HELP: I Bought an Overweight Overlander

[Ziro]

Good luck. One benefit of a dealership repair should be a decent warranty, along with a selection of Toyota shops worldwide.

Yeah, 10 year nationwide warranty. And because they missed it at the original dealership they’re giving me a good deal on labor. Initial quote was $3600 in parts, $600 in labor but I’ve been told they’ll drop it lower due to the failure to catch it at the first place (they’re under the same umbrella company).

On that note, anyone familiar with the legal side of a dealer missing an issue discharging the vehicle as healthy and then the problem persisting? Or should I just be thankful they’re giving me a deal at all?

 

[luthj]

I would be curious what your rear axle weight is. It may be possible to transfer some weight to the front axle, which would eliminate the overloading.

What event caused the axle to bend? Big whoop? Got some Air? caught a rock? Just curious.

 

[roving1]

Really appreciate the help guys, looks like we’re gonna bite the bullet, buy the new transmission, try to slash some weight - anyone in Texas in need of a nice pair of sliders, a full size spare, and perhaps some maxtrax?

we’ve come to the conclusion that when the axle bent and the rear wheel locked up, and we forced it by rocking it back and forth we blew the transmission - which may or may not have been in a sensitive state, impossible to say at this point. Hopefully this is the last of the costly repairs...

If you have further problems with that rear axle I would just swap the whole thing out for a junk yard axle. You can chase down bearings and seals in a bent axle forever. Most people don't carry heavy loads etc. The chance of success with a used axle is pretty high and much nicer on the pocket book. Then even if it does need seals etc down the road you have a better base to spend money on to improve for the long haul.

Also when you forced the stuck axle were you in lo range? If you get in some tricky situation like that again make sure to use lo. It's easier than people think to kill a trans in high operating at high loads below the stall speed of the torque converter. Always use low the minute speeds or loads require it. The guys that brag about not needing 4wd or not needing lo range have no idea how hard they make things for their trans.

Good luck for your trip.

 

[Ziro]

I would be curious what your rear axle weight is. It may be possible to transfer some weight to the front axle, which would eliminate the overloading.

What event caused the axle to bend? Big whoop? Got some Air? caught a rock? Just curious.

no idea, it took a couple of hits from bad potholes and when crossing a couple water crossings but nothing that made me pull over and stop to further assess - nothing that created any immediate concern. Maybe in was a combination of those but it’s hard to speculate now.

 

[plh]

I would be curious what your rear axle weight is. It may be possible to transfer some weight to the front axle, which would eliminate the overloading.

What event caused the axle to bend? Big whoop? Got some Air? caught a rock? Just curious.

And bigger brakes, stronger frame, etc - can't really change the factory weight rating. Shed some weight!

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Harsh much?

I bought a high mileage Taco from an expo member then immediately took it on a coast to coast trip, took probably 5 other long distance trips, drove it to Central Mexico for a work trip, and then back to Michigan. Every trip involving hundreds of miles of challenging lo range travel with heavy loads. So almost 3 years and 30K of travel with the only field fix being a radiator cap before I tore things apart for upgrades recently. No "internet" involved other to arrange the sale.

I don't need the internet to tell me that of the 6 people I know with 2000 era Rangers all of them blew up or became a nightmare to maintain and not one of them is still on the road while I still commute to work in one 2002 2wd Tacoma and drive anywhere to any country in another 2002 4wd Tacoma.

I am not a fanboy. My current 4WD Taco was almost a 90's 4.9 F-150 with a manual that got sold before I could buy it. I would have trusted that thing to be as reliable as the Taco I wound up with. I actually don't like anything Toyota makes now and very much like newer offerings from other makes if I wasn't too cheap to spend money on a new vehicle, and I didn't hate most new vehicle features.

But it's a bit silly to pretend every 14 year old vehicle is a POS and its also silly to pretend that in different eras of time there is not clear demonstrable differences in reliability and longevity between brands and even models and engines within brands.

I think OP hit some bad luck and bought an incredibly heavily used and to some degree abused vehicle. Also OP you should skip dealers and take it to drive-train specialists or find a friendly off road shop.

If by "harsh" you mean honest...then yes.

Also..I never said that every 14 year old vehicle was a POS...lol. All I am saying is that major components should be expected to fail at 100,000+ miles, especially in an over loaded 4x4. Being shocked when they fail is naivety as its finest.

 

[shade]

Of by "harsh" you mean honest...then yes.

Also..I never said that every 14 year old vehicle was a POS...lol. All I am saying is that major components should be expected to fail at 100,000+ miles, especially in an over loaded 4x4. Being shocked when they fail is naivety as its finest.

If you'd just started by saying, "With all due respect," all would be well with you.

We've had this talk before. Let's do better.

 

[luthj]

Remember class, there is no tone or body language in text. ?‍?

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I singled out that AT for a reason. It was also used in the Tundra, and for all the complaints about the Tacoma, AT failures are rare.

I had a 1st gen Tundra that the internet fan boys claimed the tranny wouldn't make it to 100k with out a rebuild. I sold it at 258k and it shifted just fine and required zero repairs in that time. I also ran synthetic fluid and it got a "drain and fill" with every oil change and changed the in line filter(~10, 000). Maybe it was my overly zealous maintainence...maybe it was luck...who knows....lol.

The truck is now over 300k and still runs and shifts just fine.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

If you'd just started by saying, "With all due respect," all would be well with you.

We've had this talk before. Let's do better.

 

[roving1]

Of by "harsh" you mean honest...then yes.

All I am saying is that major components should be expected to fail at 100,000+ miles

Yeah, have to file that under agree to disagree. There are many makes, models and specific drive-trains where this is not a reasonable expectation. Lumping everything together is overly simple and not accurate.

 

[calicamper]

You bought a POS, not a lemon. It's 14 years old truck with 137,000 miles ... thinking that it will not need major repairs is silly. Despite what the internet tells you... Toyota's do not go for ever with no repairs....lol.

It likely has more miles on it than that. Did you ask the dealers to pull its history out of their system? I caught three odo rolled back vehicles that way when shopping for my dad. Tacomas actually are some of the worst regarding rolled back odometers because people pay stupid $$$ for them.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Yeah, have to file that under agree to disagree. There are many makes, models and specific drive-trains where this is not a reasonable expectation. Lumping everything together is overly simple and not accurate.

Live in your bubble... Doesn't bother me at all ?

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Remember class, there is no tone or body language in text. ?‍?

Yep...and I have yet again dared not drink the koolaid and worship at the alter of Toyota... Seems to seriously upset the alter boys...

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Not for nothing but that is a 5 lug 2wd truck that someone turned into a Bro-Runner.

Ahhh yes... The owner should have gone for the Ex-Bro look so popular on here.