thinking of purchasing a new vehical before the next season up in glamis and im undecided of what to purchass iwas thinking of the new tacoma's or the s10's whats a better dunner in your opinion

An f-350 with a 6" lift 36x14.50x16.5 Swampers on weld's super singles IIs
just my opinion.

if you want a small truck i would have to say a tacoma. i rode in one with long travel it rides sweet. the only s10 i rode in had a fabtech lift which is no comparison to long travel. but toyota makes a better small truck.

if you want a big truck go with a ford super duty f250 or f350.

BE DIFFERENT!
KIA Sporttage V6 4X4 w/winch option!

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Damage INC

I'm sitting here reading this and wondering. Here someone is contemplating buying a "NEW" vehicle and wants to know which is a better "dunner". I have been told numerous times and have heard others say, never dune with what you drive home. Can anyone help this person out with some personal experiences about duning your driver?

Big Al I was thinking the same thing when i started reading this post... FORGET getting something new get something thats kind of beat and make sure you have someone out there that can tow you back home if your out duning it.

A KIA OnceJR? no way. the best ride is a 1982 dodge van 1-ton with so much rust on the roof that you get a sun-roof for free. Hey, its got a 1-ton rear so it could handle some paddles, right? now that would be sick in the dunes.

Here's my story.......
Bought a 01 Ranger in March (some of you seen it @ the last gathering). Took it out, went over some whoops a little fast, cracked the radiator (made of plastic). Had to leave my new truck on a corner in El Centro @ 11PM on a Sunday, buy a new radiator on Monday (missed work), have my neighbor drive through a snow storm w/me & the radiator back to El Centro on Monday night. We installed the radiator & left El Centro around Midnight...drove back through the snow storm. The radiator cost $365...vaseline was free.

thats sucks grnsunshine you and your crew should have just jumped in with J-Dog in his truck.

I dune my truck. But, I am damn careful. Those of you at the party probably noticed that I stayed sober (for the most part) whenever we were going to be driving anywhere. That is a key. Liquid Courage will get you in trouble every time.

They key to duning a truck is to take it slowly and learn the limits of your vehicle before you push the limit. If you take it slow and don't get crazy, you can do an aweful lot without worry.

Oh yeah, go CHEVY!!! Check out California Supr Trucks (www.californiasupertrucks.com) they have great 2wd long travel suspensions. But, if you want to be safe, go with 4wd.

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jdog

"If you're gonna go, go BIG"

[This message has been edited by jdog (edited 04-25-2001).]

First of all, buy a used truck and use the rest of the money on a real sand toy. Trucks are good for transportation and some fun duning, but they can't compare to a rail or quad in the dunes. Unless of course you want to bring 10 of your freeloader friends to Comp at night. And I am sure you want to make it a prerunner style????? If you want a off road vehicle buy one, don't fake it with a 2x.

I agree with jdog, 4x4 is better for the dunes. My brother has a 2-wheel drive toyota. It has 14" travel (ATS), 33x12.5 bfg mudders and he still gets stuck, a lot. He knows how to drive too (going to race class 7s next season) but the truck that always pulls him out is my buddy's stock 4x4 T-100 with mild off-road tires. I'd say get something a little older and use the extra money to buy a bike or quad!

BTW.....the cracked radiator happened the weekend before Easter @ Superstition. JDog is right...but I learned after the fact. I also purchased a tow rope for the unexpected.

Tacoma Tacoma Tacoma! Yes, I work for Toyota so I'm partial but 4 wheeler magazine doesn't and the 4x4 taco with the TRD package not only won the ultimate 4x4 competetion but also truck of the year and was voted best light truck. Check this months mag to check my info. I've duned my 98 and 99 taco HARD up in dumont and also in Glamis. I don't reccomend doing so cause the sand + abuse wears out the truck fast. Any truck will suffer in the dunes. Its not gonna get you up in the big dunes unless your carefull but its a great truck anyways.
Chevy does have a better V6. That vortec is very strong, but overall, the taco is a better vehicle. Its also a great 4x4 up in the mountains! I drove mine up hills you couldn't walk up and it just kept goin. Good luck on your new truck, you'll be happy with either. Just don't get a Ford.
Ben

hey Ben, just curious - what do you do at Toyota?

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jdog

"If you're gonna go, go BIG"

I run the place of course! I work at a parts warehouse in Ontario. We get in parts from Japan and from stateside venders. We supply PDC's (Parts distribution center) in most major city's with Toyota parts and they, in turn, supply the dealers. I am just a humble warehouse associate there. I ship and receive parts, work the computers, handle special orders and try to stay out of the bosses way. Nothing exciting but I get plenty of time off to go to G.
Ben

Toyota or Chevy...? What do you have have against Fords? My 99' 2 wheel drive goes though the sand just as good as any other 2 wheel drive. My feelings are hurt!

whats up fireball--
F-350 all the way if you are gonna dune dune in style... just f-ing around I'll trade gas
mileage for the summer $3.00 a gallon soon
Tacoma

GO chevy, I've had chevy's for the last 12 years and had very good luck. Also the millage is good. Butt if you want to dune but a piece of junk and have fun and if it breakes you don't feel as bad

Ford RULES!!!!!!! Chevys are underpowered!!!!

I have a '98 4x4 Tacoma with a 14" long travel system...Race Runner 2.5 Coilover shocks...18" king coils with a 700 Spring rate...3" extended axles and steering arm...and of course Custom upper and lower Arms...I dunes like an overgrown quad...

Toyotas have always been good in the sand...Even when mine was stock it got everywhere with no problems...I just spent the money cause i have a sick disease to where i cant leave anythin i own alone...

BUT LIKE JDOG SAID...LIQUID COURAGE AND DRIVIN OVER YOUR HEAD WILL SEND YOU WALKIN EVERYTIME...

alxcook - "Chevys are underpowered"

What a bunch of BS. My new truck is more powerful than any production truck on the road. The 8.1L (496 cu in), 350 HP, 450 lb ft engine with 4.10 rear , 5 speed auto w/ ultra low 1st gear, and 4wd blows the doors off any F**d, D*dge, Toy, whatever.

Also Duramax vs Powerstroke diesels, not even a question. Powerstroke is such an appropriate name for a F**D product.

Even the base engines in Chevys are more powerful. The Vortecs put the F**D engines to shame!!!!

[img]http://content.communities.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=view_photo&ID_Community=JamesTruckBandVacationEtcPhotos&ID_Topic=3&ID_Message=5[/img]

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jdog

"If you're gonna go, go BIG"

[This message has been edited by jdog (edited 04-26-2001).]

Yup, JDog has a pretty nice little truck. I like it!

Hey Biggie! Howzitgoin? I looked for you at G last weekend but Glamis is a big place and I ride a little bike. Did you even go?

JDog, nice looking truck. I owned a chevy for 3 years, they didn't have the big engine that you have. I had many problems with my Chevy, all electrical. Electrical problems are a pain in the kester. The 4x went out, A/c went out, windows stopped working, windshield wipers quit, ignition had to be replaced, and three smog censors went bad. Plus the thing couldn't stop, the brakes sucked. I pull about a 10,000lb trailer for work and pleasure (about 20,000 miles a year). The Chevy just didn't have enough power.

I now have the v10, it pulls awesome. Because the engine has a short stroke, it revs quick, thus accelerating quickly. Especially towing. My belief is Chevy engines are better for drag racing (Because of the longer stroke), and Ford makes a better towing engine. Just my opinion.

Either way, you have a nice ride. By the way, what kind of mileage are you getting?

regardless of what anyone wants to say Popular Mechanics did the tow test for all and Ford lost to Chevy. Without aftermarket extras such as the banks, Chevy diesel kicked absoulte but on the Fords for comfort ride, pulling strength and price. Dodge didnt even make it into the test pack because they were to weak. next years model will be a compeitior.

Sorry thats the facts all you F350 folks.

Toyota is all around best car like ride for a truck winner.

Alx, that sucks about your past Chevy experiences. I think all US car makers have the same problem - some of the trucks they build will last forever, some are just total ****. Same truck, same design, same production line, VERY different end results. Its a matter of luck.

Chevy has gotten their act together with the new trucks. I expect F**d and D**ge to work real hard and come out with even more powerful trucks in the future. Gotta love competition!!!

If I'm lucky I get 9 mpg. But, I can't keep my foot off of it - its too much fun!!!!


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jdog

"If you're gonna go, go BIG"

go with the Toyota.
You can get lots of aftermarket parts
it wont leak oil for at least 5 yrs
used parts are everywhere
I am a made in US type guy, but the s10/sonoma is a pile of ****. I have a 99 and it leaked after12k on it. The seatbelt bolts came out. The 3rd door handle broke. My 91 Yota still runs great and never broke nothin.Hate to side with the Jap guys, but they spank the US in the mini market.FYI...

Hey JDOG didnt you have issues pulling my little Chevy out of the sand?

HaHaHa.. yeah, but that's cause I'm stupid, not cause my truck is weak.

Try pulling out a 3500 dually with camper plus trailer with rail & quad inside in deep sand in ---2WD--- and see how far you get!!!! Or, more likely, how deep you get.

Its amazing that pushing that little 4wd button actually helps alot.

Late,

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jdog

"If you're gonna go, go BIG"

Yeah it was an easy tow for you once you had it in 4wd. it would have done it though in 2wd if you had known it was in 2wd or driven it knowing. My truck weighs in at 16,0000 lbs the way it was loaded. Of course it helped that I was 4wd as well, mostly need to get a pull to get some speed to stay on top of the sand. I couldnt have made it out without you though.

JDOG, what size lift, what make lift, what size tires?

6" RCD lift (www.racecardynamics.com) with Super Swamper SSR's 35x12.5x16 on 16x10 AE 589's

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jdog

"If you're gonna go, go BIG"