I Think I Robbed the Guy

I just sold my 2010 Toyota RAV4 with a little over 120k miles to look for something that can tow up to 3000lbs since I got a good internship this summer and I'm looking to find a medium-sized boat for river running, calm ocean conditions and occasional lake fishing. I was looking for trucks in the 10k-15k range when I was lucky to stumble across this beaut.

2002 Tacoma XtraCab SR5, 4 cyl and no modifications w/ ~500 miles until it hits 115k. and get this...

I got it for 8 grand.

All of my truck buddies said this was a sweet deal and I was lucky to get the truck especially with how the used market is for Tacoma's nowadays. The previous owner got like 30 offers and one of them even offered 1,000 above asking, but I was the first person that got to the listing and he wanted to give me dibs on it. I don't know if that was a white lie to stop me from talking him down, but I don't think he was since I saw other Facebook listings asking for way more money with way more mileage.


The truck is basically stock (minus the bed-liner and regular maintenance replacements). Got it checked by a mechanic and has no urgent problems. Valve cover gasket needs replacing since it's leaking (although very minimally) and the shocks and struts need to be replaced probably before I move back up to college. This is my first truck, and I think I'm going to take this opportunity to learn how to do this mechanically myself.

I don't know what I want to do cosmetically just yet, maybe some new rims and tires and a lift and level? Maybe modernize it with a backup camera and infotainment system? Or maybe I'll just leave it stock. Regardless, I've had this thing for a day now and I love it. Drives like a dream.

So what do we think folks? Was this a bang or a bust?

 

Congratulations, hope it gives you many miles of smiles. I am not in the loop on 5 lug Tacoma values but it looks like a very clean low mile unit.

I do wonder if that truck is actually up to the task of pulling 3k lbs. The most I ever towed with my v6, 4wd Tacoma was around 1000-1200 lbs and it was noticeable.

 

Awesome, congratulations looks nice!

 

I still need to do some research, but I read around and saw that the truck can pull 3500lbs-5000lbs with I believe the 4 cyl being closer to 3500lbs. I don't know though since the info could be dated. My friend has a much newer Tacoma with a 4 cyl and he can tow a 17' Key West, engine and all, but he definitely has some problems and I believe he got stuck on the boat ramp once. I live in Florida so not much elevation putting strain on the vehicle. Might be a better idea to stick with something small like a Johnboat or Gheenoe or worst case scenario I don't get a boat right now and get a bigger truck like a tundy for towing trips. I'm blessed that the line of work I'm doing pays me enough to support the fun fund!

 

Being 2WD I wouldn’t say it’s a steal but if you’re happy with it then that’s all that matters…..and it’s a Tacoma. Drive and enjoy

 

Congrats looks nice

 

The 5 lug Tacos (2wd) have the 2.4L where the 6 lugs (4x4 & PreRunners--2wd on 4x4 suspension) 4 cylinders are the 2.7L. Both are good motors. I'd suggest finding an owner's manual & specs online but 3k is a lot for either 4cy. Check the hitch weigh too when looking at towing with your model.

Either way, clean truck. This site is a great tool/resource to learn how to keep your truck running for many more miles!

*Edit*
2nd post down:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

 

Take a look at Marketplace and come back to that. It’s crazy how much people are paying for first gen tacomas. I found the same truck with 165k miles and was selling for 12 grand and some change, so that’s a talk down maybe to 10 grand. I could easily sell the truck for more than I bought it, but driving the thing from Tampa to Cape Canaveral (3ish hours) made me fall in love with it. I’m super excited!

 

Thanks for the edit! Those look to be the same numbers I searched up so that’s good to hear it can handle 3500lbs, but if anything I’ll get a small Carolina skiff to scoot around or a v-tapered Johnboat. We’ll see! Thanks.

 

You & the truck will not be happy pulling max. If you must and its more than a few miles the truck will be a lot happier with a tranny fluid cooler. The radiators for the 2.7 had a small one on the bottom of the radiator & likely the 2.4s share radiators. But an aftermarket one will go a long way to keeping it happy.

 

Got it. Definitely going to do this regardless of if I get a boat > 3000lbs and more mods down the line to help tow. I bought this truck to learn more about how to do things myself, so I’m going to get most out of it!

 

If it were a 4WD six lug with 115,000 miles $8,000 would be a good price. 5 lugs just don’t bring in the same level of demand. I’d venture you paid a pretty fair price.

 

You would have paid double for V6, 5 speed, 4WD.
That's just how the market is.

Enjoy your new truck.

 

I think you got a pretty fair buy.

The 2.4 is pretty weak, and you'll have no factory tow package.

That said, a Gheenoo or a 16' aluminum v or johnboat should not be a problem. Unless you are on a tough ramp. But you should be able to launch either of those w/o even getting the rear tires wet.

Stock type replacements are a great choice

Clean clean clean, wax and polish. Pull the bedliner and check for condition of the metal. Consider a DIY treatment with www.monstaliner.com and toss the liner.

Be very careful. Bigger and heavier will slug that truck pretty badly. An alloy OE wheel like from a Highlander or RAV with a nice set of Michelin Defenders would keep it healthy and safe both. This is not an offroad truck.

Just no. IMHO of course. Don't try to make it look like something it's not.

Pretty good idea.

I think you did fine. Love my 5 lug. Does all I want, could do even more.

 

fair price, looks nice

 

Decent deal, I would say. I'd just put some quality tires on it, some KYB shocks, and use it. I towed a 17' runabout with a 115HP outboard with my '92 base model. With trailer, probably right around 3,000 lbs. It wasn't fast, but it did just fine getting to the lake and back. Really busy weekends with wet ramps were sometimes a challenge, but just stick a person or 2 in the front of the boat to get traction.

 

This is a fair price. In NorCal a 5 lug with that low miles would go for around $10k on CL. I bought mine in 2015 for only $6600 with only 29K miles on it (he was going by blue book and didnt know the true market value). Seller only used it to tow his little aluminum fishing boat around.

 

Wow! Glad someone has experience with towing on the base model. I’m going to throw an after market cooler on it just to be on the safe side. Thanks for the info

 

Wow, looks clean man and a great deal too!

 

Thanks for the input! Maybe I’ll take the purist approach to the truck and keep her clean. I checked under the bed liner and it’s in pretty rough shape paint-wise, no rust though. I might just keep it in there.