thoughts on full size

[phsycle]

I have driven a 3rd Gen V6 Tacoma for the past 65K miles. Before that I had a 3.4V6 T100, and before that an FZJ80 Land Cruiser and, well, a bunch of vehicles over the last 45 years but never a full size truck. Yesterday I drove my friend’s 2018 F150 with the 5.0 V8 about 20 miles mixed freeway, back roads and town. I was impressed. Far more perceived power/torque than the Taco, and I barely felt it shift. Similar ride and handling and supremely comfortable seats. Yeah, it felt bigger, but over-the-hood visibility actually seemed better. 6.5’ bed seemed cavernous compared to my 5’ Taco. And the cumulative fuel economy was reading 19.4 after about 1000 miles of mixed use (all on pavement), pretty similar to the Taco. He normally runs an FWC and with the camper loaded it’s about 14 mpg. My “size problem” isn’t really about trails, it’s the fact that even the DCSB Tacoma seems cumbersome in town, parking lots etc.

Yeah, I’d hate to own a full size in the middle of a large metro city. But then again, I’d hate the “long” Tacoma as well.

See if your friend will lend the F150 to you when you go on your next road trip. That’s where they really shine. Uber comfort. 500 mile trip in the F150 feels like a 100 miler in a Tacoma.

 

[Grassland]

Parking lots and parkades keep getting tighter for all the subcompacts and mid size sedans nobody is driving anymore lol.

 

[calicamper]

For those who dismiss concerns about MPG, it's an insidious thing that can creep up on you.

Right now fuel prices are relatively low (historically speaking) at least in most of the US. But it doesn't take much of a "spike" in prices and all of a sudden it's costing north of $100 or more to fill the tank. On a long trip, that's a significant chunk of your budget getting burned up in the engine and blown out the tail pipe.

Last time we had a quick spike in fuel prices (circa 2007 - 2008 or so IIRC) I was on a few message boards and people with gas hog vehicles were hurting big time: "I can't afford to drive this pig" "This thing is killing me with fuel costs" "I've got to get out of this gas hog" etc.

I've seen people who follow the "who cares about MPG?" advice (which is common on forums like this), spend a buttload of money building up a 100 series LC or big pickup or Wrangler...and then a year or two later, sheepishly admit that they can't afford to drive it anywhere as they put it up for sale to buy a 4runner, Tacoma or similar vehicle (or even better yet, to see them admit that they drive their Subaru more frequently because they don't really NEED the capability of the big truck and the money they save on fuel by driving the small car more than makes up for the lost capabilities of the big rig.)

So it's not a trivial concern, unless you're independently wealthy (which I assume most of us are not.)

To be fair my 93 Land Cruiser got about the same mileage my dad got with his 1979 dodge long bed. My 2019 Expedition with 400hp has been returning a solid 18mpg in town and 21-22 mpg road trips. The LC got 11-12mpg not towing, and about 9mpg towing my 21ft 1600lb boat?‍♂️. My Subaru got 16mpg towing the same boat. Lol

Next fuel crunch used Bolts, Fiat ev’s and plugin hybrids will be gold.

 

[calicamper]

What's real world fuel economy on a Tacoma or 4Runner or Gas Colorado 4x4 when loaded up with gear and people?

I hear the gas price argument.
It's been over $1 per LITER for regular here for many years. $1.05-1.25 typically and one year it was $1.30+ for most of summer.

16mpg lol

 

[dman93]

Yeah, I’d hate to own a full size in the middle of a large metro city. But then again, I’d hate the “long” Tacoma as well.

See if your friend will lend the F150 to you when you go on your next road trip. That’s where they really shine. Uber comfort. 500 mile trip in the F150 feels like a 100 miler in a Tacoma.

My DCSB Tacoma barely fits in my driveway, or perhaps barely doesn’t fit even if the front license plate screw heads are touching the garage door, and doesn’t fit in the garage. A DCLB is out of the question. But I like the idea of borrowing the F150. Gotta figure out a way to make it good for him too ... maybe let him take my Ducati for a 500 mile trip too.

 

[jgallo1]

I have driven a 3rd Gen V6 Tacoma for the past 65K miles. Before that I had a 3.4V6 T100, and before that an FZJ80 Land Cruiser and, well, a bunch of vehicles over the last 45 years but never a full size truck. Yesterday I drove my friend’s 2018 F150 with the 5.0 V8 about 20 miles mixed freeway, back roads and town. I was impressed. Far more perceived power/torque than the Taco, and I barely felt it shift. Similar ride and handling and supremely comfortable seats. Yeah, it felt bigger, but over-the-hood visibility actually seemed better. 6.5’ bed seemed cavernous compared to my 5’ Taco. And the cumulative fuel economy was reading 19.4 after about 1000 miles of mixed use (all on pavement), pretty similar to the Taco. He normally runs an FWC and with the camper loaded it’s about 14 mpg. My “size problem” isn’t really about trails, it’s the fact that even the DCSB Tacoma seems cumbersome in town, parking lots etc.

I had a t100 awhile back as well, one of the most under rated trucks. I also had a 3rd gen taco, I sold it 6 months

 

[jgallo1]

for those with an f150,
How are they on the trail? How much modding is required? I am not talking about a rock crawler, but lets say 5-7 days all offroad on trip from colorado through northern NM. Through the pacific NW or baja?

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Yeah, I’d hate to own a full size in the middle of a large metro city.

The only time I have a problem is parallel parking. It's not that I can't do it, rather the spaces are shorter than the truck...haha.

 

[phsycle]

for those with an f150,
How are they on the trail? How much modding is required? I am not talking about a rock crawler, but lets say 5-7 days all offroad on trip from colorado through northern NM. Through the pacific NW or baja?

Really depends on what trails you’re taking. The thing can handle a lot of trails in stock form. I’d keep it stock for now but at least get some good all terrain tires (stock size or +1).

 

[Wallygator]

If you are going full size, definitely go 3/4 ton. And unless you find a great deal, if you are not towing get the gas engine.

My experience with fuel economy, once loaded up on the highway a 3/4 ton will get as good mileage as any other smaller SUV or pickup. Sure they get better mileage empty, but throw on an RTT, a lift and bigger tires and they all get horrendous gas mileage. A least with a 3/4 ton .... as long as it is not the PowerWagon .... you will not need to worry about over loading it. And keeping it running... if you stay stock... maintenance and tire costs are the same too. Actually 235/85R16 tires are one of the best buys out there and you will get better gas mileage than a lifted Tacoma on 33s.

If economy is important, stick with stock tires. Stick with the base payload package, the heavier packages include lower gearing and are tuned to haul. It sounds like the base 3/4 ton will do it all for you. On tires, I just went from the typical Wrangler on 33s, best of 17mpg, to 7.50R16 pizza cutters, skinny and light but still tall, I now get 22mpg. An instant 95 mile addition to range between gas stops.

Find the best deal on a gas 3/4 ton with a clutch and expect years of trouble free service. As for ride, I prefer the solid feel of a 3/4 ton over the wallowing feel of a 1/2 ton. If it is a Ford it'll ride great. If it is a Dodge.... at least the previous generation... it'll ride like a buckboard.

3/4 tons ride best loaded. 1/2 tons ride best empty.

With the config F250 extended cab short box 7.3 Godzilla, I would probably order it with the 4.30 gears/rear locker and immediately put 35's on it. This would put the gear ratio back to close to the stock 245's and standard 3.73 gears. And 35's will easily fit with no lift. I need to stop, starting to talk myself into this truck and I need to wait a few years.

Also on my 4 I get about 17 mpg (usually just above mid 16) with a 170 lb tent, full roof rack, fridge, all the gear, sliders, skids, me, and passengers. That is mixed driving with 70-75 mph on the highway. When I slow down it obviously gets better. When towing the dirt bikes it drops to around 15 mpg. It is what is and as far as I'm concerned a wash compared to a full size truck, with the full size truck obviously having much greater power and hauling capacity.

 

[crazysccrmd]

My new Ram 2500 is only 4” wider and 13” longer than my old Tacoma. It weighs way more but hauls and tows way more and still gets better fuel economy.

 

[jgallo1]

With the config F250 extended cab short box 7.3 Godzilla, I would probably order it with the 4.30 gears/rear locker and immediately put 35's on it. This would put the gear ratio back to close to the stock 245's and standard 3.73 gears. And 35's will easily fit with no lift. I need to stop, starting to talk myself into this truck and I need to wait a few years.

Also on my 4 I get about 17 mpg (usually just above mid 16) with a 170 lb tent, full roof rack, fridge, all the gear, sliders, skids, me, and passengers. That is mixed driving with 70-75 mph on the highway. When I slow down it obviously gets better. When towing the dirt bikes it drops to around 15 mpg. It is what is and as far as I'm concerned a wash compared to a full size truck, with the full size truck obviously having much greater power and hauling capacity.

that is exactly what I was just building.
My 2002 tacoma , ome lift, arb bumper, winch, 32.5" tires unloaded gets 14-16, loaded 14 and in 4wd, I have seen as bad 9

 

[Wallygator]

that is exactly what I was just building.
My 2002 tacoma , ome lift, arb bumper, winch, 32.5" tires unloaded gets 14-16, loaded 14 and in 4wd, I have seen as bad 9

Yeah Toyotas are definitely not known for efficiency. But one always seems to end up in my driveway.

 

[Leonmac]

I have had Land Drovers, Land Cruiser's, a bunch of Diesel Nissan Patrols some stock and some highly modded, Jeep Cherokees last one a V8 lifted with 33s, but the one I liked the most was a 1990 1500 Silverado lifted with 33s they all did similar mpg. Think the 1500 was the best around 17 and the V8 Cherokee was by far the worst at 12-13. I'm looking at a 3/4 ton Diesel Chevy or a Diesel Nissan for my next truck. Just a side note My Subaru Outback towing a box body trailer was worse than my V8 Jeep and gas is $2.15 a litre where I live, thats $8.17 a gallon. Cheers Leon (NZ)

 

[mobydick 11]

I think if someone is going from an older half ton to a new 3/4 you will not see much of a difference in fuel consumption . Not only are the motors more efficient but the transmissions have more gears and better lockup . Real world dumb guy thinking is this . New f 250 at 60 mph is turning 1500 RPM, old 2009 1500 GMC was turning 2700 RPM at the same speed . This is where the dumb guy though comes in . If the bigger cubic inch motor in the 250 is spinning half the speed as the smaller motor 1500 then it is gulping about the same amount of air and gas . I have not had a long enough road trip yet to do a real mileage test , but I feel I am getting about the same or even a little better gas mileage .I guess neither is great ,but not much shock factor .