Bought another Tacoma 4x4 - suggestions for suspension/headlights/towing

I bought my 95.5 Tacoma less than three months ago with 108k miles on it. Did some upgrades but the lack of rear seat room has been hindering it's usability.

So I started shopping for a 01-04 Double Cab. Actually I shopped all the way to 2014's but in the end I found a 2002 Tacoma 4x4 Double Cab Limited TRD with 75k miles. I'm going to have it shipped out to CA and it does have some light rust/corrosion on the under carriage. However the same truck out here would have cost me $18k+ since they are like gold out here.

It's been fully dealer maintained (all service history shows in my Toyota owners portal), one owner, no paint work/accidents, frame inspected/coated twice, timing belt and water pump done at 65k, brand new tires, new front brakes, fluid flushes, new battery and it's super clean. This is the second vehicle I've bought sight unseen, so I'm crossing my fingers. I do plan to buy the TRD supercharger while we can still get them, since it's not a ton of money and should make the truck perform pretty well.

Anyone have any suggestions for LED headlights? I'm looking at Bright Ass LED's and Lifetime LED's, both 70 watt 9003 bulbs. On my 95.5, I'm running GE Nighthawk LED capsules and they are AWESOME. I need good night lighting because I drive in very rural areas and my night vision isn't the best. I also need to add a tow hitch. On my 95.5, I bought a whole kit from eBay for like $175 or so and it was heavy duty and fit perfectly with a quality wiring adapter harness. I may just buy the same one, or perhaps a Hidden Hitch since it's easier to install. Suggestions? Lastly the truck will probably need new shocks/springs and if I do that, I may as well upgrade the wheels and tires. On my 95.5, I used some cheapie eBay assembled front springs/shocks with matching rear shocks. To be honest, they are working out really good but I'd rather step it up a bit on this truck since it's nicer. Bilstein 5100's and Eibachs? I don't want a big lift - something to fit 32 or 33" tires which would most likely be Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx's on TRD wheels. I want tasteful while maintaining as much of the ride quality as possible. I gotta ditch the wheels though - I hated them on my 2001 Tundra 4x4 Limited when i bought that truck brand new in 2001, so to get them again in 2014.... they gotta go.

Once I get it I'll spend time pressure washing the underside, cleaning up rust, painting/coating things and replacing some rusted brackets/clamps. Should be here in two and a half weeks or so.










And a pic of the older brother:


I'm going to hang onto the 95.5 for a bit. Who says a guy can't have four vehicles. I took it out mudding a bit this morning after some light California rain and had a blast. Cleaning it up afterwards, well it wasn't quite as fun as getting it dirty. LOL.

 

Can't help you on the lights but nice find! I can't see the pictures but I just bought an 04 double cab about 3 wks ago and it had 75k original miles on it, already up to 78k now. I need to look into getting my timing belt and water pump done. Any idea what that'll cost?

 

Its around $500 for parts and labor If I remember correctly

 

I fixed the pictures. My server here at the house was having a problem getting traffic out to the 'net, but it worked for me here so I thought everything was all good.

I saw when you got your truck - congrats! I should have just bought a 01-04 right from the start, but I have no regrets.

$500-700. I typically would do hoses, belts, thermostat, plugs and wire set, etc. at the same time. Better safe than sorry. Both of my trucks have had that stuff done with the exception of the thermostats, so I'm going to do that.

 

Shit that ain't bad at all! I was expecting something in the $1000 range, will definitely look into getting that done soon just to be safe.

Yours is in better shape than mine I think lol, nice truck! That's not bad at all for the timing belt as I said above, am going to look into getting that done soon.

 

Thanks. There was a 2003 Double Cab 4x4 TRD a couple hours south of me that sold for $16.5k with 110k on it that was as clean as the one I bought. I picked this one up for $12.6k and by the time I get it shipped here, I'll be in it about $14.2k.

The 3.4 is non-interference so I'd run it to 100k and then change it. I have seen Toyota belts with 180k on them and they still looked good.

 

Well I bought eBay 72 Watt

$70 9003/H4 AUXITO New Upgraded H4/9003 LED Bulbs, 20000LM Ultra Bright, 6000K Xenon White, Wireless HB2 LED Bulbs, Halogen Replacement with Fan, Plug n Play, Pack of 2

9003/H4 LED bulbs, a Curt trailer wiring harness, a Reese easy to install hitch and some rust/corrosion treatment products.

I still need to figure out shocks/springs.

 

These aren't the original front seats. Are they from a 4 Runner?

 

The truck is a Limited, so it has different "Sport" seats with electric lumbar. I'll decide if they stay or go after the truck gets here since I may swap the Scion TC seats from the 95 over to the 02.

 

That's a nice deal! I paid about the same for mine, really like your xtra cab too! I myself am hoping to get a cheap high miles xtra cab with a V6 5 speed combo for mod purposes sometime in the next couple years.

 

Also, I see your DC has a sunroof, was this a factory option or something done aftermarket?

 

Thanks. That's kind of why I want to hang onto my 95.5. I'll probably end up selling it though but I'll have some fun with it first.

Since it has the "Limited" package, it came with the Sunroof and is 100% factory. I have seen SR5's with the same sunroof dating back to the 90's - just an option to check.

 

Interesting. I have the regular seats in my 2003. If you are looking for a trade, let me know.

 

Sub
I'm wanting to know more about the led headlights, I have hids on my truck and they Suck!!

 

Does it just pop up or does it roll all the way back too?

 

It just pops up in the back - it's the same one you could get on the Xtra Cab. I've had Sunroof's in so many of my cars and never seem to use them. I think between my 2014 Lexus IS350 and 2014 Durango R/T, I've opened them all the way three times total combined. lol. I do use the vent feature in both though.

 

I may create a new thread but if I do, I'll post here to let you know.

 

Well I wire transferred the money today, so the truck is now officially mine. Now I need to ship the sucker from PA to CA. Anyone have a good auto transport company that they've used which was fairly priced?

 

For lighting, the guys on the Outback forum swore by this guy. They'd ask him about the lighting and he'd send them very detailed information regarding his recommendations:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

 

Did you take these out of a Scion or purchase them online?...they'd go sweet in my 03' Taco!