Offroadability - Tacoma vs Liberty

Rusty the Scoob · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:55 am

I think I've wheeled with everything But a taco... But looking at the specs - Tacos are built on a frame, the TRDs come with darn near 33" tires, the offroad TRDs have locking rear diffs, etc. Sorry man, but a KJ just isn't built to measure up to that.

Wheelbase can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the obstacle and situation.

What difference does it make, though? If offroad prowess is your primary concern and you want a late model factory vehicle, you need a Rubi TJ or TK... either one will put anything with IFS and open diffs to shame. Still, the KJ is a really nice little truck and it'll handle far more than what 99% of people will throw at it.

SnowgodCCR · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:37 am

Rusty the Scoob wrote:

What difference does it make, though? If offroad prowess is your primary concern and you want a late model factory vehicle, you need a Rubi TJ or TK... either one will put anything with IFS and open diffs to shame. Still, the KJ is a really nice little truck and it'll handle far more than what 99% of people will throw at it.

FYI, the new Wrangler is the JK...old news there.

wendell · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:35 am

I don't know about handling anything with ifs, the dixon brothers kit on the front of a ranger is stronger than a straight axle, it's been race tested, but for 4 grand it ought to be ha ha. With some of the work these race teams are doing on pre-runners, straight axles are no longer the only game in town, but they cost so darn much. With all the ifs vehicles out there you would think the price on some of these systems would start comming down.

65thKJ · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:43 am

In my experience the japanese cars I've owned or friends of mine have owned have had a lot more problems than the GM FOrd and Jeep vehicles I have had. However, I don't think the 12 or so vehicles I have had is enough of a sample size so I don't stereotype the japanese cars as being unreliable. I just don't like them because they don't contribute as much to our economy as the american brands and they are overpriced.

Rusty the Scoob · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:09 am

SnowgodCCR wrote:

Rusty the Scoob wrote:

What difference does it make, though? If offroad prowess is your primary concern and you want a late model factory vehicle, you need a Rubi TJ or TK... either one will put anything with IFS and open diffs to shame. Still, the KJ is a really nice little truck and it'll handle far more than what 99% of people will throw at it.

FYI, the new Wrangler is the JK...old news there.

Oops... mis-typed. :oops:

As far as race trucks using IFS - racing and wheeling are totally different animals. There's no question that IFS has huge advantages at speed.

scoobybri · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:27 am

dieselenthusiast wrote:

he Liberty has excellent ground clearance at the factory height at 9.4 inches

The stock clearance under the front skid is actually 6.4" which is a handicap IMHO. (The Jeep sales literature is so misleading on this fact. When I was comparing the Libby and the Xterra, I was mislead by Jeep's 9.4" clearance claim) After wheeling a few times stock, I almost had buyer's remorse. BUT! Once I slapped in a Rusty's coil lift and some new tires, I am extremely happy. My friend has a TRD crew cab Tacoma and my Libby can get everywhere his Tacoma can (so far) and when it comes to tight windy single track trails, I have soooo much of an easier time than he does, just because of the wheelbase.

I will give the TRD Tacoma props for being,out-of-the-box, one heck of a wheeling beast. Huge clearance, big tires, locker, etc. If I needed a truck, that's what I would have bought.

65thKJ · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:47 am

For a lot less money especially w/ the discounts dealers make you can get a Ford Ranger FX4 which I think is a lot nicer truck than the taco plus its american. So, if I was buying a truck I'd get a Ranger over the Taco.

As for the Liberty vs Taco as stated above they are entirely different, SUV vs Pickup.

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:01 pm

I respectfully disagree with tire size being all important. You notice all the expedition rigs that travel worldwide rarely have tires like we put on our rigs. If your not in deep mud you have to float over, snow or sand to contend day in day out the standard US tire on most rigs is not an advantage. There is a reason why the 245/75X16 tires work exceptionally well on your rigs and it has nothing to do with not being able to fit something bigger that will fix everything. The tire patch riding on the ground is about opitimal for our size and weight vehicles, taller and narrower like a 235/80 or 85 may be better yet if we can keep the front end happy.
I rate driving ability way ahead of tires, still see way to many relatively stock early Jeeps out there in the boonies with an old guy behind the wheel to think differently.
Turned in a few truck wheelers the other day that were doing a little logging of the trails to get their rigs through the tight spots the Jeepers have driven for years, they got busted and are now not having a good day. There is a real reason our rigs are designed the way they are.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:44 pm

65thKJ wrote:

In my experience the jap cars I've owned or friends of mine have owned have had a lot more problems than the GM FOrd and Jeep vehicles I have had. However, I don't think the 12 or so vehicles I have had is enough of a sample size so I don't stereotype the japanese cars as being unreliable. I just don't like them because they don't contribute as much to our economy as the american brands and they are overpriced.

Please do not use the word "Jap." Thank you.

65thKJ · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:44 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

Please do not use the word "Jap." Thank you.

Sorry bout that, didn't mean it as derogatory just as shorthand for japanese while typing. I'll edit it out.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2007 1:40 am

scoobybri wrote:

dieselenthusiast wrote:

he Liberty has excellent ground clearance at the factory height at 9.4 inches

The stock clearance under the front skid is actually 6.4" which is a handicap IMHO. (The Jeep sales literature is so misleading on this fact.

A valid point, and your right, the Jeep literature is very misleading. Thanks for bringing that to our attention!

Offroadability - Tacoma vs Liberty

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