My 4 Runner may be finally getting to be uneconomical to repair so I'm looking at a new vehicle and considering a Tacoma 4 dr pickup along with other options. Anyone have a V6 version with 4WD? I will use it on the beach as well as towing a 3000lb boat. It has a 5000 lb tow rating (same as the 4 Runner I use now).

Any experience with these trucks?

Thanks!

I am about to dump the Ram and go for the same rig.

I had a new Toyota Standard (which was what the called it before they renamed it Tacoma) 2WD 1989 - Paid 8,200 for it new. Drove from 1989-2001 and 245,000 miles - still ran when I sold it for $700
Never had a major repair bill but it got real sweaky toward the end - too much time parked by the sea.

I've got a v6 4dr Taco currently and I think its great. Its good on gas with proper regular/maintenance. (oil changes/airfilters) etc. My previous vehicle was a 4cyl. Tacoma, I had fears of the v6 being a pig on gas but its really not bad at all. I do run my truck on beaches in the fall and have never had a problem or felt under powered for conditions or trails. I travel good distances to fish at times just quick over nights etc. so knowing that its a certified vehicle I've got a warranty to 100,000 miles at any toyota (U.S or Canada) dealership is comforting.

I really can't speak to the towing aspect of the vehicle because I've yet to tow anything with it.

One thing that I did find with my previous truck the 4 cyl. was that the aluminum pins in the brake system would become corroded and they would break at times when doing pad changes etc. I found that removing the pins/retainer clip each spring and lubing it with a white grease help to avoid the corrosion that came from running the beaches. Its nothing complex but just greasing up that pin/retainer clip saved a lot of headaches. If you check your pads and rotors each Spring just work in greasing up that pin or clip into your maint. list :)

:uhuh:

I have an '04 previous generation with V6 Xtra Cab. Very happy, but I sometimes wish I held out for the newer version. Bunch of guys I work with drive the newer models and they all love them. A lot of things have been refined and definately more roomier. The new V6 has more power than mine and gets the same mileage/gallon. I don't thing you'll be sorry.

No personal experience here but my cousin has one, and tows a pretty big camper with it without any problems, says it could use some more power but cant we all. I thin his camper is in the 20' range, no idea how much something like that weighs. And its a pretty good beach truck as well.

My wife had an 03'.......she had it for 2 1/2 years....loved it.....and after she traded it in.....it only cost her about $2,000.00 to drive that truck for the 2 1/2 years!!!! Great resale value for sure!!!

Bought the 2005 and loved it. Drove it everywhere and towed my boat (rated for 6500 with tow package). Put 100k miles on it and never had any major repair work done, just the usual/recommended maintenance.

Just picked up a new 2009 a few weeks back. Same model/accessories. My only complaint is that they discontinued the navy blue color so I settled on the metallic grey.

Sure do. I have an 08 with 4WD, and I added the limited slip diff in the rear. So that would help on ramps, both back wheels get power if she starts to slip.

I pull my 21 footer no problem, although i only go to the ramp once in the spring to splash and once in the fall to pull.

But it is a great vehicle, I sold my F150 just in time (before the 4/gal) spike. I get about 20 mpg on the high end.

So far I am loving every minute of it not the tinest of problems and I have had it 1 1/2 years so far....

Hope that helps, feel free to ask or PM any more questions.

Bought the 2005 and loved it. Drove it everywhere and towed my boat (rated for 6500 with tow package). Put 100k miles on it and never had any major repair work done, just the usual/recommended maintenance.

Just picked up a new 2009 a few weeks back. Same model/accessories. My only complaint is that they discontinued the navy blue color so I settled on the metallic grey.
You should watch where your driving, if you look closely at your pic there is a dead guy under your truck!:bl:

Still driving my 4 cyl. 2000 4WD. Replaced an alternator and battery in 9 years and I tow a 17' CC and drive on the beach. I was hoping the buyback program was going to claim her because of frame rot. They would have given me $11k for a truck I paid $15k for many moons ago but Falmouth Toyota said "keep driving it, no perforation yet". 1 more year.:jump1:

Thanks for the input guys, I'm waiting to hear the estimate on the 4 Runner before making a decision. It has been a great truck for me, but little things are going wrong making it expensive to keep fixing...

I am facing this dilemma now. For me personally I do not feel comfortable towing a 3000 lb boat with a 6 cyl. . My F150 4 wheel drive small V8 has been adequate the last several years but I am thinking about going for at least a 5.3 v8. I tow 50 miles each way usually and I could always feel that the small 8 was straining a little to much for my liking. To each his own but that is my feeling. I have nothing bad to say about Toyota at all, my wife just bought a new Rav 4 and we love it but if I was going to tow something in that range and wanted Toyota I would think Tundra if it was I, unless you are just using it for limited towing. 4 or 5 times a week towing I would opt for the larger vehicle, but that is just me. Good luck with your hunt. P.

I.ve had 4 >>96,98 . 2000, & 2004 ...loved them all . super dependable & can take a beatin ..I tow my 21 sea hunt when I have too .
great on the beach also .
My 1st was a stick with big bite tires . & didn,t like the feel shifting in the sand , the tires with grip & dig .
also truck . just the tight size ;;

someone posted they should have waited to buy the new style ....... myself I like the style I have & its a little smaller which is perfect ;;:uhuh:

My '99 Tacoma was going strong (250k miles) until I found multiple frame rust perforations (pushed my thumb right through easily...). Really hurt because I have always bought Toyota and this was my second pickup from them.

My truck was bought back from me by Toyota for 1 1/2 times the KBB value ($12,900) in a widespread under-the-radar "recall" program. Turned out a frame manufacturer out of Detroit was at fault-inadequate rust protection the issue.

Apparently some Titans were also recalled in this program.

Thought Toyota did the right thing, though I have since bought a Ford Ranger and have been very pleased with that.

There were others on this board with the same Tacoma frame issue. Do a thread search.

My 4 Runner may be finally getting to be uneconomical to repair so I'm looking at a new vehicle and considering a Tacoma 4 dr pickup along with other options. Anyone have a V6 version with 4WD? I will use it on the beach as well as towing a 3000lb boat. It has a 5000 lb tow rating (same as the 4 Runner I use now).

Any experience with these trucks?

Thanks!


I had a 1998 V6 with an XtraCab and it was a super vehicle! Never failed me once. I towed an 18' Privateer skiff with it, not close to 3K pounds, but the Taco did fine with it. I sold her because I bought a 23' SeaCraft and wanted the V8 to tow with. I bought a Chevy.

My 1999 Chevy Silverado is a piece of crap, but exciting because it seems every time I drive it, something else stops working, always a new adventure. When it dies, and it will, I'll be back to Toyota for good.

isn't there specialty shops though
where you can get your under carriage completely
sealed to the weather with a rust preventative?

Thanks again everyone. Well, the news on the 4 Runner is good, nothing critical and its getting reparied now. At 180K miles and counting, hopefully I'll have her until 250K...

Professor M... I towed a 4,000lb travel trailer (plus contents) for nearly 20K miles all over the US in my 97 4 Runner. That includes over the mountains (10K feet) in Utah and Wyoming. It is a v6 and only 195HP, so I was thinking the Tacoma with the same rating, but bigger engine would handle my 18' boat no probs. I had no issues with that setup.

Anyway, when she goes it sounds like the Tacoma is a good option.

Never minding the details of the truck itself, but Toyota will take care of you period. There was an issue with the head gaskets on the model I owned and they replaced them no questions asked and no matter the mileage. Sounds like they did the same with the frame issue. Ford, on the other hand, faught everybody tooth and nail on bad head gaskets in Windstars. Cost some folks $4500 on a vehicles less than 50k miles and two years old. How much easier do you think they could make to decide to buy a vehicle not made by them, and the exact opposite for Toyota. Just a shame, but that is the way American car companies are run.

isn't there specialty shops though
where you can get your under carriage completely
sealed to the weather with a rust preventative?

Yes there are,but most MFG will void your warranty also some dealers will out source & have undercoating done for you but they will fail to tell you about the warranty void,unless you get an honest salesmen:biglaugh:

Bought the 2005 and loved it. Drove it everywhere and towed my boat (rated for 6500 with tow package). Put 100k miles on it and never had any major repair work done, just the usual/recommended maintenance.

Just picked up a new 2009 a few weeks back. Same model/accessories. My only complaint is that they discontinued the navy blue color so I settled on the metallic grey.

I have the exact same truck as Moses, bought 2009 bought in March. Absolutely love it so far. Still waiting for nauset to open, and will report back with its off-roading capability.

Love my Tacoma...it is unkillable.. Change the oil and that's it...
I'm buying an Audi a4 wagon soon though.. :hihi:
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95-2000 were bought back if they were rotted

01-04's are getting new frames if they are rotted.. as well as all new brake lines, leaf springs, and misc. hardware etc courtesy of Toyota

Its good to be a Toyota dealership mechanic right now, we're getting paid 60hrs per frame swap : )

My '99 Tacoma was going strong (250k miles) until I found multiple frame rust perforations (pushed my thumb right through easily...). Really hurt because I have always bought Toyota and this was my second pickup from them.

My truck was bought back from me by Toyota for 1 1/2 times the KBB value ($12,900) in a widespread under-the-radar "recall" program. Turned out a frame manufacturer out of Detroit was at fault-inadequate rust protection the issue.

Apparently some Titans were also recalled in this program.

Thought Toyota did the right thing, though I have since bought a Ford Ranger and have been very pleased with that.

There were others on this board with the same Tacoma frame issue. Do a thread search.


Toyota is sending me a check for $14,000 next week for my 2000 tacoma with 205,000 miles on it.. UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I tried trading it in last year and they would only give me $1500 on trade.. Now that the frame failed, Im getting 14,000K.. Unreal.. Im going to by another Tacoma as soon as the check comes.. My last Tacoma had 315,000 miles with very little issues... I love tacomas... probably the only truck I will ever buy... You wont be disappointed.