Driving home my first Tacoma

Hello everyone,
I just got back from Tampa where I took a look at a 1998 Taco, she's not the prettiest I've ever seen but great for the age. She's only got 99k miles and had 1 owner who recently passed away. Based off the VIN, there were 84k miles on the odometer in 2011 and it was used to take the dump down the road in recent years so has been sitting for most of the past years.
He passed away 6 months ago and has been sitting since. I took it for a test drive and she started right up and drove fine, but all the fluids will definitely need to be changed and some of the rubbers. For example, the brakes right now are way too soft and I can push the pedal down all the way and the A/C needs a recharge.
Do you all think it's safe to drive it home 100 miles back to Orlando? I'll be keeping my distance for the breaks issue but am more concerned with damaging the engine with the older fluids. I'd rather change all the fluids myself as it's much cheaper and I am a college student, but need to get it home in order to do so. None of them are gunked up or anything it's just a bit worrisome.
Thanks!

 

Welcome to TW!

Make sure you put dye in the refrigerant when you recharge the A/C, so you can find out where the leak is!

 

Congrats man, just change the oil, that truck will last over 300k miles, that truck will outlive the owner

 

Nice truck. Welcome

 

Definitely get the brakes done and get the oil changed at a minimum...

 

Grats and welcome!

 

Congrats OP, good looking little truck!

It already outlived one

 

Is it manual or automatic?

 

Manual 2.4l.
Needed something fuel efficient to tow my motorcycle to the track

 

The best security system in America!

 

Welcome!

 

Would be more concerned over the brakes than the fluids. Your description is like a bad master which would not do well in a panic stop.

Expense wise the good news is there are not piles of aftermarket stuff available for 5 lugs or models this old, so temptation is reduced.

 

For 100 miles I wouldn’t worry too much about the old oil if u really can’t do a quick change before your trip, it’s a Toyota u can’t hurt it lol buuut as for the brakes be careful! I don’t think that’s something u could diagnose in someone’s yard but for sure check the fluid in the master atleast

 

@SirCamyCamCam , I agree with post #14. If you can, buy a Turkey baster, and suck out as much of the old brake fluid as you can and replace it with new. Maybe do a 4 wheel brake bleed, and get as much of the old fluid out of the brake system. Don't know if this will help right now, but is sure as heck couldn't hurt, and it's really a cheap quick fix.

 

Looks great! What kind of bike you ride?

 

XSR900 that has been my main transportation for the past year and a half. I love that CP3 engine

 

Nice I've liked that platform since the FZ-09 first came out.