Decision-making structure

[greenstorm]

I'm buying a truck.

I've been using the 4runner and a trailer for awhile but it's been challenging: I need to know when I'll need it, I can't pick up feed or something on the way home unless I bring and park and haul the trailer all day. I've been getting the grocery store food in the 4runner with the seats down and that sucks, honestly. It's bad for the vehicle even with cardboard down, stuff doesn't fit well. Problematic. So it's time for a truck.

I've decided on a 2nd gen Toyota Tundra with the 5.7L engine. They're a solid truck and they shouldn't blow up after 200-300k. The engine is the same fuel efficiency as my 4runner's current 4.7L but can offer more horsepower which means I can tow real weight if I need. After a trip to try some out, I've decided on a longbox (8' box). This is definitely going to be learning to drive all over again, but.

There are three in contention right now.

One is a pretty ok truck, it's got some bits of body rust starting superficially by the back taillight and where the gooseneck trailer rails were attached through the bed. Engine sounds ok, frame looks good. It's cheap. I would maybe have this one for 7 years?

One is a low kms truck (210k). It has flaky rust on leaf springs and coils. It has a perfectly nonrusty bed and a beautiful canopy and the engine actually just made me smile to listen to and to drive. I'm not sure I've had that experience before? It was a purr. This one would likely need some suspension work to make it to 10 years but should be fine otherwise.

One has heated leather seats and is too far for me to look at it. The other two have the transmission cooling haul system and airbag suspension; this one has an aftermarket heavy leaf-spring suspension. I'm considering getting it inspected by the local mechanic there that everyone in the toyota community recommends. No canopy, "surface rust", higher kms (290k). The heated seats on my 4runner make my bones stop hurting and it would be nice to keep that.

I have a broad, nonserious information-gathering part of my decision process where I basically accept all options. Then I slowly eliminate options. Before the actual point of decision it's uncomfortable where I just need a little more info than I have. I'm in that spot right now.

I get very, very attached to my vehicles. This is kind of like dating and preparing for a breakup at the same time. There are little licks of excitement and potential plus gloom and "nothing's gonna be as nice as the one I have now".

Then one morning I'll wake up and have decided and can start bonding and grieving.

Comments

[yarrowkat]

heated seats are so nice and a modern luxury i wish i had managed to get. only two things i ever want to change about my 4Runner - heated seats and a bluetooth stereo. the latter i could manage by deciding to spend money on it. (well, i'd love it if she was all-wheel-drive, but she handles fine on bad roads, so that's actually okay.)

what year is your 4Runner? i do feed runs in mine, but - i'm buying bagged feed, usually less than a ton at a time, so i'm able to fit it by laying the seats down. we always use the trailer for hay.

it is a LOT like a breakup & a new relationship all at once. i have had experience that every time i've changed vehicles. i hope you find a truck you love! Tundras are handsome vehicles for sure.

[greenstorm]

She's a 2003, the first year with the 4.7 engine. I got a very very high miles one that happened to come with the seats and now I'm spoiled. I also haven't spent money on the stereo though, I'd be happy with even an aux jack. What year is yours?

I get feed in minibulk bags, the one ton bags, that get lowered onto the trailer either by a pulley system or by tractor.

[yarrowkat]

2007. she has an aux jack but for some reason the jack is located inside the center console at the bottom at an angle? so you have to plug it in very awkwardly around whatever you've stored in the console (CDs, in my case, and sometimes snacks and extra masks), and then run the cord out across the cab to wherever you are putting your media player (often the cup holder because it's the most convenient). it's really weird. the seats are all fabric, alas, and the interior is fabric-lined, a small thing i frequently regret. her predecessor in my life was a 1985 Land Cruiser, Dietrich (see icon), an absolute beast of a truck (see icon), all steel inside, 4wd with 6" lift - he could climb anything at all, and was basically a big metal and glass box, so extremely versatile in terms of hauling hay or live animals or camping in. also he had over 500k miles, broke down constantly, and was expensive to repair, so he eventually had to go. but omg fun to drive. i understand his new owner, who can do the mechanical work themself and thereby save a bundle, has kept the name. :)

[greenstorm]

Ohhh, Josh used to have a land cruiser around that vintage. I'm still sad it's gone, he replaced it with a 2008 4runner for similar reasons even though he could repair it. I loved the left hand drive too, and the incredible visibility in them.

I expect heated seats are an issue fewer days of the year there. I can't even test out the air conditioning in what I'm test driving because it's too cold to tell.

[yarrowkat]

omg about the AC. working AC is pretty vital here. you can bake cookies in a car here in summer (it takes a couple hours, but you can). or dehydrate fruit. so yeah - mornings that require the heater are Nov-Mar at most, with some off-and-on on both ends, and the regular heater really does suffice. we certainly don't have snow yet, which I see that you have.

Tristan had a VW Passat that had heated leather seats and it was so yummy.

[greenstorm]

More snow today, the last bit had just melted a couple days ago. I hope this one does too, I'm not ready for it to stick. I'm not ready to start carrying water by hand again.

[yarrowkat]

whew, i bet. fingers crossed it melts!

[graydon2]

It was a purr

Largest of the UR engine family -- truck version of the engine in the Crown Majesta. Only purr-ier one they sell is the V12 GZ in the Century.

Looks very robust!