2000 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner V6
3.4L DOHC V6 Off-Road Pickup
"WHite KNight"
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I'm a member of the Toyota Territory Off-Roaders Association: http://www.ttora.com/. They have plenty of cool trucks and helpful, knowledgable owners there, as well as links to local chapters across the United States. If you want to know your truck, wrench smart, meet new people, and have fun on and off the pavement, this is the place to be. Register your account today and get involved.
My Tacoma:
I received the keys to my Tacoma in 2004, and immediately discovered it to be a fun ride. On the road, it proved to be quick, and surprizingly agile, despite its off-road ride height, and big tires. It's very predictable, and you wouldn't even think it had an off-road suspension.
Off the road, however, you can tell it has a taste for dirt and rocks. Even though this my truck is 2WD, it nonetheless tackles some pretty tough terrain, with only the craziest of paths off-limits. I've taken it through small creeks as if they weren't even there, and on places where the dirt road simply vanished.
That's because besides a world-class OEM suspension, this truck is powered by Toyota's amazing 3.4L DOHC V6 engine, the "5VZ-FE", which puts down just under 200hp from the factory. This is the same engine used in Toyota's successful 4Runner SUV. It growls off the line, and urges the truck over tough terrain. There's a large aftermarket for this engine platform -- intakes, headers, full exhaust systems, and even a 50-state legal supercharger by Toyota Racing Development (TRD).
The interior is fully-loaded, with power windows, power door locks, and a Cassete/CD-player sound system that has great clarity, and delivers a good thumpin' for a factory deck. The air conditioning is ice cold when needed, and the engine warms up quickly, giving you a quickly-heated cab on those cold mornings. The cruise control is easy to access, and the glove compartment is a decent size. A center console offers more storage, and good-sized cup holders can accommodate those larger-than-large fastfood sodas, or even a coffee mug. This truck is also equipped with three power outlets (one w/ cig lighter, two with caps), and has both dome and map lights that can be switched on or off, or tied to opening the door. The seats, while relatively simple, are comfortable.
The rear extended cab area is, as extended cabs go, pretty decent for a smaller pickup. I've seen a Ford Ranger of the same year with weird sideways seats. The Tacoma has them facing forward, with standard shoulder and lap belts. The seats easilly store away, providing access to storage compartments underneath. I've manage to fit in a wide assortment of useful items in there, including my tow hitch and a set of four 10' long winched tiedown straps. The rear window splits open for some fresh air, and the side windows pop out as well. A utility tray on the passenger side has rubber grip strips, and doubles as a twin cup holder. It folds easilly out of the way for passengers.
I managed to fit two big guys back there once, one 6' tall and the other 5'9" and just under 300 lbs. We drove like that for some time. It was tight, but it's doable if the need arises.
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Page 1: Introduction & Updates
Page 2: Visual Modifications
Page 3: Performance Modifications
Page 4: Wish List
Page 5: The WHite KNight in Action
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UPDATE: 4/10/06
I just picked up my drilled & slotted rotors! The brakes are grinding metal-to-metal on the passenger front, but that's ok. I knew the rotors were warped anyways. The new parts look awesome. Pictures can be found on Page 3: Performance Modifications. I'll be using standard pads to break them in, but I'll be replacing those with Hawk performance brake pads once it's time.
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If you have any tech questions, or just want to find more Tacoma owners, check out the Toyota Territory Off-Roaders Association (TTORA)
