Thinking about trading the Tacoma, need advice

Yes another one of those threads...

I need a full size truck for work and sadly, the Tacoma just isn't cutting it any more.

Anyway I'm debating about just trading it for a 2008ish Tundra, which will keep my payments around $350 a month and just extend my loan for another 5 years. I currently owe about $5500 and have 2.5 years left on my original loan. I plan on either paying off this loan or putting the $5500 down on whatever I end up with.

Now my truck:

2005 Access cab, V6 4x4 TRD sport with 112,500mi
Mechanically and cosmetically it is in excellent condition. The only thing to fix is a leak after installing Thorly headers.

And the extras:

Suspension
OME 885 Coils with a 1/2" top plate spacer
Bilstein 5100 front struts
Light Racing UCA's
Wheelers 1.5" AAL
OME rear struts

Drivetrain/performance
TRD intake
TRD cat-back
Thorley long tube headers (with O2 sim)
Tom Woods 1-piece drive shaft
Powerslot Brake rotors
Hawk LTS brake pads

Exterior
Dick Cepek DC-2
Firestone Destination AT 285/70/17 with about 65% tread life left
Demello bolt on sliders
Avid off road light bar
4x PIAA 520 lights
Black headlights and badges
Access Limited Edition tonneau cover
Hi-lift jack mounted in bed

Interior
Pioneer DEH-7500 head unit
Clarion amp and 8" kicker sub
Cover king seat covers
Weather Tech liners - front and rear
Red line tuning hood struts


Now, I know I will never get back what I put into it in terms of the mods. I figure I have about $5100 worth of mods into it. Plus a brand new battery and I had the main front seal replaced recently and fixed the infamous front end growl by replacing the bearing and CV shaft.

So should I try to sell it privetly? I would start off asking $16,000 I think. Or just trade it as is and probably get around $12,000 for it, and save myself about $1000 in tax. I really don't want to mess around parting it out, but would like to see someone who would appreciate the truck end up with it

 

Pics help

 

Go with a private sale. The dealer is basically a pawn shop when it comes to trading in. All they are for is convenience. If you are in an area where people would consider paying for your mods then go for it. Otherwise if you have time, make it stock and part out the mods.

 

Sad to hear about ditching the Taco... Is see you sail... I had to ditch my S2 when I moved west... Sucks to loose hobbies. Tundra would be nice too though.

 

I would start at Kelley Blue Book. I feel like the difference in private party and trade in will give you an idea of how much you could gain/lose. I feel like with all the mods, it would be easier to sell it outright to a private party because a dealer might look down upon all that extra stuff - that's what I've heard.

But if you could get $17k for it (private party), you pay off the $5k on the lien and then you still have $12k to use as a down payment. I feel like the math will be more on your side for a private sale. Good luck!