Old User New Buyer - Buyer help requested

Depends. What was the sticker price, and is this a deal that includes tax, title and license?

Dealers around me are offering up to 5% off sticker. 7-10% off is hitting really good to great deal. TTL fees are what they are.

The truck has a heat exchanger. These overheating stories like in the linked thread above suggest the driver is in a situation where the torque converter isn't locked up. The higher gear, slower speed and higher load (even if just from the incline) is spinning the turbine faster than the impeller, generating pressure and heat. Either hold a lower gear or put the truck in 4LO.

 

I agree. That split with the top two gears is so perfect compared against my experience with Toyota manual transmissions and earlier 6 speed automatics.

@StAndrew today marks a year of ownership. I'm not an off road hobbyist but actually off road a lot doing trail work and ski area crew. Just a stock 4th gen TRD OR is fantastic against my past pickup and 4Runner ownership. One point in much pre-sales effort and testing is long bed stands out. If budget is on your mind a TRD OR with upgrade package and power inverter is pretty hard to beat. You'll get superior seating, locker, and the trailer tow items. You'll get closest to what I think used to be the "GU" line item heavy duty package before TRD became models.

 

That price is everything, out the door. Sticker Price was $46K ish IRRC.

I think the issue with 4x4 / off-road is the TC doesn't lockup as you pointed out. 4Lo is worse, IIRC. My 1st gen always got way too hot for me, into the 220's. I like my trans in the 180's.

I think this:

$97 EVIL ENERGY 19 Row Oil Cooler, 10AN Stacked Plate Transmission Engine Cooler Universal British Radiator Aluminium Black

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085MC681B?smid=A2Y7J3VVCF64S3&th=1

and this:

$50 American Volt Upgraded 90 Watt Motor 6" Inch Small Slim Electric Cooling Fan 12 Volt Radiator Transmission Oil Cooler Universal Fit for Car ATV Mini Tractor

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E52MCS6?smid=ATMH47AM2GONW

Will certainly fit. It'll be behind the bumper and fan will be a must unfortunately but a great first use of the Aux switches.


If i can find the space,

This:

$106 EVIL ENERGY 25 Row Oil Cooler, 10AN Stacked Plate Transmission Engine Cooler Universal British Radiator Aluminium Black

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DG5S3D2R?th=1

and this:

$50 American Volt Upgraded 90 Watt Motor 6" Inch Small Slim Electric Cooling Fan 12 Volt Radiator Transmission Oil Cooler Universal Fit for Car ATV Mini Tractor

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E52MCS6?smid=ATMH47AM2GONW&th=1

 

Price is relative to many things including area. Around here, dealerships treat Tacomas like some rare earth metal. The new car game in South Texas is annoying to say the least: Toyota port add-ons, dealership add-ons, bullshit trade values... it's like we never left the 80's. And if they get something rare, like a manual with sway bar disconnect, it is back to the market-price-adjustment-over-sticker game. Driving out of state to pick up my truck was annoying, but they were thousands below sticker without any haggling, the paperwork took 10 minutes, there was no "finance trip to sneak in some snake-oil, and then they sent me cookies. If it something that you want, it is in stock, and you cannot get it anywhere else, sticker is fine. These blokes getting $20k below sticker have my praise; I like getting a good deal. I also like getting what I want, and in this life it often costs a bit more.

I was lucky, the truck I wanted only had 1 available in Texas and it was 5 hours away round trip. They added their dealership package of $2,000 and a $5,000 market adjustment so it made it easy to walk away after they refused to negoitiate. It sold immediately in a couple of days and this was back in March. Strange times.

 

I looked up all the local dealers and there were two dealers with 20 TRD OR's, one with 19, and one with 16 (these are only the Off Road trims). What I didn't know was these numbers didn't count the trucks waiting for recal fixes (not listed for sale), including a handful of 2024's. I found a dealer who was practically throwing Tacoma's at me and we settled on one of their recal trucks so I put a down payment on it and picking up today (hopefully).

Oddly enough, when I tried to get two of the dealers (both with more than a handful of 2024's) to see if they would be willing to match prices on a 2024, they both told me to enjoy my new 2025...


I really wanted the Toyota 1.99% financing they were offering for the 2024's...

Yeah, weird times...

 

Looking to replace the front diffs hex plug with a socket plug. Can someone confirm the 3rd gen plugs fit the 4th gen:

$17 Dsnaduo 1PC M24x1.5 Stainless Steel Transmission/Front Differential Magnetic Oil Drain Plug Fit for 08-20 Lexus GX460 LX570; Toyota 4Runner FJ Cruiser Land Cruiser Tacoma Tundra, Replace 90341-24014

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDR7F6SF?smid=A2XAFBKPIXMFVF&th=1

Also read that the LCA cam bolts can seize similar to older gen models and should be greased with anti-seize. Will get that done at my first re-allignment.

Lastly, new buyers check your tire pressure. Mine are at 50psi... Way to high.

 

This is helpful:

 

If you are looking to future proof, looks like that pesky needle bearing is still around and some people have already dropped in the bushing.

And sounds like you picked up a truck. Congratulations.

 

Got a great deal on a TRD OR Upgrade Package an 14" screen. Very happy with it so far.



As far as the needle bearings, you mean these f-in things:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nllcwqI1YVI


Still?!

 

^Yes the front diff is loosely carried over from 3rd gen. Only way to avoid the needle bearing stock is with an AWD trim like Limited hybrid.

You will need to wait a bit for quick disconnects to become available. Can also try to make your own with threaded rod, heim rod ends, and misalignment spacers from McMaster, but costs can quickly escalate with trial & error.

 

Ok so front end needs the bushings and cam bolt grease, right off the bat. Go ahead with the diff plug change as well I guess. Also need a trans cooler.

After my winning lotto ticket we'll get an intake, FMIC, F/R bumper, full skids, sliders, coilovers and rear shocks.

Then keep it in the garage because that's too much money.

 

Over 100k miles on my 3rd gen TRD OR. When is this supposed to become a problem?

 

I think its mostly for lifted trucks / larger tires. I might wait for the lift (if I lift it...).

 

Ah, okay. Makes sense. I've been happy with my '17 OR as it came, so haven't made such changes.

 

Those needle bearings are just sketchy. It's a problem based on the angle of the load. Lifted trucks exacerbate the load and overcome what the bearing can handle for an extended period of time. If you consider it normal maintenance, and go after it proactively, not an issue. But I'm used to proactive maintenence on European diesels and most of us Americans are used to set it and forget it minimum maintenence.

 

I'll save if for the lift. I'm guessing a diff drop helps with the load angle?

My wife approved the TRD package on the condition that I don't lift it until its paid off so I might not get to this one for a while...

 

^There are two CV axle types with 4th gen. The OR gets the double offset inner joints with larger angle range. Diff drop can probably be avoided with those. Lower trims get tulip-style inner joints like previous gen.

My 3rd gen is lifted almost 3" and never had a problem with the needle bearing. You can hold off on the bushing until you get vibration.

 

This diff fluid plug business... Probably deserves its own thread

I'm due for the fluid service and want these for the front and back.

And what about the transfer case? Does this get one too?

I bet nobody knows

 

I think the rear isn't hex so no issue. I don't know about the xfer case.

Let me know what you find

 

You can grease the cam bolts but it'll likely just wash off and get rusty anyway. Those things are right out in the elements down there