im thinking about getting me a TRD Toyota Tacoma Extra Cab (the one with the TRD Sticker near the tail gate in the back) However the body style I want is the one before the 2001 model so I was wondering what years were they made and also is they is anything I need to look for about these trucks? I want a v6 to.

 

Keep in mind that the TRD sticker has nothing to do with getting the TRD package. Some dealers have been known to put them on non-TRD trucks in order to sell them for more and some owners put them because they think they look "cool". Heck you can even find 4Runners with the stickers, even though there is no such thing as a TRD 4Runner from the factory... The stickers have become the "Type R" sticker of the Toyota 4x4 world...

So, besides the stickers, the TRD package included a slightly improved suspension and a rear locker. To check for the rear locker, look at the differential from the rear. If the drain hole is on the drivers side, it has the locker, if it's on the passenger side it does not. As far as the suspension goes, check for Bilstein shocks and progressive front coils. The progressive coils can be differentiated from the standard coils by the softer upper section. Look at the coil and if the top few coils are made of thinner "wire" than the bottom section, they are the progressives. If the "wire" is the same diameter all the way down, they are not the TRD progressive coils.

If you want the "second generation" Tacoma, you are looking for a 1998, 1999 or 2000. The earlier first generations were 1995.5, 1996 and 1997. The third generation was 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, then the "new" 2005's came out...

 

i love the 3rd gen style more than life itself

 

I got a 3rd gen... not a TRD though

 

mines not trd either i wish it was for the locker though

 

I am particularly fond of the "third generation" myself. While I had my 95.5 Tacoma, I began looking for something newer, but I wasn't fond of the second generation of Tacoma. When the 2001's came out, it was just what I was looking for and I went down and traded the 1995.5 in on this one

 

Thanks WATRD for the info, I never knew that about the sticker. I always assumed it was. I'll definitly look for all of that to see if I got myself a true TRD Tacoma. Also the reason why I want a 2nd gen tacoma is cause I really don't care for how the front looks on the newer ones, Reminds me of how a ford looks with way the grille is if you know what I mean.

 

I like all generations of Tacomas. Thanks for the tip about the real TRD. I knew some people put the stickers on, but didn't know about dealerships fooling people. Sounds like a lawsuit if you ask me.

I got the 3rd gen but wish I had the power of the fourth gen and the 6speed.
My girl has the same truck as me except an 04 and my brother has the 2nd gen '99. We love us some TRD's.