Taco vs Frontier: Your Thoughts, Please

[ZERO THEORY]

Masochist, huh?

Someone put a Chrysler curse on me.

[Great-Kazoo]

Well, the Dodge is gone. Haven't found a Tacoma that fits the bill and is affordable, but there's a Frontier the dealer's holding onto until I make a decision over the weekend while I'm looking at a Jeep tonight.

And to be honest, I'll probably be buying the Jeep. Despite my best efforts, I have found myself staring down the barrel of another Mopar machine. This would be the 5th. Thanks for the insight, all. I'll let you know if I go to the darkside or get another Heep.

Unless you put a deposit on it...IMO the only reason he's holding it, it's been there too long with no buyers.
Over priced, bed creditor, something else may have played in to it. I don't know any sales folks that hold vehicles over the weekend. Saturday's payday for all automotive or mc business.
Knowing you're looking at other vehicles doesn't put too much stock you'll be a buyer, come monday morning.

[ZERO THEORY]

Dear Toyota/Nissan: make a Tacoma/Frontier with a solid front axle and I'm all in. Until then, I'm going down with the ship.

[hurley842002]

Dear Toyota/Nissan: make a Tacoma/Frontier with a solid front axle and I'm all in. Until then, I'm going down with the ship.

Did you buy that? If so, very nice!

I used to be a solid axle snob (owned 4 XJ's), and then realized with my 80/20 (on road/off road) driving habits (now more like 90/10), that a solid axle rig just wasn't necessary, and the IFS would take me anywhere I needed to go, in much more comfort.

I'm certainly not one for questioning why a person needs something, but for light to medium trails, is there a reason you are so adamant about solid axle? I understand the actual difference in off road handling between the two, but just curious.

[Irving]

The next Wrangler will be front and rear independent suspension.

[hurley842002]

The next Wrangler will be front and rear independent suspension.

That's what my brother was saying, say goodbye to the "real" Jeep.

[Irving]

I don't think so. If it came out all independent but with portal axles, hard core off-roaders will be waiting in line like a Krispy Kreme giving out iPhone 7 filled donughts.

[ZERO THEORY]

Did you buy that? If so, very nice!

I used to be a solid axle snob (owned 4 XJ's), and then realized with my 80/20 (on road/off road) driving habits (now more like 90/10), that a solid axle rig just wasn't necessary, and the IFS would take me anywhere I needed to go, in much more comfort.

I'm certainly not one for questioning why a person needs something, but for light to medium trails, is there a reason you are so adamant about solid axle? I understand the actual difference in off road handling between the two, but just curious.

Ease of use and durability, basically.

As it sits now, there's really nothing the Jeep can't do that a Tacoma with a 3" lift couldn't do. However, the ease and cost of getting the Jeep where it's at compared to coilovers, upper control arms, diff drops, diff armor, et. al. is significant. And in a couple of years when I'm in a position to buy another daily driver and use the JK as purely a trail project, there's no need to do a SAS and fabrication, blah, blah, blah.

And of course, the durability factor. I'm not going to be running out at the Hammers or anything over the summer, but it's nice knowing that on the rocky trails here in CO (Pickle Gulch, for example), I won't have to worry that if I miss a line I might rip the half shaft right off the truck, or bend the control arm. Not that a solid axle is impervious to damage obviously, but there is a obvious difference in durability.

I can carry spare shafts for the axles in the back and if I managed to spin one, replace it right there on the trail without wanting to jump off a cliff. I can add sleeves and gussets and increase the axle strength exponentially. I can find a Craigslist D60, build it, and mount it at home with just a bit of metalwork to relocate the mounts, new hubs, and a pair of driveshafts. Solid is really just a more forgiving and adaptable setup that saves a lot of headache down the road.

I don't think so. If it came out all independent but with portal axles, hard core off-roaders will be waiting in line like a Krispy Kreme giving out iPhone 7 filled donughts.

Portal axles would be amazing. It'd be like a giant Polaris Razr with 350 ft/lbs.

[Martinjmpr]

Dear Toyota/Nissan: make a Tacoma/Frontier with a solid front axle and I'm all in. Until then, I'm going down with the ship.

Dear Zero Theory: That ain't happening. IFS is here to stay. Coming soon to a platform you love: IRS too.

And BTW if you think you're punishing us by driving a jeep, rest assured that you're only punishing yourself.

Love, Toyota and Nissan.

[hurley842002]

Ease of use and durability, basically.

As it sits now, there's really nothing the Jeep can't do that a Tacoma with a 3" lift couldn't do. However, the ease and cost of getting the Jeep where it's at compared to coilovers, upper control arms, diff drops, diff armor, et. al. is significant. And in a couple of years when I'm in a position to buy another daily driver and use the JK as purely a trail project, there's no need to do a SAS and fabrication, blah, blah, blah.

And of course, the durability factor. I'm not going to be running out at the Hammers or anything over the summer, but it's nice knowing that on the rocky trails here in CO (Pickle Gulch, for example), I won't have to worry that if I miss a line I might rip the half shaft right off the truck, or bend the control arm. Not that a solid axle is impervious to damage obviously, but there is a obvious difference in durability.

I can carry spare shafts for the axles in the back and if I managed to spin one, replace it right there on the trail without wanting to jump off a cliff. I can add sleeves and gussets and increase the axle strength exponentially. I can find a Craigslist D60, build it, and mount it at home with just a bit of metalwork to relocate the mounts, new hubs, and a pair of driveshafts. Solid is really just a more forgiving and adaptable setup that saves a lot of headache down the road.

So in other words, beyond light to medium trail use lol. Either way, sweet rig!