by 21 people |
A running History of my Toyota Tacoma
My Stats
The low down on specs on my Tacoma
- 2005 Double Cab Long Bed
- 4 wheel Drive
- Black Exterior
- Leather Seats
- Towing Package
- 6-Disc CD Changer
- Running Boards
- V6 engine
My Personal Tacoma Photos and Stories from the Road
Here's some Images from my Personal Collection
Luckily I was there with my trusty Black one!
A tow rope and 4-wheel low and we were able to pull him out.
This is one of the major factors that led me to upgrade my tires (that and the warranty :) ) as I had plenty of power to pull him out but was a little light on the traction. All fixed now!
Maintenance Record
A list of Repairs and Maintenance I've had done
- 5,000 miles - Check engine light was on. Bad alarm wiring harness. Dealer replaced under warranty.
- 15,000 miles - rear tail light burned out. replaced at oil change - under $10
- 20,000 miles - retread came off of a semi truck and hit my grill, cracking the plastic and knocking off my chrome emblem - local mechanic epoxied the crack and installed new emblem - $100
- 30,000 miles - The last of my mudflaps was torn off while off-roading. Toyota does not offer a heavier duty mud flap I am aware of. No plans to replace.
- 45,000 miles - Rear tail light went out. Replaced at regular maintenance - under $10
- 57,000 miles - Front right Fog lamp and Headlight went out at the same time. No wiring issues were found by myself or the mechanic. Replaced bulbs myself - $30
Toyota Tacoma Reviews
Reviews from the best in the Biz
- 2005 Toyota Tacoma Review from Toyota Off Road
- 2005 Toyota Tacoma Review. This is a Fantastic Site all about Off-Roading With Toyotas!
- PickupTruck.Com - First Drive: 2005 Toyota Tacoma
- A very positive design oriented review from pickuptruck.com
- How Stuff Works Review
- How Stuff Works Rated the 2005 Tacoma as the Best Compact Truck Available. A good breakdown of different driving aspects and functionality
My 4X4 Toyota Tacoma 60,000 Mile Review -12/1/08
A report on the first 60,000 miles in my 2005 Toyota Tacoma
Besides costing $585 (Ouch!) , everything is running great. The truck is still getting 16-19 MPG and runs as well as the day I drove it off the lot.
I replaced the rear tail light from my little fender bender. I haven't had the scratches buffed out yet because..well.. it's a work truck.
Sunshade for TOYOTA TACOMA 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 HEATSHIELD Windshield Custom-fit Sunshade
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $33.95 (as of 07/10/2009) 
List Price: $39.95
Used Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Toyota Tacoma Mileage Update 10/14/2007
57k and Still going strong
Story:
As I was sitting at a traffic light a few months ago a Ford Expedition decided to try and squeeze by my left side. He scraped the corner of my Tacoma with the side of his car. Damage: I have some light scuffing around my tail light and I had to replace the tail light. The whole side of his Expedition was torn up, with both fender flares being torn off, a large scrape down the side, and a loose bumper.
Toyota Tacoma Wins!
Toyota Tacoma Mileage Update 50k 7/19/07
50,000 miles in 16 months in my 4X4 Tacoma
The Tacoma hit 50,000 miles this week. I'm taking it on a Road Trip to Lafayette, La. this weekend. After the trip, I'll get the standard 50k maintenance done. She's still running exactly the same as when I bought her 16 months ago. The BFG Tires are fantastic. This truck was built to drive with the wider 265 tires. It sticks to the road way better. I was in about 6 inches of mud yesterday and having zero problems going where I wanted as fast as I wanted to. Go Taco Go!
Curt Manufacturing 31313 Front Mount Receiver
I haven't seen one of these installed yet. I might get one to mount a winch on...
New Tires! How I got them with the Extra Mile Warranty
This is the best deal I've ever heard of for tires!
On Friday, I went to the Toyota Dealership in order to get my 45,000 mile service. (45k in 17 months...wowza) While there, I asked them about my Tire Warranty. When I purchased my truck new, part of the extras and goodies I received was their "Extended Life" Tire Warranty. This means that they will warranty the tires on my Tacoma for 100,000 miles.Here's the caveat:
- You have to have the tires rotated every 5,000 miles. I have done this at the dealership along with all of my other maintenance, mainly to insure that my powertrain and bumper to bumper warranties stay valid.
- You have to have the little card they gave you when you bought the car. Apparently you can get another, but I think that having it eased a lot of troubles.
- Have receipts for all of your tire rotations.
- Wear has to be even and under 3/32" of tread must remain.
- When your tires wear out (because let's face it, it's a rare tire that lasts 100k) the dealer gives you credit towards new tires equal to the worn out tires. For me this was $107 per tire.
- Balancing and mounting of the new tires are free.
- If you want to upgrade tires you pay the price difference.
- If your New tires wear out before you hit 100k, you can get another set following these same requirements.
Net Result:
I'm going to get a full set of brand new BF Goodridge All Terrain Off Road Tires for about $300. To buy them from a tire store would cost me about $1200 bucks. When I wear those out, which I inevitably will, I'll get another set of BFGs for Free.
I realize they probably make some of it back in rotations etc. but it is still a great deal in my opinion. I would have gotten the rotations done regardless.
Does anyone else know of any similar deals when buying a new car? I haven't heard of any others...
Toyota Tacoma Pictures
One Speed
Overland Expo 2009
Overland Expo 2009
Trailer, Truck, and...
Almost Time for New Tires!
Toyota Warranties my tires.... wow
When I bought my truck, the Toyota Dealership Warrantied my TIRES for 100K MILES ! There were only two catches:The tires had to wear evenly, which for me meant rotating them at the dealership every 5k miles.
There has to be less than 3/32" of tread left.
Once those two conditions are met, Toyota will give me a $200 credit PER TIRE to get any Tire I want.
BFG A/T s Here I come! Bumpin up against 45k miles and they are almost worn out!
Mileage Update 5/31/07
45 k and still kicking
Onward!....
Toyota Tacoma Commercials of Awesomeness
My favorite Tacoma Videos
Mileage Update -5/17/2007
44k in 16 months!
My Tacoma Rolled over to 44,000 miles on the 17th of May. I have owned it since January 7th, 2006 for a grand total of 16 months and 10 days. Woah, almost 3,000 miles a month. Hopefully that Toyota reputation will hold up. It is still running likethe day I bought it and besides minor cosmetic wear (baby scratches and a grill cover crack from an errant tire) It looks fantastic (when I have time to get the mud washed off :) ).
Here's to the next 44k!!
More Tacoma Goodies
Toyota Tacoma Accessories
I've compiled a collection of the best Tacoma Accessories available for you folks if you are interested. Feel free to check it out.-
Toyota Tacoma Accessories - Pimp your Tacoma
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You've done it! You've bought the best light pick-up truck on the market- the Toyota Tacoma. Now you need the parts, accessories and upgrades in order to truly make it your dream machine! Off-roading, work truck, street rod - accessories exist for th...
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Toyota Tacoma: The Best Truck Ever
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The Highest Quality and most rugged 1/2 ton pick up truck on the market is the Toyota Tacoma
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Toyota Tacoma Tires
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It seems that everyone has a different type of tire on their Tacoma Truck. Some have stock road tires while others have gigantic mudding tires. What are the different options and what is right for you?
Toyota Tacomas in the News
A short list of Tacoma News Articles
- Toyota may drop US joint venture with GM
- The plant, which employees over 5000 workers, builds the Corolla sedan and the Tacoma compact pickup truck for Toyota. The Pontiac Vibe -- the only GM ...
- Family Offers Reward for Missing Mother and Daughter
- Their truck, a 1997 black Toyota Tacoma Pickup was also missing. Bentonville Police suspect foul play. "We're very concerned and the family is very upset," ...
- Police Blotter
- ... entered a 2009 Toyota Tacoma sport utility vehicle parked in the first block of East Lafayette Ave. and stole a camera and a navigational system, ...
- A Few Bumps in the Road to Toyota's Green Auto Dominance?
- Toyota has started recalling Tacoma pick-ups from the same period, for excessive rust on the frames. -- And now, 2006 and 2007 Prius HID headlights are ...
Toyota Tacoma's Caught on Film
They're Elusive but when you catch em on film.....
Nissan Frontier vs. Toyota Tacoma by Edmunds' Inside Line
Runtime: 4:35 | 178277 views | 615 Comments
Do you Like Tacoma's for Off-Roading?
Are they too small for you? You love them? Let me know!
Where have you gone and what have you done in your Tacoma? I want to know!
Aaron Linsdau wrote
I've had my 2005 Tacoma 4x4 4-door shortbed since April 2005. I've put 120k miles on it so far. It's been through the western states and done remarkable. It has no problems in the sand dunes, tows my 3000lb boat with trailer without issue and is an amiable machine on the road.
My skid plate is concave from all the things I've ground over, like rocks and brush. Thank goodness that's on there, otherwise my engine and transmission wouldn't be in such good shape.
I've had a few bulbs go out. The only thing that's bothering me right now is supposedly the spiral cable broke and it's disabled my airbag. $300 part, $300 labor. I'll see if I can repair it myself first.
My lumbar seat foam is dead...I'm searching for a good replacement.
I've torn off each one of the mudflaps over that time. For the fronts, I replace them with Autozone $10 flaps. The rear 4x4 flaps are darned expensive, $100 each. The newer design mudflaps don't break nearly as easy.
Posted January 31, 2009
Gregory-King wrote...
in reply to Greg If you replace the timing belt it is best to change all asscociated parts such as water pump and the others you mentioned. As far as the trans problem try Amsoil universal fluid I have had good feed back from customers with shifting gripes.
Posted January 27, 2009
Greg wrote
2005 93K miles. Bought Nov '04. Good reliability but never been happy with the auto tran premature upshift from 3rd to 2nd (happens when you brake) and the sluggish shift from 3rd to 4th. Dealer says nothing wrong. Tran has been flushed. If I open the driver door and hear a sound like a clock winding I know the tach won't work and the fuel guage will take 15-30 seconds to come up. Dealer first said loose wire for a $125 fix now they want to replace some module for $600. No plans to replace. Recently thought I'd had gas siphoned only to find out the gas guage was "stuck" temporarily. Rear seat back "creaks" with someone sitting in the seat. Solution is a piece of foam behind the seat. Truck is a workhouse though..have hauled lots of stuff and it pulls a 5x12 trailer with ease. No trouble with O2 sensors. Getting ready to replace the timing belt....was told should also replace water pump belts and hoses. Any advice? I had a 4Runner for 11 years...hoping to keep this one as long
Posted October 22, 2008
und3rpa1d wrote...
5 stars
My 2000 Toyota Tundra has 160000 miles and has been a great truck. I have replaced all the oxygen sensors and and that is it. I have been through many sets of tires and wish i would have picked the BFG's
Posted July 29, 2008
