Couldn’t Pass Up This Find

New to the forum and Tacoma world. Been looking for a pickup truck the last few months specifically a Tacoma. I really wanted a 4 door 4x4 but as you know even with 250k miles they are still pricey. My wife posted something on fb asking if anyone knew of any in my area for sale. A friend from youth sports father just passed and left her son his 2012 Tacoma base. He didn’t want it cause he just got his license and doesn’t know how to drive stick. They knew what they had so I didn’t really get a deal. I ended up paying 14k for it. Best part is it had under 20k miles looks and drives brand new. Hoping I made the right decision. I’d like to lift it and put some bigger tires on it. Glad I found this forum as I’ve already got some answers.

 

Buy the ebay 3/2 kit (3" front spacer, 2" rear aal), get a pair of 2nd or third gen Bilstein rear shocks, get some light weight 16" wheels and light weight 265/75r16 tires and call it a day. The truck will thank you for the lighter wheels and tires.

 

What do you think about the fat bob kit?
https://4x4.fatbobsgarage.com/toyota-tacoma-2wd-5-lug-suspension-275-lift-kit--2005-2017-p7611.aspx

 

Nice.

235 75 15 tires will fit on those wheels with no rubbing or cutting required. And give 1" of true ground clearing lift.

If wanting other wheels, use caution that the specs will be similar to avoid creating a clearance issue.

Personally I'd not try to create a suspension lift. The vehicle rides and handles quite well in stock form. Enjoy it for what it is. A sweet economical ride.

 

Great deal - I am totally happy with my 2015 4 banger 5 speed manual - look after it as it will last a long time

 

I think it's about the same quality as the eBay kits, if only marginally better. I had an eBay 2" front spacer for over a year and when I took it off to put on the 3" it still looked brand new. It's just personal preference. I saved $150 going with eBay vs fat bob's, but after buying new u bolts and rear shocks the gap is a little closer. Plus people say the rear shocks are not good for the Fat Bobs kit, so you might want to replace them anyways. It's a reputable kit. I like my eBay kit, because I'm going after a budget friendly build, even though the Fat Bob's kit is not expensive either.

 

Thanks all. Anyone have any links for a decent hitch receiver?

 

Welcome Sir! thats a sweet truck. i had a bench seat in my 05 taco and hated it. i just did the bucket seat swap and it is the best thing i have done to the truck personally so far. look into it if you dont like the bench seat its pretty easy to do. if not then your good haha

 

I have the exact same truck, same color, same trans, same everything, bought new in 2012. Currently have 188,000 miles. I installed this Curt hitch myself and have had no complaints in 10 years:

$152 CURT 13323 Class 3 Trailer Hitch, 2" Receiver, Fits Select Toyota Tacoma, GLOSS BLACK POWDER COAT

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007VANJK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8

Not sure where you are located, but if you get snow, I recommend the
Yokohama Geolandar AT G015 All Terrain tires:
https://www.amazon.com/Yokohama-Geo...qid=1616606173&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-2

I painted the same as yours, stock steel wheels with Rustoleum primer and Rustoleum black paint and left the hubs silver plastic. Wheels still look great after 10 years and don't see any rust. When they do rust it won't be noticed on black.

For buying new, my dealer gives me oil changes for life @ $20 per including a new OEM filter and 0W20 synthetic oil. With that deal, I've changed it every 2,500 miles instead of the 5,000 interval recommended all but a couple times in the summer.

I wouldn't have guessed that truck was still worth $14,000 at that age. I paid $15,000 new. I just checked the value of mine with the miles and it is roughly half that.

Enjoy.

 

14k is a great deal ..

 

I’m looking to at 235/75/15 tires but wanted to upgrade the rims to a black set. Mine are a bit rusted or else I’d paint them. If I were to go with a 16inch wheel what size tire would give me the same height as the 235/75/15 tires on a 15 inch rim? Thanks for any info.

 

Since almost new, I've had these 'helper springs' on my same truck. I thought it felt 'rolly-pohly' with minimal turning but especially when getting on the highway. After installing these and putting a little weight in the back, it felt like driving a full size truck.

https://activesuspension.com/products/kits/2005-2016-tacoma-pickup/

Maybe there's something else that would have been less expensive but these really made a difference.

 

235 75 R16 is almost exactly the same.
225 75 R16 is also close enough.
For plain black 16" steel wheels Camry or Rav4 should work.

Here's an RC with 15" black Camry wheels and 235 75 R15 tires

 

Wouldn’t 235/75/16 cause rubbing because it’s an inch bigger? I don’t have a lift kit.

 

Or you could trade it in immediately and buy new. My buddy's father just traded his 10 year old Tacoma in to our local dealership for $20k and bought an sr5. Haha. $14k seems like a steal. Very nice.

 

Yeah, you got a deal! I like the direction you're going, wheels-tires, done!

 

I mistyped.
That should be 235 70 R16.
Try this tire size calculator
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc

 

Man awesome find! She looks great and you won't be disappointed with this truck! I have 215K and haven't had any problems. I am also looking into lifting it with the Fat Bob's kit so maybe we could reference each other on this thread in the future.

I also have a YouTube Channel so check it out for some ideas on this base model taco! Also leave me some mod ideas and I'd be happy to share it on my channel.
YT@ The Yota Duo

 

Before: with stock 15" wheels



After: with 2008 Rav4 17" Wheels with 225/65 R17 Goodyear Outlast Tires.