Shed some light...

Well after 11 years thinking of selling the crew cab Taco. Love the Taco, but now that my son is getting bigger he looks cramped sitting in the back seat.

So after 160,000 miles the Tacoma is still in pretty good shape but needs about $5000 worth of work to get it back to great shape. Here are current issues:
- quoted $2800 to fix AC
- some dash board lights out
- driver side window seemed out of align, still opens and shuts but clicks when opening/closing and something rattles when open/shut
- will need new tires for inspection (I know wear and tear item)
- not sure if this is an issue, but clutch needs to be ALL the way depressed so that it’s hitting the floor before it will turn over.

I do not go off roading or mudding but do gather firewood off the beaten path (hilly/muddy farm fields, overgrown rutted old fire roads, etc) with a 3500lb maybe 4500lb army trailer (when full). Also pull a little off road tear drop on some pretty remote places, nothing to crazy.

So I started looking at full size trucks. I’m really not that excited about any of the full size trucks. Here are my thought:

- Like the new Chevy’s, especially the trail boss but then I drove one, didn’t drive bad but the interior seemed cheap for a 50k truck.

- like the GMC’s. Leaning towards GMC Elevation.
- like the GMC AT4 but it’s about 6-8g out of my price range

- fords - can’t afford Raptor. The max tow package/fx4 would be nice. Just seems dated.

- Ram - like the Rebel, interior is real nice but Rams reliability is questionable.

- tundra - I would love a tundra but they are so dated and more importantly I can’t justify spending 50k on a truck that gets 12-13 mpg. My current truck gets 12 when towing, 15 driving around. I don’t want to go backwards.


Just curious what you guys think. Maybe shed some insight.

(mods - if this isn’t the proper thread please move it, thanks)

 

Trade your Tacoma on a lightly used Tundra. And don't spend any money on fixing it before you trade it, the dealer won't care that much and you would be lucky to get 50 cents on any dollar you spend on repair.

If you go private party sale, I would fix some of the items (like AC and dash lights) before you sell it, to get better interest and money. Unless it's super cheap, I walk from private party sales where the seller clearly hasn't kept everything in order. I find that what is obvious in deferred maintenance, is only half of what I will find when I start digging.

 

I agree the Tundra mpg worst in class. They need more gears.
I like the Ram 1500 classic Big Horn 5.7L but around $50k can get down nearer $40k with sales.
Drove one every week for 2 years on work as rentals so beat them hard never a hiccup. Love that 8 speed.
If you need it they come with auto 4x4 selection allows full on road 4 wheel drive running plus all the others 2wd, 4Hi, 4Lo, Auto, and a neutral position for allowing both diffs to be disconnected. Rebel does not and you are stuck with that red color on the seats and higher price. If you really want to haul get the Ram 2500 Power Wagon 4x4 what a beast but pricey.
Raptor can't tow any weight. Chevys are the ones with problems now and throttle response is slow.
Diesel options out there for real towing you know.

 

Thanks Muddog, that’s the kind of feedback I’m looking for!!!

my price range is NO more than $50k OTD so raptor is definitely out. I would take a Powerwagon in a heartbeat but Sticker price and mpg puts it out of the running