Found a 1986 xtracab 5spd 22RE for sale. White (repaint from red originally), 4x4 with the manual hubs; 4L, 4H, 2L, 2H. Interior in pretty decent condition and a sunroof on top of that. New a/t tires, appear to be a 31 or 32, so I guess a small lift of some sort maybe, unless you can fit those stock. No rust that I could find. Here's the two worrisome things that I figured I'd leave up to the people that know these trucks to ask about.

1. Odometer is showing 370,000 + miles. I'm assuming it had to of had some work at some time to have that many miles and still rolling. I drove it down the road, and it moved fine. Had plenty of power. Took a couple trys to get started, then ran fine. Started right back up after a 5 min ride.

2. Looks to have a leak of some sort coming from the rear of engine I believe. Pretty caked up on the rear of engine. Maybe the valve cover gasket is bad, or a rear seal. It was dark, and couldn't get a good look. Also appears to be a leak somewhere in the rear. Rear axle had a bit of build up on the front.

Other then those two things, truck seemed to run fine. What's a good price on this truck, or should I just walk. Guy was hinting around the $4k mark, but said it's his brother's and he would have to ask to be sure.

I've read a lot on these, and see the main things of chain guide and head gaskets. But with 370+ on the clock, I imagine the guide has been replaced.

Any advice? I'm looking for a 4x4 Xtracab toyota to use as a DD when I'm not cruising the old VW bus around. I'm comfortable with some automotive work, but don't want a huge project at the moment.

Thanks
-Josh

 

4 seems steep, do you have any pics??

 

No pics. Looks pretty clean on the outside though. I assume the paint was done in the last few years. Nothing fancy, probably the typical 500-1k job from maaco or whoever. Also has a camper shell on it.

So 4 seems steep? I was thinking it might be as well. My other thought is to wait and try to find a 95+ with the newer engine, but still an xtracab 4x4.

 

id keep lookin...theres alot of IFS trucks out there for the buyin...ya just gotta be patient!!

 

pics would help in this situation, interior clean? a/c work? if it has leaks then haggle down, get a quote from a shop to do a rear main seal and a few gasket and other things, shoot low and go from there, no insulting, just tell him it needs lets say 1500 bucks for a shop to do it, take it off 4k, which is 2500 and say ill give you 2 just for the work it needs

 

It also really would help to know in what part of the country you are in??

If it was dark you really could not check this out like you should .

Has this been sitting or has it been driven every day??

Unless the dollar has been devalued this much no way is that Truck worth $ 4000.00

Then not knowing when the last timing chain was done it is almost ready for the 4th one I am thinking this one is going to be more work then you want.

If the normal maintenance has been left slide who knows.

When it comes to these things it all depends just how bad you think you need to have this one.

 

I bought a 92 Runner this past summer with 194k and great shape for 4k, so 4k for an 89 is way too high.

 

I'm in Florida. Yea, I'm going to stop back by and look at it in the sun. Body was clean and straight, which was a plus. I took it to an empty parking lot with tons of lights and looked all around it, but the sun will be much better.

What would a good price be on this truck?
Where are you guys finding the cheaper trucks? Seems like everyone on CL wants 4k+ for their older toyotas and tacomas, then 6k+ for the 4x4 ones with a straight body.

-Josh

 

Kelly Blue Book only goes back to 1992, and an Extra Cab pickup in "Very Good" condition is about $2,500. KBB is only as good as it is; you want to check Craigslist (or PennySaver or where ever older vehicles are sold) in your area to see what the competition is. If you can find a '92 for $2,500, why on earth would you spend $4k (or $2k or $1.5k) for a 6-year older truck?

When ever you buy a vehicle with over 100k miles on the clock, you're taking a chance of losing the purchase price. If the truck needs a new head gasket tomorrow, you're probably better off having it towed to the junkyard and just take your loss. (This is when the rest of the vehicle is similarly unknown; if you've put an extra 50k on it and love it, well, you should replace the headgasket and keep on loving it.) So keep in mind that you have a small chance of losing the entire purchase price, and bid accordingly.

 

I live in Northern Florida, that the going rate for a truck like that around here is $2500 to$3000. I paid 3k for my '85 sr5 x-tra cab 4x4 22re a couple months ago. and its mechanically sound, just some rust.

 

You can get an 86 around here in NC for around $3,000 with no leaks. If it were me and I was going to buy a truck with that many miles on it and it had a leaking rear main, I would be tempted to pull it and have it freshened up. I hate to think that you would go to the troubel of fixing the seal and then it decided to blow up on you. That is just me though I am big on preventative maintenance.

 

Also, mine leaks oil too but only has 137,000 miles on it...
I would try to talk them down a good bit.

 

Normal tuck without a lift or anything extra mods done to it $4k is WAY too high, I would offer $2500 and wouldn't go over $3100. JMO

 

or you can buy the one in my sig for 4300 bucks.... all it needs is front knuckles

 

I def considered it since I'm in Pace, but want a mostly stock xtracab for DD.
Guess I'll continue the search unless that guy will go down on price. He seemed pretty firm on 4, but maybe he'll take 3. Who knows

 

Since he turned you down, I'll trade you even for a stock '85 with a little bit of rust (read chunks of bed metal missing)

Also, to SpeedoJosh, keep looking, there are quite a few toyotas that show up on craigslist in this area. I steadily watch Pensacola, Panama City, and Okaloosa/Walton craigslist and see them all the time.

 

Yea, I just started looking. Problem is, my buddy has an 02 4cyl and I love the motor in that truck, but like the visual appearance of the 86 much better.

If I could get that truck for 3, I might hop on it since the body is clean and straight, then drive it until it breaks, then repair engine and drive again.

Aside from the engine, what about the rest of the drive train on these trucks? They pretty much last forever, or do they wear out just as much?

On a side note, anyone else feel that the seat is kinda low? Seems like my buddy's 02 seat sits higher then this 86, and also on a 96 I test drove.


-Josh

 

be realistic,370,000mi......things wear out.

 

With proper maintenance, these trucks will last forever. If you get it, I would probably change all the fluids and put grease in all the grease ports, just for the sake of knowing it has been done recently.

As far as the seat, mine sits comfortably for me, might want to check the frame that the seat sits on and see if it is broken.

 

I payed that for my 93' xtra cab V6 base model and my baby was CLEAN when i got it.
absolutly no problems. (kind of a good deal) but I would be more comfortable paying around $3,000 for the truck you are describing.

yes the seating is low on earlier trucks (I really like it, sounds like you don't) and the drive train well I think it could outlast the engine just with good fluids, if the truck drives really well with that mileage it must have some work on it (maybe balljoints and minor stuff) as well as good maintenance.

The option of taking it to a shop for pricing on the leaks is very good, it will make the owner see what he is really selling, if he is not too stubber you may get him to drop the price fast.