hmm i just found a toyota fj for trade its a 2008 with 14.5k miles for $23,000

 

For what youre gonna be doing, having lockers & mud tires is the most important thing, regardless of which truck you get. The Taco has the more powerful V6 and I think the TRD package has the electric locker option (??) so I say go Taco if we're talking about out-of-the-box wheeling performance.
Of course you could get an FX4 and throw a locker in it and be just as capable....and still not be paying as much as that loaded Taco. Also to consider, the Ranger has a narrower body than the Taco. Could come in handy out there...

 

what is a locker?

 

FJ cruisers are stupid, my cousin has one, its a pile. He thought it would be good for offroading, his old Wrangler was way better.

 

It makes both tires spin at the same time.

For more info on lockers

 

just get the ranger, an ext cab has all the room you'll need. you're in whitehorse. how many people are you gonna be carrying in the back? it's cheaper and just as capable as a taco. like posted, get some aggressive tires and your good to go

 

It does majorly, take a look at the post I just put up.

I have to say go with the ranger. The area you in is not much different than northern Alberta, where I am. I have had no problems with my ranger. I've spent some time in mountainous areas, around Grande Chache, and its a beautiful truck to work with.

 

how much are lockers to get installed up here in canada? and would it mess with the warranty at all?

 

That the same boat im in, Im waiting out my warrenty. And yes, I believe they are.

 

ok now would is the extra 4,000$ worth it for the off road package or should i just get a normal 4x4?

 

IMO go with a regular 4x4, 4 grand can put a lot of mods on your truck

 

oops the off road package is 2500 not 4000

 

so how is the gas milage on these 4liter 6 cylinders for city driving? Also i just found a 2008 ranger fx4 4x4 with only 8000 mile for $19,000 and still has 3years/100kmiles bumper to bumper left.

 

The 2010 Fx4 isnt even an FX4 anymore, all it offers over the regular sport 4x4 is a decal and different wheels. If you want the most capability stock from a ranger go find a 2002-2007 FX4 level 2.

In 2008 Ford lowered all rangers by a good amount, find an older level 2 (2002-2007) throw a set of 32'' mud terrains and right there you will be more capable than a stock TRD tacoma for a hell of a lot less money. Reliability is not an issue if you maintain your vehicles well

 

I have to add that I averaged 9.2L/100klms on my trip this weekend.

 

up here in the north dunno how easy it would be to find a ranger with a fx4 level 2 package, now was that the only off road package or was there a fx4 level 1 package and a fx4 level 2 bother offered? and how do you tell if one is a fx4 level 2? Does it say on the decal?

 

that souds like a good deal. milage will vary. down here in souther ont, i get 500-550 a tank as an average. up there in the cold, estimating with 4x4 and longer warm up times, 425+ as long as you keep off the skinny.


2 inches is what you call a good amount? there's a thread on here about getting stock ford keys from a 2007- and swapping them in.

myself i'd look for just a xlt 4x4 and either jsut save some coin or take that saved money and get some sort of enhancements for it (lockers, LS, small lift, agressive tires) and call it a day.

 

In the US the only real differance between the LVL 1 and LVL 2 is clutch pack LS on LVL 1 and Torsion(gear) LS on LVL 2. one extra skid plate on LVL 2. Leather on LVL 2 and the Alcoa 15x8 rims on LVL 2. There is a special LVL 2 FX4 decal for the earlier LVL 2 trucks and in 06 or 07 there is a LVL 2 badge on the lower part of the front door. If it's still stock the Alcoa's are a good bet it's a LVL2. My LVL 1 was $500 cheaper than the LVL 2 thay had on the lot but the LVL 2 was sold when I got there.

 

for stock, yes 2 inches front and back is a good amount. Means you don't have to screw around to properly fit at least a 32" mud tire

 

leather was optional on both "level 1" and level 2, alcoas are 15x7, the rear axle on level 2 is bigger, level 2 got bilstein shocks, a far nicer interior imo and came stock with 31" a/t's

 

they dont even have skidplates anymore?

 

yeah thats a good idea. I'd take the $ saved from not getting an FX4 and put an ARB air locker in it and have one helluva truck.
i just said TRD because he asked which truck is more capable in stock form

 

3 skidplates are standard on the sport 4x4 now, between the sport and "fx4" there is almost no difference

 

If you dont want to mess with a dif install that torsen dif really works good, ive emailed them and for 515 shipped they will send a dana 35 front torsen, pretty good imo, some 32x1150 and front and rear torsen units would really get you anywhete you wana go, or at least should go without beating the hell out of your new truck. Lockers and stuff are nice but i wouldnt want to be taking a new truck and pounding on it like a rock crawler. Hell even h1 hummers have torsen difs front and rear so it cant be to bad!

 

ya i think i'm going to take the 08 truck for $19,500 its fully loaded has every feature but the gps, it has the suicide 1/2 doors, leather, auto start, and 4 years left on the bumper to bumper/power train warranty ect... ect... with onlly 8000 miles