Joe T

Thinking I want a beater... in 4x4.

What are some good year yota trucks to look at?

I'm thinking mid 80's?

Gotlift01

I think anything up till '86...can't remember if '86 or '87 was the first year of the IFS....I'm thinkin '87 was the first year. But anything with the solid front axle would be the best. I love those trucks...very capable with just a things.


~Nick

kawiram

85 is the year. fully gusseted axle housings, and Fuel Injection, last year of the solid axle.

H2SRDMB

if you want power. go mid 70`s non smog. put whetever engine in it you want. 350s are popular. i think if you google "chevota" one will come up.. i met a guy who has built 3 of them. but he trashes them in glamis and what ever he feels like climbing..

other than that i have seen some older landcruiser with the same convertion and even a cummins in one! just a few ideas.

if you just want to buy one to use w/o work i would agree n the 80` s as said in a previous post!

Joe T

Oh yeah, landcruiser... Never thought about that.

What are the good years for those.

SIXSLUG

There's a ton of guys round these parts that run the 80's yotas for woods wheeling. Usually they chop them short and put tubing all around the body to help ward off the bumps and scraping from big trees and boulders. I'm originally from SoCal and have seen all the desert racing trucks so when I moved to the Pacific NW things kinda changed as far as functionality is concerned. These guys seem to have the woods wheelin figured out as form seems to follow function. I had an 84 and 91 Toyota 4x4 and miss them both. I'd love another 84 sttraight axle w/ the 22RE and 5 speed.

Box5

i'm getting a early 80's toyota 4x4 and taking the bed off and making it a pure trail truck. I had a 90 toyota 4x4 with the IFS with a 4" lift and 33's and that thing went anywhere I pointed it. I didn't do any rock crawling, but deep ruts, and mud were no problem since it was so light. I had 35's on it along with a body lift but I didn't like how it rode for a daily driver so I dropped those and put the 33's on. The 22re in the later trucks is by far a better motor, but the early trucks with the straight axle are better for the trails.

Box5

Kurtaing, another b'ham person, lol... Lots of trails around here for wheelin, especially out towards Mt. Baker on the the mt baker highway.

bnold

I have an 85 yota... Straight axles all around detroit in the rear, doubler kit waiting to go in, 8inches of lift clearing 35s 4.88s in the pumpkins.... Truck is a blast!! 86=ifs= nono

Mudcat

We have a 88 which we cut the IFS crap off and put a solid axle in it with Aussie lockers and 5.29 gears. There are a few 85s with EFI which is way better than a carb on the hills and off cambers. But you can always run it on propane if you get a deal on a pre EFI truck. I would definately look for the 4 cyl engine over the v6. The 4 cyl will have the gear drive transfer case which they make creeper gears for and you can even run 2 of them for even lower gearing choices. The v6 will have the prefered transmission but a chain drive transfer case while strong you do not have the ability to go with lower gearing without getting into buying adapters and such.
They are a great vehicle to modify and parts are plentiful and fairly cheap.

Have fun.

Ilikebikes

Its really easy to do a solid axle swap on these trucks (86-94). My friend and I have done about 5 or 6 between the two of us. I'd say to get the newest one possible for comfort and reliability (less proned to stuff failing due to age).

Box5

yea ^, my 90 was so much better than my friends 81 in quality and drivability, but I just love the early cab style and grill. A 81' with a 22re and 5spd, would be my choice. You can get these trucks for next to nothing, Once i get my dodge lined up how I want it i'm gonna get one to work on.

Joe T

You know I'm really liking this idea.. I think I'm going to pick one up as soon as I have the cash to spare.

I'll probably get a reliable newer land cruiser, 4 runner or truck and drive it for awhile to keep miles off my new truck then turn it into a 4wheeler once I use it up.

Do the land cruisers get bad gas milage? I'm assuming I can get over 20 in a 4 cyl truck or 4 runner.

bnold

Another thing to look for is a top shifting transfer case instead of a forward shifting case... Makes things like dual case setups and regearing the existing case much easier...

CODODGE2500MAN

Just be ready to rip out the IFS of the ones after 1985.....

Not to bad of a project...especially if you can weld. My brother and I have build a couple. we did an 86 with a 383 stroker and full width 1 ton axles....We've done a 93 with a 3.4 conversion and all the other toys....1 ton full widths, both trucks have marlin crawlers and all the other "necessities" for wheeling.....