I have been looking for a good used 3/4t or 1 ton diesel. Based on my looking and budget I am going to shelve that idea. Just have not found the right one. And to get one to meet my criteria will put me way outside my budget which has shrunk lately with other priorities. I really have been looking for a flatbed, although I could always remove the bed and put a fb on one.

So I have been a big Toyota truck guy over the years.

I have found one that is something I am interested in. It is a gen 2 late eighties xtra cab SR5. Got 22RE with manual tranny. 200+K. Original cond. No rust to speak of.
Price is in my budget. 4wd. I am sure this is going to be the one once I see it in person tomorrow. Hopefully he does what we have agreed on to this point. If so I have found what I have been looking for.

Any additional thoughts about checking it out once I see it please advise.


Thanks guys.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: old rugged cross,

If it's an early 1985 fuel injected, could still have the straight front axle, if later, the front end might need ball joints. Also check to see if it pops out of 5th gear under load.
Good solid trucks, should work well for what you need.

If a Tacoma fits the bill, consider a late 90's with the 2.7L 4 cylinder...quite possibly the best 4 cylinder Toyota ever made.

I have a 98 X-Cab that I have had mounded up with so much firewood that the stops were settled on the frame and wouldn't bounce up an inch- meanwhile, the plucky little 4-banger had no trouble pulling the weight.

I assume you are talking about a standard mid-eighties (small) Toyota truck (also known as Hi-Lux, especially outside the US). I had an 85 4x4 with the 22R engine(not R-E; mine had a carb) for eighteen years. GREAT truck. But serious Achilles heel for that era was rust. Be especially mindful of rusted out frames; that's what eventually got mine. My best advice is to get yourself over to one of the Toyota forums and ask your questions there. Toyota Nation is one. Tacoma World is another, but of course focuses on Tacomas, which began in 95.5. Knowledgeable and helpful people abound on all the Toyota forums I have visited.

EDIT: Oops, you said no real rust issues. I'd still recommend checking the frame carefully. It can be less obvious than other parts of the truck and is crucial for what you need.

Do check the frame for rust. I had a 2000 Tacoma for a while. I know Toyota replaced frames on a LOT of trucks from that era due to rust issues.

That said, I'll add that I loved my Tacoma. It did have the 2.7L that gearhounds mentioned. It was a stout little fella!

I think they actually had a Recall on these for frame rust.

quote:

Originally posted by Zecpull:
I think they actually had a Recall on these for frame rust.

There is a lot of information about this on Tacoma World forum. I recently picked up a '96 Tacoma Xtracab with the venerable 2.7L four-banger and spent some time on that forum diagnosing another problem. But old rugged cross is talking about a mid-eighties truck; ten years before Tacomas.

Thanks guys. It is an 87'
Stard. cab, shortbox

I have an '87 4x4 xtra cab 22R (carbureted model) and it's my daily driver. My much nicer truck stays in the garage 95% of the time. I like driving the 5 speed better.

I upgraded the interior a bit and installed 33" BFG all terrains and regeared to keep it correct. One thing to watch out for is the timing chain in the 22R and 22RE. If not replaced it will wear out the chain guides and eat through the cover into the coolant passages. Mine went at about 195,000 miles. Look for milky oil/ coolant or even slime under the oil cap, that's where mine really showed up. I opted to rebuild the engine at that time.

Also the stock headlights are awful. I put in Hella H4 ($120) and upgraded the wire harness with 10 guage wire and relays. The factory wire is thin at 16 or possibly 18 guage. These headlights put my '13 F250's to shame.

Also note, I don't drive on the highway much. It will do 70-75mph and feel stable but downshifting will be frequent.

I'll never sell it.

Ok guys, I think I have found the one. Will see it this weekend and buy once I see it am pretty sure. See the original post for details.

Looking for additional thoughts about the gen 2 model specifically. Thanks.

I purposely bought a gen 2 because I was concerned about the new gen 3 platform. I haven't been disappointed. I've heard a fair amount of complaints about the new motor (3.5) and it's power band. It seems the shifting with the auto transmission is funky too, in that it constantly hunts for gears when on the highway. The 4.0 motor is solid!