Sell my 2011 4cyl for 2009 V6 to tow?

Back in 2013 I bought a 2011 5 lug access cab sr5 4 cylinder Tacoma with under 5000 miles on it for $17,000. I really wanted a double cab TRD PreRunner but for that same money instead of 5000 miles I was gonna be at 130,000-150,000 miles and an older truck. At the time my thought process was go with your head and not your heart and the 5 lug came home with me. No problems at all with this truck, runs flawlessly, except the look of it. We put a Fat Bob's small lift kit and 235/75/15 tired and I'm very pleased with the look. Power going up a hill in not optimal, worse pulling a utility trailer but it will do it.

Fast forward to today. I've got my Granny's 1976 20' Coachman camper and am restoring it. Dry weight is 4,000 lbs, my 4 banger rated for 3500 but I really don't think I'd want to pull more than 2,000 and ruin my flawless running truck. My wife's SUV is rated for 5,800 lbs and should pull it. Ideally I would like to have a truck that would do the same.

My 2011 5 lug have 75,000 miles on it and may out live me, maybe not. Pretty sure I can sell it for $15,000 without much trouble, may already have a buyer. I've found a very nice 2009 TRD Sport SR5 PreRunner V6 with 6,800 lb. towing package with 132,000 miles. My truck is very clean, well kept and nice as is this TRD is. He said he would go as low as $16,800 but I might can get him to $16,500 which is higher than KBB but from my looking, this is the best looking, in the best condition and lowest mile TRD I've stumbled on.

My question is, am I am idiot for even considering this idea ? What ever I sell my truck for plus about $2000 is all I'm looking to spend. I don't do car payments.

I need guidance so my heart doesn't talk my head into something really stupid. I'm imagining y'all probably might have not bought the 5 lug to start with.

Help me.

 

That 4 banger will severely struggle trying to tow that camper. Trade is my vote

 

I know it won't pull the camper, it's not an option but our SUV will.

 

You just need to weigh your wants and needs. I’m probably the wrong person to ask as I bought mine new with a car payment. But I would say you are making a good decision either way, it just comes down to your specific situation and if you WANT or NEED to be able to tow it with your truck.

side note the tow package is 6,500lbs as far as I know.

 

If you can get $15K for your 5 lug, take the money and run. Anytime you can drive a vehicle for 7 years and only deprecate $2K, that’s a win. The prerunner is overpriced, but so is your 5 lug. If you look around, you should be able to get a nice 4WD for that price.

 

Whatever you get, make sure it really does have the factory tow package. Open the hood and make sure you see this.

 

Keep the truck, use the SUV.

OTOH, if you can get $15k for an 11 with 75k miles, what's my '13 with 32k gonna bring?

The real key is how many times a year you'll actually use the camper AND why you think a truck would be better than an SUV to tow with.

And when you add a topper to keep gear dry............

 

This is good stuff, keep it coming.

 

As the owner of a TRD Sport 4x4 V6 I vote trade. You’re avoiding a car payment and if you’re happy that’s what matters. Just double check the frame on the new truck to make sure it isn’t rusting out, check the tow package like Muddinfun said above, and have a hay day.

I think you’d really enjoy it.

 

It pretty much comes down to if the nicer truck with higher miles is worth the $2000 miles you’d be spending. I think if your really able to get that much for your 5 lug I’d say sell it cause that’s A pretty damn good deal even by California standards.

 

This one has a tonneau cover.

 

Sell the regular cab and buy the v6

 

It's not nicer but it is defiantly cooler.

 

I meant nicer meaning more capable and cooler I’d say sell and buy the 6 lug

 

Would you want to go 4WD rather than Pre Runner as long as your considering a trade?

 

Am I the only one thinking getting 15k for a almost 10 yo 4cyl 2wd access cab truck is a bit ambitious?

I found this one for $13.7k and it only has 45,000 miles.
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/d/alpharetta-toyota-tacoma/7179935344.html

 

Before dropping any coin on anything, I would pull the RV with the wife's SUV a few times. Get the "restored" trailer weighed, know the "actual" towed weight. The trailer you are restoring is likely hundreds of pounds heavier than anything manufactured within the last ten years. The Tacoma may be rated to tow your trailer weight, but you could easily exceed the rated payload with just the trailer tongue weight added to the weight of the passengers, fuel and cargo (listed on the door jamb sticker). Contrary to many opinions on TW, it will not be a pleasant towing experience. You'll likely need to add a brake controller and rear suspension assistance (leafs or air bags etc), and a WDH. A 1/2 or 3/4 ton truck (Tundra) with tow package would be a more practical and comfortable tow vehicle. You may even come to enjoy the RV experience, which could lead to an upgrade in equipment, which would likely "require" more truck. When towing an RV, more truck is always better.

 

No you are not the only one,reality is far different than dreaming,its a 5 lug also.

 

I say sell what you got and get a 4x4 man-truck. Put a lift on it, and some bigger wheels, and BAM just like that you enter into manhood!

 

I really don't need a 4x4 but for the right truck I guess it would be fine.