2013 Tacoma PreRunner SR5 guide & advice

Hello everybody, this is my first post on the forums. I must say this place has taught me so much, so thank you to anyone who ever and never sees this.

Purchased this 2013 Tacoma PreRunner SR5 2.7L access cab with 142k on the dash back in April as my first ever car that I’m paying off. I love this thing like a child, yet there’s very little I know about it.
I’ve been wanting to own one of these for the longest time ever and I’ve been living true to Toyotas ever since high school, I’m in college now.


I am very uneducated about trims, builds and overall the setup aspect of this pickup, especially since it’s a PreRunner.

I wanted to know if anyone here knows any background to this specific year, trim and class?

now I am the second owner on this car and right off, I’m being told it’s stock suspension, but it seems lifted especially next to other similar trucks. I learned it has composite bedding from factory, and so on.

I look at the truck, and find myself learning something new every-time. My goal is to keep and cherish this car forever, i was hesitant at first to purchase a 2013 in 2025 yet alone on payments. I just want to learn more to ensure my decisions were good as a college student.

At first I passed this vehicle off as modified from the previous owner yet since I purchased this through autonation, (based on photo provided)

I have yet to capture its beauty.

mods :
My first modification on the vehicle was redline tuning hood struts to make it easier on myself when lifting the notoriously heavy hood these things got.

Mod in the works is seat covers from clazzio, currently being custom made.


I’ve been having second thoughts about the 2.7L boggy slow acceleration which I generally do not mind as I spend more time driving the thing.

I see a lot of different takes on this specific motor with some users state putting off-road tires would trouble it’s already doomed acceleration, which sounds right..? I think? I’m not sure. I’m very inexperienced with trucks yet alone when modifying.

I can provide better photos of the truck, currently babying it in a garage, I’ve been hesitant to put miles on it while paying it off so I can enjoy it once it’s mine forever. Since April I’m currently at 145k.

I would truly appreciate any expertise on this vehicles trim/specs and overall specifics, I find way too many sources stating the body was a specialty by Toyota offering the smaller motor with the aggressive look and suspension of the off-road capable trims.

 

I know you’ve got the 2.7, but honestly even the 4.0 can feel underpowered from the factory. Just keep in mind that any extra weight you add (wheels, tires, bumpers, sliders, etc.) will make that even more noticeable.

If you’re planning on off-roading, that’s a completely different story, I’d say go for it. For me, the best mod I ever did was throwing on lightweight aluminum wheels with a set of highway tires. Removed 109lbs of rotational weight from the steel wheels that came on the truck when purchased mounted with 265/70/17 tires.

Congrats on the new ride, she’s a beauty!

 

thanks so much! Wow I never would’ve guessed these stock wheels can weigh that much. That’s pretty impressive actually.

 

A Pre-Runner in Toyota terms is essentially a 2wd truck with a 4wd suspension, all of the suspension, frame, and drivetrain parts are pretty much identical to the 4wd minus the transfer case and front diff of course.

SR5 Pre-Runner (6 lug 2wd) Access Cabs are relatively common although it's not as common to see them with the 2.7L engine.

SR5 4.0L Double Cab Short Bed Pre-Runner is probably the most common trim followed by the 4wd variant.

TRD Sport and TRD OffRoad 4x4 are generally considered the premium trims and as such generally have the highest resale value.

Rarest trim is probably the X-Runner which is a lowered 5 lug Access Cab with the 4.0L, 6 speed manual, and a body kit.

 

That’s really cool, are there folks who take advantage of the pre-runners and convert them into 4wd systems?

 

Huh are aluminum rims less durable than steel? Never thought about different rims.

 

Not that common but it has been done.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-4-wheel-drive-or-automatic-to-manual.702733/

 

Yeah, definitely less durable but still plenty safe. At the end of the day, it really comes down to how you use your truck. I mainly commute on the highway, and in my 10 years of ownership it hasn’t seen anything rougher than a dirt driveway. Dropping rotational weight on any vehicle makes a noticeable difference.

See post #177
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what’s-your-1-mod.803003/page-9#post-30782782

 

What is the Toyota part# for these steel wheels
I would like to see what the MSRP is for them
I looked at diagrams for the different types of wheels but no part numbers