i know this isnt hardcore but... i am helping my friend look for a tacoma being a jeep guy i dont know much about them. what years models should he look for is there anything we should know about some of them, what kind of options are available and should we get. he will prob do very mild wheeling in it so nothing over the top just a good running truck. also what did some of you pay for your rigs and how many miles were on them. thanks for the help flame away if its not hardcore enough :flipoff2:

not hardcore at all:flipoff2:
all you need to look for is the ones with the locker on the rear and the supercharger.

Come on! This isn't freaking Auto Trader.com.

yeah but it is a toyota forum with a technical question about makes models and years :flipoff2:

Just this last weekend I got a 96 2.7L(3rz if you didn't know) 4cyl 5speed AC was only option besides 4x4 with 93,500 miles for 4000 out the door. it is a regular cab short bed

I would say that 5-6 k is a good price for the earlier years but 01 and up they had a face lift I think and they are more along the lines of 9k and up

very helpful thanks

haha autotrader.com really would be the best bet for prices!!!!:shaking:

Check out www.ttora.com for lots of good info on Tacomas. 95.5-97 Taco rear leaf packs are shorter than 98-04 leaf packs and generally more prone to breaking. Some 95.5-97 3.4L V6 engines were prone to headgasket failure. Some 2.7L 4 cylinders were prone to having their exhaust manifolds develop a hairline crack in between the #2 and #3 cylinders after 100K miles, but that just provides an excuse to upgrade to an exhaust header, which is very easy to install in that engine.

The 8" "TRD" rear e-locker is coveted by off-roaders, but is generally weaker than the 8" (sometimes erroneously referred to as an 8.4") non-TRD rear diff which is the same diff found in the older Tundras. Front CV's, especially manual hub CV's, tend to snap more easily with bigger tires (especially 35's), front locker and a heavy pedal. Front IFS wasn't really made for big tires, but there are still plenty of folk who run big tires till they decide to do a solid axle conversion.

Despite a mostly boxed frame, the frames are thin and weak compared to jeep frames and most fullsize domestic trucks, especially the rear of the frame by the rear axle where it converts to C-channel. Something to take into account if your friend plans on attaching a heavy rear bumper with swing out tire carrier or plans on towing much or towing a trailer off-road - the rear part of the frame may bend. DeMello sells a frame plate to strengthen that part of the frame, though, but the front part should still be strengthened if he plans on doing a solid axle conversion.

Aftermarket support is very plentiful for Tacomas and the truck itself is very reliable. As for prices, check edmunds.com, autotrader and your local craigslist for an idea of what to expect. Hope this helps.