Everything else aside that is an awesome truck. After a pile of research I found myself in the position of OP's friend. Dang things just don't have the load capacity.
The California toyota tax is a real thing. My local dealer wanted 5k over MSRP for my TRD Offroad Tacoma. Bought it out of state sight unseen for a few thousand under MSRP and had it put on a truck and brought over to me. As long as people in CA are willing to pay these prices, this will remain the case.
I bought the exact same truck new in February, in CO, so not exactly a soft market for Toyota’s. $48,500. .6 miles on the clock. Must have better marijuana in CA because somebody is as high as a kite at that price.