As my truck search continues, I now encountered a TRD tacoma prerunner. What makes a prerunner different than a regular tacoma?

Prerunners are made like a four wheel drive truck, without the transfer case, front axle and axle shafts. It is made to "appear" like a 4WD without being one. The Prerunner gets the 2.7 instead of the 2.4, 6 lug vs. 5 lug and standard auto tranny vs. 5 spd. And it uses the 4x4 chassis. The link provided below you can do a side by side comparison for any other details.

Tacoma Information (http://www.toyota.com/tacoma/):

Prerunners are made like a four wheel drive truck, without the transfer case, front axle and axle shafts. It is made to "appear" like a 4WD without being one. the Prerunner gets the 2.7 instead of the 2.4, 6 lug vs. 5 lug and standard auto tranny vs. 5 spd. and it uses the 4x4 chassis. The link provided below you can do a side by side comparison for any other details.

Tacoma Information (http://www.toyota.com/tacoma/):

What all this gives you is more of a truck. Peppier engine and tougher suspension and brakes. It's a great package.

This package however, takes a lot of weight off the chassis. It saves gas millage, but makes the truck jounce much more than it's 4WD twin.