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Taco Truck Advice

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
Screw pickups, look for a Chevy Express AWD cargo van. Works better on all counts.
What do you think they do better? Fuel economy is worse than a Tacoma, but I can see the upside to having the flexibility of installing or removing seats from the back depending on need.
 
What do you think they do better? Fuel economy is worse than a Tacoma, but I can see the upside to having the flexibility of installing or removing seats from the back depending on need.
Note that I said cargo van, a big tin box. I can fit in two bikes and all my camping gear and still have room to set up a cot in back and camp. Bikes and gear are not exposed to the elements and are less visible. The drawback is that I have only two seats, which does not affect me much.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
Note that I said cargo van, a big tin box. I can fit in two bikes and all my camping gear and still have room to set up a cot in back and camp. Bikes and gear are not exposed to the elements and are less visible. The drawback is that I have only two seats, which does not affect me much.
That is appealing. I'll look into it.
 

amishmatt

Turbo Monkey
Sep 21, 2005
1,263
396
Lancaster, PA
IMG_1492.JPG


I'm glad I got the access cab/long bed. There are times I like to put the whole bike in the bed instead of over the tailgate, and it definitely wouldn't fit in a short bed with the wheels on - my medium Spitfire is as long as the bed. And once you start piling the gear in, it fills up fast. As for the cab space, an access cab is plenty if you aren't hauling more than one.

I agree the Off Road is a better package than the Sport, but my SR5 doesn't have a locker either, and for my use (washed out forest roads where high clearance and 4wd is needed) it makes no difference. Put on some better tires and smaller wheels and you'll be set.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
Yeah, if the V6/MT option was available in the SR5 I wouldn't be looking at a TRD package at all.

I guess if I go the Tacoma route the Sport access cab probably makes sense, and I can always get some 16" wheels and sell the stock ones if I decide I want more sidewall. Might even be able to trade hoods with someone who wants the stupid scoop.
 

blackohio

Generous jaywalker
Mar 12, 2009
2,773
122
Hellafornia. Formerly stumptown.
Since you all are being about 43% helpful what do you guys think I can get for this? '16 frame/fork RX830 wheelset, 105 this/that, slx cranks, crampon mag pedals, pro plt stem/bars/seatpost cx75 disc and centerlock rotors. I rode it 4 days to work, remembered i hate road bikes.


00S0S_ad72NOa42jq_1200x900.jpg
 

Adventurous

Starshine Bro
Mar 19, 2014
10,261
8,767
Crawlorado
Yeah, if the V6/MT option was available in the SR5 I wouldn't be looking at a TRD package at all.

I guess if I go the Tacoma route the Sport access cab probably makes sense, and I can always get some 16" wheels and sell the stock ones if I decide I want more sidewall. Might even be able to trade hoods with someone who wants the stupid scoop.
You will be able to swap that good for a non-scooped in no time. The scooped goods are very sought after.
 

Adventurous

Starshine Bro
Mar 19, 2014
10,261
8,767
Crawlorado
i have no idea why, everytime i off-road and the nose is in the air it already feels like a have a fucking 6-drawer chest stuck to the front of the windshield.
Seriously. I know Marlin crawler sells spacers to raise up the back side of the seat to help with that, but I'm not sure it totally compensates for the reality that we have a 5' front end to try and see over.
 
And then go down the rabbit hole of Sprinters (4x4 available!) and Nissan NVs (Quigley conversions!).
The Express, as above noted, is AWD, and it's a freight train in snow. Unfortunately, Chevy stopped making it, but not long enough ago that HAB might not be able to find a decent used rig.

Whenever it's time to replace it a 4x4 Sprinter seems to be the only available option. I'm not interested in conversions.
 

Adventurous

Starshine Bro
Mar 19, 2014
10,261
8,767
Crawlorado
The Express, as above noted, is AWD, and it's a freight train in snow. Unfortunately, Chevy stopped making it, but not long enough ago that HAB might not be able to find a decent used rig.

Whenever it's time to replace it a 4x4 Sprinter seems to be the only available option. I'm not interested in conversions.
Is your Express van the tow vehicle that is the source of your ire in the camper thread?
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,562
24,182
media blackout
google chat with @HAB :

me:
so some bro at toyota (broyota?) got the go ahead to make a whole set of stamping tooling for a fucking worthless cosmetic feature for some d-bags bro-dozer?

hab: yes
 

Adventurous

Starshine Bro
Mar 19, 2014
10,261
8,767
Crawlorado
google chat with @HAB :

me:
so some bro at toyota (broyota?) got the go ahead to make a whole set of stamping tooling for a fucking worthless cosmetic feature for some d-bags bro-dozer?

hab: yes
I'll take a non-functional hood scoop any day over large diameter chromed rims with low profile mud terrains. Any. Damn. Day.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
i have no idea why, everytime i off-road and the nose is in the air it already feels like a have a fucking 6-drawer chest stuck to the front of the windshield.
Yeah, I test drove one a while ago and even without the scoop, forward visibility is... not awesome. The scoop can't help.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,031
7,550
Whenever it's time to replace it a 4x4 Sprinter seems to be the only available option. I'm not interested in conversions.
Quigley offers a warranty equivalent to the factory powertrain warranty...

http://www.trucktrend.com/truck-reviews/163-1212-nissan-nv-quigley-4x4-conversion/

The Quigley 4x4 Nissan NV Recipe
Quigley started the conversion by tearing apart the front end of the Nissan NV V-8s that have a GVW of 9600 pounds, and come set up with a 250/260 front axle. Engineers replace the stock axle with an American Axle with a higher gear set (3.42:1/3.55:1 gears), and add a Magna transfer case and driveline positioned in the middle of the van. Also added are a Quigley-designed single-speed transfer case using Magna components, a 9.25-inch front differential, and Quigley-manufactured front driveshafts.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
And then go down the rabbit hole of Sprinters (4x4 available!) and Nissan NVs (Quigley conversions!).
Yeah, a 4x4 Sprinter would be awesome, if I wanted to spend $20k more than I would for a Tacoma.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,031
7,550
Yeah, I test drove one a while ago and even without the scoop, forward visibility is... not awesome. The scoop can't help.
That's because the cab height (and thus window/windshield height) is small. Same with the 4Runner.

/me likes his Land Cruiser's big windows and relatively low beltline, even though the hood is a huge slab
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
That's because the cab height (and thus window/windshield height) is small. Same with the 4Runner.

/me likes his Land Cruiser's big windows and relatively low beltline, even though the hood is a huge slab
If we're going full dream world, I want the 70-series Land Cruiser that they still sell in Australia and elsewhere.

 

JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,430
1,949
Front Range, dude...
First indicator of bro-ness...snorkel extension on a vehicle that has never been and will never be off roaded.

After the truck nuts and ridiculous lift of course.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,031
7,550
If we're going full dream world, I want the 70-series Land Cruiser that they still sell in Australia and elsewhere.

Still can buy 'em new in Japan, too. Australia also got a 105 series, a 100 series but still with 80 series solid axles under foot.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
First indicator of bro-ness...snorkel extension on a vehicle that has never been and will never be off roaded.

After the truck nuts and ridiculous lift of course.
Yeah I definitely don't need a snorkel, but that's how Toyota sells 'em from the factory...


Those 70-series trucks are pretty spartan and legitimately do get used as work trucks in Australia though. Which is not to say that the snorkel is in any way necessary for most of them.