1st, 2nd, or 3rd gen - Offroad capability

Not talking about rock crawling capability here but general offroad ability, which do you choose? I'd say 2nd gen since they seem to be the heaviest duty but they are larger than the other generations too which might not be as good for tighter trails plus they only have a 5.5ft bed unlike the 1st gen. 1st gen would hurt the least to damage and 3rd gen would hurt the most to damage. I like that 3rd gen comes with a locker but a locker can be added to the other gens easily and the ground clearance on a 3rd gen is the worst. Which do you pick??

 

Several 1st gen members here off road their trucks. I do not, yet...

I'll post a link to this in the 1st gen lunch table for you. They should be able to give you decent feedback on those.

I don't know much about the 2nd gens, and know even less than that on 3rd gens.

 

Last trail run, no issues with 1st gens, 2 2nd gens had tire issues, maybe because of their width?

 

I've owned 1st Gen and now a 3rd Gen. Let's put it this way. When my dad is done with my '05, I'm buying it back from him to use as my bush truck. Simple, small, capable.

 

Depends on where you wheel. Tight trails- the earlier, smaller trucks will work better. Open land, sand, hard to beat a longer wheelbase with 5.7 power.

 

I’ve driven a TRD 2.5 gen DC (those have a 6.5’ bed) and run a 1st gen AC with long-travel suspension.

The primary “cons” of each are, for the 2.5 gen, that damn hood scoop hides everything in front of you; prepare to get out all the damn time to make sure you’re not about to drop over a cliff; and for the 1st gen, the turning radius sucks. Seriously, how can a smaller truck require that much more room than a later gen truck with a longer wheelbase, to turn around.

Major plus for the 1st gen is it’s a bit more compact*, which is nice on trails and city driving; and I feel like it’s a “bulletproof” truck overall. Better gas mileage than 2nd and 2.5 gens. I do wish mine had super low miles, because I’ve poured tons of mod money into it, so now I’m committed to ‘dance with the truck that brought me’.

I’ll say, although I love the appearance of the 2.5 gen (that damned hood scoop looks good to me, from outside), the 2nd gen is a better platform off-road… because it doesn’t have that hood scoop, so visibility is better. And the Turin g radius is much better than the 1st gen… makes a huge difference to maneuverability— which makes a positive difference off road. And finally, 5.7 rocks. Also, more room for passengers and gear, or sleeping in the bed or an RTT.

So, if both were available, had matching low mileage, we’re equally affordable to purchase, and very well-maintained, for a dedicated off-road toy, I love my 1st gen. But if it’s for testing off-road limits while overlanding, or family camping, I’d vote 2nd (not 2.5) gen. But. Have to sub in a 38 gallon gas tank, because the 26 gallon tank was lame.

*with the long-travel mods, the width of the front tires, outside edge to outside edge, is 83”, the same width as a stock 2nd or 2.5 gen.

 

4Runner

 

Cameras

 

Have one already . I sold my Tacoma and really miss having a bed plus we're adding another new family member next year (4 of us). Though I have thought about keeping the 4runner and adding in a M416 trailer for camping/truck duties...

 

I like…you!…, but I have no idea WTF ‘cameras’ means.

 

Are you calling us second genners fat?

 

Girthy

 

Lol. I resisted answering before, but I was on that trail. It was never narrow, and the tire width if my long travel 1st gen in front was as wide as those later gens. The way to avoid ripping your sidewalls is to ‘drive better’.

On my “bad run” in Sedona, in October, 2020, I was with all later gens. I was the only 1st gen, and I had all the trouble, including ripping the sidewall of a tire on the same trail on which I’d earlier had my LBJ fail. Sometimes it’s poor tire placement, sometimes it’s poor luck.

 

All I can say is I own 1 of each and have broken front and rear diff's on the 2000. Dealer was really impressed with the front which was my fault. There was some patchy pavement under snow and ice and NO traction TO traction did not work out that well. Typical Toyota though-got me home.
I want to add I have not done to the full sizes what I've done to the 1st gen
Due to the size, I think the first gens are better wheeler. Keep in my my fullsize are longbeds, way to long for wheelin

 

Tacoma or Jeep

 

I just noticed that Expedition Overland is doing a 3rd gen Tundra build.

https://www.xoverland.com/videos/truck-builds/2022-toyota-tundra/

 

A 79-85 Toy is the best

 

Why do we always ignore the thread parameters? OP didn’t ask about Jeeps, Tacos, anything other than Tundras. Come on, Guys; hold it together at least until the 2nd page. Geez.

 

Still not on the second page? For shame on me. I'll see myself out right meow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rlSjdnAKY4

 

You snooze you lose.

 

***Searching Amazon***

 

Careful what you search for