Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Surly Horns

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Show me your old Tacos (4Runner, FJ, Landcruiser, bronco etc)

Featured Replies

  • Popular Post

Been planning to post here but then always forgot to actually snap a pic to post.  These are my collection -- 1994 Bronco, 2007 GX470, 2022 Bronco. 

 

I've had the older Bronco for almost 25yrs and plan to let my son drive it when he turns 16 this summer.

PXL_20250401_124601088~3.jpg

  • Replies 1.1k
  • Views 107.5k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • Here’s my 2000 LX470. I would’ve liked to have an 80 series instead but I do way too much highway driving and the 100s are just way better on the road. The LX has the adjustable height suspension so

  • Pato del Muerto
    Pato del Muerto

    So this makes an appearance at my work parking lot from time to time, owned by a guy that works in building maintenance. It’s pretty damn perfect. 

  • TxfightJr passed his driving test today, and I also got the big Bronco back from finishing painting.  I've planned to give it to him for about 10yrs, but now it's real. Fingers crossed going forward.

Posted Images

48 minutes ago, txfight said:

Been planning to post here but then always forgot to actually snap a pic to post.  These are my collection -- 1994 Bronco, 2007 GX470, 2022 Bronco. 

 

I've had the older Bronco for almost 25yrs and plan to let my son drive it when he turns 16 this summer.

PXL_20250401_124601088~3.jpg

Not often you see an unmolested GX of that vintage.  All of the ones up here have been lifted and turned into offroaders/overlanders.

On 4/1/2025 at 4:27 PM, txfight said:

Been planning to post here but then always forgot to actually snap a pic to post.  These are my collection -- 1994 Bronco, 2007 GX470, 2022 Bronco. 

 

I've had the older Bronco for almost 25yrs and plan to let my son drive it when he turns 16 this summer.

PXL_20250401_124601088~3.jpg

Your son is getting the best end of the deal.  94 Bronco pulling into the school parking lot will get him some trim.

Joined the club, bought a ‘17 Tacoma TRD Off Road with 95k miles on it.  What should I expect?  And is it called a “Taco”?  Pardon being a newb.

30 minutes ago, FigurelliPwC said:

Joined the club, bought a ‘17 Tacoma TRD Off Road with 95k miles on it.  What should I expect?  And is it called a “Taco”?  Pardon being a newb.

"TACO"ma

1 hour ago, FigurelliPwC said:

Joined the club, bought a ‘17 Tacoma TRD Off Road with 95k miles on it.  What should I expect?  And is it called a “Taco”?  Pardon being a newb.

Congrats. Do you have any previous service records? I’d just make sure the past owner kept up with the maintenance items. There is probably some stuff due at 100K (coolant etc). 

I do feel like most people ignore the diff/t-case fluids and u joint/zerks. Those are all easy to do yourself and it gives you a zero point going forward. 

IMG_0405.jpeg

Edited by topochico
Service calendar

2 hours ago, topochico said:

Congrats. Do you have any previous service records? I’d just make sure the past owner kept up with the maintenance items. There is probably some stuff due at 100K (coolant etc). 

I do feel like most people ignore the diff/t-case fluids and u joint/zerks. Those are all easy to do yourself and it gives you a zero point going forward. 

IMG_0405.jpeg

Transfers and differentials are very easy. just pull the fill plug FIRST...  Only issue was the village idiot that designed the fill plug on the front diff of my 01 4Runner. Einstein used a plug with hex insert instead of a six sided plug. Almost impossible to get enough space to pull down and remove it since it was hidden by frame.  Had to get it way up on ramps first. 

6 minutes ago, AUinHsv said:

Transfers and differentials are very easy. just pull the fill plug FIRST...  Only issue was the village idiot that designed the fill plug on the front diff of my 01 4Runner. Einstein used a plug with hex insert instead of a six sided plug. Almost impossible to get enough space to pull down and remove it since it was hidden by frame.  Had to get it way up on ramps first. 

If it is the same plug as the Tacoma (I assume it is), the Lexus plug is compatible and is 6 sided. I have them waiting in my garage for when it's time to change the fluids. 

Definitely agree to confirm that you can take off the fill plug BEFORE you remove the drain plug. 

11 hours ago, topochico said:

Congrats. Do you have any previous service records? I’d just make sure the past owner kept up with the maintenance items. There is probably some stuff due at 100K (coolant etc). 

I do feel like most people ignore the diff/t-case fluids and u joint/zerks. Those are all easy to do yourself and it gives you a zero point going forward. 

IMG_0405.jpeg

Thanks for posting the chart - I have the service records from carfax - 1 owner and they were good about tire rotations amd oil changes every 5k miles.  I’ll have to check to see what other items were done recently.

7 hours ago, FigurelliPwC said:

Thanks for posting the chart - I have the service records from carfax - 1 owner and they were good about tire rotations amd oil changes every 5k miles.  I’ll have to check to see what other items were done recently.

No idea if they did this on that generation of Tacoma but it is pretty common in Toyota and others. See if they put a transmission cooler in radiator. It's common and works until one of the line fails. You then get the strawberry milkshake and a new transmission. Easy fix is to replace with a new radiator and trnasmission hoses before it happen, Usually ten years but at least check.  Also unless you have records then just do the brake fluid.

  • 2 months later...

I coulda posted this in the trucks nuts thread but it's Tacoma-specific so might get more traffic here...

We're starting to look at cars for my soon to be 16yo son and he's mostly been interested in the sportier cars-- Toyota GR86, Mustangs, Camaros.  

But lately he's really keen on the idea of a pickup, and specifically the Tacoma.  I don't know much about them, but I can see the various trim packages.  He's most likely going to want the one that looks the coolest, but I'm interested in the various engine options.  We'd be looking at 2020 or newer, and it looks like the engine options are a 2.7L 4-cylinder or a 3.5L 6-cylinder? Any thoughts on them?  He doesn't need to be racing this thing and won't be towing anything.  He might want to haul some stuff in the bed but nothing really heavy.Is the 4-cylinder okay or for general use, or is it under-powered?  I don't really have a preference but for me, safety is the main concern.  I've driven some under-powered cars that make them difficult to merge onto freeways at speed, that's the type of thing I want to make sure it has the power to do.

Open for thoughts and ideas on the matter.

Having never driven the 4cyl and all of my Toyotas having had the 6cyl, I would never go w/ the 4cyl.  I highly doubt it is unsafe, and if you're trying to make sure he's slow, that may be the way to go.  

Good thing is you have a million to choose from.  2020-2023 w/i 200mi of Austin: link

3.5L doesn't make much power, but it will still be making it 20 years and 500,000 miles from now. 

I had a 2020 Taco with the 4 cylinder. It’s underwhelming but will last forever.

  • 2 weeks later...
On 6/27/2025 at 2:55 PM, utee94 said:

I coulda posted this in the trucks nuts thread but it's Tacoma-specific so might get more traffic here...

We're starting to look at cars for my soon to be 16yo son and he's mostly been interested in the sportier cars-- Toyota GR86, Mustangs, Camaros.  

But lately he's really keen on the idea of a pickup, and specifically the Tacoma.  I don't know much about them, but I can see the various trim packages.  He's most likely going to want the one that looks the coolest, but I'm interested in the various engine options.  We'd be looking at 2020 or newer, and it looks like the engine options are a 2.7L 4-cylinder or a 3.5L 6-cylinder? Any thoughts on them?  He doesn't need to be racing this thing and won't be towing anything.  He might want to haul some stuff in the bed but nothing really heavy.Is the 4-cylinder okay or for general use, or is it under-powered?  I don't really have a preference but for me, safety is the main concern.  I've driven some under-powered cars that make them difficult to merge onto freeways at speed, that's the type of thing I want to make sure it has the power to do.

Open for thoughts and ideas on the matter.

I bought my son a 6 cyl Tacoma and my daughter a 4 cyl Tacoma - both 2021's. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't get the 4 cyl - the price difference isn't that much and the 4 is a slug

Edited by Beer Drinker

I just bought a 4wd 2023 Tacoma with 40k miles and it has a whine in the drivetrain that my other 3 2wd Tacomas didn't have. Only whines when not under load from acceleration or braking. Redit says it normal.

Anyone have this experience with a 4wd?

  • 3 weeks later...

the door lock actuator and motor went out in my 4Runner and the first place i took it wanted $1k to fix it, which seems very high.  anyone had this happen?  appears to be common in toyota's but i've never had it happen in my 4 previous ones.

Happened on my last one.  Door lock button on the door would lock all but driver door, so always had to use the fob.  Was told $800+ to fix, so I just lived w/ it.

fob and button don't work for driver's door, so i have to get used to using a key again like i'm in high school...

7 hours ago, 4th&Five said:

the door lock actuator and motor went out in my 4Runner and the first place i took it wanted $1k to fix it, which seems very high.  anyone had this happen?  appears to be common in toyota's but i've never had it happen in my 4 previous ones.

That happened in my LX470.  You can find the actuators on eBay.  I did the driver side and it wasn't too bad.  You have to take the interior panel off and to get to it.  But the passenger side was going out too and I haven't gotten around to that one yet.  

It works sporadically most of the year but with the summer heat it almost never locks the passenger door.  The big problem is that the alarm logic thinks the car is locked but the passenger door will open right up, which of course triggers the alarm.  It's been like that for about 3 years now and my solution is to just leave the car unlocked all the time.  It's my kids car now and he's got nothing but crap in it anyway.   

On 7/10/2025 at 5:14 PM, Ten Bears said:

I just bought a 4wd 2023 Tacoma with 40k miles and it has a whine in the drivetrain that my other 3 2wd Tacomas didn't have. Only whines when not under load from acceleration or braking. Redit says it normal.

Anyone have this experience with a 4wd?

obligatory

 

IMG_2274.jpeg

intermittent door lock switch fob issues are a thing on my 2011 Camry.  it's been working lately.  my theory is it gets out of synch if I use the key in the door instead of the fob and it just likes to protest about it, like it was a Peugeot in another life. 

Edited by wd40

17 hours ago, Your Mom said:

That happened in my LX470.  You can find the actuators on eBay.  I did the driver side and it wasn't too bad.  You have to take the interior panel off and to get to it.  But the passenger side was going out too and I haven't gotten around to that one yet.  

It works sporadically most of the year but with the summer heat it almost never locks the passenger door.  The big problem is that the alarm logic thinks the car is locked but the passenger door will open right up, which of course triggers the alarm.  It's been like that for about 3 years now and my solution is to just leave the car unlocked all the time.  It's my kids car now and he's got nothing but crap in it anyway.   

i think i've unknowingly been leaving it unlocked for a few months.  i know it was when it was parked at the airport for a week.  

Edited by 4th&Five

30 minutes ago, KeysPhoneWallet said:

Something went terribly wrong with my post…sorry

Can you delete or edit it?

Got back from camping in Carson National Forest, northern NM. Beautiful weather, scenery, and the 10 year old taco still runs like new.

PXL_20250729_184119933_MP.thumb.jpg.0f10d644a46d81cc1108dadbfad937cf.jpg

Nice.

I was just north of there back in May. Tried to go to the top of San Antonio mountain on the way back from Colorado but it was raining/snowing and the road was a big mess. The mud was so slick I couldn't stay on the road before it started climbing, can't imagine how bad it was higher up.

  • 2 weeks later...

Man I think you're underestimating what demand has driven prices to, even for the shittiest of old Broncos.

Here's the closest shitty one I could find, that's anywhere near your price range.  $7,900 from a private seller in Houston.  He says it "runs good" but does not mention A/C.  The odometer is broken.

https://houston.craigslist.org/ctd/d/houston-1995-ford-bronco/7872314004.html

 

 

Bought my 16 year old son a used black 2023 Tacoma 4x4 yesterday.  The 80s version was what I always dreamed of owning after watching Back to the Future.  I have always loved Tacos but never owned one.  Going to keep it in the family for the ranch once he is done with it.  

On 8/13/2025 at 5:05 PM, Frank Drebin said:

Bought my 16 year old son a used black 2023 Tacoma 4x4 yesterday.  The 80s version was what I always dreamed of owning after watching Back to the Future.  I have always loved Tacos but never owned one.  Going to keep it in the family for the ranch once he is done with it.  

 Yea that Yota in Back to the Future was second only to the Bronco in Romancing the Stone 

1 hour ago, Beer Drinker said:

 Yea that Yota in Back to the Future was second only to the Bronco in Romancing the Stone 

Oh, you mean my Little Mule? Pepe!

Edited by Rimbo

  • 2 weeks later...

I'm looking at a couple of 2022 4Runners - TRD Off-Road Premium.  One has the KDSS and the other does not.  I'm nervous about any additional hydraulic system since my wife's Limited's X-RES system started leaking at 70k.  I understand the ride quality is better, but the cost to fix that stuff is ridiculous. 

Anyone have experience with the KDSS, good or bad? 

On 8/31/2025 at 2:32 PM, Jerry Callo said:

I'm looking at a couple of 2022 4Runners - TRD Off-Road Premium.  One has the KDSS and the other does not.  I'm nervous about any additional hydraulic system since my wife's Limited's X-RES system started leaking at 70k.  I understand the ride quality is better, but the cost to fix that stuff is ridiculous. 

Anyone have experience with the KDSS, good or bad? 

Get a Lexus GX.  All the offroad cred and a V8.

Had a newer 4R trd pro as a rental last month, that better be a badass off-road machine bc it was total shit on the pavement. And that’s coming from a daily driver of a 10 yr old 4R. 

On 9/2/2025 at 10:29 AM, bluto said:

Had a newer 4R trd pro as a rental last month, that better be a badass off-road machine bc it was total shit on the pavement. And that’s coming from a daily driver of a 10 yr old 4R. 

Picked up a 2025 TRD pro today. Coming from a 2023 TRD ORP (talked the wife into keeping it for now at least). Haven't had a lot of road time, but it's a machine. The pricing on these things is fn stupid, 5-10k too expensive imo. Lots of little things I have found that I don't like relative to the 2023, but on the pavement ride quality isn't it so far. For what they are getting for these, the Tundra TRD Pro is not too far ahead of it in pricing and is an absolute unit. 

 

eta running list of nit picks:

interior feels smaller all around.

second row is more cramped.

second row doesn't fold flat. 

electronic 4wd, preferred the mechanical stick. 

The hybrid drivetrain takes some getting use to. There is a noticeable clunk between 1st and 2nd or when it switches from electric to gas, not totally sure which.  May just be a matter of getting use to the hybrid. 

All of above balanced out by the outdated interior and tech package of the 5G. I was watching the dallas game earlier on the big screen and it was dope. 

Edited by Anastasis

  • Popular Post

Hey y'all. We are now 4runner people. 2012, still fun to drive. It gets quieter the faster I go so I've got to learn to watch that or I'll get tickets.

Right now it's packed full of gear for a jaunt from Birmingham to a Chattanooga art show. Gonna be my new work horse so my wife doesn't get her car stolen.

IMG_2354.jpg

IMG_2355.jpg

IMG_2357.jpg

On 7/30/2025 at 10:11 AM, Mittens said:

Happened on my last one.  Door lock button on the door would lock all but driver door, so always had to use the fob.  Was told $800+ to fix, so I just lived w/ it.

 

find a mexican garage 

On 9/5/2025 at 10:54 AM, RDCanecutter said:

Hey y'all. We are now 4runner people. 2012, still fun to drive. It gets quieter the faster I go so I've got to learn to watch that or I'll get tickets.

Right now it's packed full of gear for a jaunt from Birmingham to a Chattanooga art show. Gonna be my new work horse so my wife doesn't get her car stolen.

IMG_2354.jpg

IMG_2355.jpg

IMG_2357.jpg

 

first job out of college,  I bought a 97 4Runner limited. 4wd, black. damn I wish I would have kept that vehicle. 

Think I paid $35k, couple of miles on the odometer 

Looking at a 2023 certified Toyota 4 Runner SR5 premium 4WD. It’s white with the blackout package and 74k miles. How are we liking this model?

Would be getting rid of a pretty new Mazda CX-50 Hybrid…nice car just realized it’s too small for us.

23 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

 

first job out of college,  I bought a 97 4Runner limited. 4wd, black. damn I wish I would have kept that vehicle. 

Think I paid $35k, couple of miles on the odometer 

I left a VW Camper Van on the side of a hill in North Carolina with a blown #3 cylinder because I had a new job 2 states away, was broke, and was in a foolish hurry.

Life is bad car decisions, regrets, and solo drinking to Pogues albums. But the sun always rises, and you may find yourself behind the wheel of a fine automobile, once again.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.