Ok guys, talk to me...looking to buy

Hi everyone! I'm new here and wanted to see what is up. I currently own a 91 Jeep Wrangler YJ but it's mainly for the wife. I'm looking to get into a Tacoma for my weekend wheeler and winter driver. During the summer I ride my motorcycle. What should I look for and how much is too much for a good truck? I am really into off roading (mainly trails, mud, and rocks...not prerunner style) and would like to know which "out of the box" truck is the best one as a baseline project starter. Not lookin to spend a whole lot here but I can afford up to about 10k or so. Other questions I have, are these trucks solid axle front and rear? Leaf or coil suspension? What engine is best? What lift is best? I will most likely only run 33" tires on it but 35's are a possibility. I'm sorry for the lengthy post and all the questions but I want to make an educated buy here. I'm sure y'all can understand lol. Thanks for the help guys!

 

All I can contribute is that these trucks have IFS, solid rear. if you have 10k to play with, buy a beater 1st gen, and install a solid axle in the front.


haha it's in the first gen section, but that's probably what willl be best for him.

 

Leaf sprung in the rear, coiled ifs in the front. Anything from basically 95 to 2004 will suit what you're looking for, you just have to look around. You can lift it and put it on 33's for less than 2 grand, just go to Toyteclifts.com. If you want to turn 33's then you definitely want the 3.4l V6, if you want even more power you can supercharge that http://toyotapartspeople.com/search...year=02&productdesc=TRD+Supercharger+-+3.4+V6 and that's about everything I think.

 

i bought an 03 taco double cab, excellent truck, great all around mine is a prerunner but i have taken it through trails that my buddys couldnt get in to in 4wd, i payed less than ten for mine and i know of some places around me were you can get older or newer trucks for around that price oh and its great for family wheelin

 

Ink Junky, I'm not looking to go too extreme here lol. IFS will work fine for me. jcremeans11, thanks for the links! I don't need a supercharger or anything lol. Looking to save as many MPG as I can...lol. I know that's a moot point in these things but if I can still get high teens that's better than my wife's Jeep lol. (11 mpg city/wheeling) Is the 3.4 fuel injected (TBI or rail type) or carbed? 03taco, thanks for the input. I'm going to check locally first but if I have to I'll check farther out. Louisiana isn't TOO far away from CenTex lol. Just thought of another question...are these trucks solid frame or uni body? Also, where do these things rust most commonly? Cancer free for me please lol. You guys are a great help!

 

Frame...that rusts in snowbelt states...so bad they have a frame replacement program and buyback program for various model years. If you can get a truck that has lived in more arid/warm winter areas, snag it.

3.4 is EFI rail, not gonna get very good mileage out of it unless you keep it stock and drive very conservatively, and even then...somewhere between 20 and 16 mpg.

 

Ok thanks for that info. I realize I'm not going to get great mileage out of it but as I said, anything is better than the Jeep lol. It's not going to be a daily driver anyway...just weekend wheelin with the wife and her Jeep and my winter driver when it's too nasty to ride the bike.

 

Ok, couple more questions...what are the stock gear ratio's that the 3.4 comes with? and I know the TRD trucks come with lockers but what year did the TRDs come out?

 

Harker Heights small world...are you stationed at Ft.Hood?

 

Yes actually I am! I'm currently in Iraq right not but yeah I'm stationed there.

 

Cool, I fly out of Skylark in Killeen so I'm very familiar the military peeps out there. Anyways when you get back hit me I'll let you take a closer look at my Tacoma that way you can get some ideas on what you want to do or change or something. Stay safe and I appreciate your service.


-Dave

 

I believe TRD started in 98... You get upgraded front suspension but the locker only comes in V6 models. There's a table of gear ratios on here somewhere... they vary but I think it's a 4.10 in TRDs. There's an axle code on the door jamb that you can compare to the table and it'll tell you (Mine is A02A, it'll be the same number of figures and in that format)

 

Yamaha Dave, yeah for sure! We'll definately do that.
Mowtaco, thanks for the info! Looks like I'm lookin for a 98 + TRD V6. Oh...what year did the 4 door come out? Kinda need a 4 door...( I have 3 kids)

 

Not sure about the year that 4 doors came out but i believe it was 01+ but dont hold me to it, and when you look at a "TRD" be sure its a True TRD and not just some stickers slapped on the side of the bed!

 

Double Cab started in 01. The "True TRD" will have the locker button to the left of the steering wheel, pretty easy to tell what's fake.

 

^ awesome, forgot to mention the part about the button.

 

Thanks a lot guys! I believe I got all the information I need to make an educated buy. How much does a clean 01 double cab TRD V6 run on average? I know they can vary but I'm sure there is a mean somewhere.

 

Welp, big variables are mileage and condition, plus dealer or private sale, but I'd say from private party 10k to 12k for something very clean and well taken care of with mileage on the lower end for that age. At least, that is what you'd find in Northern California.

 

That's pretty much RIGHT ON the money especially for an identical Texas truck. 10-12K used from a private seller. Dealers have been pricing them for 14K-16K.

As a matter of a fact, I saw one last week. It was a 2002, Lunar Mist Double Cab Tacoma, TRD, SR5 Prerunner 2WD, with 87,000 miles on it priced for $14,997. Dealers will budge a little on the price, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get a little stingy especially if it's in well kept condition. They know these trucks are getting harder and harder to find.

 

I can contribute nothing to this thread, but welcome from Ohio...