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Start fresh or carry on?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 3RZ Taco, Oct 30, 2013.

?

Fresh Start?

  1. Keep it?

    21 vote(s)
    87.5%
  2. Trade it?

    3 vote(s)
    12.5%
  1. Oct 30, 2013 at 2:03 AM
    #1
    3RZ Taco

    3RZ Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2012
    Member:
    #85394
    Messages:
    609
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Austin
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    96 3RZ Stock
    K&N air filter, Toolbox, Window Deflectors, Bug Deflector, BFGoodrich A/T's
    So i love my truck to death and i've had a lot of fun with it. Tons of work done to it and its nearly 100% flawless mechanically, but before i left for the army and got stationed in South Korea i was hit in the bedside.

    The damage wasnt really all that bad but all the shops i took it to said they would have to replace the entire bedside, the bed also has a large amount of surface rust on it. The metal above the windshield is rusted out pretty bad, and the back of the cab has some bad scratches from a kayak. Also the tailgate is the silver mica color because i sprayed it with the wrong color code one late night.

    So what are your guys' thoughts, should i hang on to it and just pull the dents as best as i can or should i start fresh?

    11ghbo6_9e0b32626f9285823e3fa5c55f73e8bd73f1c55d.jpg
    24o820l_f1c09b8cb630231fc3a1cbe0d4131d00cc00ea8f.jpg
    15zpgg0_6573f318afbe0e94af6264f216baf5814266e101.jpg
    w82of7_51d85f199d1ba803c6da9092b9ebff12f7fa30de.jpg

    The Bedside
    2qi7dax_e6738d8c965bd02a4fea5a02afb0da733a67e0ae.jpg
     
  2. Oct 30, 2013 at 2:30 AM
    #2
    95 taco

    95 taco Battle Born

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    2003 4x4 TRD SR5 auto
    OME 883 front, OMD 3.5" rear, Relentless front bumper, smittybilt 9.5K winch
    If you were to get a different truck what would it be? (4 door? 4x4? ECT...)
    How many miles does your current truck have and what would your budget allow you to upgrade to?
     
  3. Oct 30, 2013 at 2:33 AM
    #3
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

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    Chris
    Apple Valley, CA
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    I see you offroad? Maybe time for some glass fenders and rock some 35's. would be way more bad ass then starting from square one and alot cheaper.
     
  4. Oct 30, 2013 at 2:39 AM
    #4
    3RZ Taco

    3RZ Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Austin
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    96 3RZ Stock
    K&N air filter, Toolbox, Window Deflectors, Bug Deflector, BFGoodrich A/T's
    I have always wanted a 4 door, i just love the look. But for my needs its almost a must to have the bed. I have a little over 200k miles on it. I could get a 2nd gen but i dont really want one, i like the 1st gens a lot more.

    I do offroad, dunes, mud, trails, but i want to maintain fuel millage. I just have a worn out stock suspension on it right now so i was planning on a 3" lift once i get to the states anyways. My parents and girlfriend drive it almost daily, the tires are getting pretty bad. So i will most likely lift it when i get to my next duty station.

    I just hate all the little dents and scratches, and dread looking at the bedside.
     
  5. Oct 30, 2013 at 2:41 AM
    #5
    3RZ Taco

    3RZ Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2012
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    Messages:
    609
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Austin
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    96 3RZ Stock
    K&N air filter, Toolbox, Window Deflectors, Bug Deflector, BFGoodrich A/T's
    Wow, your truck sure is a jaw dropper!
     
  6. Oct 30, 2013 at 2:46 AM
    #6
    95 taco

    95 taco Battle Born

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Vehicle:
    2003 4x4 TRD SR5 auto
    OME 883 front, OMD 3.5" rear, Relentless front bumper, smittybilt 9.5K winch
    I upgraded to my 03 from my 95.5 xtracab 5 lug and even though i miss that truck the 4 doors is more useful to me.
    Sure i lost some bed space, when i haul the quad places i have to leave the tailgate down, but that's not a big deal, the same quad barely fit's in my sis's DCLB 2nd gen with the tailgate up and it's a massive truck.
    Plus as long as you have straps and can get creative you probably won't notice the difference between the long and short beds.

    The 2 downsides to a 4 door are:
    A: shorter bed
    B: no option for a factory maul trans (only a downside for some)


    Also, would you want to upgrade to a V6 from the 2.7?
    I know a manual trans makes a big difference in power, my 95 had the 2.4 with a manual and it felt like my cousins pre runner with the 2.7 and an auto trans, and there's a big difference between my v6/auto and my cousins truck.
     
  7. Oct 30, 2013 at 2:51 AM
    #7
    3RZ Taco

    3RZ Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Male
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    Austin
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    96 3RZ Stock
    K&N air filter, Toolbox, Window Deflectors, Bug Deflector, BFGoodrich A/T's
    I would have to have a manual, automatic transmissions are not my thing. I'd would have to say i would stay with a 2.7
     
  8. Oct 30, 2013 at 2:58 AM
    #8
    95 taco

    95 taco Battle Born

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    2003 4x4 TRD SR5 auto
    OME 883 front, OMD 3.5" rear, Relentless front bumper, smittybilt 9.5K winch
    Sounds like you have what you want, you could find a truck with lower miles, but if your current truck hasn't given you any issues i don't see why you'd do it.
     
  9. Oct 30, 2013 at 6:41 AM
    #9
    MowTaco

    MowTaco Well-Known Member

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    Matt
    Kansas
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    If the bed is rusted anyway, why not just get a new bed? Or maybe build/buy a sweet flat bed for it?
     
  10. Oct 30, 2013 at 6:51 AM
    #10
    Deathbysnusnu

    Deathbysnusnu Work is just a daily detour to happy hour.

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    Brett
    Fort Crawlins, CO
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    Dog, camper.
    I went through this too, decided another used truck would bring a fresh set of unknown problems. A new truck brings a fresh set of payments.
    Your bed looks about like mine inside, meaning you use it like a truck.
    The dent isn't too bad, I have a similar one on mine from a parking lot incident. The insurance money earmarked for the dent went towards a new canopy, much happier with the canopy, can live with the dent.

    Your truck as a whole looks pretty sweet.
     
  11. Oct 30, 2013 at 7:16 AM
    #11
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    Kirk
    Central Michigan
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    Reserected from the dead.
    Changing the bed side is not a bad job. I did mine a few years back.

    You will need to remove the bed from the truck, which is not a big job either. After the bed is removed, just drill out the all the spot welds. The whole side comes off. Install the new one in reverse. The only thing that will cause you trouble is that you need to drill new holes in the new bedside. Weld the holes closed. If you have a pinch, spot welder, no holes need to be drilled out.
     
  12. Oct 30, 2013 at 8:43 AM
    #12
    Lumpskie

    Lumpskie Independent Thinker

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    Toytec 16" coilovers with Tundra Bilstein 5100s, Light Racing UCAs, Alcan Leafs with Orbit Eyes, 12" Bilstein 7100 short Bodies, ARB rear locker, 33x12.5 Duratracs, CBI sliders, Bushwacker fender flares, self made front bumper, M8000, Vision X 6.7" Hi/Lo Beam HIDs, full skids, Inchworm dual case setup - 15º clocking
    I say keep it, mod it and wheel it. Like mentioned above, wait will you find a beside and replace it. I'm partial to the look of the early tacos, though. You don't see to many anymore...
     
  13. Oct 30, 2013 at 12:43 PM
    #13
    Noelie84

    Noelie84 What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

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    Wales, Maine
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    Personally, I've never placed too high of a value on aesthetics and I run my trucks until they die. So me, I'd run it until it won't run any more. If the bed rusted out, I'd tear it off and slap a flatbed on it.
    If you care about the looks of the truck, then it's really your call. If you like the way it drives/runs/goes, fix it. If not, sell it and start with something else.

    But if you don't care about how it looks, run it.
     
  14. Oct 30, 2013 at 6:29 PM
    #14
    VeeSix

    VeeSix Yotahead, Deadhead.

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    Tennessee, USA
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    2018 Tacoma - gone 2003 Tacoma - gone 1983 FJ60 - gone 1988 BJ73 - gone 1992 FJ80 - eternal
    That's not even a bad dent - I expected it to be trashed. No way I'd get rid of a loved truck over that. You could pop a lot of it out with a plunger. Fix the rust, then fix the scratches, then fix the bed in a year or two.
     
  15. Oct 31, 2013 at 12:46 AM
    #15
    3RZ Taco

    3RZ Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    Messages:
    609
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Austin
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    96 3RZ Stock
    K&N air filter, Toolbox, Window Deflectors, Bug Deflector, BFGoodrich A/T's
    I decided ill keep it, i really wish it was easier to buy the paint for my truck in a rattle can. I would pull out the dent and bondo it. I was hoping that when i get to the states and get my truck to pull the bed anyways since its pushed into the cab. Thanks guys
     
  16. Oct 31, 2013 at 4:36 AM
    #16
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    Jandy
    Lancaster, PA
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    Have you researched USED beds? Local junkyards....or even online.

    It'll probably be very hard to find a used bed in the exact color you need - but worth a try. I've recently purchased a part off these guys. It's a Toyota/Lexus parts recycling place. I bought a used climate control pod for $100 ($700 new from dealer). No complaints...and they give 90 day warranty and can ship the parts back if they fail (more or less).

    http://www.ranchotoyotatruckparts.com/
     
  17. Oct 31, 2013 at 4:43 AM
    #17
    3RZ Taco

    3RZ Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    Messages:
    609
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Austin
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    96 3RZ Stock
    K&N air filter, Toolbox, Window Deflectors, Bug Deflector, BFGoodrich A/T's
    Hey man, thanks for the link. I will be sure to give them a call if decide to replace the whole bed, i've searched the junkyards around here and the best one i had offered a bed, tailgate and rear bumper in the same color for 1400$. I'll just have to save up my pennies if i want to replace it.

    My main concern though guys is the deep cancer rust above the windshield. It doesnt leak unless it is completely down pouring but it still worries me.
     
  18. Oct 31, 2013 at 4:46 AM
    #18
    WLFFGreg

    WLFFGreg Well-Known Member

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    Greg
    Northern NH
    Vehicle:
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    Bent stock IFS skid
    You use your truck, considering the dents/scratches inside the bed/cab. I vote you keep using your truck as a truck, and if you have the extra coin without a trade in, pick up a newer Tacoma for non-man-truck things. That way you can turn the '96 into a trail/work beast!

    (And for what it's worth, I use my truck bed for moving tires/rims around once every 6 months, garbage on Tuesdays, carrying stuff up to camp and firefighter gear to/from training.

    You won't see me use it to do man-truck-things such as hauling ledge pack dust, gravel, mulch, manure.)
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2013
  19. Oct 31, 2013 at 4:50 AM
    #19
    3RZ Taco

    3RZ Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Austin
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    96 3RZ Stock
    K&N air filter, Toolbox, Window Deflectors, Bug Deflector, BFGoodrich A/T's
    You sound just like a good buddy of mine, nearly word for word he said the same thing a while back haha. I'm thinkin thats the plan now, going to buy the wife a newer tacoma and her's can be the pretty truck.
     
  20. Jan 13, 2014 at 9:14 AM
    #20
    DJB1

    DJB1 Well-Known Member

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    Don't get rid of a loyal friend just because he's fugly.
     

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