[AWDwonder]

As some of you know, my days as the AWDwonder are coming to a close. I've got a 1989 Toyota 2WD 1-ton longbed truck that I'm going to start driving after my current semester of school is up. I loved driving my Bravada but when you're unemployed, The gas bill every week starts to get you.

Anyway, back on topic. I want to keep this Toyota but I want to still be able to go off-road. It may take awhile to put together but eventually I would like to put a locker on the rear and a Fabtech lift. I was wondering what some of you felt about this setup. I know that I won't have all the luxury of a 4WD but I think that for what I want to do, it would suffice.

[Onkover]

My brother in Iowa rebuilt his 2wd Toy from the groud up a few years ago. It is tall and tuff. I personally have owned 4 2wd Toys and have had tons of fun in them. Lifts are easy and with a locker in the rear it should be fun to drive. If your wanting to conserve fuel don't lift it or put a locker in it. My 2wds' got into lots of places they shouldn't have just being Toyotas. Your going to be missing the 4wd but you should have fun sliding aroud all the time. Even with some good meats under it. The worst thing about running a rig that is only 2wd is when you need the 4wd it isn't there. Lots of time I run my rig in 2wd just for the fun of it. When I start to dig in then I losck it in. The set up your talking about should be fine for some light weekend trails but stay out of the sticky stuff unless you have someone with you. For years my bro and I had to call my Dad in the middle of the night to come give us a pull out of something we shouldn't have been in the first place. 4wd can't be beat but if you must 2wd is OK by me. Go with a Truetrak or something that will be well mannered in the street. :cool2:

[AWDwonder]

Thanks for the advice. Fuel Conservation isn't that much of an issue for me, and I wouldn't dream of getting this thing stuck in anything over 6" deep. The v-6 I have in it gets about 16-18 mpg on a good day and with 30" rubber on it and 4.11 gears I might only get about 14-16. This lift won't be happening for awhile so for all I know I could end up buying a 4WD before this project gets off the ground. I'm only in the preliminary stages of planning. It was mostly a vision I had after I saw an episode of Trucks! awhile back when they put a Fabtech Long Travel and fiberglass kit on an old 2wd Ford Ranger minitruck.

[Rockinelle]

Persnally, I think lifting a 2wd is a waste of time. I'm not trying to say you can't have fun going offroad, but to me it's money mal spent. I mean for the price of a locker and a lift, you could have bought my Jeep. I bought my mint condition '87 XJ for $2500 and I think my stock XJ could go more places than a lifted and locked 2wd. Just my 2cents.

Don't get me wrong though. I had a 2wd Ranger for a long time that I had a blast taking offroad, but I also didn't put any money into upgrades. 4wheelin is about having fun with others, not how many upgrades your truck has.

[AWDwonder]

I've decided just to leave the Toyota alone and drive it until I can afford another 4WD. Its just less of a hassle. Thanks Onkover and Eric for responding.

[Onkover]

AWDwonder, on Nov 20 2003, 09:24 PM, said:

I've decided just to leave the Toyota alone and drive it until I can afford another 4WD. Its just less of a hassle. Thanks Onkover and Eric for responding.

The jeep recyler has a XJ with a Rubicon lift on it for sale. (Better lift then mine for that matter) he sells stuff cheap but it comes with a salvage title. Not that big of a deal. He rebuilds thoes things better then they came from the factory. $2500. Might even be able to talk him down if your sly like that.

[AWDwonder]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm not really in a position to buy a truck right now. It'll be another 1-2 years. I offered up $3500(how much he might have gotten putting a For Sale sign up. Trade in value was only about $1700) to buy the Bravada from my grandfather but he won't sell it to me. I'm gonna keep trying though.

[Onkover]

I had a co-driver that has a Bravada. Couldn't be more happy with it. If he does sell it to ya just think.. "he is old..I could take him but... I'll wait till he's napping so he doesn't see me coming" LOL :wave:

[AWDwonder]

HaHa, I'd be dead before I got the first shot off. My grandfather is an old retired seadog whose still got enough piss and vinegar in his veins to give a young buck like me a run for his money.

[Shawn96XJ]

most baja prerunners are two wheel drive due to weight

[Sage]

I've seen where 4 wheel drive has gotten people into trouble....where 2 wheel might have been a factor. "My 4x4 can go anywhere, anytime" line of thinking can be a fatal mistake......

A number of years ago, the CHP helped to pull a 4x4 commercial off the air after it showed a certain brand of 4x4 crossing a rain swolen stream......after we recovered the body of a 16 year old, about 600' down stream from a crossing of a creek in the Hogsback!

Sometimes, someone, with intelligence and common sense, can often out do someone else who has the right equiptment and none of the foregoing... :wave:

[Rockinelle]

Well, that kind of brings to mind every Jeep comercial from the last few years. Ummm, the Liberty driving up the Statue of Liberty. My favorite starts with a few hikers using what you think are some well placed rocks in a creek and after they pass, a WJ that was completely submerged drives out to reveal that they weren't walking on stones... lol

I know what you mean. Remember that football movie from maybe ten years ago when the players layed down on the lines on a busy road and then tons of people got hurt doing it themselves!!! I think that if there's something stupid that can be done, some one will step up to the occasion and take advantage of it :P

[Onkover]

Ya what he said..