replace my '91 4x4 (22re) SAS with a 2010 4x4 (2.7) taco?

In my 60 years of wheeling, I've had multiple 4 cylinder 4x4 Toyotas, including an '85 4-runner and a '98 Tacoma. Now driving a trusty (but starting to get rusty) '91 4x4 x-cab 22re/5-spd with solid axle swap/Old Man Emu 3" lift with 145k miles. I love this truck (know it inside/out) and it has never let me down off or on road. Since "retiring", wife and I are going pull a small retro camper and travel (taking our time) backroads to the west coast to visit relatives in Tacoma (of all places!). I recently put my '91 up for sale on CL: https://post.craigslist.org/manage/6451976157?action=display&go=display
because a 2nd gen with the 2.7 would be better for highway towing. Many calls on the '91, but only one person with knowledge of the solid axle ("holy grail") swap, and he didn't have any $.
The first gen '98 Tacoma I had did not (to my knowledge) have any recalls while I owned it. Have my eyes on a 2010 2nd gen Tacoma but noticed a bunch of recalls on this year. Re-thinking letting the '91 go. Any comments from 2nd gen owners on the recalls will be helpful. Thanks for reading!

 

Welcome to TW! Sounds like a tough call, but if you know you need the other engine for constant towing then maybe the second gen is the way to go.

 

Thank you. My 22re pulling a 15' skiff takes a while to get up to highway speed and up a grade (like the local high-rise bridge), but once she gets rolling good- no problem. I imagine on a steep mountain road she'd be puttering along at 40 mph in 3rd gear pulling the retro camper. The 2010 Tacoma I'm considering is stock except for a mild Daystar lift, has a little over 100k on the 2.7 and runs well and the body/interior are practically spotless. The owner (2nd) did leaf spring corrosion recall, but no other recalls. It has nice alloys, but needs tires. He's asking $17k.

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

I’m a fan of both the 22r and 2.7L.
For towing, I would do the 4.0 just for the tow package it comes with. Then you can get an automatic so the lady can help drive on the road trips

 

I am a diehard 22re fan. i have one in my crawler and I have two on stands right now that I am rebuilding for some other projects. But they are the biggest dogs on the planet, even with extensive motor work.

Due to the 3vze I avoided all toy v6s for a long time. But now I have a 3.4 swapped 93 truck and a 4.0 powered FJ. I wouldnt even hesitate to get either one especially for towing.

I would not get a 2rz or 3rz even though I like them, they are no more reliable than the newer v6s.

Have you given any thought to a 99-06 Tundra? The 4.7 is the 22re of v8s, bulletproof. 05-06 has the 5speed trans as well as the updated motor. Not unusual for them to be 300k rigs.

Or just swap at 3.4 and r150f(out of 88-95 3.0 truck) into your 91 and have a powerful and fun rig.

 

I've put some amazing miles on 4-bangers and haven't seen anything that comes close to their reliability and ease of maintenance. My '85 4-runner (stock 22re, 3.5 military lift, 33s) had 450k (head gasket replaced @300k) before x pressured me to let it go for $2500. Company trucks were automatic, and it wouldn't feel right on my personal vehicle now that I'm retired, so stick(ing) with what I like. And my bride drove her ported-out, performance exhaust Geo Metro stick in the mountains of NM, so she knows when to shift!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Totally agree, 22re slow off the line, especially running 33's. My neighbor has a Tundra automatic and loves it for towing his commercial fishing boats. I'll look at a manual trans Tundra, but manual anything is getting rare. Not considering a swap on the '91... born with a 22re and that is what it will die with!