Is the Tacoma enough truck?

[Buliwyf]

I won't be serious about buying a camper until the truck is paid off. Yeah, I'll likely finance it. I'll have another car sized loan when I reside and update my house. As longs as they're all 5 years or less, no big deal.

What sucks to me, is how some people move from one car payment to the next without a few years of owning a paid off car. Seems wasteful, to throw vehicles away like that.

Although I've had far more wasteful hobbies. Racing anything, sailboat, blondes, Rc cars and airplanes, the jeep, the Mustang, brunettes, etc.etc. Some people drink away enough cash to cover a decent truck payment every month.

 

[SportsmanJake]

I feel like we have very different standards haha. Until I bought my first capable vehicle in college(91 4Runner, this is only three years ago) I was a backpacker. The idea of even having a vehicle in the backcountry is still luxury to me, let alone some sort of a pop-top camper shell. Big improvement over my backpacking tent in every way. My "camp kitchen" consists of a Jetboil and a spork, I think I can find a spot to make that work.

Whenever I feel like I need a bigger truck, slide in pop-up, or whatever else is trendy this year, I go spend a week backpacking. Brings me back down to reality.

 

[Clutch]

Really? It says Boise gets even less rain. 12 inches per year.

By the way, what are they selling those Ram's for? Tradesman, 6-sp, 6.7L.

For kicks, I built one out on Ramtrucks.com. Tradesman 2500, CC, 4WD, 6-sp, 6.7L. Options: LSD, manual tow mirrors, park sensor and trailer brakes. Carpet delete as well. Clearance lamps, only because I think they look so cool. Zero functionality for me. Net price was slightly over $49k! Yikes. Guessing there would be a decent discount though.

Down in the valley not much rain. It is where I like to camp up in the mountains gets the weather. Doesn't really rain much here in the summer. Which I hardly go during the summer here...too hot for me. So it means Feburay-June-ish...then September thru mid November...possibly push it into December but it gets really foul December and January. Cold and wet.


Yeha, those trucks are not cheap! I tend to run to the Fred Myers here for lunch...someone who works there has Dodge double cab 8' bed half ton, that would work. Betcha you could find those used for cheap.

I feel like we have very different standards haha. Until I bought my first capable vehicle in college(91 4Runner, this is only three years ago) I was a backpacker. The idea of even having a vehicle in the backcountry is still luxury to me, let alone some sort of a pop-top camper shell. Big improvement over my backpacking tent in every way. My "camp kitchen" consists of a Jetboil and a spork, I think I can find a spot to make that work.

I grew up around 4WD's always owned a truck or SUV in one form or another. I have done the minimalist thing for years. have done the mini stove in a 2 person tent in the past...spilling boiling water on a sleeping bag sucks. The Wildernest is still fairly minimal since it is a glorified tent. Kinda over being wet and cold at night though. In my late 40's starting to look at comfort. I mean, we beat the hell out of each other all day on the bikes, usually roll back into camp after dark and exhausted...would be nice to be a little more comfortable at night.


What I do like about my Wildernest...is having the bed off to the side. I can throw the gear bags on there and still have enough room to sleep...plus I set up a table in the truck's bed with my chuck box on it. Awfully nice to fall out of bed and boil some water for coffee in the morning without having to rearrange things to do so. That OVRLND would get me close to what I have now...but with a hard roof and some real insulation.

Also I hope the bedding in that picture is rearranged lol, HDs are wide but not wide enough to stretch out properly width wise.

That bed is halfway closed in that picture....IIRC it pulls out to be a queen size.

 

[The_Dude]

I used to have an awesome 3x locked 80 series that would go anywhere I needed.

It worked great for 7 years and then we wanted to glamp a bit more and have a better base camp so we bought a 17’ camper. The 80 SUCKED at towing it. 6k rig with 212hp wasn’t cutting it. So I looked at f150s and Powerwagons and tundras. I have had great luck with previous yotas I decided to play the Toyota card again and got my 2010 Tundra. It won’t wheel near as well as the 80 but holds its own. Below is Imogene Pass and the trailer we bought. I knows it’s not a super “overlandish” set up but damn if it isn’t nice to have a shltter and shower when you come in from a muddy mtn bike ride and be able to cook in the rain. Plus it’s nice to be able to leave it and go explore with the wife and dogs.

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[phsycle]

I used to have an awesome 3x locked 80 series that would go anywhere I needed.

It worked great for 7 years and then we wanted to glamp a bit more and have a better base camp so we bought a 17’ camper. The 80 SUCKED at towing it. 6k rig with 212hp wasn’t cutting it. So I looked at f150s and Powerwagons and tundras. I have had great luck with previous yotas I decided to play the Toyota card again and got my 2010 Tundra. It won’t wheel near as well as the 80 but holds its own. Below is Imogene Pass and the trailer we bought. I knows it’s not a super “overlandish” set up but damn if it isn’t nice to have a shltter and shower when you come in from a muddy mtn bike ride and be able to cook in the rain. Plus it’s nice to be able to leave it and go explore with the wife and dogs.

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Nice. Did you go up from Ouray or Telluride side?

 

[The_Dude]

I used to have an awesome 3x locked 80 series that would go anywhere I needed.

It worked great for 7 years and then we wanted to glamp a bit more and have a better base camp so we bought a 17’ camper. The 80 SUCKED at towing it. 6k rig with 212hp wasn’t cutting it. So I looked at f150s and Powerwagons and tundras. I have had great luck with previous yotas I decided to play the Toyota card again and got my 2010 Tundra. It won’t wheel near as well as the 80 but holds its own. Below is Imogene Pass and the trailer we bought. I knows it’s not a super “overlandish” set up but damn if it isn’t nice to have a shltter and shower when you come in from a muddy mtn bike ride and be able to cook in the rain. Plus it’s nice to be able to leave it and go explore with the wife and dogs.

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Nice. Did you go up from Ouray or Telluride side?

Ouray side. I like that way better.


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[tacollie]

Hands down the smaller vehicles are better off road but for overland where long stretches of highway and payload matter full size is better. When we bought our Tacoma it was a daily driver so it needed to fit in the parking garage at her work, be easy to parallel park, and just easier to drive in town. Now that it's a travel and weekend travel vehicle I would consider a Tundra or 6.2 f250. All that bed space would be sweet with a vagabond style camper. I also think a lot people don't realize how much ground clearance a 3/4 ton has on 35s.

 

[jasmtis]

It baffles be as well. I have a buddy with a house payment, three vehicle payments, a boat payment, and a travel trailer payment. Granted, he and his wife both make good money...but damn.

Loans(as an individual, different if it's capitol being used by a business) only make sense to me for education and real estate. Education gives a valuable step up, payments on a home builds equity in an asset with the potential to appreciate(or, even in the worst case will still retain significant value) whereas rent money isn't ever coming back. Maybe for a vehicle if it's a necessity for reliable transportation. I make good money too, makes it really easy to save up for major purchases. Paying interest on toys is just throwing money away.

Yeah, definitely--kids change everything. My kids were more comfortable when we had a fullsize. But like anything, they've learned to adapt. In the end, doesn't really matter. As long as you're getting out there.

Kids seem to come up a lot as a reason for a full size. Maybe I'll change my tune when I cross that bridge but idk man, I'm with you here. I wasn't lucky enough to have a family that got out there very much but it was always something I was into so I did Boy Scouts. This isn't even really a 'back in my day' story, I'm 23 so this is like 5 to (if I'm remembering my years right) 13 years ago. Crew cab trucks were just starting to become a thing at that point so most of the more outdoorsy dads who would drive on trips had extended-cab full size trucks with increasing numbers of crew cab mid sizes. Plus some SUVs and the odd HD belonging to guys who needed them for work. I spent lots of hours in double cab first-gen Tacomas and extended-cab F150s with every seatbelt taken. It wasn't very comfortable but we didn't care, we were going CAMPING! And since I've had my Taco I always end up driving 4 people when I go on trips with my friends who aren't into this sort of stuff because I pretty much have the nicest vehicle(got the quickest start on my career). If 20-somethings are cool with the back seat of a Tacoma if it means saving a bit of money on gas your 12 year old will be fine.

I grew up around 4WD's always owned a truck or SUV in one form or another. I have done the minimalist thing for years. have done the mini stove in a 2 person tent in the past...spilling boiling water on a sleeping bag sucks. The Wildernest is still fairly minimal since it is a glorified tent. Kinda over being wet and cold at night though. In my late 40's starting to look at comfort. I mean, we beat the hell out of each other all day on the bikes, usually roll back into camp after dark and exhausted...would be nice to be a little more comfortable at night.


What I do like about my Wildernest...is having the bed off to the side. I can throw the gear bags on there and still have enough room to sleep...plus I set up a table in the truck's bed with my chuck box on it. Awfully nice to fall out of bed and boil some water for coffee in the morning without having to rearrange things to do so. That OVRLND would get me close to what I have now...but with a hard roof and some real insulation.



That bed is halfway closed in that picture....IIRC it pulls out to be a queen size.

That's fair. I'll probably appreciate some creature comforts more in 20 years. I'm already pretty tired of sleeping on the ground, although a quality tent, bag and pad mean I'm perfectly warm and dry. I never try to use my stove in there, even if it's cold and rainy I'd rather bundle up and start breaking camp as I make coffee and breakfast.

I wasn't familiar with the Wildernest but I googled it, that's an awful lot of windage and fabric. It's an interesting concept but I can see how it'd be cold and wet.

 

[phsycle]

Ouray side. I like that way better.


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Yeah, some spots coming from Telluride would get tight for a fullsize. It's more open from Ouray side. Fun trail with great scenery.

 

[Clutch]

That's fair. I'll probably appreciate some creature comforts more in 20 years. I'm already pretty tired of sleeping on the ground, although a quality tent, bag and pad mean I'm perfectly warm and dry. I never try to use my stove in there, even if it's cold and rainy I'd rather bundle up and start breaking camp as I make coffee and breakfast.

I wasn't familiar with the Wildernest but I googled it, that's an awful lot of windage and fabric. It's an interesting concept but I can see how it'd be cold and wet.

Yeah getting a tired of roughing it. Years ago we were in Taylor Park, CO for 10 days it rained hard every single day. Being stuck in a 2 person tent with another person sucked. Came home that trip and started looking at options. When I discovered the Wildernest...now feeling like I need to upgrade just a touch more again. It really isn't all that much. Insulated shell camper or trailer. Doesn't have to be fancy as I will thrash it.

Heading out again this Sunday. Rain and snow is in the forecast. Last year at this time I was in Coeur d’Alene/Sand Point..it rained all 4 days I was there. Finally broke when I was heading back home.

 

[Dalko43]

The Tacoma is literally on par with all other midsize trucks.

The new Colorado actually has a few hundred more lbs of payload relative to the Tacoma (ZR2 is about the same). It's not a huge difference, but there is a bit more leeway with that truck.

When we bought our Tacoma it was a daily driver so it needed to fit in the parking garage at her work, be easy to parallel park, and just easier to drive in town. Now that it's a travel and weekend travel vehicle I would consider a Tundra or 6.2 f250. All that bed space would be sweet with a vagabond style camper. I also think a lot people don't realize how much ground clearance a 3/4 ton has on 35s.

Heck, a stock Power Wagon with its stock tires (~33's) has about 14 inches of ground clearance. I don't know of any other truck, perhaps excepting a Super Duty, which comes close to that.

 

[toylandcruiser]

The Tacoma is literally on par with all other midsize trucks.

The new Colorado actually has a few hundred more lbs of payload relative to the Tacoma (ZR2 is about the same). It's not a huge difference, but there is a bit more leeway with that truck.

When we bought our Tacoma it was a daily driver so it needed to fit in the parking garage at her work, be easy to parallel park, and just easier to drive in town. Now that it's a travel and weekend travel vehicle I would consider a Tundra or 6.2 f250. All that bed space would be sweet with a vagabond style camper. I also think a lot people don't realize how much ground clearance a 3/4 ton has on 35s.

Heck, a stock Power Wagon with its stock tires (~33's) has about 14 inches of ground clearance. I don't know of any other truck, perhaps excepting a Super Duty, which comes close to that.

What I could find was
Tacoma 1120-1620
Colorado 1242- 1576

 

[phsycle]

Down in the valley not much rain. It is where I like to camp up in the mountains gets the weather. Doesn't really rain much here in the summer. Which I hardly go during the summer here...too hot for me. So it means Feburay-June-ish...then September thru mid November...possibly push it into December but it gets really foul December and January. Cold and wet.

So head north during summer I always wanted to head up north of the border to Banff and other Canadian towns up that way.

Yeha, those trucks are not cheap! I tend to run to the Fred Myers here for lunch...someone who works there has Dodge double cab 8' bed half ton, that would work. Betcha you could find those used for cheap.

You could. But not in your manual transmission!

Man, now I want to head out camping. Pack up the truck and disappear for a few days. We almost headed to McCall about a month ago. A neighbor has a cabin up there. Another neighbor goes up to Coeur D’Alene every year. I really need to explore that part of Idaho.

 

[Dalko43]

What I could find was
Tacoma 1120-1620
Colorado 1242- 1576

Go check out the brochures and websites for both vehicles.

A Double Cab 4x4 A/T v6 Tacoma has a payload of ~1175lbs (maybe a little bit less depending upon the trim).
A Crew Cab 4x4 A/T v6 Colorado has a payload of ~1580lbs (a bit less for the diesel).

 

[Clutch]

So head north during summer I always wanted to head up north of the border to Banff and other Canadian towns up that way.

Banff is on the list! 15 years ago we did North Shore outside of Vancouver and Whistler on the mountain bikes....dying to get back up that way...such great country.

I did a lot before July...think I got to camp 7 times this past Spring...4th of July weekend was camping in Idaho City with my best friend from Tucson. Rode dirt bikes all day...heading back to camp, I almost became a hood ornament on Forest Service F450...speaking of what is too big for fullsize trucks. We were on a trail for Side by Sides...and here is this Ranger in a F450 on it. No where to go but down...broke my collar bone and sprained my ankle. So pretty much out of commission for 6 weeks. Started feeling good mid August...and no matter where you would go it was filled with smoke.

So July and August were a bust this year.

This past Monday was the first time back on the bike since then.

You could. But not in your manual transmission!

Man, now I want to head out camping. Pack up the truck and disappear for a few days. We almost headed to McCall about a month ago. A neighbor has a cabin up there. Another neighbor goes up to Coeur D’Alene every year. I really need to explore that part of Idaho.

Actually Dodge offered a manual transmission behind their gassers there for a bit...not sure in the half tons though. Will have to do some research.

I am so jonsing to get back out there. I work a half day tomorrow...going to come home and start packing to leave on Sunday. Looks like McCall was pushed to next weekend, so I am going to Stanley instead this.

Really liked Sand Point...I could see myself living there.

When I was up there, was planning to hit the Gold Creek Lodge area, but ended up hooking up with some guys in Coeur d'Alene and rode the Canfield trail system instead.