jayson44 previously posted:
"biggest difference I'm seeing between the two gens are the 3.4 vs the 4.0."
How old are you looking at here? The 3.4v6 hasn't been used since mid 2000's with the older smaller size. I have the 4.0v6 in a 2010 that is the more mid-size truck. The most recent engine (starting a year or two ago?) is the 3.5v6. I really like my 4.0v6 - plenty of power for driving with a 6speed stick here in the mountains. It doesn't tow heavy loads great (like 3000lbs though the mountains is pretty sluggish) - but not sure many v6s tow all that well. Small camper trailer should be ok though. I don't have any experience with the new 3.5v6 - a few anecdotal comments from friends say its not great, although it sounds like it might be more of a sluggish transmission issue (think they have the auto). The old 3.4v6 in the small trucks is great, reliable etc - again, doesn't tow great. I am not all that knowledgeable about details on what goes wrong on any of these engines - the ones I have had never needed much work.
On my 2010 - it has 130k (I got it at 10k), my 4.0 has had one coil pack go out around 100k and I had to limp it 100 miles from nowhere Idaho to Butte MT at 50mph with a rough misfire. ALso had a front wheel bearing go bad at 80k or so. The undercarriage/frame definitely doesn't have the best coating - its shows more rust/oxidation than I think a 8-9 year old truck should. I do drive it a lot in the winter on snow, gravel, salt, MagCl etc - and probably should be a bit better about getting it washed off. Its definitely been a bigger problem on some with warrantied frames etc. Also, there is a recall on the rear leaf springs - they have a tendency to rust and fail as well - guess when the driver side leaf fails, it can punch a hole in the gas tank and cause another hazard.
FWIW - the TRD off road package was worth it to get the e-locking rear diff (it also includes a little better front skid - but thats about it). Mine has 3.73 gears with the six speed - think that may the standard for all the v6 Tacomas - not sure. Its probably would max out at 33s - bigger would probably require gear change. I run 32s on it stock. The TRD sport is mostly graphics/cosmetics. On the 3.4 small trucks, I think you get a LS diff as opposed to an actual locked diff (?). I think that change might have actually occurred before the body style switch - maybe around 2000? - so check that out. As with all these IFS trucks - check the front control arms - I have a tendency to beat on mine and they seemed to have done fine, but I do worry about them. Finally, I will say that I went with the longer bed with the extended/access cab and not the full 4 door - my thoughts are that I am really happy to have the extra bed space. The 4door short bed is really small - like hard to fit a pair of skis in it small. But if I were to do it again, I would get a 4 door and full length bed - the access cab is okay for stuff gear behind the seats, but its brutal to sit back there for more than a short ride.