To Keep or Not to Keep

I am in a real quandry regarding my 2001 xtra-cab, 4x4, v6, manual w/310k and the work it now needs done. I have maintained and repaired it for 20+ years, and now as it needs rear axle bearings and seals, and is overdue for timing belt/water pump, and is making a wierd clunk on hard left turns, I am wondering if keeping it going as I have continues to be worth it.

This unit has served me well over the years, but I am just not even mechanically inclined, and have been taken ($) a few times over the many decades I've been driving because of it. Due to my lack of knowledge, I am unclear as to like the pros and cons of continuing to pour money into it, versus getting a newer unit altogether.

 

Rear axel bearings, seals, water-pump, timing belt, and likely ball joints and tie rods... definitely looking at a few grand to have all that work done, so is it worth it to you? Can you afford it? Would you prefer a shiny new vehicle with new technology and features? Would you rather sink a few more grand into repairs or pick up a car payment for a new ride? These trucks are sought after, and if it's in good shape body/frame/rust wise, it would be desirable to a lot of people.

 

Keep it. Newer is not always better. Just my 2 cents.

 

It is not even my Truck but I know how you feel to a degree . What bothers me the most is the idea of paying labor on a 20 year old truck with 300,000 miles plus.

Is going brand new with a Warranty in the budget ? Going to another used vehicle can open a whole can of new issues?

It is a hard call to make a vehicle this old paying labor to bring this back up to prime condition is expensive.

It also sounds like you really don`t have a go to shop which is very difficult to find these days. Making the decision even harder.

Besides the timing belt and rear axle maintenance what about all the suspension and brakes when were the Lower Ball Joints done Last? Spend this money now then you might have a clutch failure like the clutch fork breaks etc.

It comes down to put the money in this truck or something newer .

What would you sell this Tacoma For as is ?? If you decide to move on.

Buy the needed parts make new local Friends that live and breathe Toyota 4x4`s have at this is always an option.

Best of Luck !! On a very hard call!!

 

Take a quarter of what a new one will cost, put it into your current ride and you'll be good for another decade.

 

Just did my rear seals and bearings....
took a few months to collect about $150 in specialty tools....
not to mention already have to have and be proficient on a 20ton shop press ....$200...
and a $50 sleeve press kit.....

Bearings, seals, and retainers, was another $275........

Thanks to the timmy vids I got thru it.....thank god timmy discovered that 'Mr Coffee mod' so they dont premature fail again if you follow his video and flip that retainer...
I was just gonna do the seals at first.....until I read about the problems with the new toyota factory seals that had a recent design change.......they were failing again at about 20k......

And that big ol' black pipe didnt fit.....I had to take an angle grinder to it for an hour to mod so it would bolt flush with the hub to get it press ready.....I was royally pissed, and it shows.....

Curious as to what others have paid to have this done......cant be cheap....

 

A 22yr old V6 standard is gonna cost to keep on the road.....
for many of us here its a second vehicle and have time and patience to do whats necessary..
other people like my brother who sticks with new cars......wouldnt want him within ten feet of your car with a wrench......

On plus side....you'll never get a higher trade in than now, my mom got full price for her 4yr hybird rav4 on trade.....on a ridgeline....

 

Thank you all. I believe it will (continue) to be worth it to keep investing in repairs. Also, it would be very cool to see the engine make it to 400k, the clutch made it to 300k...

 

When u do the timing ....get the oem kit that has everything you can replace....
belt, pulleys, pump, ect......about $300.....

Timing kit- Toyota V6 3.4L 5VZ-FE 4Runner, T100, Tacoma & Tundra Aisin OEM Timing Belt Kit w/ hydraulic tensioner & Water Pump (1995-2004) TKT-025 (yotashop.com)

 

If u cant work on it then i would say sell it unless you can afford the repairs from a shop

 

Way to go on the first clutch!
Lots of highway driving?

The only thing keeping me in my truck is I do all the work on it myself. I couldn’t afford to have work done by a shop.

Edit: I should also add I have two daily drivers. A car and a motorcycle. The truck only gets driven to go camping. And not all the time.
Sometimes I take the car for backpacking or the motorcycle for motorcycle camping.

 

There's a lot of factors involved in deciding. But some of the big ones are- You pay to have your work done. You have some major expenses coming up. And with a truck that old with that mileage, there will always be something breaking, wearing out, or needing fixed. Can you afford to have it "nickle and dime" you? Then there is the reliability factor. Are you ok with something going bad, possibly leaving you on the side of the road. Or you leave Home Depot, get in and it wont start. But... if you are willing to to deal with (and pay for) increasing expenses, and are willing to accept it laying down at the most inappropriate times, then it beats a new truck payment. It's easy to say keep it when you do your own work, or perhaps when it's a second vehicle. Good luck. Cheers

 

Don't forget the cost of registration for a new ($35K-$40K ??) truck for the first 5 years, or the cost of insurance

 

we don`t have the registration like you do we pay a flat fee for the weight class every year! Here in Pa

My Tacoma is $52.00 a year.

 

OP is in CA. I have a similar truck also in CA.
My registration was $158 (I think that’s right) this year.

A new Tacoma with a purchase price of $45k is going to be $561 for Volcano Ca

Edit: sales tax will be another $3500 at the time of purchase.

 

Post pics of the truck. Maybe someone will offer to buy it that lives in California. Maybe…me!
The pumpkin is my way of ushering in Autumn. Don’t be alarmed. Hehe