I test drove a 98 Tacoma this afternoon and i have dropped it off to have it looked over before i possibly buy it. I do have a few questions:

1. What are some things i need to look for in this truck?
2. It is missing its tailgate. I want to put my 4wheeler (500 quadrunner) in the back. Will i have issue?

Any info or opinions appreciated! Yes, i have searched but i want the opinion of Tacoma owners...

 

check to see if toyota inspected the frame. thats the bigest issue. as for the 4 wheeler.... measure i'm guessing no tailgate cuz it rusted off

 

I have gone over the frame and it looks good. If i buy it i iwll take it to toyota... if they take it back then i will make a little cash. I want to say a kid owned it and they had one of those tail gate nets at one point.

 

Check the exhaust manifold for cracks. Probably have to take the heat shield off. Mine was cracked all the way through, with the crack more prevalent on the underside of the manifold and just hairlined on the top so it was harder to notice. In fact the way I really caught it was I SeaFoam'd it and instead of white smoke coming out the exhaust it was puffing out from under the heat shield.