Want a Double Cab; Move Current Set Up Over to First Gen or Buy Second Gen?

[RememberTheFallen]

Kinda stuck. I need more room than my current extended cab tacoma has. Figured I need a double cab. When I first bought my current truck I wanted to buy a first gen double cab but the auto transmission turned me off. Girlfriend/future wife will not drive a manual despite my best efforts to teach her. This has me leaning towards an auto which opens up the first gen double cab option.

I wanted a newer second gen with low miles until I started looking at the prices for lift, wheels and tires, and armor. My current 1st gen already has OME suspension, upper A arms, bud built skids, ARB bumper, sliders, rear bumper, wheels and tires, and TRD supercharger that will swap straight over to another 1st gen. The second gens have more room and creature comforts. I also keep hearing that the 1st gens are "more of a truck" if that makes sense. Kinda hard to find lower mileage 1st gen double cabs.

So what do you all think? 1st or 2nd gen considering MY position? Sell my extended cab and buy a newer truck and build it back up slowly or buy a first generation double cab, switch all of my stuff over, and sell my current truck in a factory stock configuration?

 

[29centTaco]

It's probably my age talking, but I'd go with comfort. Gen 2 has plenty of durability and is plenty of truck too. My '90 Yota single cab was a hell of a truck that never left me walking (except when I'd forget to turn off the lights), but I could never get comfortable in the thing. I can't think of a distance I'd be hesitant to drive in my '13 DCSB.

 

[mtnbike28]

I was in the same boat when I bought my 80 - couldn't afford to build it and my 02 DC Taco was done. The 80 is still stock and all the Taco needs now is replacement sliders (frame replacement)
If you are happy with the 1st gen comfort (seats) then I say search nationwide for the right DC and travel to buy. Then transfer everything over. YMMV

 

[Plannerman]

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably look for a 1st Gen because you'll not likely recover the costs of your upgrades.

If cost of upgrades is not your only consideration, then I would not be turned off by the comments of the 2nd Gen being less of a truck. They're beasts and reflect many, many design improvements over the 1st Gens. Both are excellent vehicles.

 

[RememberTheFallen]

I like the first gens. This is my third one. They are all that I have owned since 2001. This one has been kinda funky with some odd problems that the other two never had. I am not happy with the extended cab set up either; especially now that I have a serious girlfriend that takes up even more space. I don't don't care about the extra seating but wold like the back seat area for storage and a fridge. Maybe keep one seat.

If I had a money tree then I would get a 2011 or 2012 model DC and start modding it out like my current truck. Unfortunately I do not and my motorcycles consume as much if not more money than my truck. So it would be an older 05-07 DC or slightly newer one that would be built very slowly if I go that route. I would like the extra room and comfort but it would cost me $10k to get to the same level a similar set up first gen would cost.

 

[JWP58]

I would start looking for a nice 2004. Now mind you, its going to cost you an arm and a leg, as for some reason the 01-04 Tacos are bringing crazy prices.

 

[RememberTheFallen]

I would start looking for a nice 2004. Now mind you, its going to cost you an arm and a leg, as for some reason the 01-04 Tacos are bringing crazy prices.

That is what I am thinking. Wanted to see if anyone had any major points or ideas that I was missing against it.

Ya, they sell or a pretty penny. Kinda hoping mind does too. Not a double cab but a 2003 in excellent condition and only 108k miles. Hopefully I can sell it after I swap the parts over and recover a substantial amount of the cost of the DC.

 

[JWP58]

With those miles, and not knowing what options it has I would say 10-12k, easy.

 

[zidaro]

If you area absolutely stoked on all the accessories you have added, and completely satisfied with the truck except for its lack of a foot of interior room, and know that you wont mind a smaller bed- then it would be worth the swap. I happen to love the taco double cab as a wheeler- dont have one, but think it is a great platform for a wheeler build. If i was looking for the family rig that is going to spend plenty of time camping and traveling across many highways and dirt trails alike and trekking to the beach, grocery store, kid events, etc.. i would opt for a larger, more comfortable ride on a daily basis.
just depends on $$ and what your use is. both choices are great ones really.
Newer rig will not cost that much more than a used 1st gen, and youll get to build this one exactly as you want knowing what you know now. It will perform just as well unless you are a crawler, but be much more comfortable.
I would return your taco to as close to oem as possible with the parts you still have, and then sell the truck and all the aftermarket stuff off separately- youll make more back, but it will take more time.

 

[RememberTheFallen]

If you area absolutely stoked on all the accessories you have added, and completely satisfied with the truck except for its lack of a foot of interior room, and know that you wont mind a smaller bed- then it would be worth the swap. I happen to love the taco double cab as a wheeler- dont have one, but think it is a great platform for a wheeler build. If i was looking for the family rig that is going to spend plenty of time camping and traveling across many highways and dirt trails alike and trekking to the beach, grocery store, kid events, etc.. i would opt for a larger, more comfortable ride on a daily basis.
just depends on $$ and what your use is. both choices are great ones really.
Newer rig will not cost that much more than a used 1st gen, and youll get to build this one exactly as you want knowing what you know now. It will perform just as well unless you are a crawler, but be much more comfortable.
I would return your taco to as close to oem as possible with the parts you still have, and then sell the truck and all the aftermarket stuff off separately- youll make more back, but it will take more time.

That is what got me. I was looking at modifications for a 2nd gen and kept coming back to OME suspension, Bud Built skids, and some sort of heavy duty front bumper like ARB or Shrockworks. Well my Tacoma already has OME suspension, BB skids, and an a ARB bumper.

Gonna look and see what I can get. If I can't find a 1st gen at a decent price then I will just sell as much stuff off my truck as possible and then sell it to buy a newer 2nd gen.

Was all set on a 2nd Gen, now having my doubts. Shouldn't have looked at he Expeditions West truck in the for sale section! That is what got all these thoughts about a 1st gen going.

 

[overactor]

I drive a stock 2012 trd off road. I was looking for a nice unmolested 1st gen to mod knowing Id wheel it. But i found an awesome deal on a brand new 2012 $29k out the door. They payment makes me not wanting to wheel it hard and trash it but I couldnt see paying 15k roughly for a 4door 1st gen with higher mileage. id say if you like the parts you have and the truck you have then a 1st gen is for you. The 2nd gen has more room and Ive taken it in places i thought id get stuck for sure and made it out. My plans are an OME 3", deaver leaf pack, Bedrack Im making to fit over my best top. Also making my own sliders, skid plates and planning on a hidden winch.

 

[surlydiesel]

Tough One. I'm a die hard 2nd gen guy but I think it depends on your usage. I like the feel of the drivetrain components in the 2nd gen better, Gear Shifter, T-Case Shifter, they both feel more "attached". The 6spd on the newer trucks has a nice gear spread but I don't like the dial on the dash for 4WD. I'm 6 ft 215 pounds and the 2nd gen is tight, I do miss the 08 I had for that reason. My truck is used for 90% just me alone, 6% with my dog and 4% with other humans. If these numbers were changed, 80% with a human and dog (can't do that now unless dog is in the bed, she doesn't appreciate that) and 20% alone and it was my primary driver, I'd have to get either a Quad Cab Yota like you are talking about with a 6spd or seriously look at a Frontier with a 6spd. Unrelated completely to your question but on my mind, if I had to replace my truck tomorrow(same % ratios), I would get a 08-10 F-350 with a 5.4 and a 6spd. If I had to get an auto, Fiance doesn't do stick either(we have a jeep because of this), I would most likely get a Quad Cab Tundra. Not sure if I would go Older body style or new. The old ones are bringing a premium and frankly, I'm actually ok with the styling of the newer ones. I'm used to driving a crew cab F-350, so even a 2010 Tundra wouldn't feel that big.

Long post, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. As many have said on here, unless you have to have a Manual Trans or need a smaller trail friendly truck (New Tacoma's are not small IMO), you should look at a Tundra for slightly less MPG but a huge amount of space, towing and load capacity that the Tacoma just doesn't have even though it's only inches smaller than the previous body style Tundra.

Best,
Jorge

 

[Martinjmpr]

:iagree: WRT the 1st gen Tundra. Lots of space and you can often find them cheaper than a 1st gen DC Taco.

The reason why is simply supply and demand: 1st gen Taco DCs were only made from 01-04 (whereas the total production of 1st gen Tacos was 95-04.) Not only that, of the 01-04, there weren't that many DCs made compared to Extended and regular cabs. That makes them in low supply & high demand because they've sort of acquired a "cult status" (in the same way that the 3rd gen 4runner has.) Now I have nothing against cult vehicles but it seems insane to me to pay $15k for a vehicle like the 1st gen Taco with 150+k on the clock, particularly when you consider that the 3.4/slushbox combo is marginal in both power and economy (whereas the 4.0 in the 2nd gens is superior in both.)

OTOH, from my observation, when it comes to 2nd gen Tacos, it's the DCs that are the majority. Regular cabs are as rare as hens teeth, at least in 4x4 configuration, and extended cabs not that common, whereas DCs are as common as weeds. I'd estimate that at least 60% of the 2nd gen Taco 4x4's I see on the street are DCs.

As for the Tundra, while the 4.7/auto combo isn't a particularly economical engine/tranny combo, the power is excellent and the size, IMO, is about perfect. Also some Tundras have a roll down rear window which is pretty cool and can be an asset if you have a camper shell.

 

[RememberTheFallen]

:iagree: WRT the 1st gen Tundra. Lots of space and you can often find them cheaper than a 1st gen DC Taco.

The reason why is simply supply and demand: 1st gen Taco DCs were only made from 01-04 (whereas the total production of 1st gen Tacos was 95-04.) Not only that, of the 01-04, there weren't that many DCs made compared to Extended and regular cabs. That makes them in low supply & high demand because they've sort of acquired a "cult status" (in the same way that the 3rd gen 4runner has.) Now I have nothing against cult vehicles but it seems insane to me to pay $15k for a vehicle like the 1st gen Taco with 150+k on the clock, particularly when you consider that the 3.4/slushbox combo is marginal in both power and economy (whereas the 4.0 in the 2nd gens is superior in both.)

OTOH, from my observation, when it comes to 2nd gen Tacos, it's the DCs that are the majority. Regular cabs are as rare as hens teeth, at least in 4x4 configuration, and extended cabs not that common, whereas DCs are as common as weeds. I'd estimate that at least 60% of the 2nd gen Taco 4x4's I see on the street are DCs.

As for the Tundra, while the 4.7/auto combo isn't a particularly economical engine/tranny combo, the power is excellent and the size, IMO, is about perfect. Also some Tundras have a roll down rear window which is pretty cool and can be an asset if you have a camper shell.

Starting to realize this.

Finding some 1st gen DC's but they are all high dollar AND high mileage. Don't mind paying $$ but don't want to pay more for a truck that has more miles than my current truck.

Either way I am gonna pay off my current truck before I do anything so that will give me a little time. I don't have the take off stock parts for my truck so if I don't buy a 1st gen to swap over then I will have to sell the truck as is. May get a little more with what is on it but not the full value back.

Thanks for all of the feed back! Didn't really help me choose one but confirmed my idea that I would be happy with either model. Also never thought about the Tundra option so I will look into that.

 

[Clutch]

1st gen Taco extra cab and double have the same length frame/wheel base.

All you need is a cab and a bed...or do a flat bed. I spied a couple wrecked DC's at the salvage yard the other day.

One of the Toyota forums a guy did a swap...

http://www.customtacos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107939

can keep your manny trans too...let the girlfriend drive her own vehicle!