Am I crazy to ditch my 2005?

I bought my taco (2005 DCLB) 2 years ago from a dealer in TN, and drove it home to Maine. It was basically rust free, and at the time I didn't know about the frame recall anyway, so I drove my truck the way it deserves to be driven....on-road, off-road, through the woods, etc.
Fast forward a couple years and an application of Fluid Film (done myself) and I'm seeing a bit of rust underneath, no holes that I've seen, and know I'm outside of replacement time for my frame, should the worst happen.
I've come across a 2012 of the same mileage, color, options etc and thinking about buying it. I figure I have a few years left to replace the frame if it hasn't been done already, and generally speaking a newer vehicle is "better".
Am I crazy for wanting the upgrade? This is my hunting/offroading vehicle in addition to my daily driver and part-time family carrier, so I want a safe vehicle. I haven't done anything major to my truck so far but will be buying new suspension/lighting hardware in the next month or two.

And a truck pic!

 

If it was me is go with the 2012 . 05’s are known to have head gasket problems.if you can upgrade with no financial loss go for it

 

Worth pursuing if you can manage to be in about the same position, I say that particularly being in a cold climate where the rust issue will be accelerated versus somewhere else.

 

We bought our 2005 TRD OffRoad DCSB new and with ~98K miles it has no issues at all. We will keep it.

Given your circumstances (evidence of the tinworm at work) I would strongly consider the 2012 truck if the financial penalty isn't too much. Seven years newer doesn't hurt.

 

plus, the 2012 has the nicer front end and steering wheel

 

How many miles on each of these trucks???

 

I went from a 06' to the current 15', 7 months back (albeit not by choice, flipped the old girl on black ice). Given how 'dated' taco trim can be, the 2.5 gen is def an upgrade.

If you disclose the mileage that would give me, and I'm sure some others a better platform to advise, as a 7 year gap with the same mileage is big (depending... on what the mileage actually is).

 

126k on mine (bought at 103k), 127k on the 2012. I haven't been commuting since March due to the rona, or it would be more.
In normal times I'd put on about 20k a year between commuting and dirt-roading

 

I would do it.

 

What's the price of the 2012? I have to figure a good amount of your upgrades might swap over but 05-11 and 12-15 are different

 

It's listed at 18900. I would move the cap and hopefully the stereo (Android auto) over, but that's it. The only other thing I did was add a hitch/brake controller for towing.
I'm hoping to get $10-11k for mine, am I fooling myself?

 

Mileage and time/age are vehicle killers. Mileage kills moving parts. Time/age kills things like plastic, rubber, carpet, upholstery etc. In your case it makes sense to go for the newer vehicle age wise. Also 120000 miles or so isn’t bad for a Taco. A little high for a 4.5 year old truck but still not too bad. As long as the truck looks good on your inspection and the seller can produce maintenance records probably a good decision to go newer.

 

I recently swapped a "new frame" 07 SR5 with 145K (sold for 9800) for a 2015 TRD OR with 25K (paid 26K) and I am enjoying the upgrade and the "new" truck. If the financial is good for you, you will enjoy the upgrade. Not sure about the value of your 05. Good luck.

 

4.5 year truck? It's a 2012.

 

sell me your tires and rims then buy the 2012

 

I know it doesn't help your cause, but you'd probably get around 13,500 usd for that in Canada Just a little positive reinforcement!
The resale on tacos here is nuuuuttttzzzzz

 

epic signature haha

 

Agreed!

 

If you can swing the upgrade, financially, I'd go for it. My 2014 just rolled over 100,000 and it's by no means a comparison, not knowing the history of the truck you're looking at, buy mine's a complete cream puff. I've had it since it was a year old and had less than 12,000 miles on it. I've kept the frame lubed and changed all fluids and filters at the recommended intervals. I still don't have a door ding. My wife knows we're parking waaaay out and walking when we go to the store.
IF I ever decided to sell mine, someone would be getting a really good truck even with the miles that are on it.
You might be as lucky. Take a good look at the frame before you do.

 

My 05 has 217k. Converted to 4x4 at 212k. The have not added a drop of coolant since I bought it at 150k. Not all 05s have head gasket problems and the only 4.0 head gasket issues I've seen are on 03-04 4runners. Btw I'm a Japanese car technician so I work on them daily! Keep the 05 and buy some gold.