Dual transfer case in a Tacoma?

I have an 09 2.7 five speed. Was wondering if anybody had put a dual transfer case like the Marlin crawler and similar iterations put in the older Toyotas. Not sure how hard this would be to do, but it would be beyond my ability to engineer. These trucks are way too high geared for driving around in the woods and I even find myself slipping the clutch to take off pulling a ATV trailer.
I don't really want to lower the gears in it, because I will be using it to drive back and forth to Wyoming a couple times a year. I have an 89 with 4.88 gears in it and really like it for around home, no freeways, 55 mph highways and it does that fine, even without using fifth gear when pulling a trailer (I spend more time with an ATV/snowmobile trailer behind my truck than without) but it is not a good freeway rig for long trips. So I was hoping to keep the freeway friendliness of the 09 while improving its driveability in the woods.

 

You've already got pretty low gears compared to most. Off road in lo range should be plenty low unless you've upsized tires significantly.

 

Short answer, people do it. There is a big dual case thread here somewhere with a ton of info! Definitely look into that if you’re serious.

 

Here’s the dual case thread.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/official-crawlbox-bs-thread.422186/

 

Thank you Matt.

Marshall, there is no doubt I'll be using low range virtually all the time when running four wheel drive, but just putting around logging roads and old grades I would like lower gears without having to have it locked in 4lo. And I'm pretty sure even low range will be too high for trying to lug around in deep snow, especially where you need to air the tires down and crawl up on top.

 

OP, I have the same vehicle. I agree that it doesn't have enough power for low speeds on steep roads if you're not in 4WD low- especially at high altitude. But I can't imagine needing a lower gear or dual transfer case. What I do on steep dirt roads it to use 4WD low and generally use 2nd and 3rd gear. When I get to a rough spot, I will put it in first and crawl along. This isn't ideal, but, when you have a 2.7L and 4000+ pounds to move, it works.

 

I'm not following you on this logic. Adding a crawl box (dual t-case) is just effectively giving you an even lower 4LO. So in the end you are just driving around in 4LO, 4-Extra-Low, or 4-extremely low.

 

Op, I am planning on putting dual transfer in my 1st gen for the same reasons you mentioned. I mostly go down forrest service roads and do light trails. Most of my 4 wheel drive needs are in deep snow early spring where I’d like to be able to crawl, or I’d just like to be able to have a 4.7 low range on some of the rockier stuff. The stock low range is ok and gets me by, but I agree that a lower option would be much better.

 

Just finished the dual case thread. I've read novels that were shorter! Lot of info in there though. Obviously been a while since I looked, back when I got a first gen they didn't make crawl boxes for anything with Tacoma on it. Got an extra stock transfer case for the 89, and with me not running anything larger than 33's (metric something or other, l like the big 10 plys so I don't get flats) it is as low as I need to go to crawl up on the snow. Actually the Atlas 4-speed with the 1.50 option looks like it would be sweet for my purposes in the second gen. could run that in 2wd when pulling a trailer or driving on rough logging roads where I don't need low, and still run a regular low range and a super low over 4:1. Price sucks though! Have to think about that for a while. At that price I'll drive the truck for while and see if I like it enough to drop that kind of money into a mod on it.
I am looking at options to make the 09 more offroad friendly while not making it freeway unfriendly like the 89. thousand miles trips in that truck with 65 tops for sustained speed on the freeway aren't exactly what I am looking for in the new truck

 

Maybe he wants 2wd low
You dont have to touch the t case, but you get those nice 4.7 gears. I know I like to do that when I just want to cruise nice and slow over easy stuff.

 

I am actually looking for a combo of things. 2lo for one, and a "semi-low" like the 1.5:1 Atlas would be awesome (didn't know that was an option) but also the Ultralow would be great for deep snow and even for some of the rougher rocky "roads" I drive on occasion. Particularly in the Bighorns.
I'm a full time hunting guide so my trucks are hunting trucks, not dedicated wheelers. I need the versatility of being able to drive them both on highway and in the woods. Dual 2.28 cases and 4.88 gears work well for me in the 89 locally, although it is underpowered and your unlikely to get a speeding ticket in fourth pulling a atv or snowmobile trailer But I also work in NE Wyoming and it doesn't work so well for the trip back and forth. I'm hoping to keep the new truck freeway friendly by not lowering the gears in the differentials, while still making it more offroad friendly when I get there. I've often hauled clients in there with my 89 where the boss couldn't get with either his stock Toyotas (he prefers his 92 over his 1st gen TRD, don't ask me why, I've tried to buy that TRD off him, but he won't sell) or his Duramax. As a matter of fact I can take it places in the snow he can't get with a fourwheeler, and so many bare spots you wear the skis of a snowmachine. These are a wider truck and I don't expect it to be as good an offroad vehicle as the 89, but I would really like to improve that without losing its commuter friendliness.