Long time reader and 1st time poster. We, my wife and I, currently have a 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6 Limited (30,000miles) and a 2003 F150 XLT extended cab (133,000 on the clock). We're toying with selling the truck privately and trading in the Subaru for a 2016 Tacoma- no idea what trim yet. We both have summers off (teachers - college and public school). We are hoping to rig a roof top tent (Tepui or a CVT ) on the back and hit the road for a 2 month long overland in the US and parts of Canada. We also have soon to be 1 year old boy who will be coming along. After the trip we'll get a cheapo car for town and keep the truck as our trip vehicle. I trust the portal for you guys have a lot of experience and have been giving sound advice from what I've been reading. Good idea, bad idea...what's y'all so imput? Thanks a bunch!
Opinion needed!
- Thread starter KSM100
- Start date
I'm obviously biased as a Tacoma owner who also came from a scooby (wrx sport wagon) but it sounds like an awesome idea to me! I have a 2014 and especially with overland wheels/tires/suspension it's not great on gas but if you're planning on getting a small car as a commuter that's the best possible scenario. I just wish I had your schedule!
BentBomber
www.bomberproducts.com
The wife and I are not teachers, but I attend a fair number of events all over the country so the wife and I did basically the same thing. I have my Tacoma (2012 TRD O/R Access Cab) and she has her 2003 TDI Jetta. It truly is the best of both worlds. The Tacoma can go nearly anywhere and is set up to be very comfortable, and the Jetta gets around 52 MPG highway and 45 in city. Seems like a great choice if you ask me.
karlmagnum
Observer
Trucks like Tacoma can provide comfortable ride during long trips. One of the best things of owning one is that you have plenty of space for your cargo.
Danimal
Adventurer
I'd tend to agree, perhaps you should compare the new Tacoma to other options like;
1. Any necessary upgrades to the F150 for reliability. Though it's an extended cab - so not sure if a rear-facing baby seat fits
2. A used Tacoma. Though I know resale is crazy and you have to be super diligent to jump on the good ones when they finally pop up
3. A used SUV like a 4Runner to avoid the Tacoma tax (high resale per item 2 above).
Dan
1. Any necessary upgrades to the F150 for reliability. Though it's an extended cab - so not sure if a rear-facing baby seat fits
2. A used Tacoma. Though I know resale is crazy and you have to be super diligent to jump on the good ones when they finally pop up
3. A used SUV like a 4Runner to avoid the Tacoma tax (high resale per item 2 above).
Dan
calicamper
Expedition Leader
Legacy with a 3.6 is a rare beast. I hauled racing sail boats all over the west coast with my Legacy 2.5 12yrs never had an issue other than cooling issues which seem to be addressed with the 2010 OB we use now.
My thoughts are #1 My parents were teachers do it!!! Get out of dodge the second you turn in your check out list.
#2 Taco is too small. We did exactly this for several summers with a full size pickup.
The Taco is a great truck. But they arent cheap, and they get tight on capacity quick when your talking extended trips and 1+ people.
Sell the Subaru, sell the Extended cab get a 4dr full size, find a cheap camper and go!!! Dont spend big on vehicles. Your teachers not Bus drivers!! Inside joke with most teachers...
My thoughts are #1 My parents were teachers do it!!! Get out of dodge the second you turn in your check out list.
#2 Taco is too small. We did exactly this for several summers with a full size pickup.
The Taco is a great truck. But they arent cheap, and they get tight on capacity quick when your talking extended trips and 1+ people.
Sell the Subaru, sell the Extended cab get a 4dr full size, find a cheap camper and go!!! Dont spend big on vehicles. Your teachers not Bus drivers!! Inside joke with most teachers...
calicamper
Expedition Leader
Lots of great trip reports of famlies doing the full sized van thing too. Either way the Taco wont be any cheaper but youll have less capacity and space. Mileage will be pretty much a wash also. A heavy taco gets as bad or worse mileage than a mildly loaded full size.
calicamper
Expedition Leader
I like the midsized rigs because today I spend lots of time in crowded cities with tight parking. If you have a f150 already parking space isnt an issue. Go full size.
D
Deleted member 9101
Guest
My opinion: Keep the F-150 and buy a single axle travel trailer. Two adults and an infant crammed into a RTT is not going to be fun or smell all that great.
You'll be thankful when you can fire up the A/C, relax, and comfortably hang out on a rainy day.
If you feel that you need a new truck, for damn near the same cost as a Tacoma, you can get a fullsize. Tacomas are sooo overpriced. If that's the size you need, look at the Frontier and Colorado.
You'll be thankful when you can fire up the A/C, relax, and comfortably hang out on a rainy day.
If you feel that you need a new truck, for damn near the same cost as a Tacoma, you can get a fullsize. Tacomas are sooo overpriced. If that's the size you need, look at the Frontier and Colorado.
calicamper
Expedition Leader
Funny enough the 2wd truck my parents had for 20yrs was replaced with a 2wd 1985 E250 Van. Bought empty only had two rear windows in the back doors and two short backed seats. We had a basic conversion done locally added a couple of windows, 4 chairs and a sofa. My dad scrapped the van in 99 after it was damaged by a car thief.
We did AZ, Alaska, PNW, Cascades with those two rigs. Only time my dad said 4wd would be nice was on a few snow ski trips. And the one time He thought he was a gonner. Highway 80 going east at the top of Blue Canyon in the Sierras. 80 was two way traffic there. The old truck did three full 360 spins on Ice into oncomming truck traffic. My dad couldnt get enough traction to get out of the road and sat there as a semi went skidding past him. I only slightly recall that event, I was about 6yrs old sitting center bench. We were headed to Utah. Made it but not with out a changing some dirty shorts. Out side of that all our back country dirt trips we never had any issues. We also hiked and remote camped. 4x4 wouldnt have really changed anything.
We did AZ, Alaska, PNW, Cascades with those two rigs. Only time my dad said 4wd would be nice was on a few snow ski trips. And the one time He thought he was a gonner. Highway 80 going east at the top of Blue Canyon in the Sierras. 80 was two way traffic there. The old truck did three full 360 spins on Ice into oncomming truck traffic. My dad couldnt get enough traction to get out of the road and sat there as a semi went skidding past him. I only slightly recall that event, I was about 6yrs old sitting center bench. We were headed to Utah. Made it but not with out a changing some dirty shorts. Out side of that all our back country dirt trips we never had any issues. We also hiked and remote camped. 4x4 wouldnt have really changed anything.
calicamper
Expedition Leader
Summer months when teachers are out - rarely is a 4x4 really needed. Unless you snow ski in the winter and or live some place silly where you actually need to shovel snow. LOL
calicamper
Expedition Leader
If you like the Legacy and are taking a loss if you sell it. Keep it. Hell for the first 2yrs we had our daughter we did all our camping and trips with the 2001 Legacy. Its cramped compared to the 2010 and newer rig with a huge back seat.
By the way we tow a 900lb 4x6 tent trailer rig with the 2010 2.5 OB. Great set up, 18-21mpg averages and the car hardly notices. I put a hitch on grandmas 2010 Legacy guess what? Its Identical to the OB. Given my subaru towing since 2001. Id just find a super light small tent trailer rig max 1000lbs empty and make the 3.6 Legacy your adventure rig. No.seriously I would.
By the way we tow a 900lb 4x6 tent trailer rig with the 2010 2.5 OB. Great set up, 18-21mpg averages and the car hardly notices. I put a hitch on grandmas 2010 Legacy guess what? Its Identical to the OB. Given my subaru towing since 2001. Id just find a super light small tent trailer rig max 1000lbs empty and make the 3.6 Legacy your adventure rig. No.seriously I would.
