What to buy if the goal is to build

Sorry if this is the wrong spot for this, but I really want something to buy and build. I don’t really have a set price point, but don’t want to be into it for more than $25,000. I want something that I can take on trails and screw around in. I’m not really sure what direction to go in or what to get honestly. Obviously I want some Toyota, but I’m open to anything depending on value. I feel like there isn’t a ton value in used Toyotas right now unfortunately, besides maybe older tundras or sequoias, but I think those are too big or pushing the limit for trails in the south east.

Do I look for something higher mileage that’s taken care of or lower mileage but esthetically beat. I don’t want to mess with rust no matter what I get

 

Samurai.


The one missing detail and the one that's most important:

Is this vehicle going to be an all in one - your one and only mode of transport that serves as toy, weekday commuter, and weekend chore runner?

Or is this going to be your second vehicle that won't kill you if it sits in a state of disassembly for weeks at a time?

 

$25,000 to buy in and then build it. A second gen Tacoma. New tires, wheels, suspension, brakes, fluids, sound system. Add $10K. Costs vary depending on do you buy in cash or finance. Also do you do the work or pay someone to do the work.

 

It would be a fourth vehicle so not something I’d have to rely on. My main issue is that I have an HOA and minimal space to store it though, but that’s another conversation

 

It would most likely be a cash deal. I can do some work by myself, but a majority realistically wouldn’t be done by me. I have experience doing maintenance on previous cars, but I wasn’t doing much besides that. Also it was my old 94 del sol mainly and it was pretty easy to work on

 

I'd buy a side by side if I was using that money for something for offroading primarily.

Any dedicated offroader will smoke any road legal vehicle. Period.

I watched a front and rear locked tacoma get stuck and 3 side by sides walked around us and crawled up the slick hill.

My bike passes toyota groups all the time on trails. It doesnt even come close.

The idea behind Tacoma is its a life style truck, most of the owners have one vehicle, but it lets them bug out, ski, camp, fish, hunt, explore.

 

A side by side realistically makes sense, but I also like the idea of having an older truck for older truck things, but since I already have a Tacoma having a second may not make as much sense.

 

So then that immediately rules out a newer Tacoma.

The next question is that would you rather run trails or would you rather be wrenching?

If you want to go straight to trails, sxs. If you want both, I'm still in camp samurai. Find an old junker for chump change, because every bit of that 25 grand will be needed to build it to where you want.

 

I don’t mind wrenching a fair bit to mess around on trails, but I definitely don’t want to be in the situation where I spend months wrenching to take it off road once. Part of me just wants to find a decent 3rd or 4th gen 4Runner for $5,000-$7,000 and put $5,000 into it and call it a day. It wouldn’t be the most perfect thing ever, but I’d have plenty of fun I think.

I’d look at a 1st gen Tacoma, but $10,000 seems to be the entry price for one without Swiss cheese frame.

 

80s series Land crusier. An old mini truck or 1st Gen Tacoma/3rd gen 4 runner. Then decide if you wanna trailer it or drive it. If you wanna do camping in it and tire size.

 

there is cheap stuff that already works.

and the cheaper it is the more money there is for mods.

getting my truck wasn't because it was the best. Didn't know anything about Toyota. It was a first time introduction into 4x4.

 

My thoughts on the SXS would come down to the trailer experience and having the room to store it vs the truck. The SXS is also a single use vehicle where in an older truck you have more options for use.

 

Like hacksawing the roof, slathering it in chalkboard paint, and upsetting the normies? I can get on board.

 

I like the chalk flames.