2000 TRD Tacoma questions

I just bought one in very good shape with 314000 miles. This truck has been maintained to the T. V6. How long is possible for this power train to be good for? Also I have a Polaris ranger, how well do these trucks haul them? My ranger is in the shop or I’d just see for myself. Last but not least , how hard is it to replace the tail shaft seal? That is the only thing wrong with this truck, leaking a little transmission fluid from the seal. Thanks in advance

 

Ttt

 

500,000 miles isnt uncommon*, but that is with regular maitenance. The rear seal isnt that difficult to change out. If she is an automatic, dont tow in overdrive. Not knowing if you have steep hills you have to tow up or it is all flatland. If an automatic, a trans cooler installation wouldnt be a bad idea. There are a few how to's on the forum.

if it is a manual trans, make sure you can get the fill plug out before you pull the driveshaft. Mark the the plug on the case. this is for tighteneing referance. You will "break torque" when taking the fill plug out and some people think that it has to go back in that tight. Fill and drain plugs, unless they have a crush washer or sealing washer, are pipe plugs, meaning that the threads are on a taper and over tightening them will split and crack the case.

while under her doing the seal take a look at the drive shaft center support. grab it and push it up and down, left and right. there should be "some" flex as it is suspended in rubber. grease the ujoints and slip joints on the driveshaft while you are there too unless you can see signs of fresh lube.

I dont want to send you down a "mainteneance path" here... you are "right there" and it is only a few minutes of preventive maintenance.

*I just watched a YouTube video of a dude who has 1,000,000 miles on his Tundra... a million miles and all original. wow, that is Mercedes diesel territory.

 

Tow rating is 5000 pounds. As long as you're under that, you're technically fine.

How much does your Ranger+trailer+gear weigh?

That said, I can't imagine towing anything more than 3000 on a regular basis. I used to have a 2500# camper trailer I towed with my v6 doublecab, and that thing was a DOG on hills. I would manage 45 on some hills on the freeway with 75 speed limits, lol . I mean yeah, I could have buried the throttle and gotten up to 55, but I prefer my engines to not scream in pain and explode. I towed that thing all over, 2500 miles trips were not uncommon.

And I wouldn't say a trans cooler is simply a good idea, it's almost mandatory. Get one. They cost like $50 (look at etrailer.com) and are super easy to install. It's kind of a no brainer, really when we're talking about helping keep trans temps in check.

 

My v6 is at ~450,000 miles. It hasn’t had any issues.

 

Fond memmories going up I80 with a motorcycle trailer + 1,000 lbs of fire wood in my Chevy truck with the 305ci engine foot to the floor for 30 minutes straight going 50mph.

 

Thanks for the replies

 

Did you buy one yet?