Build Thread: Sixstringsteve's 2002 Tacoma double cab: Carlos

sixstringsteve said:
I'm loving the 5.29s. Im tired of my km2s in the snow/ice. I'm about ready to do to an a/t.
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Steve right now I am running the Toyo AT2's and I love them in the snow/ice and are still good offroad. They are a lot quieter than my KM2's but probably not as-good offroad, but still pretty good. I think you would like them a lot.
 
Panos said:
What A/Ts are you thinking about? My km2s suck in the snow. They are great in all other aspects. I would do dura tracks if they came in the size I wanted. While its not my main concern, what MPG are you getting
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I've found duratracs in 35's, but they're LT rated (2 ply sidewall). That's their weakness. My driving style requires beefy sidewalls, so unless I can find an E rated duratrac in a 35, they're not an option for me.

I'm getting 17-18 MPG. I think I get a little better MPG than if I were running 4.88s, since it doesn't have to work so hard to maintain speeds.

I'm not sure which A/Ts I want. I want something light and beefy. I've been impressed with Mesha's Trepador Radials, but they're super heavy and I'd guess they'd take 1-2 mpg. I really like the tread pattern of the Yokohama Geolander A/Ts. I'm not a huge fan of BFG A/Ts, even though everyone else seems to love them. I have wondered if siping or grooving my KM2s would help at all. I think it would. Apart from light snow/ice, I absolutely love them. In light snow/ice I hate all mud terrains that I've tried.
 
Chocflip201 said:
Steve right now I am running the Toyo AT2's and I love them in the snow/ice and are still good offroad. They are a lot quieter than my KM2's but probably not as-good offroad, but still pretty good. I think you would like them a lot.
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Interesting. Toyos seem to be pretty heavy in general, but I'll have to look these up. They don't look like they'd be that amazing in snow/ice with the big tread blocks, but I trust your opinion.
 
I've also toyed with the idea of getting some cheap winter snow tires for this thing, but that's going to be pricey, and Murphy's Law says that the moment I do that, it wouldn't snow at all.
 
sixstringsteve said:
and Murphy's Law says that the moment I do that, it wouldn't snow at all.
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Do it. I'm already tired of snow.

I siped my KM2s, I think they do fine on sloppy roads as long as I remember I'm driving a truck :). We just put Duratracs on Clara. I wanted C rated for that truck, but E rated was all we could find. Do they not make E rated 35s?
 
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I have had two sets of the toyo at's and did not like them in the snow at all! How ever they were tough and handled well on the road. The new ones look Intreaging, and are available in my size ;)
Steve, a 5 speed swap in no big deal at all, I might be doing one soon
 
what about your ecu? Do you have to change that? I'm not planning on rock crawling with my truck anymore, so I'm sticking with the auto. But for trails like the Rubicon, I'd still prefer a 5-speed.
 
Panos said:
I have had two sets of the toyo at's and did not like them in the snow at all! How ever they were tough and handled well on the road. The new ones look Intreaging, and are available in my size ;)
Steve, a 5 speed swap in no big deal at all, I might be doing one soon
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So I understand you right, you had the older Toyo AT style as the ones you did not like?
 
I've had this truck for a year (that's a record for me). It's been a good truck. I'm definitely doing more mellow stuff in it these days, and it's a bit overbuilt for my needs, but it's a great truck.

Would I rather have a newer 4-door taco? Absolutely, but this is a great rig and there's nothing wrong with being a little overbuilt.
 
sixstringsteve said:
I've had this truck for a year (that's a record for me). It's been a good truck. I'm definitely doing more mellow stuff in it these days, and it's a bit overbuilt for my needs, but it's a great truck.

Would I rather have a newer 4-door taco? Absolutely, but this is a great rig and there's nothing wrong with being a little overbuilt.
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Congratulations on the year milestone. :greg:
 
Ok I was curious because I am getting some bulb kits together for the 95.5-2004 tacomas and was given bulb numbers for a non electric a/c panel 99 Tacoma and I have only seen the electric ones myself.
 
probably. Registration is due in January, so it's probably time to get something new. Problem is, I don't know what I'd want more than this. Probably something even less built. Maybe a 2nd gen taco with OME, sliders, rear bumper, and 32" ATs? I dunno. I don't rock crawl much anymore, I just need something to get me across the dirt roads.

Maybe a SUC? A rav4 or a CR-V? Fuel economy sounds nice, especially for long-distance trips.
 
I love this rig. In the end, I'd probably only save $500 a year on fuel if I sold it and bought an eco box. Not worth how much $ I would lose to sell this. Fuel economy and highway capability are more important that rock crawlability to me now, and this is more overbuilt than I need.

This will be a great truck once our family grows. If I knew we would never have kids, i'd sell this and build a 1st gen pickup with a 3rz and use that as my camping rig. Keep it small, 33's, elocker rear, closer to stock. Something like this, but even smaller:

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It's sad to say, but at this point in my life, rock crawling doesn't really excite me anymore. It's still fun, but there are other things I like more.
 
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