Future Tacoma Owner here looking for advice

Good evening Tacoma World, for the last few weeks I've been hemming and hawing over UTV's looking for rig to acquire for my hunting obsession. This weekend I had an epiphany; why am I debating on polaris vs honda, why not go Toyota. Realizing I'm probably not going to pop onto AutoTrader.com and find a rig ready to go, I figured I come here and ask the experts, existing Tacoma Owners what to look for.

Here's where I'm leaning, feel free to correct me. Looking for a 100k-160k miles 4 door Tacoma that I can replace the stock suspension with one a little more geared towards NM and CO trails and elk hunting. Where I get lost is the 2001-2014 Tacomas and if there are trucks better equipped to handle what I'm thinking of doing with it. Obviously looking at 4x4, TRD? be sure to get a Gen 2 or after 2005? looking to spend all in around $15-22k after suspension upgrade.

I'll stop rambling. Give me some direction, I think i'm on the right path for a hunting rig, would love to properly join the community. Thanks

Chris

 

100% stock is fine. These trucks are more than capable without extensive mods. Don't get me wrong, we all end up throwing money at our trucks, but a lot of it is more of a want vs. a need, especially when we're talking non-hardcore rock crawling. If anything, I'd prefer buying a 100% stock vehicle. Lifts are easy to screw up, and a stock vehicle you know it hasn't been beaten up off road (because everything thinks you need a big lift and huge tires to drive down some fire roads).

The main thing to look at with any Tacoma is the frame rust (depending on where the truck has lived). 2nd gens have it just as bad as the 1st gens, too. It's even showing up on 3rd gens. But again, that depends on where you live, so it's either going to be a problem for any vehicle you own (tacoma or not), or you don't need to worry much about it.

The main advantage to the TRDs, especially when you're looking at ones with 100k+ miles (you'd likely be replacing the suspension anyway), is the TRD electric locker. That said, for the difference in price, you could buy a non-TRD and install an aftermarket locker for the same money, if not less. So TRDs are cool, but they are getting harder and harder to find in good condition, so don't make a locker be a deal breaker. And you can buy the stickers if all you want is the look, lol.

The other thing is finding a 4x4. Again, they aren't super easy to find for an affordable price. Lots of people find a TRD pre-runner, and, if you take your time finding the parts, can fairly easily convert it to a 4x4. at least with 1st gens, the trucks are identical, you just need to find the front drivetrain, and transmission. There are several threads here of people who've done it. Just search around, and read up on it.

Good luck!!

 

TRD is basically just a trim level, as you mentioned you will replace the shocks anyway likely, just buy any trim that you fancy and make it yours overtime.

Don't buy without an inspection on a hoist, the frames and headgaskets are the biggest concern.

Ideally buy a 2012-2015 model, they have a frame warranty as the 2005-2011's have all expired their cases.

For hunting a tacoma is a good choice as they fit the trails much better than a large truck, just make sure to get shocks and upgraded tires like a 10 ply.