Hello to everyone and thanks for a great site to read and learn on. I am a State Trooper in NC and have been a Toyota fan for about 15 years. I just sold a Land Cruiser and I am in the market for an 05-06 Tacoma Double Cab. Is there anything in particular to look for? I am a little confused by the 2 different TRD packages. I really wanted the locking rear, but it seems that it only comes on the Off Road TRD and not the Sport TRD. Can the factory locking rear diff. be added to a sport TRD after I purchase it? I know some things were already wired on Land Cruisers and all you had to do was get the control button and place it in the dash. Is this possible with the new Tacomas. Which packages do most of you prefer and why? It will be my daily driver that will also be used for hunting and light off road. Any tips or guidance in the right direction is greatly appreciated. Are there any other forums to read on about Tacomas? Thanks!
Tacoma Double Cab?'s! PLease Help!
- Thread starter TrpD345
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
)
Yeah, get the TRD Off Road package, not the sport unless you really dig the fake scoop. The sport does come with a limited slip which can help some off road, but nothing like a locker. Go to ttora.com for more stuff on Taco's
TrpD345 said:
The site you are looking for is www.tacomaterritory.com
I don't like the Sport package, which my father has. The hood scoop is lame and it comes with the 17" wheels. I prefer the 16" wheels due to the tire choices.
I'm not 100% sure if you can get the e-locker as an option in the Sport or not. I would just get the TRD Off Road package myself.
Welcome to MUD, but check out the other site for more updated Tacoma information.
IMHO, just get the one with Off Road Package and will save you headache in the long run.
If it doesnt have the factory locker, you can still get a trutrac, eaton, arb, Detroit locker or others.
Like Calamaridog says: TTORA is a great source of info. You can also go to www.yotatech.com for tons of data on Tacomas.
TrpD345 said:
Yes, but it is not a bolt in job. The axle housings are different, so the easiest way would be to swap in the TRD axle with locker and hope the gearing matches your front. Best to just get one already with the locker.
And yes, TTORA is the place to be.
Do what I did and DONT get the Factory rear locker, put a lockrite in and be done with it! It is less $$ over all, and without the problems some have found with the factory E-Locker... The Non E-locker third member has not had the problems that the E-Lockers have...
Check out this section on TTORA for more info on problems with Factory E-Lockers in the 05+ Tacomas.
http://www.ttora.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=157
By the way, there is a TLCA chapter with a lot of Toyota 4x4 vehicles in it, Hilux 4x4, Mini truck 4x4, Tacoma 4x4, 05+ Tacoma 4x4, Fj40's, FJ80 and FZJ80s... Including me, the Secretary of the chapter with an 05 Reg Cab Taco 4x4 that has been wheeled since the day I bought it! Dont let anyone tell you that because you want a newer Toyota you dont belong in TLCA!!!
www.toyotatrailriders.com
Check out this section on TTORA for more info on problems with Factory E-Lockers in the 05+ Tacomas.
http://www.ttora.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=157
By the way, there is a TLCA chapter with a lot of Toyota 4x4 vehicles in it, Hilux 4x4, Mini truck 4x4, Tacoma 4x4, 05+ Tacoma 4x4, Fj40's, FJ80 and FZJ80s... Including me, the Secretary of the chapter with an 05 Reg Cab Taco 4x4 that has been wheeled since the day I bought it! Dont let anyone tell you that because you want a newer Toyota you dont belong in TLCA!!!
www.toyotatrailriders.com
Do you want a long bed?
Thats the other issue...it only comes in SR5 or Sport...no TRD O/R long bed. I cant figure out why Toyota did not make this configuration but I decided I needed the bed more than the TRD stuff so I got the highest SR5 trim package offered that included a limited slip and have upgraded the tires. It sounds like we use our trucks in very simlar way, DD + trails to fly fish for me, I have never had a problem with the capability of the rig. Its pretty good out of the box. Do I wish I had the locker? Yeah; but I can think of twice I would have liked to have it...all depends on how your going to use the truck I guess. They are all great...I dont think you can make a wrong choice.
Thats the other issue...it only comes in SR5 or Sport...no TRD O/R long bed. I cant figure out why Toyota did not make this configuration but I decided I needed the bed more than the TRD stuff so I got the highest SR5 trim package offered that included a limited slip and have upgraded the tires. It sounds like we use our trucks in very simlar way, DD + trails to fly fish for me, I have never had a problem with the capability of the rig. Its pretty good out of the box. Do I wish I had the locker? Yeah; but I can think of twice I would have liked to have it...all depends on how your going to use the truck I guess. They are all great...I dont think you can make a wrong choice.
I think the problem is that you cant (at least in Canada) get the locking rear diff on the double cab model... I dont know if its the same for you guys in the states though
doublecab
Housings are the same , the third member with the locker should be able to be bolted in. The gear ratio for these trucks is normally 3.73:1. You should not have to worry about the ratio if the third member going in is also 3.73:1. The gears in front ends will always be slightly higher even though they carry the same ratio number, this to prevent binding while driving and turning in 4wheel. Your main concern would be the spline counts on the ends of your axles that mate up with the side gears of your differential , those might be the only thing that is different. As for the electric switch your better off running your own basic switch seperate from the stock style set up. Because the stock set up only allows the locker to be engaged in 4low when it's perfectly capable to run in 4hi & 2hi at lower speeds. The weak gearing problem is do to a thin pinion shaft and a crush collar along with pinion just being to small structurally. West Coast Differentials has pinion flanges and solid collars with shimes to eliminate the crush collar and provide for a larger spline count pinion shaft. Yukon got the gear sets .
Housings are the same , the third member with the locker should be able to be bolted in. The gear ratio for these trucks is normally 3.73:1. You should not have to worry about the ratio if the third member going in is also 3.73:1. The gears in front ends will always be slightly higher even though they carry the same ratio number, this to prevent binding while driving and turning in 4wheel. Your main concern would be the spline counts on the ends of your axles that mate up with the side gears of your differential , those might be the only thing that is different. As for the electric switch your better off running your own basic switch seperate from the stock style set up. Because the stock set up only allows the locker to be engaged in 4low when it's perfectly capable to run in 4hi & 2hi at lower speeds. The weak gearing problem is do to a thin pinion shaft and a crush collar along with pinion just being to small structurally. West Coast Differentials has pinion flanges and solid collars with shimes to eliminate the crush collar and provide for a larger spline count pinion shaft. Yukon got the gear sets .
???? Since when???
reply
It's the same housing in the tacoma & prerunner double cab or no fxxxing cab . I own a 02 SAS Tacoma EXT . Were is your info coming from?
It's the same housing in the tacoma & prerunner double cab or no fxxxing cab . I own a 02 SAS Tacoma EXT . Were is your info coming from?
A little more work
I think what Bkg is talking about is the notch in the housing for the shift motor, it looks like it still follows the same bolt pattern. You might be able to make the notch required for the motor. With out one torn apart in front of me it's hard to be for sure. Thats why I said it should be able to be done. Maybe Bkg has all your answers. Just trying to help.
I think what Bkg is talking about is the notch in the housing for the shift motor, it looks like it still follows the same bolt pattern. You might be able to make the notch required for the motor. With out one torn apart in front of me it's hard to be for sure. Thats why I said it should be able to be done. Maybe Bkg has all your answers. Just trying to help.
The housings having different bolt patterns, last I checked. The notch and one of the studs (the long one that goes through the motor mount, IIRC) are in different locations than the non e-locker units. Unless that changed in the 05+ models, which I have no experience with.
