Tundra Vs. Tacoma

[JCMatthews]

Thanks

Lots of votes for the Tundra. The extra power of the V8 is hard to argue, and so is the interior room, but for me I'd still take the DC Tacoma. If all you're going to tow with it is your M416, you'll be fine, but adding a supercharger would make it very nice.

My vote for the Tacoma is coming from spending time in similar places around Utah. If you're keeping your XJ, then some of this won't matter, but if you're going to retire the Jeep and use it's replacement where you're used to wheeling, then the Tacoma is just going to work better. Even though Moab is wide open on many trails, the approach/breakover/departure angles of the Tundra are going to be a pain. I know you are familiar with Moab so you'll know what I mean when I say you'll be dragging the back end of a Tundra ALL OVER THE PLACE. And there are plenty of steps/ledges that unless you have a large lift, the back end will drag so badly that you might not even get up unless you winch. The long wheelbase of the Tundra will be problematic on Moab trails as well with a poor breakover angle. Excellent skid plates will be a must since you'll be using them for sure.

You will still drag the back end of the Tacoma on Moab trails, but much less. Also, as a lighter truck it will be much more agile and less prone to breaking. The aftermarket for the Taco is MUCH larger.

It sounds like you explore the San Rafael Swell alot too. My guess is that the Tundra will handle most of those trails just fine as there aren't that many that are really difficult and tight. But I can still think of places in the swell that if I were driving a Tundra, I'd be wishing for something a little smaller. True, you'll be sacrificing interior room and that may be a bigger concern with your family. You'll have to weigh what is more important to you. I just know for me, that a fullsize truck, Tundra or otherwise is bigger than I want to drive on Utah trails. Heck, my 80 series Land Cruiser feels very big on some trails. You might consider an 80 series Cruiser as an option. You'll get similar interior seating room to a DC Tundra but room for gear inside the truck rather than in the bed, shorter wheelbase than the Tundra for better breakover angle. The LC also has a very strong aftermarket, you can get them with dual factory lockers, much less body behind the rear wheels compared to the Tundra.

So....after all of that, my vote is still for the Tacoma if you're after a truck. If you don't need the truck bed, I'd seriously look at the Land Cruiser. Good room, excellent comfort, very capable, tons of aftermarket support.

I appreciate the insight of someone who understands the trails in Utah. I am going to have to take my family to test drive a Taco. Like I have said before, whatever I buy will have to do everything for me. I teach school and funds are tight. I realized this weekend that the Jeep needs some serious attention if I am going to keep it. that will effect the aforementioned fundage. A Taco would be slightly bigger in the back seat than the Cherokee which my kids already are fine with, and then I'd have a small bed so that I would not always have to use the M416 when I needed to haul something.

 

[ECVMatt]

I just sold my 05 DC Taco and got an 06 DC Tundra. I can't tell you how happy I am to get rid of the Taco. I waited so long for the 05 and was so disappointed. First the arm rest broke under the fabric, then I had the dreaded window vibration problem, the bed is too small and carrying normal sized objects is tough, the engine had a funny noise when starting, and the whole tailgate failure problem sent me over the edge. The 05 Taco put the "Toy" back in Toyota. Obviously I still have faith in Toyota products, so this is not a Toyota bash or even a Tacoma bash. I have friends in Bishop, CA that are still running late 80's Tacomas with no problems. I would think hard about the newer Tacomas, they seem to have a lot of bugs that still need to be worked out. I know lots of guys here run them with no problems, but I have had a different experience and thought I would share it. If you are dead set on the Taco, I would go with the earlier versions; they are proven platforms.

Good Luck,

Matt

 

[motochain]

I just sold my 05 DC Taco and got an 06 DC Tundra. I can't tell you how happy I am to get rid of the Taco. I waited so long for the 05 and was so disappointed. First the arm rest broke under the fabric, then I had the dreaded window vibration problem, the bed is too small and carrying normal sized objects is tough, the engine had a funny noise when starting, and the whole tailgate failure problem sent me over the edge. The 05 Taco put the "Toy" back in Toyota. Obviously I still have faith in Toyota products, so this is not a Toyota bash or even a Tacoma bash. I have friends in Bishop, CA that are still running late 80's Tacomas with no problems. I would think hard about the newer Tacomas, they seem to have a lot of bugs that still need to be worked out. I know lots of guys here run them with no problems, but I have had a different experience and thought I would share it. If you are dead set on the Taco, I would go with the earlier versions; they are proven platforms.

Good Luck,

Matt

I didn't think they started making Tacomas until the mid 90's.. :Wow1:


:coffeedrink::coffeedrink:

 

[JCMatthews]

I haven't taken any good ones lately.

This is back before the RTT upgrade.

Motochain, it is awsome to see your Tundra doing Kane Creek. The spot where your pic is taken is quite technical, so that is very impressive. Thanks for the photos.

 

[freeze]

The size of the Tacoma now is comparable to the previous gen Tundra. The aftermarket support is definitely stronger on the Tacoma side of things which will allow for better prices and options.

The quad cab Tacoma is really nice with the short box option. We didn't get an Off-Road package with the quad cab so I opted for the access cab.

I drive quite a bit in the Tacoma!

So far the bigger trips have been down to the Rubicon did the whole trail and came back with only a candy caned drive shaft. This was a 4,800KM Trip and just came back from Moab with it now on 35's and now issues yet. That was a 5,400KM trip

I'm off the pavement in some form quite a bit with the Tacoma and had one wheel bearing issue which had to do with the dust seal not being put back on after I redid the CV's for the LT. Ooops.

The current Tundra is pretty huge but if you're not on the trails it would be a great contender for room and burly.

The older gen Tundra would also be a great contender and would be able to hit the trails just as easily as the current Tacoma.

I can attest that the Tacoma can do what you'd like and push it pretty far. I'd say the only weak point is the wheel bearings... just a less strong design. As long is it's kept out of water and mud, they'll last a long time.

It's the intention to take it down to the Baja, and then up to Alaska next year.

 

[EricBirk]

The size of the Tacoma now is comparable to the previous gen Tundra. The aftermarket support is definitely stronger on the Tacoma side of things which will allow for better prices and options.

The quad cab Tacoma is really nice with the short box option. We didn't get an Off-Road package with the quad cab so I opted for the access cab.

I drive quite a bit in the Tacoma!

So far the bigger trips have been down to the Rubicon did the whole trail and came back with only a candy caned drive shaft. This was a 4,800KM Trip and just came back from Moab with it now on 35's and now issues yet. That was a 5,400KM trip

I'm off the pavement in some form quite a bit with the Tacoma and had one wheel bearing issue which had to do with the dust seal not being put back on after I redid the CV's for the LT. Ooops.

The current Tundra is pretty huge but if you're not on the trails it would be a great contender for room and burly.

The older gen Tundra would also be a great contender and would be able to hit the trails just as easily as the current Tacoma.

I can attest that the Tacoma can do what you'd like and push it pretty far. I'd say the only weak point is the wheel bearings... just a less strong design. As long is it's kept out of water and mud, they'll last a long time.

It's the intention to take it down to the Baja, and then up to Alaska next year.

That is a gorgeous truck!!! and your in Alberta!!!

 

[ECVMatt]

I didn't think they started making Tacomas until the mid 90's.. :Wow1:


:coffeedrink::coffeedrink:

You are right, it was late....I should have just said good old Toyota Pickup Truck. I think they both have the 22 RE's. Great trucks though and still running great. I think the Tacoma was just a rename of the existing Pickup line with a style change?? I believe my buddies trucks are the 4th generation and the Tacoma was the 5th??

All that aside, I still think that Toyota went the wrong direction with the latest version. I know they have been working diligently to get the bugs out, but probably could have done a better job in the beginning.

 

[huntoon]

rear fender/wheelwell is wierd

The only thing I find weird or annoying about the new tacos is that rear fender/wheelwell.

Why doesn't it swoop 'round like the old tacomas?

old:

versus: new:

Tundra keeps them round:
old:

new

Just weird that's all.

 

[freeze]

That is a gorgeous truck!!! and your in Alberta!!!

Hey thank you!... love your Tacoma as well... kinda creeped on your profile!

Come join the Canadian invasion.. CT4WD.com!

All that aside, I still think that Toyota went the wrong direction with the latest version. I know they have been working diligently to get the bugs out, but probably could have done a better job in the beginning.

I think the current Tacoma being produced in the states might have a slight effect.

The new Tacoma is wider.. which makes it hard to peer out the window, but working on driving by feel more so eliminates the need for the window to be close by. As I'm learning, head out the window means... I don't know my Toyota very well and potentially get off line. I'd have to say though, the new Tacoma does really well considering it falls away from tradition.

I drive both... Toyota Truck and Toyota Tacoma. Both are pretty capable, but the long drives in the Tacoma are really nice!

 

[JCMatthews]

I brought home an '08 DC Taco from the dealership yesterday to see how the fam would fit in it. My wife, her friend, and I were all sitting in the back out in the driveway looking like fools, but it gave me a better idea of the Taco's back seat. Now for another question, how much wider is the new Taco over the older one? I'm trying to decide if I am going to replace the XJ or both the XJ and the Expedition.

 

[rambrush]

Here is a link full of info on the subject
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hilux

 

[jim65wagon]

Here's a comparison of the pertinent trucks in question. The newer Tacoma is the longbed version only because it's what I would have picked.

 

[JCMatthews]

Here's a comparison of the pertinent trucks in question. The newer Tacoma is the longbed version only because it's what I would have picked.

Thank you for all of your help this is very useful. The Tundra is only 9 inches wider than the Tacoma, I'd have never guessed it was so little a difference.

 

[upcruiser]

Here is my 2 cents on the matter, well more like 2 pesos but anyway...

The Tundra is a fantastic truck. I think on the used truck market it is a much better deal than a Taco too. For the money you are getting alot more truck which to me computes into a no brainer. The 1st gens are indeed larger than the comparable Taco's but they are much tidier sized versus the domestic half tons. I had an '05 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab that I picked up new. My Tundra that I bought used with 140,000 miles rode better, quieter, and was no contest offroad despite the Silverado having the auto locker.

My Tundra is bone stock, I added a cap, built a sleeping platform with storage in the back and called it good. It has served as a daily driver, a tow vehicle (tows my 80 series on a trailer without breaking a sweat), and for doing long trips. I took it to Moab and explored quite a bit of trails and area without issue. I didn't take it on anything terribly difficult as we were there to bike and explore versus wheel but got into places that I wouldn't think a stock truck would fare well with no problems.

One thing to consider is that the double cab Tundras and the access cabs are two totally different vehicles. The double cab IS noticeably bigger than the access cabs. It is obviously longer, but it is taller and wider as well too if I am not mistaken. They have a much deeper bed as well. Some of the feedback so far has not differentiated the size differences. I'd say the acces cabs are closer in size to the new Tacomas, but actually still bigger. The double cab's considerably larger. Just an FYI

I have driven the older Taco's and latest gen as well. The older one's are a bit tight for me, not bad but the roominess of the Tundra interior is more agreeable to me. The newer Tacos are roomier but I lack a bit of the good visibility that you get out of the 1st gen Tundras and Tacos. That said, I think they are all great trucks that can be built to suit your needs. I personally feel the Tundra offers alot more practicality and uses due to it's size and power. If you really are going to be pushing it on the trail in tight, technical situations, you might notice the compromise but it all depends on what you want. As it has been shown in this thread, there are some well built Tundra's that will go most anywhere.

Good luck!

 

[upcruiser]

Here is a cheesy truck test of the 1st gen Tundra for some inspiration.... Look how tough it is!:victory: haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTIsn_i-T-s&feature=player_embedded