Rebuild 96 Front End with 205k - Cost effective?

This is my first post on TacomaWorld and I'll be sure to throw up a picture when I get the chance. I currently drive a 1996 Tacoma 4wd, Regular Cab, 2.7l 5sp. Its got a small 1.5" leveling kit with 17x9 Fuel Hostages and 265/70-17s. I've owned the truck for about 7 months now and love it. It does everything I need it to do, and I get complements daily. Since I've installed the bigger rims and tires it seems as though my steering and ride isn't what it was. Lately I've been thinking a lot on what is the most cost effective thing to do. The list of things to get replaced I think would be new tires, 5100s all the way around, inner and outer tie rods, upper and lower ball joints, steering rack bushings or just a new steering rack, and any other bushings or things that seem worn. I figured all this with labor could be done for about $2,0000 on the high end. At the same time I could sell the truck for 6k, put the above 2k, and an extra 2k and buy just a lower mileage tacoma for 10k. I guess my main question is when do you stop investing in an older DD truck? I feel like with a new front end, tires, alignment, and shocks it would go for many more miles. The only thing then would be a motor, and clutch, which would hopefully be a couple years down the road. The truck by no means drives bad now and I enjoy driving it. The truck seems to handle and drive much better at 75mph than at 55. I would get a cheap DD honda to drive, but that goes with why not get a newer tacoma. I would really love to just spend the 2k and get another 2yrs out of the truck without other large costs occuring.

 

205K miles is not that much really. There is still a lot of life in in if it's running well. The risk is that if you sold it and picked up another truck, you may not know the history and condition of it and could end up doing the same repairs soon anyway.

I think if it were me, I'd take care of the repairs and keep enjoying it.

 

Well to me anytime one is paying Labor to get repairs done unless it something like alignments .

Really time to think about going newer.

I am not quite at that point this week.

I am in the process of rebuilding the front end of my 2000 with @ 200,000 miles to me still a worth while venture

I went with all Toyota Parts except for new CV axles from Napa.

Only you can decide if it is worth it for you no matter what anyone else says.