Experts please help - is this a good buy?

I'm trying to get a tacoma that is able to carry a slide-in pop up camper, like a fourwheel. I've got my eye on a 2008 double cab V6 6' bed with old man emu add-a-leaf modification and upgraded airbags to support a camper insert. It's got 175,000 miles and selling for 14k. People have been telling me that it's too expensive and too many miles... but these people don't know Tacomas. What do you say?

 

Welcome to TW. Let's see some pics of the truck.

 

The first questions about any old Tacoma:

• Is located where there is any chance of rust?
• Has its frame been replaced?

 

A Tacoma doesn't have enough payload to be a good choice for a slide-in camper. They have the worst payload ratings of any brand. A Honda Ridgeline beats Tacoma by 300-500 lbs. You can do it, but it's not a good idea.

The modifications done to the truck won't increase how much you can put in the truck; they just hide the problem and encourage drivers to exceed the trucks limits even more. When a truck is squatting that is a visual cue that you're overloaded. Just because you modify it so it sits level with a load doesn't mean it's not overloaded.

Where I live rust isn't an issue at all but if that truck came from the NE I'd not even consider it at any price because of rust issues. I'd go to www.kbb.com and plug in the information in your zip code to get a value. Tacoma values are crazy high. I ran the numbers on my 07 with 253,000 miles the other day. KBB says mine will sell for $9000-$10,000 in a private sell where I live so $14K for one a year newer and 80,000 fewer miles seems legit. But I'd not pay it. I love my truck, but wouldn't pay $10K for it. But if someone wants to give me $10K for it I might sell it.

 

I agree. The Tacoma is bad choice for a slide in. Once loaded up with gear the OP will be well beyond the payload capacity of the truck.

 

If that truck is in good condition, you can easily get another 200K miles out of it. However, I agree with everyone else that a Tacoma isn’t the right choice for a slide in camper unless you’re willing to drop some major money on rear suspension upgrades.

 

Look into bed rail mounted options. They come in about 300#s. My preference is OVRLND, but there are may others - 4Wheel Project M, GFC, etc.

As for the truck you're looking at that, that would be a $12k truck where I'm at. Prices seem to be softening. Scratch that $14k looks to be market... I'd say the heavier springs and airbags are a requirement for carrying any camper with a Tacoma.

 

Here are some pics if I did that embed right. It's lived on the west coast it's whole life, Eastern washington and trips down to Baja. Frame looks like it has some superficial rust, doesn't look crazy but hard to tell. The previous owner has been using the camper shown here for 10 years.

 

Eastern WA should make it rust free. I assume the $14k price is with the topper, not the camper?

 

I see two different trucks.

 

I'd want to see maintenance logs for that price. Outside looks like shit but if you can tell fluids were changed on time for all 175k then maybe that's alright.