I am a newbe.
So new in fact i dont yet own a Toy!
I was hoping i could ask the advise of all you Toyota owners before i made my purchase.

I am looking for a Mini pickup for general daily driving and moderate 4 wheeling. Mostly hunting and camping trips to the mountains. I have so far settled on a Toyota with a V6 and a manual trans.

The reason i am making this post is because i have no experience with the brand so far. I can name you parts of the domestic trucks that are the best and also which ones to stay away from.

I was wondering if anyone can tell me what is the best model year?
Can anyone brake down the highlights ( or low-lights) of Toyota pickups for me.

What is the best engine, transmission, diffs, steering, etc?
Are there certain models to stay away from?
What is the general tire size limitation to the various drivetrain parts?
What componants are known to be failure prone? (idler arms)

It seems to be the most common trucks to build are the first generation IFS trucks. Is it just because they are more affordable or just because they are built better?

So far i am leaning towards a late 90s or early 2000s because they seem to be in the right mileage to price range for me. Although i would love to import a diesel. What do you all think?

Please don't just give me a " they are all good" comment as that wont settle my curiosity.
Thanks

 

I would say 1985 pickup. Solid axle and EFI. 4cyl with 5speed has okay power and decent milage

 

Welcome to Yotatech.

Anything without the 3.crap and you'll be fine.

:wabbit2:

 

So the 3 liter v6 is not desirable? Please explain?

 

It's notoriously underpowered and prone to take a crap at will. Search the forums and you'll find a plethora of information on the 3.slo

:wabbit2:

 

They are known for blown head gaskets. They also have about the power of a 4 cylinder with low mpg. But having said that, mine does just fine for me, but I have 4.56 gears so I guess that helps some .

 

95.5-00 Tacoma.
Search hard enough and you'll be able to find a 4Cylinder Tacoma with manual hubs.

 

I had a green 96 ext cab 4 cyl with manual hubs. Loved it.

:wabbit2:

 

85 toyota pickup with the 2.4
solid front axle and 1st year of fuel injected.
be carefull finding one. its 85.5 half the year its SFA other half is IFS
if you are going to be using it in mud or anything where your gonna need low torque.
2.4 has more torque than a v6 3. whatever it is.

Both have there goods and bads. v6 some come stock with a elocker.

 

I was wondering if anyone can tell me what is the best model year?

Overall I agree that 1985 gives you the combo of a solid front axle and the available EFI 4 cylinder engine. Depending on the off roading of the vehicle though, IFS isn't so bad. It's smoother on road and still capable off road. It's preference based on how you want to wheel your truck. The 87 and newer trucks are surely easier to find.

Can anyone brake down the highlights ( or low-lights) of Toyota pickups for me.

Highlights - They look BEAST. They are nearly indestructable. They come with plenty of ground clearance stock. Fairly easy to work on. Have a great following of fellow Toyota brothers and sisters to help you along.

Low lights - They aren't very powerful or fast. RUST (depending where you live)

What is the best engine, transmission, diffs, steering, etc?

Hands down, the 22R and 22RE 4 cylinder engines are about as good an engine as can be made. The v6s were decent enough but alongside the 22R, there's no arguing that they're just higher maintenance for almost no power difference. As was mentioned, head gaskets plague the V6s. Tranny- 5 speed all the way. I've heard the W56s getting mixed reviews. Apparantly the forward shift is a little tougher than a top shift.

Are there certain models to stay away from? Not as a rule no. Toyotas in general are pretty tough.

What is the general tire size limitation to the various drivetrain parts? Stock will clear 31 10.50 15 easy. 33 10.50 15 with maybe a little bashing, trimming. 33 12.50 15 with a little more bashing and trimming, or start with some lifting. But again, these trucks are pretty capable stock. Depends how much off roading you plan to do.

What componants are known to be failure prone? (idler arms)

Not much. head gaskets on the v6s. and timing chain can wear on the 22R sometimes.

Hope this helps!

 

Any model year from 1979-1998. (not a fan of anything after)

 

Thank you all for your input. It seems that all of you guys are fans of the older trucks.
I will defonatly search for some info on the 3.0 head gasket failures.

Any fans of the first generation tacomas? With the 3.4 v6 or the 2.7 4 cyl.
TRD superchargers available for those engines.
Any down side to the rack steering system? Ive seen a thread in this forum that discussed the differences of the first gen to the second gen IFS. Throughout that discussion everybody just defended what they own. I learned nothing except people seem to like the SA better.

 

how much money do you want to spend on your toyota truck. the newer the better!

 

Your price range is going to dictate alot of your choices ....
The 85 is the year everyone wants because of that prices are usually higher....
For the uses you state above I think any 22re 5 spd truck or runner will work great. Then your only issue will be dealing with the yota addiction.

 

So far from what i have read an early taco with a 3.4 is in my future....
i want the power of a 6 cly. i will be hauling with the truck occasionally.
that seems to be the era of vehical with the options milage and price range. i want something that has around 150 000 KM ( lots of life left in it).

That is unless i find a deal i cant pass up on a 90s pick up

 

from 95.5-97 you can get the Tacoma in a short bed with the 3.4L (v6). I personally love the look of these years and mine has served me well all the way up to 245,000 miles (and still is). Finding one that is both the short bed and the 3.4 will be a little hard but not impossible. You could resort to getting the extended cab and just do a bed bob to shorten it up (scuba has a good write-up on how he did his), however if you go this route and sometime decide you want a camper shell or something you are kinda up the creek.

 

i love my 93 xtracab 3.0.
no problems with mine.
dont listen to all the 3.0 haters.
22re's have problems just like the 3.0 does.

 

Best one ever made
1997 Tacoma 3.4 xtra cab and of course 4x4
if you like hot rodding then standard trans if not then the auto is fine.
best truck i ever owned ,in the standard trans flavor.

 

i have a dc 04 tacoma with the 3.4 that i love the extra doors well worth the extra cash. i haven't had problems i had to do the head gasket water pump time belt all that crap while i was in there. but i was at 140k and was driving to alaska so it was all preventative maint. power wise it did great in the mud of the alaskan tundra and great in moab crawling. so id suggest a dual cab tacoma but definitely trd the locker makes a world of difference

 

That's a good bit of info. Just the kind of stuff i am looking for. I didn't know they made a standard cab then. Ive only seen extra cabs. i like look of the standard cab but the extra would come in handy.
Other than the obvious TRD package. Are there any other sought after options for the pickups that i could not live without?