High Mileage 4x4 vs Low Mileage Prerunner

Hello,
I have been looking at Tacomas for the last few years and finally am in some what of a position to make it happen. I have been looking around to buy a tacoma and for my price range I can get a somewhat low mileage (around 50k) prerunner or a somewhat high mileage (90k+) 4x4 tacoma. I haven't seen any threads about this when searching. While I know tacomas can last forever with the proper maintenance, I wasn't sure if it would be worth it to build up a 4x4 when it has a lot of miles to begin with. Preferably I would like to take my truck off-road after purchasing hence the reason for a 4x4. Also, this will be a daily driver for me. Any advice will be appreciated!

 

90k is not high mileage for a Tacoma. My 13 has about 70k and it drives like the day I drove it off the lot.

 

Thanks for the input. That's what I thought originally. Also, is there any particular maintenance needed around that range?

 

Bought my DCLB 4WD with 90K. I changed fluids on transmission, front diff, rear diff, transfercase, and engine oil. There are writeups for all of them here. I'll be changing the spark plugs and coolant soon as well.

I bought 4wd as I do go off road and when you're out there and it rains on you, it keeps you from getting stuck. Many times I've been out there with a lesser vehicle and worried I had to get back because of rainclouds coming, no longer with the 4wd Tacoma. We get snow here in the mountains too, thus 4wd is required. Depends on what you need/want the truck for.

 

That makes me feel a lot better to know that you've done it as well with no regrets. To be honest I've never been off-roading so it would be completely new to me, but I plan to dive in as soon as I get the truck. I live in Florida so no snow, but lots of rain.

 

You're not supposed to engage 4wd in pavement, thus I don't know how useful it would be with rain on pavement. The 4wd system is really meant for off road and snow or when you get stuck. It's not like the AWD systems in cars that give you more stability in the rain, where those are always on like Subarus or Volkswagens.

I was offroading a lot in my Subaru before I got this and I live in the mountains of Colorado, I don't know how useful 4wd would be in Florida.

 

I'd go 4X4, the difference in 40K miles is pretty irrelevant. A 4X4 will also hold it's value much better years from now when you sell or trade it. If you ever get onto one of the many beaches there where you can drive 4X4 is required. Every time I go to Florida I end up pulling at least 1 driver off the beach and back onto pavement. Some guys either can't read or don't believe the huge signs saying "4X4 only beyond this point". Most don't make it far, the last guy I helped only got his rear wheels 1' off pavement before getting stuck.

My 2007 has 181,000 miles on it now and I'd hop in it tomorrow and drive across the country. Well, I'd probably put tires on it first. But other than tires and normal stuff I've spent very little over the last 10 years. Less than $1000 for new shocks, an alternator, and a new fan blower for the AC.

And if you do buy a 4X4, DO NOT engage 4X4 on pavement, even wet pavement. That isn't what it is designed for and it won't help. In fact you could get LESS traction since you must have at least 1 wheel slipping on the ground when cornering when 4X4 is engaged. If driving on wet pavement is a concern you need All Wheel Drive, it is designed to allow each wheel to turn at different speeds when cornering, 4X4 is not. Doing it occasionally for short distances, such as backing a trailer, or pulling a boat out of a slick ramp won't really hurt, especially if you don't cut the wheels. But if traction between the tires and ground is good you put the transfer case and other parts under excessive strain. You probably won't break anything immediately, but parts will break sooner than they should.

 

Consider overall condition as well as just mileage. A neglected 40K truck could be a far worse buy than a well-take-care of 140K mile truck.

 

Thanks for all of the info guys! I said it rains often here in reference to being offroad while it's raining. I'm not concerned with having it on the pavement. I think you all have given me confidence to go with a 4x4. I plan shortly after getting it to go off-roading. Hopefully it will be very soon!

 

Go 4x4. You will never regret it.

 

90K is not that bad and 4X4 is only way to go!