found a '96 TRD off road single cab ... good buy or not?

went to check it out in Lincoln today before the football game

235k miles...



some kind of custom fabricated rear bumper as well or is this aftermarket?



here's the link
https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/58554872

no other pictures posted but i gave it a good once over look
engine started right up and sounds ok, no A/C button inside so the air does not blow cold unless all windows are open
i am not all that familiar with the 4cyl other than no timing belt is necessary to be done

 

Who took the leg off grandpa’s Barbeque grill?

 

Like the A/C button is missing or it never had air...?

 

NO A/C i assume, my 95 pickup had no A/C either & no button
its just a blank slot

 

There's not a blank spot/punchout?

 

its just a blank plastic cover where my A/C button is located

 

You could buy a first gen with no A/C or power steering.

 

No bumper either, right?
maybe that is the deal with this one

 

No they all came with bumpers. That’s a homemade bumper. No competent fabrication company would make something that crude.

 

I know this, but my uncle's 1991 pickup had a blank punchout thing where the A/C button would go; He took the complete A/C system from a wrecked 1994 T4R and installed it in his truck...

Also, believe it or not, A/C was an extra-cost option on 2nd Gen RCs from 2005 to 2010. For 2011, A/C became standard across the board. The illustrations in my owner's manual depict both A/C and non-A/C control panels, and there is a blank circular plastic thing on non-A/C models where the A/C button would go. I do believe I've seen only one non-A/C 2nd Gen, and it was up in Maine. If one were to install A/C in a 2nd Gen, I'm guessing it would be easier to just swap the non-A/C HVAC control for one with the A/C button than to disassemble the control panel and installed the A/C button.

 

i recall seeing a brochure for a 95.5 on TW somewhere that a bumper was an added dealer option on some?

 

My dad's 1986 Mazda B2000 did not have a rear bumper...

That was also the last vehicle he ever owned with no A/C (he bought it for like two grand in 1990, then sold it privately in 1992 and bought a new Dodge Dakota when the he decided A/C was a necessity)!

 

If I wasn't getting ready to buy a CJ I'd buy this out from under you OP.
I wonder what the frame looks like...

 

Superficially it appears if was loved even if the PO had tacky taste and no friends who could weld. The truck isn’t a TRD off-road, as toyota didn’t make a trd tacoma til 97/98 (someone will chime in). The 4cyl/4wd combo is pretty rare, with good service record and no rust I would jump on it.

 

i was actually looking for my nephew (age 19) that is looking for an old truck, not sure he has that much cash stashed away yet
frame needs a good cleaning upon limited inspection, the salesguy was hovering over me so i could only get a couple fingers in a couple normal holes nonchalantly
i would also need to take the bedliner off (and possibly the flares) and check it, the rockers looked better than most at a glance that i have seen around here for its age

 

That could be a nice little truck for a young guy. Are you bringing him into the TW fold?

 

the rear bumper was optional on the 94 we had. On some years the passenger side mirror was optional too

 

he has to learn to drive a 5 speed first and face the scorn of his father (an old mopar only kind of guy)
the weekend sales guy did not have any info on whether or not the clutch had ever been replaced in this yet

 

That what you call 260 A/C. Two windows open, 60 MPH.