hey all, Im sellin my suby and gettin a truck. I wanna have a vehicle that can handle some gnarly trails and a little jumping. I'm sure the suby COULD do those, but it wouldnt last long. was thinking either a straight axle toyota or a ttb ranger. what I have in mind basically is an all purpose prerunner, but keeping it a daily driver. which of those two do yall think would be a better choice with a budget of no more than $5000? also, buy built, or build myself? obviously toyotas are better quality, but rangers are cheaper and have stronger motors stock.
thanks for reading this,
jeremy:D

First thing that I am dying to know SUBY? subaru?

And where did you ever get the idea that any part of a Ranger is stronger than a Toyota?

When you say gnarly trail are you talking you looked around the sight here and seen what gnarly is or you are going out on fire roads?

Oh and :flipoff2: welcome newbie:D

yoda truck all the way.

our idea of ""gnarly" and i don't think you want to do this with your daily driver :flipoff2:

toyota will fit your requirments very nicely

Toyota. I even got one 4 sale.:D

HERO line.

Nah, I wont be doing any crazy rockcrawling, but prolly more tahn fire roads. hell I dont know, Ill just see what the truck can do once I get one. hey KS toy wanna trade the toyota for a 91 subaru legacy? 137k, 16" wheels wnear new re92's, pretty good shape.

I'd say the toyota is a better place to start. They're tougher built vehicles, end of story. It'll take the abuse of fast driving a lot better. Now as far as an IFS yota vs solid axle, I'm not too sure frankly. You might be one of the few people who'd be better off with an IFS unit on this board.
Given your intentions, I just have two words of warning: SAFETY FIRST. Don't go upgrading the motor, axles or anything else until you build yourself a cage and get some 4 point harnesses.

I think I will go witha solid axle truck, mainly because the long travel ifs lifts are WAAAYY expensive. probably not as strong, though ifs would probably handle a lot better at speed. but yeah, safety seems like an important part. I dont know If I could fit a cage into my immediate budget though. I do plan on getting a welder and mess arounjd with it making stuff like bumpers, truss the axles, maybe bob the bed before I go messing with the suspension. I can weld, but not real well and I want to practice a bit. whats your favorite welders for a novice? I was thinking something in the $400-500 range. preferrably a mig with other capabilites? dont know If ill go with engine mods till later other than an exhaust.

lincoln 225 volt stick welder from home depot 250$ , thing is great for all around welding

Get a Zuk:D Cheaper to build and when properly set up it can hang with the best of them

Originally posted by Islandzuki
Get a Zuk:D Cheaper to build and when properly set up it can hang with the best of them
they are tiny. I need space to carry all my stuff. Id love to have one as a trail rig only though.
the 225 is arc only? I want to be able to weld sheetmetal too. I have a rabbit gti project with some rust to take care of. plus maybe bob the toyota once I get it. but 250 bux, hell yeah. If those things can be set up for mig I might have to look into them.

Many (most?:rolleyes: ) underestimate Rangers probably because earlier models did have rather pathetic drivelines (axles, trannies in particular).
Things changed when the 4.0L V6s came around. They are far, FAR more durable than the '89down ones.
I'll see 3-4 Toyota Birfields grenade before I break a u-joint in the frontend of my Ranger going the same places.

The Toyota does have much better aftermarket support for building a rockcrawler (better birfields, included), but if a prerunner is your goal you'll find lots of stuff available to build a Ranger. (there are better forums than Pirate4x4 for prerunners, BTW)

And, build it yourself. You may likely end up with someone else's boatload of junk if you buy something already built.

4x4 junkie, are youstill running ttb front end or a SAS? I was looking at rangers because they can get a ton of travel out of the ttb or i-beam front end. there are kits for something like 18" travel out of a ttb, but they are insanely expensive. prolly worth it though, a lot of fab time goes into em. then you gotta go coilover, and thats waaaay out of the budget just for the front suspension. I think straight axle yota will be the way to go for me. i will truss axles, make a good bumper, and do chevy springs. this will be when I actually get a truck lol. :flipoff2:

Go with the yota, you won't regret it. Doesn't take much to get you on the trail, plus they wheel pretty good stock. You have all the resources here at the pirate board to help make an awsome rig. That's my 2 cents.

Yota all the way. The 22re is a good engine and will last forever. Just regear it, lift it, put some meats on their and call it good. ;)

Originally posted by 74_Chevota
Yota all the way. The 22re is a good engine and will last forever. Just regear it, lift it, put some meats on their and call it good. ;)
agree with ya fellas thanks for the input. this is prolly one of the better sites out there as far as real tech info and knowledge goes.

Originally posted by 74_Chevota
Yota all the way. The 22re is a good engine and will last forever. Just regear it, lift it, put some meats on their and call it good. ;)

unless you find an 85 sas 22re swap to a solid front axle in the toy

Originally posted by W.O.T.
4x4 junkie, are youstill running ttb front end or a SAS? I was looking at rangers because they can get a ton of travel out of the ttb or i-beam front end. there are kits for something like 18" travel out of a ttb, but they are insanely expensive. prolly worth it though, a lot of fab time goes into em. then you gotta go coilover, and thats waaaay out of the budget just for the front suspension. I think straight axle yota will be the way to go for me. i will truss axles, make a good bumper, and do chevy springs. this will be when I actually get a truck lol. :flipoff2:
TTB.
The 4.0 frontend (HP Dana35) uses the same 297X joints as a Dana44 and can be upgraded to the 5-760s. The stock locking hubs are weak, but Warn makes ones that are stronger (pt#37780, the ones used in their rear full-floater kits)

15" travel can be had with a couple minor tweaks on a Skyjacker Class2 bolt-on kit. To get more than that require modifications to the shock/spring towers to fit longer shocks & coils or by using coilovers. The center joint may need clearancing as well.

Originally posted by INFAMOUSBUTCHER


unless you find an 85 sas 22re swap to a solid front axle in the toy

Swap? In 85, the Yotas had a solid axle and a 22RE. That was the only year for that combo from the factory.

when looking at toyotas, What are main problem areas besides rust? Im guessing axles, have they ever been underwater without breathers, tranny and tcase fluids, but what else? and is there an easy way to tell if the axles are full of shit without pulling the cover off/draining fluid. also do all you think that is a reasonable thing to do when lookin at a truck. :confused: what else like common electrical problems, common engine problems, etc?

Originally posted by fRED dURST


Swap? In 85, the Yotas had a solid axle and a 22RE. That was the only year for that combo from the factory.

no shit , read it again, then again a lil slower :flipoff2:


UNLESS HE ALREADY OWNS A 1985 SOLID FRONT AXLE FUEL INJECTED 22RE TOYOTA ANY OTHER 22RE BESIDES A 1985 WILL HAVE IFS (INDEPENDANT FRONT SUSPENSION) AND HE WILL NEED TO SWAP IN A SOLID AXLE :flipoff2:


that make more sense to you fred ? :flipoff2:

Originally posted by W.O.T.
when looking at toyotas, What are main problem areas besides rust? Im guessing axles, have they ever been underwater without breathers, tranny and tcase fluids, but what else? and is there an easy way to tell if the axles are full of shit without pulling the cover off/draining fluid. also do all you think that is a reasonable thing to do when lookin at a truck. :confused: what else like common electrical problems, common engine problems, etc?

Not much, and they're REALLY simple to work on... a monkey could do it.

Even relatively technical things like replacing main seals is relatively easy.

The axles wont die, my front was ran without oil for years because it fell out on the con and was never replaced...

The engines will last to 300k if the oil is changed and maintained properly.

The brakes are usually ignored and when you get one you SHOULD replace just about everything, not too much $$$ if you do it all yourself. Most likely the drums will be pretty gone, and you should also get a manual proportioning valve, the stock load sensing ones were a really neat idea but they SUCK.

My first truck was a 94 2x4 Ranger, and it was bullet proof; jumped it 4 feet in the air repeatedly. Talk about a heinous amount of stock suspension travel :eek: :eek: If I had to get a DD again, that would be it. It was just a good old reliable truck and could do a lot of unlikely things.

HTH
Dave

Originally posted by INFAMOUSBUTCHER


no shit , read it again, then again a lil slower :flipoff2:


UNLESS HE ALREADY OWNS A 1985 SOLID FRONT AXLE FUEL INJECTED 22RE TOYOTA ANY OTHER 22RE BESIDES A 1985 WILL HAVE IFS (INDEPENDANT FRONT SUSPENSION) AND HE WILL NEED TO SWAP IN A SOLID AXLE :flipoff2:


that make more sense to you fred ? :flipoff2:
You mean independent :rolleyes: :flipoff2:

I guess I 'misread' your reply too. But if two of us 'read' it wrong... I think its you not being able to form proper sentences with good punctuation :flipoff2:

Unless you find an 85 22re, the only year that came with a solid axle , swap to a solid axle in the front of your toyota motor vehicle .


better :flipoff2: smart people can understand it without punctuation :flipoff2:

Originally posted by INFAMOUSBUTCHER
Unless you find an 85 22re, the only year that came with a solid axle , swap to a solid axle in the front of your toyota motor vehicle .


better :flipoff2: smart people can understand it without punctuation :flipoff2:

No, because 79-85's had SA, not just 85 :flipoff2: This is fun :flipoff2:

Here: "Unless you get an 85 truck, you're not going to get fuel injection and a SA unless you do a SAS on an 86 or later model truck, or swap fuel injection into a 79-85 (some 85's were carb'd) truck.":flipoff2:

Originally posted by INFAMOUSBUTCHER


unless you find an 85 sas 22re, swap to a solid front axle in the toy

That would've helped. Also, SAS means Solid Axle SWAP, so SAS is not applicable to '85down as it already has a solid axle.

:flipoff2:



I've seen toyota frames crack around the front shock towers. Easy to weld back up though.
Definitly check it good for rust. Rust will perforate the frame if real bad, too

Originally posted by SR5Dave


No, because 79-85's had SA, not just 85 :flipoff2: This is fun :flipoff2:

Here: "Unless you get an 85 truck, you're not going to get fuel injection and a SA unless you do a SAS on an 86 or later model truck, or swap fuel injection into a 79-85 (some 85's were carb'd) truck.":flipoff2:

I "think" what he (INFAMOUSBUTCHER) is
saying is..85 is the ONLY year that had both..

(1) SA
(2)Fuel Injection

;)

KS toy ! so how bout a trade huh? my subaru for the yota? :grinpimp:

Originally posted by KS Toy


I "think" what he (INFAMOUSBUTCHER) is
saying is..85 is the ONLY year that had both..

(1) SA
(2)Fuel Injection

;)
I know exactly what he was saying... its just fun giving him chit ;)

Originally posted by SR5Dave


No, because 79-85's had SA, not just 85 :flipoff2: This is fun :flipoff2:

Here: "Unless you get an 85 truck, you're not going to get fuel injection and a SA unless you do a SAS on an 86 or later model truck, or swap fuel injection into a 79-85 (some 85's were carb'd) truck.":flipoff2:

but youll notice the key word

22 rE :flipoff2:


oh and when i said sas , i meant solid axle suspension:flipoff2:

didnt want to say frt and rear have solid axles so i sai sas :flipoff2:



oh and :flipoff2:

Originally posted by W.O.T.
KS toy ! so how bout a trade huh? my subaru for the yota? :grinpimp:

Thanks for the offer but I will have to pass. I have 5 vehicles and I am tired of paying taxes and insurance on them. Oh, and I need the money too:(

Toys and Rangers are both great trucks. Test drive both of them and see what you want. I own a 94 Ranger that I have put through hell (lots of jumping and high speed collisions). It has 130,000 miles on it and I haven't had to do anything other than regular maintenence on it. My best friend is a die hard chevy guy and we always mess with each other but right now I am helping him shop for a ranger because he has seen how I beat on mine and it keeps on taking it. He will keep his '70 1/2 ton as his main wheeling truck but wants a ranger too because he knows they are tough.