I just did some research since I have a '00 4Runner and the 4Runner and Tacoma are pretty similar. One site mentioned that the 4Runners are not known to have this problem because they are made in Japan unlike the Tacoma which is made in the US. Ouch. My 2000 4Runner has been through plenty of brutal Chicago winters (the use salt like crazy here, most years) never been garage kept, and hasn’t got any rust problems anywhere except on the rear bumper and tailgate, both of which are non-original parts that were put on by an approved body shop after some idiot smashed into the rear passenger corner while he was trying to get his car off the sidewalk and back onto the street. All the original parts are solid, though only 12 years old.
I’m still constantly lusting after '78/'79 Broncos. Searching for the right deal pretty much every day.
If I were looking to limit my truck search to modern ones (which I wouldn’t do), I’d buy another 4Runner. Part time 4wd, runs like a champ, comfortable ride and plenty of space in back. I’ve only towed with it once, the biggest trailer U-Haul rents, packed completely full, and the back of the 4Runner (and even the front passenger seat) completely full, with everything I owned which included several hundred pounds worth of guitar amps and speakers, a 200+ lb mixing console, etc. made the trip from DC to Chicago-- which includes plenty of hills in PA-- without a hitch. Pun intended.
Oh duh. Twice. When my band went on “tour” from Chicago down to Kentucky and Tennessee, it was me and two other guys (call em 200lbs each) plus all of our band’s gear (maybe 500-750lbs of equipment) in a smaller U-Haul trailer. No problem whatsoever. And I don’t even have a big engine or anything. Just a V6.
I’m not looking to spend that kind of money ($50K plus), either. The F-250 I’ve spec’d out lists for $43K and change. TrueCar.com shows local selling prices recorded at $38K+. So I’m shooting for the 38K price against roughly $15K trade-in on my 2005 F-350.
Hopefully, the image I’ve tried to add will work and show what my '05 looks like. The girl in the photo is one of the Sales Associates I’ve trained in my corporate job. She won an academic contest and chose a drive in the F-350 as her prize.
Well, she’s a little on the short side but not extremely so. The truck has a 2" leveling kit in it so it’s a little taller than usual. But there is a reason Ford dubs these as Super Duty trucks!
Like a lot of the rest; I’m partial to Ford’s line; if only because I’m not paying for it TWICE -once when it’s bought, and again on April 15 when my taxes help cover Bailout Plans!
Although I’ve never felt the need to own a “heavy-duty” light truck; I driven a few, usually with a heavy load towed behind. Mostly Dodges with Cummins powerplants, owned by our PRCA stock contractor. Favorite was probably the ‘07 Ram3500 with the optional Jacobs exhaust brake and the Mega-Cab. If you’ve never worked with a “Jake Brake”, let me tell you, sudden applications can leave a nice “shoulder-harness stripe” across your chest easily, but you’re goning to stop, NOW. Don’t know why Dodge dropped that option, probably had some kind of flaw; but it acted as designed for me. And the Cab was larger than either of my two “bachelor apartments”!
But I still love the Blue Oval; if I had the need (and the money) I’d grab a 6.7L diesel Super Duty in a heartbeat! (Second-year or later production)
But I’m with whoever posted on the desire to replace that honkin’ big clunky chrome grille. Our local Ford dealership has one “on the front line” at the lot, virutally identical in color scheme to my '02 F150 and any Augusta Green XR7G car. I momentarily stare and drool every time I drive past the lot on my way to work.
Probably will keep campaigning the F150 for a while though; it’s PAID FOR and I can’t seem to develop the “need” for a SD at this time. Maybe after the wife and I retire; if/when we suddenly get the urge to buy a little 5th wheel travel trailer with 3 slant-load horse stalls attached to the back.
Todd, your '03 F150 should have had the “PI” 5.4 2-valve heads; I think the “Performance Improvement” in those heads was that cylinders didn’t suddenly lose all compression and cease operating when the plug/COP flew out and bashed it’s way throught the fuel rail
I haven’t had that li’l experience yet; if only because I am going for your record mileage on original plugs. One of the local shops has a deal wherein they’ll have your truck towed in and place Time-sert “Grip Serts” (Juraissic Heli-Coils) in all 8 plug holes for $450. Thinking about telling the owner -a fellow “FFA Dad”- to skip the towing and just install fresh plugs on mine.
I tell you my experience with all the big three 3/4 ton and higher trucks.
I currently own a 02 Ford Excursion with the 7.3 turbo diesel. It gets 24 MPG hwy. While pulling my enclosed 24 foot car trailer it gets right around 18 MPG. It drives real nice and tows real nice.
I have also had plenty of experience with GM and Dodge.
The GMs seem to have all sorts of trouble with engines and all the computer components needed to keep the emisions down. So much so that tow trucks are often called to trake them back to the dealer to reset the computers so they will run again. NOT very trustworthy transportation. They are also a little lite in the front end when you do hook them up to a trailer (and you need a balanced load).
Dodges have had a bunch of front end problems in fleet use, and tend to slurp the fuel back. Also not good for towing if you have a front end problem while towing.
My advice, if you want a gas powered truck, is to go with the V10 in a F-250 or higher. I have been thinking about getting a motorhome, but diesel power is far and few between (and Ford has not made a good diesel since the demise of the 7.3), so I have been looking at the V10s.
Good luck with your search and ask a lot of questions of people that own them as you will get a better idea of what benefits and problems may be waiting for you down the road.
Don’t sell that 97 7.3 diesel!!! It is a better engine than the new Ford, and will outlast the new one even if t has 250,000 miles on it. That is one of the best pickup trucks ever built. Refurb it and save your cash.
Gotta agree there. BUT there are a couple of things one can do to make for a really great 6.0. EGR delete, exhaust work, and change the oil frequently with high quality stuff. They will deliver many miles of dependable pulling. Just got to undo the bad things that Ford did to the 6.0/
While I’m out here in AZ this week visiting my mother, I’m also looking for the good used rust-free desert southwest ‘Cowboy Cadillac’. Don’t need or waant 4x4, but an extended or crew cab diesel, preferrably dually… I think 2002 was the last year for the 7.3, so I’m limiting myself to 2000-2002 F250 and 350s… There are a couple that look good in the ads (and have less that 150k miles), so who knows…
I started talking to dealers today and have an appointment with a salesman Monday night at a dealership where I’ve already purchased two new Fords. So we’ll see what happens. But I’ve pretty much made my mind up to go for a 2012 F-350 XLT. The heavier suspension in the F-350 makes it a better choice for snow-plowing in the winter and towing in the summer. Now I just need to figure out if I can afford one!
I went to the St Louis Auto Show yesterday. I want to trade my '04 F-150 of for a new Raptor! I am sure I can’t afford it (remember I own a '68 Cougar) but I sure want one! If I didn’t have to keep making child support payments to WCCC maybe I could!
