hello, im new to the forums and wanted some advice on a 2005 taco crew cab 4WD. this will be my first truck and i figured if i was going to commit to car payments again i was going to have some fun in the mud. im interested in your taco experiences, (reliability, gas mileage, performance, fun, ect) i was thinking of adding the TRD package #2 which gives the locking diff, and stiffens things up a bit plus other misc goodies.

If you want more fun get a 2004 =D... Way better for offroading just because of its smaller dimensions, not to mention higher ground clearance!!! But of course im biased lol.

i agree 2004 is a better modle if your interested in offroading. 2005 is a new modle and there are no lift modifications on the market for it that i know of. Besides youll save yourself money getting a 2004. Theres one for 24000 at my local dealer. trd etc etc

Nitrous Engineering claims to have created a lift for the 2005 Taco however the pics they showed on the Yotatech forum turned out to be photochopped so who knows. Go with 2004 it has full steel frame instead of C-channel frame.

I agree if you are intrested in doing off roading I would go with an older taco 95.5 to 2004. You may have to wait 1 or 2 years for a quality after market kit for 2005 or newer. Plus I do like the new engines and I think they are sharp but if I had to replace my taco I would take my own advice(buy used or 2004 still on the lot)

I just received my 3" ToyTec lift for my 2005.

There are a bunch of non-photoshopped pics of the '05 lifted on the net.

Marc

I will also agree that the 95-2004 tacoma is a better choice for off-road use. It's cheaper, there is already a ton of aftermarket support, and personally I would not buy the first year of a brand new design.

Ryan,

thx for the replies. i know what you mean about a first year run, they're might be some bugs in their new design. and a 2004 is definitely cheaper. i didnt know the 04 had a full box frame. i wonder why they would change that for 05?

It costs more to design and manufacture the stronger frame and considering that toyota's target market for the new taco is the average joe and the suburban weekend do-it-yourselfer. Also note that the taco & tundra (which both use a partial c-frame) are only available in the North American market.

Ryan,

If you ever plan to get 35" tires and/or plan to get a front locker with the IFS, you'll wish you got the stronger front drivetrain - the '05. The front axle shafts are significantly stronger (same strength as all of our rear axle shafts, 1.31", 30 spline). The strength of the '96-'04 Taco is the same as the 3rd gen 4Runner in front, which is a wimpy 1.07" diameter. I've broken a few myself with only 33's. Max torque of an axle is based on radius multiplied to the 4th power, so a small increase in diameter makes a massive difference in strength.

The front diff on the '05 Taco is also larger and stronger than earlier years. The front diff, axles, and everything with the front suspension of the '05 is identical to the '03-'04 (4th gen) 4Runner. The 4Runner guys have already been pushing ARB to make a front locker for it, which should be available in 2005 for the '03+ 4Runner and '05+ Taco.

Total Chaos already has upper uniball control arms for the '03+ 4Runner, which fits the '05 Taco. That will give you more wheel travel. Web page here: http://www.chaosfab.com/uca4runner.html

Donahoe Racing is said to be working on coil-overs for those as well but they're not available yet.

There's already a couple somewhat cheaper lifts for those years of 4Runners, but the 4Runner has coils in the rear, so it doesn't share anything with the rear suspension of the Taco. I'm sure it'll be very soon for the Taco.