Thanks Jaywo for that info on payload! I didn’t realize the Ranger was sporting that much as base, that’s pretty incredible.
My main reason for wagon vs truck is water and dustproofness of my kit. I have my Canyon well sorted to the point where this isn’t a problem; my problem now is actually occasional mold because of the non-moving damp air on the coast where I lived under the cap during the winter, but I fixed that too I think (seems to be solved anyway but next winter will be the test)
However, to get mine sorted meant a truck cap, which I built myself to be as strong and light as I could, but it still chewed into my payload a bit. I have 1550lbs, and I reckon my cap is about 150 lbs, which immediately drops me down into the high end of common decent wagon territory. Specifically I’m keen on the Grenadier, with the Defender a close second because of payload. But, my current Canyon is basically perfect and easily has a few hundred thousand kms left in it (more if I’m willing to spend on the bigger items when they come due), and I can do a lot with my truck for the kind of money that a Gren or Defender will cost, and I can deal with the “mostly sorted” dust/water/mold issue which is truly a minor problem — hardly any gets in.
The wagon however has a waterproof, dustproof box as it comes from the factory. I really enjoy building these as much as using them and so that’s a factor too - it would be fun to build out a wagon. Plus I like the look/shape of wagons marginally better, but that’s largely irrelevant really.
I also have (postponed!) plans for global travel, and for whatever reason I feel like a wagon would be a bit more discreet/“grey man” than an American mid size truck kitted out the way mine is. A wagon with a tent seems to blend in better than a truck with a cap and tent, for whatever reason.
None of these are super good reasons because both trucks and wagons have pros and cons, but I guess nobody said they had to be good
anyway, that is why I’m leaning “wagon” for my next rig, but I honestly could go either way. I really like both and third on my list would actually be a Gladiator, but it’s a distant third behind the Gren and ND.
I should add - my reason for leaning to a new vehicle is because of how much safer they are in a crash. That’s the most likely risk for any Overland traveller, and while I’m not sure about the Gren yet, the New Defender can crash horrifically violently and the occupants walk away. It’s a very well designed vehicle from that perspective. You are right about safety in the Gladiator - that is one of my main reasons to put it at a very distant third. I used to have a JK though, and I really do have the Jeep in my heart, so the Gladiator does get a few extra “smiles per mile” points for me.
Thanks for the details. Of course I would never buy a pickup without a cap or camper.
I will put a lone peak on it which is dust and water proof, and includes a positive pressure vent that prevents dust ingress and ventilates the interior, as well as I will seal the gate.
If you don’t need the room though, then yeah, get a Wagon. You will loose payload for sure, most SUVs don’t have 1400 lbs payload unless you get a very expensive (and expensive to maintain) defender. I am very happy with my Bronco though.
I just read a bit more on the new Taco on the Expo website.
@jaywo - your point about the trail hunter still being an unknown payload is still the reality, I didn’t see any numbers in the article. But it comes with an impressive bit of kit — if I can get my steel bumpers, skids, and even an air compressor from the factory, I’m OK with a dip in payload as I’d suffer that anyway when I add those things myself.
My question is still what that final number is. Like, if it goes from 1700 to 1400, that’s pretty reasonable for the bumpers, skids, etc. that I appear to be getting and may even be less of a drop as compared to what I would lose by adding those things afterwards myself. But if it goes from 1700 down to sub-1000, it’s playing in the space of Rubicon numbers for payload and loses one of the main advantages of a truck-style overlanding platform - payload. I feel the ZR2/Bison did this a bit which is too bad.
The 2024 Tacoma was revealed today at the Toyota booth at the Overland Expo West event, being held in Flagstaff, Arizona
expeditionportal.com
No way we can know until Toyota say. See below.
If the base 2wd is 1700, then 4wd, tires, wheels, suspension, luxury and other options... along with bumpers, skids, etc... will put you ~1,000 lbs... probably. Just a guess.
This is incorrect. Payload essentially is GVWR - vehicle weight. GVWR is very different depending on the trim, so it’s not because a trim has heavier equipment that payload will be less. For example the Bronco Raptor is several hundred pounds heavier than my Bronco Badlands, but it has a better payload than my Badlands (I have 980 lbs payload per the sticker) because its GVWR is much higher.
The 2020 F-150 used to be available with HD Payload package giving it 2200lbs payload even equipped with Lariat package and 4x4, that’s MUCH more than a base F-150. The reason is: increased GVWR.
The bottom line is that the Trailhunter could have 1500lbs payload despite all its equipment, if Toyota puts a sufficient GVWR number. Or it could be 1000 lbs if the GVWR is close to a base model. There are ways for the manufacturer to increase the GVWR safely: better brakes, and suspension tuned for the weight. But the manufacturer chooses the GVWR and therefore the payload number.
Usually, the reason you have poor payload is because to higher it they would need to put stiff springs and different shock valving, and your truck would ride horribly without weight (and 90% of tacoma buyer will not ride with a thousand lbs in the back), That‘s why HD trucks exist: they ride horribly without load but people buy them to load them.
A ZR2 is made to go fast off-road so you can’t have both: a suspension tune for that won’t work with a lot of weight. The Ranger Raptor only achieve a better payload (its weight is the exact same as ZR2 about 5300lbs) because the damper are electronically controlled and can be stiffened to accomodate a bit more load.
My hope is that because the trailhunter is made for overlanding, if they are not so dumb they tuned the suspensions taking into account a lot of weight, therefore it might ride not so great empty but we COULD have a great payload like 1500lbs which would be fantastic considering it already has all the armor. It’s
If the Trailhunter has a 1100-1200 payload then it’s an absolute fail from Toyota.
Don’t forget: payload is a number a manufacturer put on a piece of paper. Toyota could do a 2000lbs payload tacoma easily, it would just ride too stiff.
You are going to ask then why don’t they sell a HD payload package like on the F-150? Then everybody would be happy, You want payload? buy the package, you know it rides stiff but you put your gear in and it’s good.
It’s extremely simple: they want to force you to buy a full size. And they want full size people to buy a HD. This is EXACTLY why the HD Payload Package on F-150 used to be available accross all trim. Then they limited it to XLT, and this year it’s limited to the absolute base model. They just want you to go with the F-250 and pay $10K more for upgraded leafs. It’s a huge shame but that’s what it is.
As a current diesel Bison owner and a Badlands Bronco I am impressed with the Trailhunter but the following gives me patience to buy one:
No front locker
Complexity and extra weight of the hybrid system
No steel front bumper that you can easily mount a winch to.
Nothing beats the Bison’s boron hot stamped skid plates for weight and robustness. I did hear the Traihunters are hot stamped but nothing about Boron or weight.
Can’t get the manual in the trailhunter.
You don’t like your Bison? Why not get the new ZR2 or better the Bison with 35’s from the factory? Also come with a steel AEV bumper winch ready and boron plates. It solves all your issues above except manual, but the tacoma also not have a manual on the trailhunter.
For the front locker, I think it’s way overrated. I have a Badlands Sasquatch and it takes me everywhere. Many situations I had wheel spin and the rear locker got me out instantly. I used the front locker maybe twice in 16K miles and that’s because I was lazy with wheel placement.
A mid size truck is not a rock crawling machine, you will be MUCH more limited by breakover and departure angles than a front locker. I can’t think of a situation where a front locker would be useful on a midsize and where the angles don’t limit you first.