![]() ![]() Proven over many years and harsh miles of military use, the Foam Cell Pro shock is filled with premium-grade FUCHS oil and the brand’s foam cell sleeve technology. On paper, it was the perfect balance of on-road comfort and off-road performance. I had never heard of the brand before I started researching options for this truck, but with 50+ years of history in the Australian Outback, I decided to reach out about its Foam Cell Pro shocks.Īfter talking to a few folks on the team, we decided to go with the Foam Cell Pro Stage 2 Suspension with Upper Control Arms to keep the alignment in check. I wanted something that delivered improved on-road handling with reliable off-road performance - and could hold up to the wear and tear of daily driving without a ton of maintenance. On top of that, they required more maintenance to keep them performing at their best. So I went down the list of aftermarket options from Bilstein’s, Old Man Emu, and even pricey options like Fox and Icon Vehicle Dynamics.īut I knew the latter options were out of my budget and I’d likely never do them justice. The biggest issue off the lot was the suspension. I knew that despite all its shortcomings, I could make this the truck I wanted. But I wasn’t ready to give up on my Taco. How was I ever going to load it down with bikes and gear, and drive off the pavement for a few days? That’s right - a brand new truck, with one-third of the payload in the back, slammed the bump stops on a speed bump at a brisk walking pace. But with only 400 pounds in the back (of the 1,200-pound payload!), I hit the bump stops driving over a speedbump at under 5 mph. I tossed some sandbags in the back in hopes of settling down the rubbery suspension feel. And don’t get me started on the choked-out engine! The steering is vague it felt like it was floating down the highway in the worst way. It felt both stiff and soft at the same time. ![]() But dammit, I hated every second of driving this truck. Sadly, my honeymoon phase quickly waned as the reality of how this truck really drove set in. I missed driving a truck and I was excited for all the adventures to come.īut, this isn’t the story of the Tacoma I loved … How to Upgrade a Toyota Tacoma The ride home in the new truck was filled with excitement as memories of that ‘95 4Runner came flooding back. They were selling fast and for good reason they are the bestselling mid-size truck 16 years running, and they have the highest resale value of any car at over 70% after 5 years.Īfter a few weeks of searching and test driving, we found the one: a Super White Toyota Tacoma DoubleCab TRD Off-Road 4×4 Short Bed (MSRP $43,275). We decided it made the most sense to look at new 2021 models that just hit the lot a few months prior. Tacomas sell as-is for just a few grand below a new model MSRP - with 50,000 miles on the odometer. The used market was, and still is, nothing short of shocking. I knew exactly what I wanted: a Toyota Tacoma. I finally convinced my wife that after 8 years of treating small SUVs like trucks, it was time to buy the real thing. In my experience, they’re always ready to take you where you want to go.įast forward to December of 2020. ![]() And I’ve owned my fair share over the years, from a well-built FJ Cruiser, to a 4Runner, and even a Camry. They are safe, reliable, and seem to last forever (the cars). If you’re looking at a Tacoma for adventure and performance, like I was, read on to see how I made it a comfortable daily driver and trail-worthy rig. It wasn’t easy, per se - but it’s also not impossible. So, I put my head down and started researching what it would take to make it the truck I knew it could be. Late last year, I finally bought my dream Tacoma - only to find it had some serious shortcomings. Pulling out of the driveway for the first time, I felt like the king of the road.įrom that moment on, I hoped that someday this car could be mine (until my brother wrapped it around a pole in a parking lot, but that’s a different story).Įven though that 4Runner is long gone, I still lust over similar cars. I slid the key into the door lock (because the ‘90s), hopped up into the brown leather interior - with “wood” trimmed accents - turned over the engine, and listened to the soft purr of the 3VZ engine. I was being trusted with what could only be described as the perfect midlife-crisis-mobile. Driver’s license in hand, my dad threw me the keys to his white 1995 4Runner Limited with big meaty tires and perfectly polished chrome. But I fixed them - and so can you.īefore I dive into why I hated my Tacoma (and why it is still parked in my driveway), I have to go back to the year 2000 - I had just turned 16. The nation’s top-selling midsize truck has some serious shortcomings. ![]()
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