questions about buying a 1st gen...

Hello all,

I am new to the forum, but not new to Toyota. I have been in a Land cruiser for years, and down graded to a Forester. Now, I feel as if I need something bigger. So I have been looking for a 1st or 2nd gen Tacoma with 100,000ish. Budget is low. So I found a 2004 Tacoma 4x4 four door with 108,000, that is super clean. But it is from Penn, I am in NC. So, I have some paper work that says the frame was inspected(Nov 2013), passed(No perforations), and sprayed with a sealant. Then the rear tire holder was replaced due to rust. My questions is, should I walk away? This whole rust thing makes me nervous, but man I see a lot of 1st gens on the road, and love how they look and drive.

Also, I tow a 16' Boston Whaler, how with the 1st Gen do towing this boat? any one have any experience towing a whaler?

Thanks so much.

 

Hard to say whether or not you should walk away if you haven't seen it.

Just because the tire holder was replaced doesn't mean the frame's bad.

Honestly I'd wait until you can buy something that you can see in person beforehand.

 

If it has been passed and coated by Toyota it has yet another extended frame warranty I think ten more years?(call a dealer and ask to be sure) IMO if Toyota has seen and documented it I would not worry about the frame it will be warrantied longer then a lot of other parts on it will last.

 

I have seen it, and it looks clean. Its just covered with a lot of spray coating, I just dont know what could be hiding under the coating. It was seen by a Toyota dealer and I have paper work that it has passed. I didnt know it was covered for another 10 years, that sounds like a good thing....

 

Well then if you see no rust and it's been inspected by Toyota then I don't see anything wrong. Just be sure to feel for vibes when driving and test the 4x4 as well as the e-locker if it has one.

Also ask if the timing belt and water pump has been replaced. Supposed to be done at 90,000 miles.

 

As far as towing a 16 foot whaler you will be fine. I tow a 15.5 foot full keel sailboat that probably weights 300-400# more than a whaler, I have towed it on a couple long trips with no problems or complaints. The brakes are a bit underpowered but that has a lot to do with my larger tires and the fact that my drum brakes are usually caked in mud and don't work.

 

Capetaco, thats a great looking boat. It looks like a Cape Dory, but the rudder looks different? How does your Tacoma tow on the hills?

I called toyota and they told me that this Tacoma is covered under the warranty, but each vehicle is inspected on a individual vehicle basis. If I found rust down the road, I would have to call the special projects team to come and inspect it for warranty. Then they would consider how to move forward. He also, said that the 15 year coverage after the application of the sealant is NOT true. Thanks so much for your help...

 

It is similar to a dory but its a bullseye based off of a hershoff design. Carl alberg designed the dory and my father and I actually co-own an alberg-37 which is basically bigger dory.

As far as the warranty it may be if your frame is replaced. I remember the guy saying something about hopefully you wont have bring your truck back in a few years for another frame i assumed the coating would carry the same.

My truck had been inspected and undercoated just before the warranty expired by the previous owner. I had been worried about the frame failing and the manager at toyota said i would have no issues if it did rust out. My truck is also beach driven and used on highly salted roads and with my proximity to the water salty air aswell. My frame did fail and it was covered with no problems about a year ago.

 

I hauled 20 foot Monterey many times. Truck was 1995.5 with 5 speed. Didn't like hills much. Sure it would haul 16 foot easy. Is the truck you are looking at 6 cyl? If so even better. I did it with 2.7. I would see what oil the truck grew up on also. G.L