First Tacoma shopping!

Hi, y’all, new here and am looking to buy my first Tacoma. Was just in Namibia and self drive/camped in a HiLux turbo diesel...fell in love. I want to enjoy the Tacoma as a second ride but eventually rig it into an overlander. Any advice on finding a good base? I want a second gen, not sure about auto or stick. Should I aim for a stripped down one or TRD versions? I’m also not sure about what mileage to stay away from for a decent deal. I really don’t want an abused animal and naively assumed (by reading the posts on the site) that people care for their “Tacos”. I’ve had LCs in the past and they were money pits. Thanks!q

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome?

 

Welcome!

It all depends on what you want to do with your truck. If you're basically car camping, and not rock crawling or desert racing, then that will steer you towards different truck features.

I've owned a 2nd gen stripper truck manual 4x4 and I have an OR 4x4 auto. I love the automatic because I commute in it in L.A. traffic and it's nice to not have to shift so much in traffic, not that I minded that much before, but I'm a little older now, haha.

I mentioned this in another post, but the "upgrades" on the OR are nice, but the stripper truck was a blank canvas that I modified to what I need the truck to do. I was an overlander "early adopter" before it turned into an Instagram hashtag, so i had upgraded shocks and tires, and a higher clearance rear bumper. I didn't need a locker or long travel suspension, I wasn't crawling rocks. If you want more capability now, and don't want to do much modifying yourself, them by all means find an up-trim truck.

As far as mileage and price, all these trucks are overpriced. I paid too much for my '08 OR. Things I'd check on a truck around 100K: Front wheel bearings, driveshaft lubrication (carrier bearing, u-joints), along with all the other usual stuff (leaks, etc.), frame rust (depending on your region).

There's more, but that's the basics. TW is a wealth of knowledge.

 

Welcome aboard new member

 

Welcome

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW!