My '11 Tacoma, 75k miles later.

There just for transportation. The most they haul is 5 people lol, but they hold up well to the rough roads.

 

I also use my truck offroad for work. I'd say it spends about 20% of the time on rough roads which is why I changed the suspension to a full OME setup from day one (I'm at 15K miles now). I've also been putting about 900 pounds in the box for work and so far so good. I don't baby my Taco, I like skipping over the potholes...


I'll keep an eye out for the problems mentioned by the OP.

 

OP: I'm amazed your 4 cylinder can tow a 26' camper

 

Short distances, slow speeds, flat ground. I usually run 55-57mph in 4th gear. Keep in mind, I run load range E tires, and five spring leafs (leaves?) in the back.

My next truck (likely in the spring) will be an automatic V6...

 

Please make sure you post the dealer you traded it too so no one here accidentally buys it!!

 

Meh, it'll still have 25k worth of warranty on it, and a bunch of new parts on it. It will likely be the cheapest one around, so no worries!

 

Doesn't sound too shabby to me based on the use, rough roads just beat the crap out of things. Coming from a dirt biking background I'd say the bed bolts definitely need some loctite though.

I'm assuming you were running the TRD Off-Road package, all stock suspension or were there some mods?

 

Good record of maintenance and work. Thanks for sharing; glad it didn't turn you away from buying another Toyota. Thought about a Tundra?

 

It's a 4cyl 5pd SR5 with 2"spacer/ 1"block lift (I know, I know). Locktite on the bed bolts doesn't help, as the bolts aren't loosening, the bed itself is "squooshing".

 

I have thought about a Tundra. I have also thought of how much financial impact 13mpg would have. In Canada, the regular cab models only come with the 5.7L...

 

Interesting, thanks for the info!

 

Got the repairs done, turns out the front bearing going bad was caused by the axle not seating properly in the diff, pushing out on the bearing. So I got a new axle shaft out of it too.

On an unrelated note, the rental they gave me, a Nissan Xterra (I told them whatever they gave me was going to the woods, so they knew better than to give me a Yaris) was so nice to drive that I didn't want to get in my Tacoma again. I use the smooth ride all the time, I'd use the back seat 3% of the time, and use my Tacoma bed 1% of the time.

My next ride could very well be an FJ...

 

83k Battery. My dime. radios, cb's, etc forgotten on have taken their toll.

PS--I tried an FJ, I can't see myself sitting 8-12 hours a day in one. Ride too bouncy, and too many blind spots for my liking. It would make an outstanding weekend ride....

 

wow nice info, seems normal for the abuse that your truck sees. I would not call that normal daily driving.

My truck is a parking lot queen compare to yours, just 15 miles over the last week or two.

 

83.5k, passenger side rear shock.

clutch slow releasing in really cold weather
driveline vibration (service dept suspects u-joint)

It goes in Friday...

They seem to think my 1" block and extra leaf might cause the shocks to over extend, busting the seals. Dunno?

 

Service manager at the dealership just called. Toyota wants pictures of my truck. Apparently, they're giving the dealership a hard time about warranty costs.

I like my Tacoma, but when I bought that extended warranty, I kept my end of the bargain, and went into the deal with full disclosure (I parked my Silverado in front of the door, mud to the top of the antennas to show them what my truck did every day). Unless they want to buy my truck out, and slide me into a new one under very favourable terms, they had better honour their warranty, or I'll never buy a Toyota product as long as I live, nor will anyone within earshot who is willing to listen...

Stay tuned.

 

Tuned in for the results.

 

jk but seriously...lets see some pics of your truck and the roads your going on..

 

The gravel roads I travel on range from 45-50mph posted speed limit (F-1) to "must be navigable by a two wheel drive pickup in the Summer dry season" (F-4).

I don't actively seek out mud holes, and if I get stuck, it certainly isn't on purpose. If there's no snow on the ground, I don't engage 4x4 more than a handful of times in a year.

I will admit to having a bit of a heavy foot, but not heavy enough that I can pull 20+ mpg running load range "E" tires...

Typical road:



In the wetter season:


At the dead end of an F-4 road:


At the end of an F-4 road, that was just freshly built last week:



All those roads have 22 wheelers trucking logs off them, so they're a bit rough, but no one would call them extreme...