Most fun video in a while, nice work guys

I have an '02 model, currently at 275,000 miles and just replaced the factory clutch. it's been the best, most reliable vehicle I've ever owned hands down.

The part at the end where Tommy takes the old Tacoma around the hole was priceless. I thought it was stuck for sure. Great video.

I miss the smaller style Tacoma’s

I would love to see a video with a first gen Tundra vs new Tacoma. They’re about the same size.

That old taco is pretty perfect. I would keep the tire size but go to an aggressive tread, and then add a selectable rear locker.

I'd love to have a gen 1 tacoma with some lockers.

Man that baby yota is so nice, i loved my 2007 single cab 4wd tacoma with the 2.7, still regret selling it, it was so agile off road and was great on gas. Truck was incredibly reliable had no problems in the 6 years i owned it and i beat on it pretty good too

The lesson learned here is. No matter what 4x4. Knowing your vehicle & picking the right line is your best bet. Good demos guys 🤙🏼

I must agree with Tommy on this one. That little tácito is well worth the money.

I'm a GM guy and I don't think I've ever cheered for a truck more than I did for baby yota.

The first gen Tacoma’s are probably one of the best trucks ever made. I know several of them that have 300k+ miles on them and they’re still on the road and running great. Plus they’ll go just about anywhere you want them to with the right tires under them.

Installing a lockright lockers is so easy and cheap on the old Tacoma

Agree old school all the way 👍

When you are out in the woods and you need to get through an obstacle....there is no cheating.

Some ARB lockers and that 02 Taco would be a monster.

i had one of the original Toyota 4x4 1979 if memory serves me right. it was indescribable and went every where. i had a 3” lift and 33” super swampers

Put some Falken Wildpeak AT3W tires on the old taco!

I loved my short cab 1996 Tacoma with 5spd 4 cylinder. I wish I would have kept it. Add a rear selectable locker and I am pretty sure the old Taco will keep up with the new one. One of the better videos in recent memory.

Our 02 Tacoma 2.4liter 5 speed manual 2wd has only needed an ac compressor lower ball joints a couple o2 sensors and exhaust repairs in 293k miles.

First gen will always be the king Tacoma. It set the standard for every generation that came after it. I wish they'd come out with a small Taco again.

“What in the name of Tarnation... I tell you hwhaat” Tommy is a 1700 southern cowboy reincarnated

I'm loving the Toyota a lot it's just perfect

I have a 3rd Gen and I LOVE it. It’s so good off road. Tires make such a big difference though. I bet that 1st Gen will improve a lot with more aggressive tires and mild lift. Awesome video. Really enjoyed this one.

The median household income in Colorado in 2002 was $48,294 The MSRP in 2002 of a base 4x4 Tacoma regular cab was $16,310 Thats 33.8% of your yearly income The median household income in Colorado in 2019 was $72,499 The MSRP in 2019 of a Tacoma TRD pro v6 double cab was $42,960 Thats 59.3% of your yearly income For when the elders tell you they had it harder than you. God help you if your a factory family in today's market. Household income stats came from www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-income-households.html Vehicle pricing came from www.autoblog.com/toyota/tacoma/

I was on the Dude I Love/Hate My Ride back in 2019 with my 3rd Gen Tacoma TRD OR with a manual transmission. I love the stick shift on the trails now with a lot more seat time since that review. With some new tires and sliders, it has been a perfect backroad cruiser in Colorado. Long live the manual transmission.

I think that old school Tacoma styling is just timeless. I’m not even a Toyota guy it’s just… got something going for it.

Would like to see an updated one "NEW-OLD-OLDER!" only because I'm still driving my 80's Toyota 4×4 pickup truck!🤠

Dudes loving the clutch cancel that's been on the taco since the 90s

The Baby Yota is a billy goat off road. Just seemed to climb everywhere!

You guys have the best jobs ever. I never have that much fun at work.

Can’t beat the first generation I am the proud owner of a 2002 Xtended cab 4WD with 265,000 km and it never skips a beat !

I think a video comparing a first generation Toyota Tundra and a third generation Tacoma would be awesome. Those trucks are roughly the same size

First time I see a 02 tacoma doing "4x4" without hitting the rev limiter. Some people don't get it haha.

FYI Andre, the clutch start cancel, is not so you can do neat tricks, like starting without pushing the clutch, and impressing your friends. The clutch start cancel, is so you can start in gear, while on a hill, and not roll backwards, like you would if you had to push in the clutch. I'm guessing the old manual tacos have the same button, although it might be called 'Hill start assist", like my 89 toy.

I would love to see what the outcome would be if both Tacomas had the same tires and go the same speed. With enough speed a 2wd truck would make it up that hill but that mud pit is a different beast.

Andre, let me explain the "clutch start cancel (CSC)" feature; its been there on Manual transmission FJ cruisers since they came out in 2007 model year. If you stall the engine for any reason on an steep slope, pressing the clutch to start the engine will cause it to roll back, which means you have to use the brake, when you really need to use the gas pedal to give it enough power to move. In order to keep your right foot on the gas pedal, ready once the engine starts again, you leave the car in gear (Low range 1st (preferred), maybe 2nd). Now you press the CSC button and crank the engine. The low gearing allows the starter to spin the engine and start it (in gear) without touching the gas, and without declutching (obviously). You don't need to be in neutral to do this like you were, and on level ground. Once the engine starts, you keep moving forward immediately using the gas pedal where your right foot is ready to go. If you are an expert with the pedals, you can do without the CSC, though there will be a little more drama depending on the amount of slope. This comes in handy on rocky slopes where you might stall frequently, and is a good trick to scare a salesman on a test drive. I did this on the FJ on a icy slope on a test drive and the salesman was really beside himself before he realized what I did.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen off road challenge!!

2003 taco with 350,000+ miles and its still going plenty strong

Finally let Andre out of a parking lot? Great video! Now keep them coming!

Awesome video. Had a 1st gen and now own a 3rd gen. Both of these are good looking trucks and did great.

I prefer the older Tacoma’s less sensors. Many 90s and 00s Tacoma’s are still on the road and trails today.

Tacoma is a great truck. Spray the hell out of the frame and keep it as clean as you can and it will not rust out. The rest is pretty well dead reliable and a great off road truck. It will be more civilized to drive than the JEEP on road.

Man that was cool! I’d love to see Baby Yoda with a locking rear diff.

I love that baby Yoda! All that thing needs is a rear locker and good tires, and that'll be a super capable little trail truck.

Baby Yota makes me want one now! lol I bet it would look really good with some TRD PRO wheels on it too! Thanks for the great videos TFL!

Great review! Thank you gentleman! Having owned a 1998 TRD Off Road Supercharged 5sp manual and now a 2019 TRD Off Road 6sp manual... I miss the old one for its nostalgia and simplicity. However the new one is on another level. Both required suspension upgrades to fully shine. Sold the 98 for $11,500 bought the 19 for $34,500. Have put 10k in parts into it, its way better than a TRD PRO and still cost less out the door. Either way these vehicle provide years of trusty service and hold their value.

A good comparison would’ve been the new gen Tacoma but 4 cyl and 4x4

I'd like to see a TRD PRO vs Trail Boss comparison off road

I JUST GOT MY BRAND NEW 2022 4X4 OFFROAD TACO MOONROCK AND I LOVE IT...THIS IS MY #6 TACO

I run a 2003 Taco X-Cab with the V6. 459 000 kilometers on the clock, reframed by Toyota in 2011, top to bottom body job last year including new front fenders, hood, rear bumper, and rust-free bed from Florida. Also replaced last year: oxygen sensors 1 and 2, upper and lower ball joints, both sides, calipers and rotors both sides, rear drums and drum kits both sides, timing belt, water pump, evap canister, fuel pump, power steering pump, rack and alternator. All that for much less than a year's payments on that 2021 TRD, and it doesn't burn a drop of oil. I plan to keep driving it until Toyota comes to their senses and returns to manufacturing true quarter-ton trucks.

Mine is a '02 Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab 2.7 liter with over 416K miles on her and she runs like a champ after a rebuild of the engine. A free truck with a little bit of work and TLC can go a long way and run on forever.

HA! It's not cheating, it's called adapting to your environment. Well done guys, great stuff.

47k for Tacoma and 55k for Gladiator is nuts...both are nice vehicles though just way overpriced

1996 was first taco. Had one, 2.7 manual, extended cab LX. sold it with 240,000 miles for $4000. Such a great machine!!

These two always seem to have fun when they do videos together.

The clutch cancel switch has been in manual Toyota pickups for years my 1991 sr5 has it.

Man, I had a 2003 TRD Tacoma with 300k miles, no issues and ran perfect. sold it for 9k with 300k miles and I'll tell ya now, biggest regret of my life haha best truck I ever had!

now what we really need is a toyota pickup with the straight axle vs the trd pro

Lockers are great as they will obviously help with traction and reduce damage to the track by reducing wheel spin. However, open diffs will make you a better driver. When I started driving 4 wheel drive machines over 40 years ago traction aided devices were very few. Also, even though the Michelin LTX is not an aggressive tire by any stretch of the imagination, they have performed very well and never let me down or failed to get me through any 4wd track that I have been on here in Colorado.

Subscribed ! Love your content , keep up the videos like this , it’s great to see real real world applications of practical off road situations. I’d personally take the TRD OFF ROAD just because my old body needs a a little pampering these days with the added features and benefits of the newer technology, but I gotta say , I was impressed with the performance of the old school Taco ! It takes my mains back to a time when life was just simpler and I had a lot more fun especially four wheeling with my buddies. I used to be a keep guy , had a 77’ CJ7 Golden Eagle with a 304 , Black Jack Headers , Thrush Sonic Turbo mufflers and a set of Super Swamper 33” tires , low range transfer case , that thing would crawl through anything , but it was a ROUGH riding bumpity ass thing to drive as a daily driver . I’ve never had Toyota but I’m seriously considering one of these new TRD Off Road / maybe the Pro … just waiting to see the next gen possibility of Tacos … I’m hearing 2023 a new model ?

The last time I was on this trail there was a car full of CU chicks off roading a Prius, not joking.

Went trailing with a buddy who had just bought an 02 tacoma stock with 4wd on street tires. In Arizona he made it through chiva falls which is pretty challenging trail normally you'd want a lift and 33's at least. He kept up with my lifted cherokee rock crawler build no problem. These lil older trucks are extremely capable from factory with 4x4.

My 1994 toyota pickup has that clutch start cancel button as well pretty cool

I know the camera never does a trail justice but I can't help but see this and think my XJ with a rear LSD would do this without any trouble at all.

I have a 2002 Tacoma TRD, V6 with 4 doors. I am the 2nd owner. It was my dads truck until about 3 years ago. My Tacoma takes me wherever I want to go, AND it didn't cost me 60,000 dollars.

My 2nd gen Taco isn't much fancier than this 1st gen lol, love it though. Was a good compromise between the 2

I like how tommy encourages the yota and tells it that its a good truck haha

I miss these videos!! This is what made me subscribe. That Jeep barely made it.

If you break the old one you’re out $10,000 the new one you’re out $50,000.

Hey I have the 2003 4×4 Tacoma TRD. I'm happy!

I would love to get Tacoma, but since is built for Smurfs only I can't.

I like less technology but the atrac system is cool

Love the old Vs. new videos

I like how the 3rd gen Tacoma is Manuel !

Great video TFL! Gotta love the hat Andre!!!lol surprised at the end with baby Yota’s accomplishments!!! Baby Yota shows to be a good bang for the buck!!

When you're here for the Tacos but get bonus Gladiator footage! 😁

God damn this trd pro tacoma looks so damn good!!!

iirc there was an option to get a locking rear diff on 1st Gen models, but don't plan on being able to find one, but if you do they're usually upwards of 8 grand.

Nothing wrong with the old school rig. Surprised at how well it performed, considering no rear locker and an automatic. Actually, well driven; picking the right lines, great adjustments, well timed acceleration points etc. Loved the manual trans and 4.30 gearing in the new boy, and that lunar rock, ROCKS. PLUS it has that rear locker. So GLAD I have a 2022 Lunar Rock TRD OFF ROAD scheduled to be delivered next month (with a manual trans). Had the money so why not? But if I didn't have the money, the older models would be perfectly fine as you just showed. Really good video!!

Don’t remember seeing it in the video but the “Clutch start” button should be used while in 1st so when you turn on your taco, it starts rolling foward. Meant to be used when your truck turns off on a steep hill and you don’t want to roll down :)

Nice drive Tommy! Those gen 1 tacomas are great!

I've never had a tacoma without a rear locker and a V6, but for less than a new set of tires you can throw in a rear locker and that old taco will run up anything!

That little old Toyota in a trd model v6 with the rear diff locker and manual transmission and decent tires/lift will go through anything. If you can find one, buy it.

My 2000 trd has the clutch start cancel, and the rear locker as well

That was highly entertaining to see baby Yoda hit all those trails. Its like the underdog in a fight that your rooting for. Its just too bad Toyota doesn't make smaller trucks anymore and all their SUVS and truckS have became land barges.

I just bought an 04 Tacoma TRD OR 4x4. Has 137k miles. I can’t wait to take it out and see what’s it capable of!

Can’t beat the old Yota. Mine 2004 sr5 TRD double cab still running like a champ.

Toyota just continues to outdo themselves. They represent what every company should aspire to be.

The 6-speed manual can handle most anything. Great video guys.

Now that’s off road Fun!!! Excellent Video.

The old taco is perfect. It's just sad it didnt come with a manual transmission. I would love for my first truck to be a manual first gen taco, in other words a 2002 Toyota hilux.

Proud owner of a 04 supercharged 4wd and it’s the best truck I’ve owned🤗 can’t be beat

Baby Yota gives a surprising amount of offroad value.

that old little gen1 toyota is special. makes me miss my 2nd gen

Guys the Trail Boss will have its water pump bust at 131,000. TOYOTA GANG ALL DAY

Just picked up a gen1 95 extracab v6 4wd (no locking dif) 285k for $2,200, super excited to get it on the beach!

I was hoping Toyota offered the 6spd manual with a 6ft bed, you can only get the 5ft bed with a manual.

Love my 1st gen extended cab . 4wd . Got stuck a few times but manage to get out with 0 recovery gear.

You guys should do this with the New Chevy Colorado ZR2 and the old S10 ZR2!