[jaypena]

I have read requests on information to convert from 2wd to 4wd, unfortunately the response is usually the same sell the truck and by a 4wd. It is difficult for me to believe that spending another 28,000+ is the better route to go. My opinion is that the parts could be purchased for much less than the cost of a new truck, and installation would be some work, but seriously to sell a truck that is already paid for and to start from scratch for a 5,000 dollar option seems extreme. Can someone give me some insight to what I am missing? the only piece I can think of in the computer but I see all the connections for 4wd on the computer they just don't have harnesses going to them.

Thanks any info is much appreciated.

 

[DesertSandAZ]

If its paid for, sell it , recoup some money and buy another. I'm sure its going to cost alot more to do this then the 5k that they want.

 

[RONE]

It's going to cost way more to convert your truck than the difference in cost between your truck and a 4wd model. Even if you did convert yours, you'd have no warranty on any of the parts - and a dealership would probably try to deny coverage on the rest of the drivetrain.

 

[ThirdHorseman]

Exactly. If it costs $5,000 to add 4WD that is NEW to a new truck, and costs more than $5,000 to add it after the fact, that seems like a terrible financial decision. Options - for the most part - are most cost effective when they come with the vehicle from the factory.

The basic concept of converting to 4WD is not difficult...but when it's such a new truck (which BTW, Toyota is extremely proud of their parts price-wise) and full of electronics, everything gets so much more complicated. If we were talking about a 1988 1/2 ton Chevy, it would be a different story.

You're not spending another $28,000...you're spending the difference between your 2007 and a new 2010, or even less if you buy another 2007...

 

[Art64]

You need a front differential, transfer case, probably mod the front part of the frame for mounting extra parts. It can be done. But you have to find the right shop to do it and some $$$$. There will be lots of custom fabrication. Check with the shop that does off road racing, rock crawling, etc. These guys custom fabricate a lot of vehicles. Some even build from the ground up. You can probably get parts from the junk yard. It's an interesting project.

 

[Tsbarro]

Sell the truck. Think about all the things that need complete fabrication and modification... you'd probably need a new ECU, all sorts of wiring.. this is something I don't even think a regular shop could do. Its not like your modifying a 60's jeep. Its not just a 5k difference -- the parts are all designed differently from the ground up.. they don't take a 2wd truck and just throw a transfer case on it. You could get a porche and a mercedes that cost about the same, but you wouldn't bring one into a shop and say "convert my mercedes into a porche, they are about the same price new, so should only be a few k for you to modify one into the other".

 

[Stripped Honda]

i have also been thinking about doing this to my truck .. but i have given up on the idea and will probally trade it in with in the next week or so ..

let me make a rough parts list
2 spindles
front diff
front cv's
front driveshaft
4x4 transmission
transfercase
rear driveshaft
4x4 switch
PCM module (ecu)
cluster (this is a maybe)

then you gotta think about the wiring i would bet you can make your own harness but after looking at the parts list its just not worth it .. the down side to selling your car and buying another one is that you gotta pay sales tax on the new truck .. in my case i live in los angeles county i get to pay 9.75% on the price of the truck so if the truck cost 42K that is $4K just in tax and the licence plates will add on another 8-900 :td: so it isnt a cut and dry decision because either way you will spend a ton of money if you do decide to convert it make a thread i might do the same if i dont find the right truck

 

[RONE]

i have also been thinking about doing this to my truck .. but i have given up on the idea and will probally trade it in with in the next week or so ..

let me make a rough parts list
2 spindles
front diff
front cv's
front driveshaft
4x4 transmission
transfercase
rear driveshaft
4x4 switch
PCM module (ecu)
cluster (this is a maybe)

then you gotta think about the wiring i would bet you can make your own harness but after looking at the parts list its just not worth it .. the down side to selling your car and buying another one is that you gotta pay sales tax on the new truck .. in my case i live in los angeles county i get to pay 9.75% on the price of the truck so if the truck cost 42K that is $4K just in tax and the licence plates will add on another 8-900 :td: so it isnt a cut and dry decision because either way you will spend a ton of money if you do decide to convert it make a thread i might do the same if i dont find the right truck

IF you can find a dealer to give you a good price on your truck for trade-in, you don't pay tax on that portion of the new truck - eg, you get 20K trade-in and buy a 30K truck, you only pay tax on 10K. At least, that's how it is out here. You crazy Californians have so many stupid laws I could see the gov't expecting to get tax on all of it.

 

[MacCTD]

Find out what manual transfer case will bolt up the trans, put that in and a solid front axle with leaf springs, maybe from a 4 or 5 year old land cruiser. They do it all the time with Tacomas and FJs, as the solid front axle is prefered for off roading. These guys could probably point you in the right direction, Solid Axle Conversions - 4wdfactory.com

 

[ThirdHorseman]

IF you can find a dealer to give you a good price on your truck for trade-in, you don't pay tax on that portion of the new truck - eg, you get 20K trade-in and buy a 30K truck, you only pay tax on 10K. At least, that's how it is out here. You crazy Californians have so many stupid laws I could see the gov't expecting to get tax on all of it.

It's not just Californians...many states don't have the trade-in credit. Maryland did not, but NJ, capital of taxation, does!

 

[spoon059]

Maryland has the trade in credit on the full value of your trade.

 

[zpaul]

It would be definitely a problem to sell this do it yourself conversion later.

 

[ThirdHorseman]

Maryland has the trade in credit on the full value of your trade.

I didn't get it on my Nissan Titan that I bought in New Jersey but registered in Maryland. Guess someone ****ed up.

 

[beachbum1]

just a bad idea all around. i been into rockcrawling and modding anything with 4wd since i was 10, between my family and friends i have probably helped design and build 50 or 60 different offroad rigs. from rovers in costa rica to jeeps in north carolina. ive had tons of people ask for help that find something like a 2wd cheap cherokee to convert and think it can be done cheap. yeah cheap is great but cheap and right are two different things. im sure you could do it but i wouldn't want to be on the road with you. no offense but ive seen bootyfabed crap almost kill people. sell your truck, bank some money and do it right or unless you have some crazy bank roll and just feel like dumping money into your truck that you will never get out. find a custom shop and drop about 10k and you will be set. best of luck to you and your project whatever direction it takes.

 

[snydlyjd]

I realize this is a late post to this thread, but I've been looking at this conversion myself for the very same reason, cost of adding 4WD to buying a new truck. I don't understand all the negativity surrounding this. Here's a link (Tundra 4wd conversion - YotaTech Forums) to a guy who did the conversion on his 2000, yes it's an older truck but the conversion was pretty straight forward. One of the things I love about Toyota's is the fact that so many things can be added later without running a bunch of extra wire and cutting into the harness, etc. So many things are plug and play it's great. I've added the Nav system, backup camera, parking sensors, heated side mirrors, auto dim mirror and a few other items that all essentially plugged right into the existing harness. Based on the reasearch I've done so far, the same seems to be true for doing this conversion. I'm hopeful that someone who is as intrepid as Jwbenninger has converted a 2007 or later, I'll keep looking.