Is the Tacoma enough truck?

[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.

 

[toylandcruiser]

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).

But you’re using the lowest for the Tacoma and the highest for the Colorado. I looked in the web store and could t find anything.

 

[Dalko43]

But you’re using the lowest for the Tacoma and the highest for the Colorado. I looked in the web store and could t find anything.

Again, refer to the websites and published brochures.

1175lbs is the highest, not the lowest, payload you can get for a v6, 4x4 Double Cab Tacoma. The payload goes decreases slightly from there as you chose different options and trims.

For a similar configuration of Colorado, 1580lbs is the highest payload you can get. Diesel option takes ~90lbs off. Additional options will slightly decrease the payload.

The point is, when you compare similar configurations, the Colorado has more payload.

 

[toylandcruiser]

But you’re using the lowest for the Tacoma and the highest for the Colorado. I looked in the web store and could t find anything.

Again, refer to the websites and published brochures.

1175lbs is the highest, not the lowest, payload you can get for a v6, 4x4 Double Cab Tacoma. The payload goes decreases slightly from there as you chose different options and trims.

For a similar configuration of Colorado, 1580lbs is the highest payload you can get. Diesel option takes ~90lbs off. Additional options will slightly decrease the payload.

The point is, when you compare similar configurations, the Colorado has more payload.

I couldn’t find a brochure on Chevy site.

 

[Clutch]

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

Some of the half tons aren't much better either.

 

[Clutch]

@Buliwyf

Saw this on the Gold Greek Lodge Faceboob page.

 

[jasmtis]

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.

All that ride height to achieve an identical breakover angle to a short bed Tacoma.

 

[roving1]

Also how many trails are there like this one that will truly challenge a vehicle due to its size? I think difficulties of wheeling a fullsize are more prevalent in people's imaginations than they are in real life...again, not talking about the Rubicon or redneck mud fest type stuff, I'm talking about established and marked 4x4 roads.

This is just where I have no idea where you are coming from. There are plenty of marked forest roads that are almost side by side size that weave in and out of trees. I think the problem is coming from only going on well traveled routes and passes that are getting thousands of vehicles per year in them. I have literally never been in any national forest that didn't have somewhere a little two track that fades out to almost nothing and just keeps getting tighter and tighter. Again I think maybe going to a well known destination vs just exploring is skewing perceptions.

But it's just not true that these smaller marked normal tracks are non-existent. Maybe they are in your local area but what I describe above exists in over a dozen states I can think of w/o even trying.

 

[Clutch]

100% agree. Lots of Tacomas are way overloaded.

Those Ram's are nice. Too overkill for me, but I do love the way they look. That AEV Ram......pretty sweet. I could see in my retirement years, getting one of those, Alaskan, and hitting the road.

I have always wanted an Alaskan, love the interiors...look nice and cozy. Almost boat like. Have this vision in my head of sitting in one on a high mountain lake during a crisp fall morning, watching the Canadian Geese paddle across, mist lifting off the water, morning sun filtering through the brightly colored autumn foliage...as I sit in my Maine guide flannel, pair of well worn Levis and wool socks....sipping my percolator made coffee, gazing out the window...while all snuggly warm. Then it starts to rain...moments later a couple drips of water hit my forehead...and I think to myself...thought I fixed that gawd damn leak!

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/camper-lifestyle/aaron-barber-shooting-off-road/

Their new flatbed, is pretty damn sweet.

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/2018-alaskan-flatbed-side-entry-camper/

 

[DaveInDenver]

There are plenty of marked forest roads that are almost side by side size that weave in and out of trees.

That's can't possibly be true, it's not what the Interwebs say.

 

[Clutch]

That's can't possibly be true, it's not what the Interwebs say.

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Pfffft...I have been on tighter. That early 80's Toyota Pickup sure looks sweet...and with a Nest? Think we need more pictures of that.

This was so overgrown in places. I couldn't even see my front fender trying to get through. It was like riding by braille. This trail needed some serious trimming.

 

[Clutch]

I also think a lot people don't realize how much ground clearance a 3/4 ton has on 35s.

I sure do like that Main Line Overland F250 with the FWC Grandby.

 

[roving1]

That's can't possibly be true, it's not what the Interwebs say.

Lol. Despite the billions of numbered anonymous trails how about the Morrison Jeep trail or FR 120 in Wyoming.

Switchbacks anyone? Link

Forest upper part of trail @1:04 lol Link

Here's FR 108 in Wyoming where I had to turn around due to a crazy side hill. I scared the crap out of myself turning around here, a full size would have had to disassemble the vehicle and re-assemble it in the other direction ? Link

 

[roving1]

Their new flatbed, is pretty damn sweet.

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/2018-alaskan-flatbed-side-entry-camper/

The truck is cool. The flatbed awesome. The camper is sweet. Why the hell people spend money on fugly looking wheels and tires that have no sidewall on something they go off road in is beyond me.

 

[jasmtis]

This is just where I have no idea where you are coming from. There are plenty of marked forest roads that are almost side by side size that weave in and out of trees. I think the problem is coming from only going on well traveled routes and passes that are getting thousands of vehicles per year in them. I have literally never been in any national forest that didn't have somewhere a little two track that fades out to almost nothing and just keeps getting tighter and tighter. Again I think maybe going to a well known destination vs just exploring is skewing perceptions.

But it's just not true that these smaller marked normal tracks are non-existent. Maybe they are in your local area but what I describe above exists in over a dozen states I can think I of w/o even trying.

Yeah I'm confused here too. I get the base camp thing, if the goal is to transport people and non-street legal toys along with a comfortable living space to the trails yeah okay obviously a Tacoma will run out of space and GCVWR much faster than a half-ton or HD will. Not my cup of tea, but it looks like a ton of fun and you're buying the tool that best fits your needs.

If the goal is to bring the truck on the trails, you want as small and light as possible and as large as necessary. Plain and simple. I've seen more mention of ground clearance than approach/departure/breakover angles. No one's even mentioned articulation. I'm hardly an expert but have you all even driven a full size(full size = Jeep or larger, as in not an ATV etc) on anything even mildly technical? For the sake of comparison using vehicles I'm familiar with, despite having smaller tires and less ground clearance than my Tacoma, my Range Rover does better in most technical terrain because it has 11 more degrees of approach, 9 more degrees of departure and 6 more degrees of breakover. Simply put, you get hung up on less ********. Also, because it's not designed to carry a particularly heavy load the suspension is soft and has a ton of travel for the ride height. That means your wheels stay in better contact with the terrain, which means less spinning tires and less wheel hop, meaning you can go at a slower and more controlled pace, meaning you're less likely to break ********. It's also narrower which gives you more freedom to pick the best line up an obstacle, rather than having to take the only line you'll fit up. All this while maintaining a lower center of gravity, I hope I don't need to explain why that's a good thing. And this is compared with a Tacoma that's still reasonably sized with a relatively soft suspension. The Tacoma does do better in low traction situations where it has the benefit of a locker and ATRAC while the Rover is let down by open FR diffs, but lockers can be added, size can't be changed. A heavy duty truck has a stiff suspension and a very long wheelbase. Great if you want to tow heavy things, terrible if you want to explore a steep, narrow and overgrown mining track and actually have fun doing so.

So, is the Tacoma enough truck? Yes, if you want something to drive you to the trails, on the trails and back from the trails. Maybe not if you want something to bring your toys to and from the trails, depending on how many toys you have and how heavy they are.