Need me a bigger Baja...

Up 'til this summer, I was a pretty proud owner of an' 06 Subaru Baja:


But it's getting on in years, and the issues are starting to pile up. Couple that with having bought a 19' O'Day sailboat, and I'm thinking the Baja is just too small. After figuring in the boat, trailer, and gear, I'm bumping up against that 2,400 tow limit.

So...


Up the road from me is an '09 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab with the Offroad package. 140k miles. I'm the sort of guy who has taken the Baja into a farmer's field after a snowfall to rescue an econobox that slid off the road, while all the bigger trucks sit on the shoulder inventing lame excuses as to why they're not down in the field, helping out. What I would have done for a longer tow strap or a winch...

Had to look at the Double Cab, since roof racks for the Access Cab seem to be far and few between. I figure having a roof rack available will make transporting kayaks (including the one in the pic above) a lot easier without building a frame for the bed. Wife'll be happier having the second row of full seats, too.

It's got the factory tow package, too... I understand that boosts the tow capacity up to 6,500 lbs. Should haul the O'Day nicely, and give me room to upgrade to a 22' if I should choose to do so in the future.

What I can see of the frame looks good, but it's been undercoated. Bit of rust on the hitch assembly, plus a little starting on the rear fenders. I'll be wanting to get that addressed 'fore winter hits. Took it for a test drive, and all seems well with it. Solid, no rattles. Braking is great... much firmer pedal than the Subaru. 4WD Hi & Low works, if the dash indicator is any judge. Dealer would likely have fits if I tested the 4WD effectively.

Got a feeling I'll be really happy with her.

 

Nice

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Another option to consider. These are 15'

 

Welcome

 

Oh, man... that's a lot of overhang. It'd be handy having the room to put two of 'em side by side, though... and at ground level, without having to climb up to access them.

I bought the truck, and she's sitting out in front of the house. Getting a list of things together that need to be done, and that I want to do... some spots of rust here and there that need to be addressed sooner rather than later, and a corroded radio antenna base. Transmission's got a bit of a clunk at some stops, and I've been reading up on the likely culprits.