Acquired a 08 double cab... what now.

I inherited an 08 from my late father, he didn't leave many service records, and seemed to take less care of his vehicles as he got older.

It has 88k miles on it, I've since changed the oil, slapped on new tires and did a tx service to cure shuddering on stop and takeoff.

I plan to take it to my mechanic for a once over and general service, is there anything I should concentrate on?

Also, the clear coat has worn mostly off on the hood/roof and looks scratched to hell. Anyone ever just prepped the base coat left and sprayed some 2k clear coat on it? I know its a hack job but anything probably looks better than what it is now. I don't really want to put a bunch $$ into a new paint job.

 

Beautiful truck! First thing I'd do is make sure all fluids are changed out in addition to the oil and tranny. Diffs, transfer case, coolant, brake, and power steering fluid.

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome aboard! Nice looking trucklet, but for a couple add-ons it could almost pass for our 2005. Well, not quite.... yours is clean!

 

Change the oil and drive it another 300,000 miles. Don't worry about the paint, the patina look is popular now.

My 07 has 237,000 on it and that is all I've done. There is some peeling paint, a few minor dings and scratches from over 16 years of honest truck use, and the carpet and seats are stained. But I'd get in it and drive it across the country tomorrow.

 

People like tree branch scratches on the paint?

Cool I guess I’ll just drive into a bush. Haha!

 

If it's lived in salt country examine the frame very carefully before spending a dime on it.

If the frame is good, and you will be using it in salt country, protect it annually with a good product.

 

It's spent it's whole life in NC. I spent an hour under it running a backup-cam wire and didn't see any rust to speak of. But since then I've learned of the rust issue. I'll get back under and a thorough look soon.

Thanks all for the great advice!

 

Welcome! I would do a 90k service and call it good! My ’06 is also from NC and has zero rust. It looks like a new truck underneath.

 

Immediately spend $8000 on a lift, 20" wide rims, 40" mudder tires, eBay LED headlights, and then in 2 months post here with questions about why your electronics are all messed up and you have all sorts of suspension rattles.

 

Ha! I've spent a few buck in cleaning supplies, Husky mats, new radio and LED interior lights - but no plans to get crazy with lifts or tires. Me and my family will camp in it a bunch, but it won't need too much beyond a soft/hard shell and a rack.

I found a like-new Softopper locallly for $100 so I'm considering a Datin bed rack to pare with it.

 

Welcome from NC...
Nice truck! My truck had the same clear coat issue, so I just had a local paint shop spray the roof, hood, and bumper cover. It looks brand new and I couldn't be more pleased with the results for the cost.
No rust for my Tacoma, but I moved up from FL, so it did not know what road salt was until a couple years ago.
Good luck!

 

East NC here! Born if Fla btw!

What did that run you $$-wise if you don't mind me asking?

 

Cool...
Not at all - I got them sprayed for $850, which was well worth it to me. Makes it look sooo good!!

 

I went to Maaco today to get a quote on painting just the hood and roof. The salesman (owner I presume) kept discouraging me from doing spot work and just paint that whole truck. I told him I'd listen to both options. He works me up a quote for a full job - $1517. I have to continue to ask for a quote for just the roof/hood... get this - $1333. Unbelievable, I felt like I was at a used car lot.

I think I'm just going to sand/prep the surface and spray some 2k clear coat and call it a day.

 

You can't sand off the old clear w/o damage to the base (color) coat

IE bad clear coat can't really be 'patched'.

The only way I'd use Macco was if I knew the owner personally.

 

The clear coat is gone on the roof, just a bit left on the hood. A crappy clear coat will look better than what it is right now I think. I have a gun and compressor, gonna give it a try. If it's no improvement I'll just prime/base/clear the whole thing, or maybe just plastidip the roof/hood black lol.

 

Leave the hood the way it is and call it an anitglare enhancement. I would change the fluids, keep up on the maintenance and drive it till it dies. If you're going to wheel it get some good tires and see what gets you stuck. Then figure out the mod that will get you past that obstacle. Rinse and repeat until you are happy with the results.

 

Wont the base coat fail as well eventually as well?

While I plan to do a lot of camping out of it, I don't think I'll need much in the way of all-terrain enhancements.

On a brighter note I picked up a barely used Softopper locally for $100!

 

It's 15 year old paint and it may take another 15 years for the base coat to fade. I've had the hood, left quarter panel repainted by a good local body shop and the color is off just enough that I can tell, but not enough to upset my OCD. Pinstripes, scratches to some, make it harder to tell the difference. The MGM is not good for hiding scratches especially if they go through the clear coat like mine do. Somehow I seem to find narrow trails lined with scrub oak to drive through. I keep the inside clean and don't look at the body as much.