours... exploring caves, offroading in TN for 3.5 days, crossing rivers that were 4+ feet deep...
for those that might inquire about the 80 series-
It's a Super White 93, triple locked, 5" OME lift, part time conversion with Aisin hubs and Marks 4WD spool in the TC, snorkeled, re-geared by me to 4.88 Yukons, 315's and going to 37's, ARB, M8000, fridge. It's a very capable truck and a joy to drive and wheel.
Previous trucks:
82 Toyota LWB 4x4, 4.56 gears, 3" Downey lift
86 4Runner, ARB, stay otherwise stock. I bought it in 98 with 57,000 miles on it and it had seat covers since day 1, the rear seat still had factory plastic on it. The doctor used it for groceries only.
974Runner, stock
I'm new to the forum and found my way here while searching for information on a built truck I've just purchased --> this one...
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/threads/toyota-tacoma-lots-of-mods-georgia-35k.13596/
My 97 4Runner with 345,000 miles is fairly worn out aside from the drivetrain and my 93 built FZJ80 is in pieces while I rebuild the engine, so it has been time for something new to me.
I started my search this past November with an open mind and was entertaining many different vehicle types. The key was simple- something that puts a smile on my face when I drive it.
I'm 48 years old and have been driving 4x4's since my first truck, an '82 Toyota 4x4 long bed Hilux. I've primarily driven Toyotas for the past 31 years, with excursions in the way of a 72 K5 Blazer with a drinking problem (6mpg) and a 77 CJ7 Golden Eagle, so I was initially looking to broaden my horizens and consider a sports car.
There was one, or one type only, in mind. That was a Porsche 911. I deviated slightly and test drove a 2009 Cayman with PDK. It definitely put a smile on my face and was super quick. No reason not to love it, but for some reason it wasn't enough. So I perused the forums and classifieds for a 911, or newer Cayman S. There was always something that just held me back.
The week before Easter I inspected a local HZJ75 Troopy, test drove it, and while I liked so much about it, it just didn't make me smile the way I needed to. As much as I love the nostalgia, the lineage of the 70 series, it didn't do as much for me as my 80 series, so it too was not enough.
This past weekend I was driving by a local used car dealer and my son wanted to look at a truck there so we pulled in, and long story short, 30 minutes later I owned this 2014 Gem of a Tacoma.
I knew that there was no way that the PO (previous owner) did all of this work to this truck and didn't document it somewhere, so off to the net I went and dug until I found the deleted craigslist ad and eventually the thread on OB.
So here I am, to discover more about the Tacoma, to join in, to share my experience and to learn.
Plans for this truck: the PO took a few things with him like skid plates and the ARB fridge that was on a slide out, so I'll replace them. Otherwise, I don't see much that I want to do.
I'll be taking my sweetheart on her maiden camping trip soon and introducing her to the lifestyle. She's and avid hiker and is learning about outdoors, being from The Bronx. She's ready and willing. once she is comfortable, we'll be planning longer, multi-day trips until we have it down and can do a cross country trip. I'll spoil her with intermingled hotel stays to keep her feminine side pleased. ;)
My own experience is hard to quantify. I've been on multi day trips for many years, whether exploring dirt roads and old single track, looking for locations to camp or shoot or fish. I fell in love with being able to go where most couldn't. I suppose I was overlanding before it was "overlanding".
I was fortunate to grow up with a couple friends that would call and ask "do you want to go explore?" And we'd just go. if the road or trail wasn't posted, we'd see where it went. One particular in the 82 mini took on down a trail and a few miles in, we realized we were on a motorcycle trail and were just squeezing between trees out of luck. Backing out a mile was not good for the neck.
Then there was the abandoned nuclear test facility north of Atlanta (Dawson Forest) back before it was idiot proofed. We found a man sized hole, shimmied in and took inflatable rafts and floated/paddled around with flashlight in a submerged underground building for a couple hours... exploring caves, offroading in TN for 3.5 days, crossing rivers that were 4+ feet deep...
for those that might inquire about the 80 series-
It's a Super White 93, triple locked, 5" OME lift, part time conversion with Aisin hubs and Marks 4WD spool in the TC, snorkeled, re-geared by me to 4.88 Yukons, 315's and going to 37's, ARB, M8000, fridge. It's a very capable truck and a joy to drive and wheel.
Previous trucks:
82 Toyota LWB 4x4, 4.56 gears, 3" Downey lift
86 4Runner, ARB, stay otherwise stock. I bought it in 98 with 57,000 miles on it and it had seat covers since day 1, the rear seat still had factory plastic on it. The doctor used it for groceries only.
974Runner, stock
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