High mileage 3rd Gen or Low(ish) mile 2nd Gen??

Shopping HARD to switch my 2013 Trail Teams FJ for a Tacoma.

Need a truck for house and property stuff and don't have the budget for 2 vehicles.

Really agonizing over spending low $30s on a 3rd Gen with over 100k miles or low $20s on a 2014 or 2015 2nd Gen with the same or fewer miles. Been in the Toyota truck and SUV game for about 20 years, so I understand either would need to be rust free

I'm really at the point where I'm done changing vehicles every few years and I want one I can stick with for 5+ this time around.

I do appreciate the creature comforts of the 3rd Gen but could do a lot with the extra $10k from buying a 2nd Gen...right??

Please help me weigh out the pros and cons

 

Buy a utility trailer. The beds aren't' big enough in a Tacoma to make much difference and they have very low payloads. If I need to haul anything of any size or weight, it's easier to use my trailer. I burn a lot of firewood. I can put more wood in my trailer than I could put in an 8' bed 3/4-ton truck and the Tacoma pulls it easily. I'd only be able to get 1/3 that much in the bed of my Tacoma.

 

A buddy traded in his 2nd gen for 3rd and regretted it. To him, the engine and transmission felt way better than 3rd gen.

You can't go wrong with either but where you are, I'd be looking at the frame really well before purchasing. They're not known to do great in salt heavy states unless someone has meticulously did rust prevention. Also keep in mind rubber and other nonmechanical components become brittle with age so you might be doing more wrenching sooner on a 2nd gen.

At the end of the day, it's about the condition and if you're willing to live with an outdated platform of a 2nd gen. Good luck with the search.

 

My vehicle tends to be the family vehicle as well, more so than my wife's, so with two almost double-digit daughters, the four doors will be much nicer than the rear suicide doors of the FJ. Another consideration I should have included in the initial post.

 

It sounds like you need a full-sized truck or just get a trailer. Humans don't fit in the back of a back seat of a Tacoma or FJ for practical purposes. You have an impressive resume of Toyota's owned, so you probably know all that. Add a Tundra to the list?

 

Full size, you’ll find yourself in the same dilemma in 4 - 6 years unless they’re 5’ tall as adults.

 

Lol. My almost 10 yr old is already 61 inches ...
Freaking Tundras are SO big though. Almost 2 feet longer than a 4 door Tacoma. I want a truck not a boat

 

Matter of preference, but I'd take 2nd gen over the 3rd gen. But finding rust free long bed DC would not be easy. Common access cab is not useful for more than 2 people. And I will send what was said about the utility trailer, bed is too small for many things, especially if its a short 5ft bed.

 

If it is your family car and you need payload, you’re already in a SUV consider a 4Runner or Highlander, both have good towing capability. Otherwise consider a full sized truck you get same fuel economy and much more room. It’s not my money I’m spending so this is just my $0.02.

 

Haha, what?

Normal sized humans fit there no problem at all. Its not the most luxurious back seat but hey, it works perfectly fine unless unless one is an "oversized" human.

 

Get a trailer and keep that FJ brother! When it came time for me part ways with my FJ, I gave it to my son to keep it in the family. I helped him change the oil in it just yesterday.

 

2nd gen assuming the trucks you're looking at are in equally good condition.

The 2.5 gen you mentioned aren't much older than the earlier (16-19) 3rd gens and not much different features wise, unless the 3rd gen has a premium package/Limited/TRD PRO trim level

For the 3rd gen, I'd get a 20+ to get the included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and standard power driver's seat that has height adjustability.