Toyota Tacoma - Your Thoughts?

[PapaPerk]

I also drive a dodge diesel so I really have no personal opinions/experience either. but if the price is about the same why would you want to squeeze into a Tacoma when you could have much more room in an F-150 and have a ton more room in the bed to haul stuff?

I know people say the Tacoma is bullet proof but at the same time didn't they have a HUGE issue with rusted frames? So much so that they were buying back just a ton of these trucks? So they are bullet proof as long as you don't aim at the frame I guess.

Yeah they had a problem... but they stand behind their products and fix them! When was the last time the Big 3 did that?!

My Dodge Diesel with 67,000 miles is a money pit... always something new failing... and it lives a pampered life.

 

[radioman]

I think you are on the right track. a v6 with engine 4.0l or greater with a 16ft 7k trailer rating is all you need to tow BX's. If you have BX24/25 16ft trailer is minimum. If 4 digit series bx then you can get by with 14ft unless you want to bring an implement attached to it.

If you go with tacoma- you should be looking into BOTH weight distributing bar and sway bar since you want a lightweight truck for safe handling. If you go with a short bed, you WILL need both sway and weight bars. If you go with a long bed- its a great idea still to get both, but you can kinda cheat and do away with sway bar but you might feel squirrly with trucks passing by from crosswinds with a lightweight truck.

Ask me how I know. I know my s10 98 blazer is NOT same as tacoma, but its similar in size and weight. Since its a "short bed length" , I feel good towing my BX with BOTH sway and weight distributing bars. I have driven in several configuration towing scenarios like no sway bar with WD or no sway and no WD, with both sway and WD and I gotta be honest- I don't mind WD only on dry roads, calm weather but not without sway and WD in the rain and windy.

 

[jeffster]

Well, just my 2 cents. I have a new Dmax, and an 06 Dmax before that. The 06, which was one of the best years, needed a new turbo at 90k miles, new hubs, leaking tranny lines, ball joints, tie rods, etc. Sure you can expect some of those things as mileage goes up, but not others. I have a 2000 Toyota Tacoma that will go to the kids once they get their license, but I use now for short trips, hauling stuff around the property, etc. It has 147k miles, and is almost 100% original. You could probably drop the darn thing off a cliff and it would get back up and drive off. I have no experience with the newer Tacomas, but I will just say that as far as reliability, my experience with Toyota trucks has been very good. I had 2 SR5s with the 22RE 4 cylinder engines back in the early 90s and those things were bullet proof as well. Gutless as you can imagine, but ran absolutely forever. Last one had over 300k before my brother rolled it. All original except for tune up parts.

 

[s219]

I briefly looked at Tacomas recently, and thought they were great except for the gas mileage -- it's not too good. May as well go full size F-150, which is a very nice comfortable all-around vehicle nowadays.

 

[teg]

2009 Tacoma, 4x4, 4 doors - Several things bug me about it. Main one is the transmission, if you slow down like to make a turn, then get back on the gas - it drops to first gear and revs up to 2,5k to 3k before it upshifts.

Just driving down the road... the transmission will down shift for the heck of it... I'm constantly having to put it in neutral (to stop the down shifting) then back into gear to coast down the road.

I didn't get the "racing package" - my kidneys couldn't take all the bumps. You could feel it if you ran over a dime. 30 years ago, I would have thought that it was a "cool" ride - I prefer comfort now!

I got stuck once with one wheel on mud - I have to check on this again but I thought I had non-slip (I need to confirm this). I have other "picky" issues with the inside stuff. Beeping when 4x4 is in LOW... is idiotic. Back seat is marginal, not good for longer trips - but most trucks are like this.

I have pulled my L2800 and it was fine but marginal, just make sure the brakes are adjust correctly on the trailer.

 

[TripleR]

I have owned F150 and my brothers drive Chevy/GMC, my son in law used to drive Ford and Chevey; gets a new one every year, but now only buys Toyota pickups and Sequoias; well there is that Mercedez AMG 55 my daughter drives...

My wife and I are on our 4th Toyota; son had one and we really like them. We drive an 06 Tundra which is about the same size as a Tacoma, so the Tacoma should work well for you.

I do agree with a previous poster that these are not what I consider serious work trucks and if that is what you need, go bigger.

 

[vabiker23518]

I have a 2006 Tacoma Prerunner with V-6, extended cab and 2WD that I purchased new. Have 83K miles and it has been trouble free. Only replaced tires and fluids/filters. Still has original brakes...and get 24 mpg. Love it.

 

[SeymourBota]

First, let me say I own one, so my thoughts come from actual experience...

If you buy the factory tow package, you will certainly have no problems towing a BX (and implements). I have hauled 4000lb with it with no problems.

If you want an auto trans, you will be paired with the 6 cyl, which is a great engine but not like the 4 cyl on gas.

Something else to consider- and you don't mention your parents age, but the step up in is quite substantial. If they are using it as a daily driver, you will want some decent side steps that drop down a bit.

The 4x4 version does have a stiff suspension, especially if you get the TRD package- but nowhere near what the first generation Toyota trucks had.

Mine tows and plows and handles every other dirty chore I ask of it. Best of all, the truck and plow back in to my standard garage in winter, so I can melt everything down- no full size would fit.

 

[scesnick]

My Dodge Diesel with 67,000 miles is a money pit... always something new failing... and it lives a pampered life.

I tow a 12k trailer weekly full of some sort of mterial , usually weighing in at about 6-7ton. I also live up a 2.5 mile rocky dirt road that i travel every day. I have never had an issue with my Dodge, other than tires wearing out.

 

[Tomtint]

I have had just about every truck on the planet at one time or another.
The first Toyota was a 4cyl. It ran great but as far as trucks go... It was nice to bring to the beach and the dump on Sunday. Forget about towing anything. The Toyota 6 is also not a tow machine and no better on fuel than any small GM/Ford small V8. Had a few Cummins diesels, they have torque by the ton, but eat granny's about every 60-75k same with the 7.3 power stroke auto ( I have had 6 or 7. ) The GM has the comfort hi mark for trucks IMO but they are built with car parts,not truck parts. I owned a 2010 Tundra 5.7 for about 6 months, I towed my Cat 246 skid steer 50 miles to get service and I thought I was going to have to get out and help push up a couple hills. Not to mention towing is gets about 7mpg. That truck was traded for a 2011 F350 gas 6.2. That tows real well but also loves fuel. Last week I towed the same machine with my sisters 2012 F150 6cyl ecoboost, the truck is the balls. You need to drive one.