Help with trading in current Tacoma for 4WD Tacoma

Apologies in advance if I posted this in the wrong place...

New user here, first time poster. I currently own a 2015 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab TRD. I bought it from my local Toyota Dealership in the first week of January this year. The truck had a previous owner, and I bought it with ~8100 miles on it. The truck was, and still is, in as close to perfect condition as you can get. Over the past month or so, I have been really craving having a 4WD option in my truck, in-part to living on a near 1-mile long dirt road that doesn't get graded, and for having off-road adventures. I am willing to downgrade a few years so I can afford a trade/sell. I don't want to go older than a 2012 model. I am trying to do this with spending the least amount of money possible. Also, I would like to have a nav system. So my questions are:
1. Is it worth going through the process of trading in my current truck to get a non-PreRunner Tacoma?
2. What's the difference between the TRD PreRunner's off-road abilities versus (let's say) a SR5 or TRD off-road's ability? Is there much difference between the two?
3. If I do end up attempting to trade in my Tacoma, should I do it through the dealership where I got it from or from a non-dealership?

I'm sure I have more questions I'd like to ask, but I can't think of any at the moment.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

To answer your question, nothing ventured, nothing gained. It will only cost you a little time to shop some dealers to see what kind of trade you can get.

I would be looking for a TRD Off Road or Sport 4x4 to replace your PreRunner. You may find a 2014 or '15 someone traded for a Gen 3.

Just be patient and decide what you are willing to spend and bargain hard. You may also consider selling your truck in a private sale and shop with cash in hand.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

My suggestion is to forget the Nav and just get a nice portable GPS. They are cheaper, work better, and portable between vehicles. And map updates are free. I don't think Toyota's are.

That alone will make your shopping easier.

 

You would be better off trying to sell your truck private party first. Since it is low mileage and still has warranty left you will not have to worry about the buyer coming back to you whining as can sometimes happen with private party sales.

If you sell private party you will get retail value for the truck but if you trade it in most likely you will get a much lower price for it.

Put it on craigslist for a couple weeks while you shop around for your new truck and make the deal in cash at your bank that holds the title if you sell it.

If you are in a hurry and want instant gratification the dealer will be happy to make it happen for a couple thousand dollars outta yer pocket effectively. Maybe it is worth a couple thousand just to be done with it, that is your call.

Also, forget about the nav system yer phone does it just as well or a garmin if you really want to be able to save/load GPX files and such.

 

Also finding a Tacoma with Nav would he hard enough i dont picture to many people getting that option when they bought it.

 

Thank you for all the replies so far! Another question I have is what is the big differences in getting a Tacoma TRD standard w/ 4WD versus one with TRD off-road w/ 4WD or TRD 4x4 w/ 4WD and SR5 w/ 4WD?

 

First, let me say unequivocally that I think you are nuts for wanting to sell a creampuff truck that you just got. Don't want to be rude, but I think you've got a first-worlder's craving and it's going to cost you many dollars. You do not need 4 wheel drive for an un-graded road unless it's got a 20% grade and is covered with rocks the size of terriers. You want a 4x4, and I understand that. But the truck you have is very very capable. Compared to what all of us were driving 30 years ago your Pre-runner is a friggin' trophy truck.

The TRD's have a locking rear diff, fancy shock absorbers, and other doo-dads that you do not need. Unless you are already a seasoned 4wd nut, the stuff that comes with TRD will make little or no sense to you, and will not be worth thousands of your dollars.

Sorry, I'm sure I sound like your dad.

EDIT: And nobody gets a built-in Nav system any more. For all the reasons listed.

 

TRD Off Road has A-Trac and rear locker. It is the only way to go if you want the best 4x4 Tacoma.

 

I just want to comment on the Nav. I have had a lot of newer German cars and have never opted for navigation. My Tacoma was the last 2015 TRD Sport 4x4 in the Phoenix area and it happened to have navigation..and I sprung for it.

It is not perfect, and it can be a little time consuming when you're wanting to get on the road fast as heck with a destination you need guidance to. However, it really is pretty nice to have. You don't have to fiddle with your phone, wasting data, with your eyes off of the road. I have put 15,000+ miles on my truck since I bought it in August, and that includes an asinine amount of long road trips. Most recently, driving from Phoenix -> Georgia -> Missouri -> Virginia, and I never once regretted paying for nav.

As far as everything else; only you can justify that financial hit. If you don't live somewhere with adverse weather, I can't say I'd make the trade.

 

You've got your packages all mixed up. You can get (in 4x4):

TRD Off-Road - you get A-TRAC and rear locking differential
TRD Sport - you get color matched everything and hood scoop
Non-TRD - you get 4 drive wheels

I agree with @ColoradoTom, though. From your description, your PreRunner will get you where you need to go just fine. If you WANT a 4x4, there's nothing wrong with that and nobody here should be able to tell you how to spend your money.

 

You say yours is a TRD Prerunner...which version, Sport or Off Road? If Off Road, you already have a rear locking diff, which will help get you through a lot of stuff.

 

True, if it's the TRD Offroad then you have a rear locking differential and that makes a world of difference when it comes to off-roading your Prerunner recreationally, or if you need to go up a gravel road in inclement weather conditions.

If you haven't read up on what a locking differential does, search for it on here or better yet, search on youtube. You might be surprised with what your current truck is capable of already (assuming its a TRD Offroad).


EDIT: Oh and there's one other option you have that you didn't list....a solid axle swap