My First Tacoma

Bought my first Tacoma about a month ago...
came with a...
Weather Guard tool box (plan to sell)
About a 2.5 in lifting blocks (plan to change out for struts in the future)
and a cleanable K@N air filter
the truck has less than 73,000 miles on it and will eventually need to do the timing belt, any tips for that job will be much appreciated

 

Nice to have you here, good looking truck with low miles.

 

Beautiful truck I have an 04 too with low miles, radiant red. Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW, nice truck too.... My best advice is let a competent shop or a buddy that you KNOW has the skills (if you don't have them yourself) I consider myself a decent wrench with problem solving skills & something about all those cams & belts/pulleys going fucking everywhere, quite honestly scares the shit out of me....

 

Really sweet looking truck... Welcome!!

 

Welcome to TW!
Mind if I ask roughly how much you paid? I have almost your exact same truck and mileage, wanting to see if I got ripped off or not lol. Oh, and I have a MT.

 

Welcome to TW. Badass truck!

Just doing a quick Google search, it looks like there is a few videos on YouTube that show how to replace the timing belt.

 

"MT"? I paid a little south of 13k for my truck, I don't know where you're located but what I have heard is that usually tacomas that are more south go for a little more than the ones up north because of rust

 

MT = manual transmission.

 

really nice truck Ive done a timing belt on a sienna before and if its anything like that it shouldnt be too difficult just gotta have all the marks lined up, I wouldn't blame you for having a shop do it though it was kinda daunting

 

Yeah I paid a little below 14 but she's a Texas truck with very little rust. Good to hear!

 

Haven't posted in a while so thought I would give an update...
my truck has a little more than 82k rn and was rear ended back in November, one of my buddies when I first got the truck told me to get a tow hitch for protect and man it sure did protect my truck. The hitch ended up putting a hole in her block but still bent the draw tie in, warped/scraped up the bumper and sent the bed into the cab during the collision causing two dents in the corners of the cab and an un-sealed cab below the back window. Getting the truck completely fixed thanks to her insurance.
modifications/maintance since last update:
Tires- General Grabber AT2, love these tires, great all around for any types of off-roading
Wheels- stock wheels off of a 2012 4runner
sold the old chromies
rear lights led lights
sold the tool box
tow hitch
replaced cv axle due the previous one being shredded
multiple oil changes
starter replaced
both differential fluids replaced, need to do the transmission when I have time

I bought my truck lifted about 2.5 inches with blocks, any suggestions for an actual lift? I think the height of the truck is perfect but the blocks make timid, if that makes sense, it just doesn't handle right I believe.

thank guys!

 

Yikes. I'm not sure your buddy did you any favors. Tow-hitch transfers all force directly to the frame, and in this case looks like the cab got screwed up as well. Not saying the damage would have been less without the tow-hitch, but who knows. Anyway, good luck!