I've been following this thread as many things resonate. I was fortunate enough to retire early two years ago, and was faced with the need to update vehicles for my wife and I. Understand I've driven Toyota trucks since the mid '80's and am still nursing along multiple vehicles from that era. I reached a point where it wasn't practical to stay on top of the inevitable maintenance and repairs, and finding parts, so new vehicle investment was in order.
In the end I made a difficult decision to (gulp) buy a Chevy Colorado diesel. While it isn't the new Tacoma or Tundra that I wanted to talk myself into, it has many similar high-tech features, and the small diesel Duramax motor. The diesel was really the selling point, and I have been very impressed. I truly wish Toyota would have introduced them to the US, like they've had in so many other parts of the world. Initially, the truck seemed like a car and a video game more than a useful truck, but has really grown on me in 30K miles. It will never have the same stout durability of my 60 Series, but has spoiled me with the creature comforts and functionality.
We just completed an 800 mile trip into the Snake River Canyon area of ID in our FJ-60 with RTT. While I completely enjoyed rowing the H55f and all the features I built into the L/C, the truth is we didn't go anywhere that we couldn't have taken the Colorado, and probably would have gotten much better fuel economy and less drama. Maybe it's just my aging, but the RTT wasn't as much fun, and I was glad we had good weather so we didn't have to deal with getting everything wet. The wife and I returned home researching No Boundaries trailers...
My point to this ramble is I've never been able to find any single do-it-all vehicles, and hope I can continue to have the means and energy to keep multiple vehicles for different purposes. New truck technology is great, but seems more directed at "dummying down" the driving process rather than increasing off-road performance or durability, with much more complexity. As I've transitioned to having free time, the nature of our travel interests have changed. The idea of a base camp and spending multiple days exploring an area is now possible and appealing. Our adventures are longer duration but less exteme. Comfort and the simplicity of an enclosed space with heat and a bed is much more appealing, and the hardcore expedition vehicle is becoming less appealing. I'm just an old-guy-in-training, but don't overlook the possibility that your needs and interests will change.
Ramble over...
