Advice on for sale Gen 1 Tundra

I am going to look at a '05 tundra 4.7 4x4 this weekend but there are a handful of concerns. He has it priced at $7k, 190k miles. He has not done the water pump, belt, and lbj's. He mentioned the LBJ's likely need to be replaced as there is a slight knock sound on bumps. The frame condition is decent for a 14-year old salt-belt truck but will be promptly fluid-filmed upon purchase then undercoated in the spring or earlier if the snow holds off. I'm going to evaluate it and offer around $4k-ish since there is a decent amount of work that needs to be done and he doesn't have maintenance records (that I know of, despite my asking multiple times for previous owners and records, hoping he has them ready when I'm there). But willing to walk if its a heap. I don't think he's done anything beyond routine oil changes as he seems pretty disconnected from it mechanically. He said beyond the LBJ's, it runs fine and doesn't have any apparent issues, needs to sell since he bought a brand new truck so he may be willing to make a deal. Wondering what this experienced community has to say...

This would also be my first official car. I am decent mechanically, but am by no means comfortable on my own so I will have to employ some friends that are much better at this than I am. My brother has done a lot of work on an old land cruiser and knows what to look for so I've been picking his brain, but unfortunately he's not able to look at anything with me due to distance.

Pics of the frame (from him)



No engine bay pics, he seems tired of the selling game "just come see it" is a standard response, granted I'm about 45 mins from him.

 

I would put it up on a lift and have it inspected thoroughly.

 

He is asking $7K and you are going to offer him $4k? I hope he isn't too far from you because I am sure he will send you packing lol.

You say this would be your 'first official car' as in you are a new driver? If you are on the younger side, it is best to bring someone with you that can look it over with you that has more experience. If you have the coin, call around see what shops charge to do a used/pre purchase inspection. I've worked at many shops and I can tell you that $80+/- they will charge can be money well spent.

The good thing with these trucks is they are pretty solid even if they haven't been taken care of well. Obviously check the normal things (oil, trans fluid level/color, leaks, etc). If he says he thinks it needs ball joints, it probably does. If he doesn't have any maintenance records plan on doing all the fluids/services (oil change, air filter, fuel filter front/rear diff, transmission service and t-case) right out of the gate. Possibly spark plugs as well. None of it is hard work or really that expensive but just have to factor that into the cost. Also, the timing belt as you have already mentioned.

This video will help a lot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=cPfQcIXmFiU&feature=emb_logo

 

Thank you! This is what I was looking for. I am not a new driver, mid-twenties, just never had my own vehicle. I will call local shops for an inspection. I was definitely planning on ripping into fluids and doing the ball joints immediately.

 

Hey! That's why we are here, to help one another!

I wouldn't be too worried if he doesn't have any maintenance records though. I bought my truck from a guy that I believe was only flipping it after he repaired the fender that was damaged. Hell, the plates were expired for two years which leads me to believe it had been sitting for those two years. I checked all the major things out and took a gamble on it. You will be able to tell right away if it's been beat to death or is in decent shape with a little work needed. Like I said, these things can take some pretty serious abuse and they just keep going.

Pro tip: To get a 'free' inspection, take it a dealership (one that doesn't have a quick lube service if available) for an oil change, as the tech will be sure to write up things hoping that you will fix it and he will get paid to do them lol.

 

That's a great tip! Might be a tough sell to the seller, but worth a shot. I'm probably overthinking it all, my brother says to just take a look at it and give a good offer then don't be afraid to walk away, 'they're more resilient than you think.' I'm hoping for near $5k, seems like a good deal assuming all is sound and immediate repairs are replacing fluids, LBJs, water pump and timing chain?

Also figured I'd mention, new to the forum and car buying and I really appreciate you not roasting me. Hope to one day be a tundra owner and be apart of this community.

 

Get the VIN and resgister it at toyota.com/owners and you can see what work has been done to it at Toyota dealerships, if any. Also, many independent shops report service/repairs to CarFax and the work will show up on a CarFax report.

 

I'd be concerned about these areas. The frame may not be the typical "frame rot" that we see posted about, but it looks like rust has taken hold here pretty well. Like many others here on the forum, we learned how to repair and maintain vehicles by owning vehicles that needed to be "repaired and maintained"...if you get what I'm saying. But I wouldn't want to buy this truck and have to do suspension work, timing belt, rust repair, LBJ, all at the same time. You can offer the $4k, but you may find out that some of these cranky old guys will just let a truck sit in their yard and rust rather than lower their price more than $500.

I think patience is the order of the day in this situation. A better truck with fewer unknowns will appear in your market without a doubt.

 

Where are you located? Maybe we can help source one for you.

No promises.... that is still probably coming

 

Excellent point. I'd obviously rather not have to do all that work, but that seems hard-to-come-by in my price range. He seems motivated to sell, I'll update with any additional intel. Any good places to look for other listings? I've done the usual Craigslist and FB Marketplace but getting annoyed with all of the 'i know what i have' listings and dealerships posing as POs.

 

I'm in the Northeast US. Southwestern CT to be specific. I have a brother in Austin, TX, he's willing to look at stuff on my behalf but I would have to fly down and drive whatever I get up, which means days off from work or shelling out the extra bucks for a shipment.

 

$7k is way too much.

I payed $3K for my 2000. Granted, 300K miles on it, but it had a new timing belt, waterpump, and ball joints and very little frame rust.

The rust on that vehicle is nothing much for a dry climate. Here it could last another 20 years before it had a problem....what I worry about is that if you bring it up to CT that rust could explode in growth.

 

I would tend to agree. I paid $2900 for mine with 171K and it's a limited 4x4 AC.

I think $7K is higher than a giraffe's ass but that's me.

 

That's what I thought, I don't think the guy is very in-the-know with cars (not like I am, but certainly more-so than he). It's in CT right now, I would keep it in a parking garage and only drive on weekends, mostly highways.

I found some other listings that are much more reasonable, some with NEW frames for under $6k... but they're 3+ hr drives from me :/ might be worth it though

 

Not sure how close or far these are from you but them like a much better deal:

2005 Stepside 4x4 181K - $3500
https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/cambridge-2005-toyota-tundra/7012157289.html

2005 AC 187K - $7.3K. For $7K, this one looks like a much better option and looks super clean. - DENIED, THIS IS THE TRUCK OP IS ASKING ABOUT - PASS
https://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/d/oakville-2005-toyota-tundra-sr5-4wd/7015532208.html

2001 AC 240K - Says it needs a few things but for the right price, might be worth it. Also, it's black so it has the 4.7L High Output +65hp package....
https://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/d/watertown-2001-toyota-tundra-access-cab/7017977749.html

2004 AC 245K - $4995 - I like this one because he says the frame was just replaced and he says 'dont be shy with offers!' $3500 and you would be golden (like the color of the truck)
https://westernmass.craigslist.org/cto/d/williamsburg-2004-toyota-tundra-access/7007977985.html

 

This is the one I posted about xD he has another listing at $6.9k

Looking into the others though

 

All you can do is ask, He may say NO and he might say Yes. Give it a shot.

I just recently bought an 04 with 136K Dbl Cad TRD for $5K, and it has a few small issues, but still a really nice truck

 

That sounds like a good deal! Good advice.

 

Anyone know what this evap issue might be? Is it not a big deal like he says it is? (I'd still do a obdii scan to confirm)
https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/cto/d/halifax-2002-toyota-tundra/7014493269.html

 

Ha! It does look clean from here but I am all the way in Colorado! Now that I look back on the pictures, I can see some rust on the wheel wells.

 

Literally could only be a gas cap... lol. Sometimes a loose vacuum line too.

 

IF and emphasize if, you do not do your due diligence in totally inspecting one from a Cold Climate State, are you prepared to deal with a $10,000 frame vs "days off from work or shelling out extra bucks for shipment "

 

Valid point

 

I'd be all over the 4th one here with the replaced frame. You eliminate the biggest problem with these trucks in salt belt states. As long as it has no engine codes and take if for a 20 minute test drive with no problems. Boom! You got your truck and can replace older/worn items as time and money allows.

 

245k miles isn't something to be concerned about? Is it safe to assume that 245k miles on an 15yr+ truck is mostly highway miles? It'd be damn impressive for someone to put on that many putting around town.

 

This is where age and experience with prior purchases comes into to play. Other may disagree, but in my opinion, knowing I have a new frame that will last 20 years or more takes precedence over possible worn out motor or transmission. Also, if you search threads on here about frame replacement, posters complain that not only is the frame replaced, but Toyota mandates that worn suspension parts, engine/trans mounts, etc, are replaced as well, at owners cost. The logic being that Toyota refuses to bolt worn/rusted/out of spec parts to a new frame, which then generates some additional revenue for the local dealer who only gets a fixed fee from Toyota for the frame replacement.

You can get a compression tested engine bolted in for under $1500. If it needs it, which is not a forgone conclusion. If the current motor has been maintained, no reason not to expect to get 350k-400k from the motor. Shat happens though, so you may blow a head gasket next month, but again, even traditional "major' repairs like head gaskets are more or less routine. If you move forward with a iffy/questionable rusted frame, that rots or significantly fails in the next couple of years you are in a really tough spot as frame replacement cost $6-10k, that's if you can even find a dealer willing to do it and can even find a frame from Toyota.

 

This is helpful and definitely wise. I found a really nicely taken care of Gen 1 going for $8k firm with 200k miles, brand new frame (8000 miles on it) and tons of associated parts where it’s to the point only the engine is original. Think $8k is fair? It would definitely last me a long time, certainly longer than an $8k lease would, so I’m leaning towards it.

 

How far is Southwestern CT from Ohio....I can put you in a 2000 tundra with 28k miles for a song and a dance....work with me

 

What happened to the 28k mile Tundra Thread? it disappeared.

 

Most likely, it got nuked because the seller didn't have adequate post count.