What to look for in a used Tacoma

I’m getting ready to inspect a 2004 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 that I want to purchase. It’s very clean and only has 88k miles.

I’ve ran a CARFAX. What else should I look for when I go inspect the truck?

 

Welcome to the forum
Have the rig inspected by a competent mechanic especially the frame.

 

Where has the truck lived since it was born?

Has the frame been replaced??

Full road test 4x4 works and shifts like it should

Just what engine if the 3.4 soon time for a timing belt .

There are always neglected areas of maintenance just how much of the work can you do yourself?

Have any friends who live and breathe Toyota 4x4`s that can go with you?

Much better then a mechanic that might see a few in a year. So many miss so much!

 

If you’re in the northeast definitely inspect the frame for rust as others have said. If it was professionally done you should have some other new components like brake lines and leaf springs. I would be nervous if any additional plates welded onto the frame as they are just as likely to cover up damage you can’t see as they are to “repair” it.

other than that check consumable parts like shocks, struts, and oil filters among others. If the truck was well loved there should be receipts for those and other parts.

Look for maintenance records for things you can’t see like fuel filters, valve adjustments, etc. and always test drive just to make sure there are no funky sounds like the TOD, etc. in general if the outside is well maintained, not always, the mechanicals were likely similarly maintained but trust your gut.

 

I’ll share some photos from the ad.

 

Photos indicate there *may* be hidden frame issues. The coating (whatever it is) is too clean and applied in some places you'd not normally use it. The only way to know for sure is an exam with a ball peen, probe and borescope (camera extension on your phone works) inside the frame.

And back to the question already asked, where has this truck lived it's 19 years? Based on the leaves on the ground, I'd say high odds of snow country.

It's about due for tires too. That inner wear on the LR tells me it's been on the front with an improper alignment as well. And the spare doesn't match what's on the ground. Not that that's critical, but tells you the spare is likely several years old.

 

If you are a DIY'r, consider getting an endoscope. You can send that little camera all the way through the frame looking for rot where most people can't paint, and into all kinds of places you could never see other wise.

That frame looks pretty clean. I would be checking carefully around it for black paint over spray (I can see some on the spare tire, behind the leaf spring) I would personally walk away if the frame has been painted. Before I knew about woolwax, I would scrape and paint my 2nd gen frame every year. At best, it did not slow the rust at all. It may have accelerated it. It definitely hid it for a while until the new paint would flake off.

It's hard to tell if the coating on the frame and undercarriage is paint with a bunch of crap in it or maybe black woolwax with a bunch of crap in it. I'd be a lot more comfortable with woolwax, but not being the clear version, it still justifies a lot of skepticism.

If it is bed liner, run, don't walk.

 

Could be the angle the photo was taken from but check the gap between the cab and bed.

 

Good eye. Looks like the frame is bent.

 

Bed doesn't look aligned properly with the rest of the body and frame. I would closely inspect.

Where does the truck live?

 

Huge red flag for me is all of the undercoating sprayed on it that looks to be hiding major rust. Just look at the rear shock. Who sprays like that?

 

Frame coating is suspect as stated above. Scrape away at it in various locations.

 

Me!!

Though the prep work and application for undercoating is to time consuming to get it perfect.

Not knowing the price and where the Truck lives .

 

Looks like fresh spray paint to hide the rust.

They even got overspray on the spare.

 

The undercoating and misaligned bed are red flags that the frame may have some hidden rust issues.

 

I just noticed the gas tank skid plate is missing. I would ask about that. It is probably rusted out.

 

I just took a closer look at the u-bolt bracket and it looks completely rusted out and then sprayed over.

Huge pass.

 

Way to clean that scares me more then a broken frame.

 

Huge thanks to everyone who pointed out various issues!

Frame definitely looks too clean underneath!

 

That bed being cocked back is a red flag for sure