Did I make a huge mistake?

Disclaimer: I already know I’m an idiot for not getting the truck checked out prior to purchase AND purchasing a truck without maintenance records...having said that, please read on It’s long and annoying, I admit, just trying to see what you would do in my situation.

Hey everyone,
I recently purchased a 2007 DCLB 4x4 with Bilstein 5100’s, 140k miles for $14k. I knew I needed to replace a cv axle when I bought it and asked the seller (a trained mechanic who sells lamborghini’s in Denver) if it had any other known issues because that was my max budget. Of course, he said no other issues so my dumbass went ahead a bought it.
I haven’t had a truck in yeeeaaars and my last taco was a ‘95. I’ve had some serious truck fever in the last year! My plan was to replace my 2014 Outback 2.5i (109k miles) with this as my daily (I travel from southwest CO to AZ and northern CO for work) and I wanted a truck for more adventurous outtings.
When I test drove it, it was snowy and I didn’t get it above 60. On my 250 mile drive home to SW Colorado, I of course noticed the bad wheel bearing (above 62mph) which I replaced by myself (I barely know how to change my oil in previous cars, so wenching on things is completely foreign to me), along with the aforementioned cv axle as well as putting in an ecgs bushing.
Well, the valve covers are leaking (not sure how I missed that one), and apparently the lower ball joints have some play (according to the mechanic I payed to look at it yesterday).
I know I bought an old truck, but I’m no mechanic and I don’t have the $$ to take it to the mechanic for all of these fixes (probably shouldn’t have bought a 14 yr old truck eh?...no s&@t ). I bought it because I’m worried about my subie cvt transmission lasting, and of course, taco’s are supposed to go for 300k+ miles, right?
Did I make a huge mistake in buying this? Would you guys keep it or sell it? I’m having some serious buyers remorse that’s keeping me up at night...probably because I’m not necessarily mechanically inclined and these “small” projects seem kinda big for me (took me 4 hrs to do the bearing assembly, mainly due to caliper bolts that gave me serious issues).
Sorry for the friggin whiney rant, just frustrated ...probably because I’m just a backcountry guide and don’t make a lot of money )
I’ve read that lbj’s are everything from easy to a pita, and the valve cover job looks intimidating as hell just due to everything you have to remove to get to it.
Thanks for any advice, and if you wanna give me hard time, well, that’s your right, but please go easy, I’m pretty friggin frustrated

 

Mistake? Nah... Just fix it as you can and drive on

 

Look at it this way!

You have the truck you wanted for 14k.

Let’s say maintenance costs you 4 grand (I hope not, but rounding way up) to get it all sorted.

Well a new truck would cost you 38 grand.

So if you end up putting $18,000 into this truck, you’re still at over $20,000 savings.

That’s 20 grand of debt you don’t have.


Just fix it up little by little as you can. That’s part of buying used. Now you’ve learned to budget for it and check more thoroughly next time. Lesson learned is worth the dough. Good luck getting it all running perfect! Enjoy it as long as possible, that’s the best financial move. Fixing things can be fun

 

If the frame is solid, go to town. Changing the wheel bearing and CV axle, DIY, is an accomplishment.

 

I feel your pain and am impressed with your mechanical skills that you mentioned. Did you get any quotes for the work that’s needed?

Maybe you could contact the guy who sold it to you and explain the situation and/or gently ask him to refund a little cash. My guess is he’ll say no but it doesn’t hurt to try.

PS - that’s a nice looking truck you got!

 

Every used vehicle needs to be gone thru tune up brakes etc once completed you know what you have.

 

If he's willing to look me in the eye and lie to me, I doubt he'll give me any dolla bills back, but like you said, couldn't hurt to try

No quotes quite yet, the shop said they'd call, but haven't yet. I've read everything from the stealership trying to charge 6 hours labor for lbj's to some shops only charging 2.5 for both side, so not too sure yet. If I can hook up with a friend in April (I'm gone almost all month for work), he said he would help with the valve cover issue.

 

If we're talkin anywhere close to 4g's, I'm screwed lol...but I do like and appreciate your logic, made me feel a tiny bit better Thanks!

 

Mine had a leaky valve cover gasket as well, it's not complicated to do yourself at all, just a bit tedious. I had zero experience working on anything vehicle related (I borrowed sockets and wrenches from a buddy) and did it in a day for just the price of the gasket. Very doable. I made the the same mistake you did and turns out the previous owner of my truck didn't like oil changes very much and the engined seized right before 200k. The oil looked like glitter and had to spend 7k on a new engine. Everyone makes mistake and we learn, some are very expensive mistakes but it is what it is. I hope you're able to get it sorted out in your budget

 

Drive it. You are over thinking it big time.

 

Rounded WAY up so 1,000 doesn't hurt so bad cheers! Love the truck, and the process, and enjoy it! If the grass is always greener then we ought to enjoy the green grass we already have haha.

 

Also, DCLBFTW!

 

Hopefully not as bad as you may think. My main suggestion is to stay as far as possible from a Stealerships. Ask friends for recommendations on local independent shops or maybe a mechanic that works for a shop & from home on the side. Very nice looking Taco, just needs a little TLC....& a few $$$. Good luck.

 

I bought my 07 new. It currently has 210,000 miles on it and the only parts that didn't come from the factory are the alternator (180,000 miles), shocks(125,000), and 1 U-Joint (170,000). Other than brakes, belts, tires, fluids and the battery of course. I still have the factory rotors and drums. I'd say the odds are in your favor that there won't be many more issues for another 100,000 miles.

In fact I'm surprised at that many issues with only 140,000 miles. I'm running 265/75/16's which are about 1" taller than stock, but everything else is stock. I'm guessing the lift and bigger tires are putting more stress on suspension and drivetrain parts. That ain't the trucks fault. The Toyota's that go 500,000 to a million miles are basically stock.

 

Truck looks nice.
Definitely find a small local shop!
Ask people in your area who they use.
Having a small shop who knows you by name is huge. Been dealing with the same shop since 1988 when we bought our house here.
First thing is check the frame check the frame again. Then worry about picking away at the rest.
The frame replacement is 12 yrs from in service date.

What model is it?

 

Good point about the stock thing...I visually fell in love with this truck when I first saw it and that was my first mistake lol.

 

I did 5100s at 60k .85 for a year then 1.75 till it was totaled at 196k. Lower ball joints at 170k with new frame.
If the cv needed is driver side do it with the needle bearing. If the frame is good and body cab isn’t rotted and runs drives well you will be fine. How well was the interior kept up or under the hood.
More pics would be cool.

 

Nice work.

I feel like your lying to us about your wrenching skills.

 

I'll have to get my ski boots, what minimal tools I have, and a couple other things out of the truck before I take interior pics...it was pretty clean though, no stains or tears in the apolstery, factory mats (definitely going with weathertechs or the like if I keep the truck). Frame as far as I know was inspected and cleared, it wasn't replaced. I know they tend to rust from the inside out from what I've read, so when I say that I looked at it and looks fine means little.
I already did the cv axle and replaced the needle bearing with ecgs bushing (first thing i did).
Part of what lured me in was how it drove...it's nice! BUT, I don't necessarily know what I'm looking for either.
What confuses me is that the mechanic yesterday drove it in circles in the parking lot in both directions to listen for that tell tale cracking that comes and there was none, but told me it's there's a little play and that I should replace ...is that more in u joints and not ball joints?
If I can borrow a floor jack tomorrow, I'm going to inspect myself, but just curious

 

Haha! Not lying at all. I mean, some of it I guess is intuitive when it's just bolts and stuff...plus, have I mentioned my income bracket? VERY low, so I'm also just cheap and trying to save money where I can