looking at buying a tacoma - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

96camry4dr · 02-23-2005, 02:48 PM

hello everyone. havent been on tn for awhile now. within a couple months im going to be moving to alaska. i currently have a 96 camry w/ 5sfe 5spd with about 110k miles on it. Im looking at purchasing a tacoma either before i leave or after i get to alaska. Im curious if i should look into getting a brand new one or maybe a left over or even something off a lease. Maybe even just a used vehicle thats a few years old. Id like some power so a larger v6 would be nice. It has to be standard Also im looking for 4wd. I dont think any of the tacos came with locking hubs but if hey did that would be a plus. Body wise i either want standard cap or extended with a short bed. Most pulling this truck would ever do would prolly be 2 snowmobiles. Just looking for some advise on certain models to look for an years i should be looking at. I want something with prolly less than 50k hopefully ill nab a good deal at something with less than 30k. Anyways thank for the help in advance.

2tacomas · 02-23-2005, 03:42 PM

If you want manual locking hubs- you need to look for a 2000 model or older. Either v6 (3.4L or 4.0L) will have no problem towing your 2 snowmobiles. Wow- you are moving from Florida to Alaska....talk about a change!!!

BobCat7 · 02-23-2005, 04:14 PM

I bet he doesn't have much of a choice. Notice AFB in the address.

rosco99 · 02-23-2005, 05:21 PM

I drive a '98 Taco with locking hubs. That is the one thing that I would change about my truck. I wish that it had the auto-locking hubs. I would stay away from a lease, but that's just my personal preference. The manual-locking hubs are reliable, but kind of a pain when you have to get out.....especially if you didn't plan ahead and are knee deep in snow! I actually purchased my Taco in Ft. Walton Beach. I used to be stationed at Hurlburt. I am stationed at RAF Mildenhall, UK now. Talk about a climate change. I am very pleased with my decision to buy a Taco, and I think with Alaska in your future, you will be too!

Rosco

EngineerBoo · 02-23-2005, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96camry4dr

hello everyone. havent been on tn for awhile now. within a couple months im going to be moving to alaska. i currently have a 96 camry w/ 5sfe 5spd with about 110k miles on it. Im looking at purchasing a tacoma either before i leave or after i get to alaska. Im curious if i should look into getting a brand new one or maybe a left over or even something off a lease. Maybe even just a used vehicle thats a few years old. Id like some power so a larger v6 would be nice. It has to be standard Also im looking for 4wd. I dont think any of the tacos came with locking hubs but if hey did that would be a plus. Body wise i either want standard cap or extended with a short bed. Most pulling this truck would ever do would prolly be 2 snowmobiles. Just looking for some advise on certain models to look for an years i should be looking at. I want something with prolly less than 50k hopefully ill nab a good deal at something with less than 30k. Anyways thank for the help in advance.

Alaska! I was stationed at Elmendorf for 5 years, 91-96 but flew with the special ops so got to get up to Eilson for extended times in the summer for Cope Thunders. (Awesome fun!)

A 4-Wheel drive WILL come in mighty handy up there but buy it here in the lower 48 before you go up there...the mark-up on vehicles up there is ridiculous!

Oh, if you buy used or new, put the cold-weather kit in it. (Block heater, battery heater.) You have to plug in your vehicles in the winter or they won't start.

Wow, Alaska! You'll love it! (Don't wait 2 years like I did to go King Salmon fishing....WOW!) Tip: Montana Creek, near Wasilla, is the BEST spot if you don't want to rent a boat!

God Bless! Go Air Force, Beat Army/Navy!

Boo (I live right across from the Air Force Academy in Northern Colorado Springs!)

cjstang · 02-23-2005, 09:41 PM

In my experience with Ford trucks (sure, probably not a fair comparison), I'd much prefer manual hubs (even better with manual transfer shift too!). The auto locking hubs are great, until they fail - in Fords this is a very common problem - you wouldn't believe the vac lines, solenoids, diaghrams, etc that are in this system - a silly design IMHO. Any vac leak or failure of any of these parts (most are cheapo) and you loose 4x4 operation. I sure wish I could convert my '03 F-150 - it lasted only a few hours in 4x4! - again common on these trucks even after only very short use. Getting stuck in the road in a new 4x4 with RWD cars passing you is a bit embarassing

. (On '97-'03 Fords, the engagement is at the front diff - there are no 'hubs', so can't be converted). On my previous '94 Ranger, the auto hubs only worked for a couple seasons then could not be made to work reliably - $110 and 1/2 hour later the problem was solved permanently.
Which leads to the question, can the new Tundras be converted to manual hubs (just in case

)? If not, could someone give a brief description of how the front axles/hubs are engaged?

96camry4dr · 02-24-2005, 05:57 PM

ok well i see that if i want the locking hubs i need 2000 or older. lets say i say forget about that and just want v6 5spd 4wd. how hard is it to find a 5spd in a 2000+ model used? would i have betetr luck just buying new? im also thinking about possible trd parts for it. supercharger, exhaust, headers, curious to see if anyone has experience with these. thanks for the help.

2tacomas · 02-24-2005, 09:01 PM

Model year 2001+ Tacomas w/ 4wd, v6, and 5 speed are fairly plentiful. You should have no problem finding one w/ very low mileage and still under warranty. If you can find a good used one (that is still under warranty), that will save you a lot of money, money that you can use to get the TRD parts that you mentioned (supercharge it!!).