Tundra Vs. Tacoma

[JCMatthews]

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!

I have stood on the dealers lot and compared the DC and AC Tundras, and the only thing I could tell was that one had four full doors as opposed to the small wing doors. I even scientifically measure the bed with my arms and it appears that the beds are identical in size which was a selling feature for me, because many smaller trucks beds get smaller when the doors are added. Please someone tell me if I am mistaken. Are they totally different trucks?

 

[upcruiser]

I have stood on the dealers lot and compared the DC and AC Tundras, and the only thing I could tell was that one had four full doors as opposed to the small wing doors. I even scientifically measure the bed with my arms and it appears that the beds are identical in size which was a selling feature for me, because many smaller trucks beds get smaller when the doors are added. Please someone tell me if I am mistaken. Are they totally different trucks?

Quick cut and past from an online review I found doing a quick google search...


The Toyota Tundra is available in a new four-door crew cab model for 2004 called the Double Cab.The Double Cab features a deep, six-foot bed and brings Toyota closer to having a true full-size pickup: The Double Cab is three inches taller, four inches wider, and is built on a longer chassis than the other Tundra pickups.With the addition of the Double Cab, the Tundra is now available in regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab bodies.

 

[upcruiser]

You can kind of see the bed differences here...

My access cab's bed

A 2004 double cab's bed. Look at the depth of siderails. Supposedly wider too.

That is one frustration I have with the access cabs, the bed is rather shallow giving a bit of a cramped space with the cap.

 

[jim65wagon]

AC vs DC

Differences are in small places, on the DC the headlights are bigger, the space between the grill and headlight is bigger, it's barely noticeable.The beds are close enough in length and width that caps for the AC will fit the DC. Of course the wheelbase is longer, but the DC Tacoma has an even longer (slightly) wheelbase. I can feel the difference when I sit in Haggis' truck....I can reach for the radio dial (which looks eerily identical) and miss the radio completely...then stretch. It looks the same but I'll be darned if I don't feel like I've shrunk when I sit in a DC. It's the slight differences that make all that family loving room, though.

 

[JCMatthews]

I had already looked at Jim65wagon and Haggis's trucks sitting on the ferry on the Tundrabirds go thread and thought that the head lights looked different. Thanks for all of the information. I will continue to plan and keep you informed on my final decision. For now we are planning a week long trip the first of June accross Southern Utah following the trail of the Hole in the Rock Pioneers. Including the Burr Trail, the Halls Crossing Ferry on Lake Powell, and The Valley of the Gods. We will also stay in one of our favorite campgrounds in the Abajo Mountains. Then late July we are going to go to Leadville and drive a few mountain roads see some friends in Salida take the route to Tin Cup and on to Gunnison and Montrose (all in the Expedition and the M416). These are only two of the five trips I will be doing this summer the others include backpacks and rafts. Teaching doesn't pay well, but my summers are free. Last summer I spent 28 nights out of my own bed and not because she was mad at me. :victory:

 

[upcruiser]

Sounds like some fun trips planned. FYI Hall's Ferry was closed last week and I'm not sure what the deal is or how long it will be out for. Might want to check that out. My wife is a school teacher and I am a ski coach, so we know what its like having free time in the summer, but not necesarily alot of money. haha

 

[freeze]

Wow sounds like a great trip! I'll be out on the Hole in the Rock Trail this month coming up. I hear it's beautiful!

 

[Cackalak Han]

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.

Actually, that goes a loooong way in comfort and space.

 

[JCMatthews]

Reviving the dead.

I thought I'd bring back the old thread for an update. My Jeep is gone. The plan is to buy an '05 or '06 Tundra DC. I have decided on those years for the increased horse power and 5 speed trans. I know that I will not be able to go everywhere my Jeep went, but as I learn to drive the Tundra, we will be able to go a lot of places. I want to lift the front 2 1/2 inches and the rear 1 1/4 and run 33" tires. Revtec makes a lift like this, but I have not decided yet which lift I will use. I might use add a leafs in the rear to stiffen things up just a little. After we get the truck, we are going to find a good pop up camper so it is easier for us to camp, we are going to lengthen the tongue of the M416 and build a lid for it so we can carry extras. We hope to use it this next summer in Colorado and areas of Utah doing practice runs for our 2012 trip to Alaska. I chose the Tundra over the Tacoma because of this trip. If it were just me and the wife, I could do it in a Taco, but with tree kids we need the room and power. For a moment I considered using my Ford for my Expo trip, but it is difficult to do a trip, like we are planning, staying tents, and living exclusively out off doors. We will need shelter from the elements for the kids to stay relatively happy.

 

[slowtwitch]

Just bought an 06 Tundra DC and sold my 98 Taco xtra. Would have loved a used Taco DC, but man it did not pencil out at all. Tacos are expensive as hell even used and if you can find one. Got the Tundra 5k below book with all the bells and whistles. The bed is very deep. It's a monster compared to my little Taco.

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[RU55ELL]

I am selling my 2010 Tacoma for a 07+ Tundra. The tacoma just didn't work out for me when traveling to the mountains with more than a few hundred pound load. It's been great as a DD

I figured you would be unhappy going from the Cummins to the Taco.

 

[Haggis]

...The plan is to buy an '05 or '06 Tundra DC. I have decided on those years for the increased horse power and 5 speed trans. I know that I will not be able to go everywhere my Jeep went, but as I learn to drive the Tundra, we will be able to go a lot of places. I want to lift the front 2 1/2 inches and the rear 1 1/4 and run 33" tires. Revtec makes a lift like this, but I have not decided yet which lift I will use. I might use add a leafs in the rear to stiffen things up just a little.

I think you'll be very happy with a DC. Even after we tossed around what was the best way to replace our old Ram and detertmined that a DC Tundra was the best bet for our needs, I was still a little apprehensive about the decision. After all I was an old school solid axle guy and use to heavy duty trucks. But now that we have had our Tundra DC for almost two years we appreciate that truck more and more. Gas mileage is excellent, the drivetrain is the best combo I've ever had in any vehicle and it continues to surprise me how capable it is on the trails. We have two kids, both teenagers, that take up alot of space. While my duaghter is tall for a girl my 13 year old son is pushing 6' and still growing, yet they really appreciate the interior space of the DC after having to squeeze into the old QC Dodge.

As far as lift with 2.5 inches you'll be able to fit 285s with only needing to remove the front factory mudflaps (they'll rub). The DC's front fenderwells are an 1/2" longer the the AC's so no BFH mod on the inner pinchwelds are needed. If your not commited to a set of custom springs (I'm really happy with my Deaver 11 pack springs) the AALs will do fine, though I'd recommend a set of Timbren or Aircell load assists to help with rear sag. When you get your rig please be sure to share the fun with us.

After we get the truck, we are going to find a good pop up camper so it is easier for us to camp, we are going to lengthen the tongue of the M416 and build a lid for it so we can carry extras. I chose the Tundra over the Tacoma because of this trip. If it were just me and the wife, I could do it in a Taco, but with tree kids we need the room and power. For a moment I considered using my Ford for my Expo trip, but it is difficult to do a trip, like we are planning, staying tents, and living exclusively out off doors. We will need shelter from the elements for the kids to stay relatively happy.

That's our MO. We use or E1 popup as a base camp on extended trips as it makes a good place to crash in inclement weather. On trips down rugged trails we switch to tents to save the pop-up from destruction.

 

[RMP&O]

As most people say.....the Taco is small. It is the last of the "mini" trucks made by Toyota. I bought my 04 Taco because I wanted a "mini" truck. I can't imagine cramming 3 kids in the back and 2 adults in the front on a regular basis. Not to mention it doesn't take a ton of gear to fill up the short bed which is only 50" or so in the DC.

I also found stock that the Taco handles on pavement like a pig. I hated mine with stock suspension. After upgrading suspension I like it much more.


I know a guy who had a Tundra. He hated it for towing, said he could feel any size trailer behind him. So he upgraded to a brand new Tundra with the bigger engine. He says it is much better for towing.


If it was me; I would only get a Taco if you want a mini truck. If you want full sized truck I would skip Toyota all together and go with one of the big three.

my 2 cents.

 

[OTR]

If you want full sized truck I would skip Toyota all together and go with one of the big three.

my 2 cents.

I have no idea why people don't give Toyota credit for the 2nd generation Tundra. This truck is bigger than "The Big 3" in physical size and structurally. Toyota hit a home run with this truck and it never gets the credit it deserves. Toyota builds a 1/2 ton that's comparable to the big 3's 3/4 ton trucks. If Toyota actually built a 1-ton it be like a class 4 or 5 truck.

I have run mine to max pay load capacity in many off-road conditions and it handles everything I throw at it. The truck has 100,000 miles and has zero squeaks, rattle, wind noise or problems. He11 it still drives as good as the day I bought it. My dad was a skeptic until he drove mine. He thinks the Toyota will out perform his Chevy 1-ton when loaded to each others bed capacity any day of the week. He was just amazed by the out right toughness of the truck.

Just saying don't knock until you tried it.

 

[slowtwitch]

They coulda done a lot better job on styling. Seems like the Asians have a great grasp of form to a certain scale, then they lose it.

st