'98 Tacoma Spring Buildup

[Zzlorp]

I'm planning some work on my 98 Single Cab Tacoma this spring. My main goal is to turn it into more of a road trip vehicle....road trips for backpacking and rock climbing, so trail usage is important along with highway driving...

My truck is a 1998 4x4 standard cab, 2.7l, 5 speed, dirt stock plain-jane tacoma. 4.10 gears. This truck is still pretty clean and has 110K miles on it and I plan to run it until it dies...



Here is what I plan to install on it this spring:

31x10.5 BFG All-Terrains
TRD (or equivalent) fender flares
ARB or Poison Spider Brawler (if available) front bumper
front & rear receiver hitches (for winch)
after market cruise control
2"-3" lift to level truck out
fiberglass camper shell
speedometer correction box
Front Range Off-Road twin stick transfer case shifter
rear e-locker (or ARB)
new seats and center console


The big things I have questions about:

Where can I find fender flares that are close to the OEM TRD flares? I don’t need much to cover the 10.50’s and looks and durability matter. I like the OEM flares on Tacomas…

Is there an aftermarket cruise control that people have had good luck with?

Front bumper....I killed a deer on start of the 4th of July last year (400 miles from home) and took out my grille and radiator and ruined my weekend, what is good for a bumper with a grille guard? I loved the Poison Spider custom bumper (with a grille guard added onto it) but they appear to no longer be available. The ARB seems to be the default choice, but it is heavy and the approach angle leaves a lot to be desired, is there anything else out there (I do not need a winch mount, just a 2" front receiver)?

Lift kit...I don't go rock crawling, probably 90% highway (this is my daily commuter rig also) so I am looking for the best compromise, swiss-army lift kit. What do you all like?

What is there for after market seats that are good? My ds. seat is getting pretty broken down from climbing in and out...


Thanks Guys!

 

[Mars]

I'm planning some work on my 98 Single Cab Tacoma this spring. My main goal is to turn it into more of a road trip vehicle....road trips for backpacking and rock climbing, so trail usage is important along with highway driving...

My truck is a 1998 4x4 standard cab, 2.7l, 5 speed, dirt stock plain-jane tacoma. .10 gears. This truck is still pretty clean and has 110K miles on it and I plan to run it until it dies...



Here is what I plan to install on it this spring:

31x10.5 BFG All-Terrains
TRD (or equivalent) fender flares
ARB or Poison Spider Brawler (if available) front bumper
front & rear receiver hitches (for winch)
after market cruise control
2"-3" lift to level truck out
fiberglass camper shell
speedometer correction box
Front Range Off-Road twin stick transfer case shifter
rear e-locker (or ARB)
new seats and center console


The big things I have questions about:

Where can I find fender flares that are close to the OEM TRD flares? I don’t need much to cover the 10.50’s and looks and durability matter. I like the OEM flares on Tacomas…

Is there an aftermarket cruise control that people have had good luck with?

Front bumper....I killed a deer on start of the 4th of July last year (400 miles from home) and took out my grille and radiator and ruined my weekend, what is good for a bumper with a grille guard? I loved the Poison Spider custom bumper (with a grille guard added onto it) but they appear to no longer be available. The ARB seems to be the default choice, but it is heavy and the approach angle leaves a lot to be desired, is there anything else out there (I do not need a winch mount, just a 2" front receiver)?

Lift kit...I don't go rock crawling, probably 90% highway (this is my daily commuter rig also) so I am looking for the best compromise, swiss-army lift kit. What do you all like?

What is there for after market seats that are good? My ds. seat is getting pretty broken down from climbing in and out...


Thanks Guys!

I'm in a similar situation, mine's a '99 daily driver. I was able to get a TRD 4x4 though, so the locker is already covered for me.

See below for my thoughts on your ideas.




31x10.5 BFG All-Terrains
- You said you will often be road tripping, or driving offroad to get to climbing spots. BFG's wear like iron, but I have not had good experience with them in the sand or mud. I like Bridgestone Dueller Revos myself on a primary road rig. Decent compromise of longevity/highway comfort/offroad grip and mud shedding.

TRD (or equivalent) fender flares
- I'm sure you could pull some from junkyards, or find some in the classifieds here or on TTORA.com for fairly cheap. The 10.5" tires won't stick out much if at all...necessary?

ARB or Poison Spider Brawler (if available) front bumper
- ARB's are huge and heavy, and don't offer super great approach angles. But they are frickin' tough. The only other bumpers I've seen in person that liked was Allpro's. Lightweight, good angles. Might not be as sturdy as you'd like for a big front impact from a deer/etc. When the funds happen for me, my plan is to get something custom fab'd for the Taco similar to Slee's new bumper for the fzj-80:

after market cruise control
- Not sure...never played with it.

2"-3" lift to level truck out
-Lots of options here. Anything from a cheap spacer lift for $200 to coilovers that can run $2k. A little searching will pull plenty of options. You just going to lift the front a couple inches, or do some work on the rear springs as well? My rear leafs are toasted, and I plan on replacing them with a new pack from Deaver or possibly Alcans depending on funds...

Not much experience with the other items...maybe some of the other guys will chime in.

Good luck!

 

[FlatlandTRD]

Here is what I plan to install on it this spring:

31x10.5 BFG All-Terrains
TRD (or equivalent) fender flares
ARB or Poison Spider Brawler (if available) front bumper
front & rear receiver hitches (for winch)
after market cruise control
2"-3" lift to level truck out
fiberglass camper shell
speedometer correction box
Front Range Off-Road twin stick transfer case shifter
rear e-locker (or ARB)
new seats and center console

Is there an aftermarket cruise control that people have had good luck with?

Wecome, and Mars gave you some solid info, so I'll just add a little:

You can go with slightly larger tires with a lift, but to keep the weight down you'll have to stay narrow. Otherwise the 2.7 will ask for new gears.

I have a better approach angle with my ARB than I did, but our biggest problem is the departure angle. Add a hitch and it hangs down even lower. Worry about that first. But I've seen the ARB after a deer at 60mph, just some scuff marks

On my old 5spd I had a dealer installed cruise control, most everything is already there, but look into that (or find a wrecked one).

There's a lot of info regarding seat swaps on ttora & (hate to type it) customtacos.

You shouldn't need a speedo correction unless you really get crazy with gears and tires.

As far as lift, there's a ton of options, but swiss army easy will point you to spacers, or V6/4rnr coils. You don't have progressive rate coils, so the ride wouldn't be horrible, and I assume you have manual hubs? If so, it's a little easier on the CVs. If you're adding a shell, I would consider alcans or deavers, so they're built to what you need (but not cheap).

Happy $$$ spending.

 

[Zzlorp]

More questions and some comments...

Has anyone tried the Bushwacker flares? I have been running 31-10.50's for a while, and they stick out well over an inch past the fenders and I am tired of the mud and rocks they throw....the side mirrors on Tacomas are remarkably resilient to rock impacts!

I found a bumper that I like, weighs a hell of a lot less than an ARB
ShrockWorks Toyota Tacoma Winch Bumper Front Bumper Bull Bar Off-road
I did find out that the poison spider brawler bumper was a one of a kind for a magazine article...the bastards!

Suspension wise, my truck is starting to drag ass a bit, not so concerned about lifting it any as much as leveling it out. I'm all right with add-a-leafs in the rear, not a fan of spacers in the front...I do have the manual hubs, but don't expect to ever put enough lift on this rig to start stressing the cv's...if I get that serious it will get a solid axle in the front.

My speedo is pretty screwed up at the moment, might have a weird speed sensor or something because right now it would be about right if I ran 33" tires...with 31's it is about 5mph fast when it reads 65...

I had good luck with BFG AT's on a full size, but I am looking at other tires. I have a friend running Yokohama Geolander at/s tires on his 4runner and loves them...of course that is also a lot heavier rig than a short Tacoma...

As far as a rear receiver hitch, I agree on the approach angle issue, and if I go that route the receiver will be built into a new back bumper instead of hanging underneath. I may draw that one up and have it fabbed here.

 

[Lockd97]

I run the TJM in the front and approach angle ( like the ARB) is better than stock. I have Downey coil overs in the front and OME springs in the back, they have served me well. Spacer will do you no good if your fronts have 110K on them. The ride will suffer, better to replace the shocks.

I have the Xenon flares on my '98 and I still love them. I know the company says they will not fit. Back in the day I had a conversation with the owner and he swore up and down that they would not fit even after I sent him a picture with them on the truck. All I can say is that he was very argumentative and I chalked it up to him being a know-it-all moron who wouldn't listen.

Older Pic but you get the idea.

 

[Zzlorp]

Well I live in the mountains, and pull a quite a few passes on a regular basis without problems, only have to downshift out of 5th in really steep stretches with 31-10.50 tires. Gas mileage is pretty steady right around 21mpg for all highway driving, around 17 for a lot of city driving. This is all with an aluminum camper shell on, which adds about 1mpg on average for me...

I have no real complaints as far as power or mileage, I'd sure like to have more, but I am happy with what I have...not that I would complain if a D-4D 3.0L diesel out of a Hilux were to magically appear under the hood...or a new Hilux appeared in my driveway!

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