Would you sell your 1st Gen?

I've been grappling with the decision of selling my beloved 1st Gen for almost 4 months and it's driving me nuts. Main reason I'm looking to upgrade to 2nd or 3rd gen is I'm looking at small travel trailers (around 3500-4k dry weight) and everyone has convinced me I need more truck. However something just dosent feel right about giving up my baby. Looking for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinion from those that know and love the Tacoma who have rational points.


She's an 03' 4x4 Xtracab w/ TRD OR package (3.4L V6 4 speed Auto) Currently at 202K- runs like butter.

So lay it on me...

 

You have a beautiful truck, I wound't sell it. I entertain the idea of buying a 3rd or 2nd gen for different reasons but then I remember how good it feels to have money saved up for a rainy day. If you feed that monster, it will never stop growing, you will want a bigger, newer, faster truck.

 

I fixed it for you.

Edit...seriously...seriously, could you get away with a smaller trailer?

 

I bought mine (2nd Gen) with the intention of it being my last vehicle until retirement (about 10 years out). My only regret was that I didn't do it 10 years earlier, and get a 1st Gen. If I were wanting more truck to tow with, you would not be gaining a lot from a 2nd/3rd gen, you'd probably want to go up to full size models.

 

I'd get a 100 series Land Cruiser instead of a gen poo or turd gen. Your towing MPG will be shite anyway, might as well have a V8.

 

Excellant solutions!

 

I probably could, Ive been leaning towards this option, looking at one thats 2400 dry weight. And realistically, it would only be (2-3) trips within 100 miles and (1) 900 mile trip every year. Aside from a couple trips up a very well maintained highway to the slopes, truck gets a lot of down time. I have a little beater I use to commute to work.

 

Bought my 01 in aug/2016, installed a SC 12/16, bought 2nd gen 4/17, Sold 1st gen 7/17.

went from EXCab 1st gen to 4DR 2nd gen and am very happy. I don't care for 3rd gen

 

Nice, the best mod for your truck is a daily driver. I ride a motorcycle to and from work myself.

You can also do some mods to make your truck a little more tow friendly...like better brakes. My truck is heavy with armor, camper shell, sleeping platform, on board water, 12 volt fridge and aux fuel tank. It's brakes aren't up to the job. I'm most likely going to do the Tundra brake swap this winter.

 

It ain't never gonna tow good. But don't sell it. I consider my gen 1 another car, but a very, very capable car with more trunk capacity. I was dissapointed when I tried towing but just realized that any towing needs to be done with a full size truck and V8. (not that easy since I don't have one.....)

 

The first generation Tacomas are not ideal towing rigs. Their brakes are not big or strong enough to handle towing loads comfortably. They definitely can tow, but that is not their strong point. We tow with our old Tacoma, but very rarely.

Good Luck,
Paul

 

So you need to increase towing capacity? This is what I did: 1. tranny cooler, 2. replaced leafs (and shackles), 3. Installed Tundra front brakes. While doing the timing belt job, I replaced the radiator also.

Due to the rear leafs jacking the rear by 3 inches, I got the Toytec 5100 coilovers and SPC UCA's.

Result? I have towed up to 6,200 lbs, with no problems, here in CO.

 

I have a 3rd gen and I love it. But there is something special about those 1st gens. I'd hang on to it.

 

My step dad always said, that everything he owns is for sale for the right price...except his tractor and his wife (my mom). That being said, my neighbor has asked me several times about buying my truck. At first I told him it's not for sale. Then I told him yes. His eyes lit up until I said $10k. I just regeared so now it's up to $12k. He declined. I also offered to trade him straight up for his 2016 corvette. He again declined.

 

Need more power? Get a Magnuson Supercharger from URD. Use code ForumMember at check out and you get 5% off.
Need eve MORE powa? Get the smaller 2.2 pulley
MORE POWA??? Get the Headers and full exhaust.

Oh yeah, get that tranny cooler while you're at it since you have an auto trans.

Don't get 2nd or 3rd gen, they are too damn big!

 

This advise and buying an LC 100 are the best so far.

 

First Cash offer of $250,000.00 I think I might be willing to sell it would be a Hard decision

 

Superchargers are a great way to make use of the power you already have but it's shouldn't be confused with being able to tow/haul more weight than what's recommended by the manual. There are still the factory limitations of the frame, cooling system, braking system and transmission to keep in mind (especially with the auto trans), among other things.

If the weight you're towing is still within the factory limits though, then a supercharger can definitely help the motor pull the weight more efficiently for sure.

 

Keep it.

 

FYI this is what I tow - the boat itself is about 1,900 pounds and the all steel trailer I have no idea of the weight. My truck is 2004 double cab and it replaced a 2004 4.7 liter Jeep Grand Cherokee

I believe the truck actually tows that load very well and isn't much different if I were towing it behind the grand cherokee.

If you aren't going over the max weight of the truck for towing just keep it please - my modifications are a scanguage to monitor the transmission temps (I will likely add a transmission cooler) - HD leaf springs from General Spring in Kansas City (my originals were shot) with the Rancho quick lift springs in the front (and rear adjustable rancho shocks - I firm them up when pulling the boat). Plus I went with new brake components like stainless brake lines and just OEM rotors/disks for the front. If I were worried about towing I would add a brake controller and read through the towing bible found here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

My goal is to add the URD supercharger I can see keeping my truck to well beyond 300K - right now around 116K -