Thinking about spending some $$$$ on my truck, how long do they last . . .

That's nothing man,I have 357,585 on my 1998 Tacoma and it still running strong(original engine/transmission,I change the oil and oil filter about every 3,500 miles or twice a month,still investing in it,I've got about 700 worth of parts so far that I'm going to be changing and still plan on investing more in it in the very near future

 

What I'm saying is if you invest in it like regular maintenance and replacements in the long run it will be well worth your dollar

 

As far as amps go. You can pick up a 5 channel amp to run both front and rear speakers along with a sub. Me personally, with it be a regular cab, I'd ditch the 6x9s in the rear and pick up a 2 Chan amp for the front stage and a separate 1 Chan for the sub. If you're want to go for a 10, look for shallow mount. But truth be told a single 8 on about 250-500 watts would be enough, since it's a small cab truck. Back in my hay day I had a reg. Cab 96 with a jl w612 in a sealed center console on 800watts. Complete over kill

 

I've owned a 2004 regular cab pre-runner until I bought a extend cab 04 PreRunner. I had 6x8s JBL gtos and 2 tens behind the seat with a box from groundshaker.com the box fit well and you only loose one click on the bench seat. I personally enjoyed the sound but you're not going to get the real hard hitting bass because of the volume restrictions of the boxes you can fit in a regular cab. Try to find a sub with lower profile and be aware of cubic ft requirements.

With regards to durability I'm at 230,000 and my truck runs very strong. I've probably put close to 4K into it with a list of about 4K more to go lol. But it's gonna be a toy after I quit driving it as a daily.

Great trucks just depends what you really want to get out of it boss.

Might be a good idea to have a timing belt and water pump kit in stock if it's never been done. You'll probably need it at some point. You can get one with genuine Toyota parts off eBay for around 250 shipped

 

You can get all the bass you need with in reason, if you use a sub box and amp, yes you loose one or 2 clicks for the seat but will fit super tight.
Here is a photo with the seat out and with the seat in

 

OP here, I'm built kind of like a fire hydrant at 5'6" and 160lbs. I'm one of those short legged, but not small dudes lol. Anyways, getting back to cab room and speaker sizes, those damn 6x9 speakers I have in there now really limit seat travel. I have it pushed back as far as it will go with those speakers back there, and honestly its about perfect for me. But if I have anybody taller than me, their knees are kind of in the dash. Anybody who is taller than me would have to take out the rear speakers.

Getting back on topic, the front bumper on my truck looks like sh!te. How hard is it to dissemble the front end of the truck, and swap in that peeling painted bumper with a nice stock chrome one . . .

This is the truck I have, not mine, but in case you were wondering what it looks like . . .

 

You can pretty much take the truck apart with a 10mm, 13mm and 14mm socket and a screw driver. Its not hard to take them apart unless you live in the salt belt like I do. Then rusted fasteners can frustrate the shit out of you.

 

Okay good to know, I just did an oil change on the truck today. Oil filter is easy to get to, but damn does it make a mess on the front right a-arm, along with one's front right hand and fore-arm lol.

BTW, truck looks like new underneath, not a single spec of rust, but I am a bit concerned around that driver's side shock tower and into that area around the battery. There looks to be a bit of surface rust forming, I'm thinking of taking out the battery, spraying down the area with soap and water and putting on some silver spray paint.

 

Sounds smart. Any chance that what you are seeing is old battery acid? The best way to scrub it down is to use baking soda to scrub with. It will neutralize and b. acid.

 

Really unless it rots out or gets crunched in an accident any vehicle can last as long as you're willing to put the time and money into maintaining it. Pretty much anything can be changed. But speaking of Toyota trucks specifically I've had a few well over 200k that ran/drove just like the day I bought them on their original drivelines. I actually just picked up my 16th Toyota truck Sunday, a 03 regular cab 4x4 with 226k miles. It's been neglected and needs some love but I'm confident for minimal investment it'll be a great truck for years to come.

 

Thanks guys for the good advice. I think my truck is a keeper, my old man who owned it first ran the odometer up to 170k, I've had it for about 15-16 months now and its at 182k. Other than those raggdy ass bumpers, the body on the truck is super straight, maybe just a very few light scratches, paint looks great, no fade, no bullshit, Toyota knows how to paint a car.

Speaking of those raggdy ass bumpers, I ordered new ones, chrome front and rear, about $250. Should be here in early August, sick of my truck looking like crap.

As far as maintenance, the old man always kept on top of that, he has a little notebook in the glovebox with every fill up, every oil change(did those himself), every coolant change, brake change, etc, along with a folder of receipts of work he had done at a shop.

As far as that stereo, within that first month I swapped out the old aftermarket CD only head unit for the double din Pioneer unit with bluetooth, love that mod, placed the old 6x9 speakers from my old pos 1993 behind the rear seat. Amazed that I haven't blown out the factory front door speakers, kind of crazy that Toyota speced 5.25" front speakers with separate door tweeters, even in the base model.

I'm thinking an 8" sub and some nice front door speakers would meet my needs as far as the tunes go. I mean its a small space and already with my current setup it bumps pretty good at 2/3 to 3/4 volume, turn it past that and it distorts. I listen to a lot of metal, so hearing that bass guitar, that double bass drum kick, that is what really matters to me. I don't care how hard this thing bumps, as long as it does justice to something with a bit of distortion(aka Lamb of God).

If I do all this stereo stuff, you damn well bet I'm going to put down some sound insulation in the cab, on the floors, up the firewall, back side of the cab, and the doors.

Once again, I ask you, what do you prefer for sound deading???