Originally Posted By: CoyotejunkiI haven't drove either much since the 80's. I drove a few CJ's (I think) around '82 and my brother had a standard cab Toyota 4x4 bare bones truck back in 87 that I drove for a couple weeks. Both impressed me back then, I am sure they have changed since. Those little civilian jeeps were a blast to drive back then and the military M38?, whole-lotta-mo fun than those 6x6's.
I hear stories though how jeep owners are plagued with problems,like front end issues, death wobble etc...
Is that mostly BS? I don't plan on going serious rock crawling however I would like to go more area's out west that I wont take a full sized Chevy.
Dan, both the Wrangler and the Tacoma have changed so much since then, you might as well try and forget what they "were" like. Neither vehicle is now anything like what there were then.
Jeep front end issues and DW... Not all BS, a lot of truth to it. But, there's a lot more to the story, too. DW is an inherent issue with any coiled and linked solid front axle. Actually, it happens with leaf sprung live axle rigs too, just not nearly as common.
Heck, I have actually experienced DW in a two wheel drive truck. It can happen to almost any suspension design. But coiled and linked live axles provide the most opportunity for combining wear points to allow the resonant frequency oscillation to start.
DW can be a real PITA to track down and cure, but it always ends up being worn or damaged front end/suspension parts. The thing that makes it sometimes difficult to diagnose and treat is that it is often a combination of moderately worn, but not necessarily not worn out parts, combining to allow the uninhibited frequency oscillation known as Death Wobble.
Now, all that said... If you take care of your junk, it's a complete non issue. And if you leave it basically stock, it's pretty much a non-issue unless you are one of those people that never does any maintenance to anything ever.
I have an '06 Wrangler, that has been running lifted on 35's for over 100K now, still on all the original lift parts. Not a single factory suspension component remains - I changed it all out when I lifted it, 100K ago. Aftermarket lift components are generally much more prone to DW than factory stuff. "Generally". Buying good stuff (buy once cry once), makes a huge difference though. But I also take care of my junk.
Never had even a hint of DW. Ever. 100K on 35's. If/when I do, I know how to fix it, so I'm just not worried about it.
Front end issues... Yeah. Current generation JK's, front axle housings are weak sauce. If you put big tires on it and wheel your junk, heck, even just leave the little factory tires on it and wheel it (really wheel it), you'll eventually end up with a bent front housing.
If I was buying a JK, I'd probably either replace the front housing or beef it up with sleeves and gussets right out of the gate. I'd probably opt for the whole new housing for stronger inner C's.
But! I do wheel my stuff. If all you are doing is driving dirt roads or whatever, you really don't need to worry about it.
And now, after having said all that, the Tacoma is the best coyote hunting rig there is for the kind of stuff I do. I haven't worked with any of the 3rd Gen's yet. But have wheeled with and wrenched on the 2nd Gen's a ton. Easy little rigs to work on. Stupidly reliable. Plenty capable enough for most peoples needs. WAY overpriced! I mean, just stupidly over priced. But they hold the value. Used ones are just as overpriced as new ones.
Ain't no better rig for wandering the west to hunt coyotes though. Not for the way I like to roll.
If you were looking at new, I'd suggest taking a long hard look at the brand new 2018 GMC Colorado. Can get a rear locker and a small diesel. Cost as much as a Tacoma, but totally kills the Toyota in MPG and towing and ought to wheel right there with it.
- DAA
