Why doesn't anybody make a small truck with a 6.5 foot bed?

[DaveInDenver]

Electronic conveniences, bluetooth driving capabilities and integration of systems..AWD, auto 4x4.. ergonomics... They are better...by a lot... The domestic seats are more supportive.. clearly they have spent time and effort making it better for different body types.. Toyota has done zero... The four runner is the same crappy seat from 1995????

What if I don't want that electronic crap? What's wrong with making a simple truck like was done back then? I had '93 4Runner sport buckets in my 1991 truck (which was just replaced in 2015 with the 2008 Tacoma I have now, so I keep trucks a really long time) and they were excellent. But I'm not a good consumer since I don't do anything Bluetooth or smart this or that (yeah, a flip phone). I still rock my Firewire iPod through an FM transmitter and spin CDs in the stereo.

 

[Clutch]

What if I don't want that electronic crap? What's wrong with making a simple truck like was done back then? I had '93 4Runner sport buckets in my 1991 truck (which was just replaced in 2015 with the 2008 Tacoma I have now, so I keep trucks a really long time) and they were excellent. But I'm not a good consumer since I don't do anything Bluetooth or smart this or that (yeah, a flip phone). I still rock my Firewire iPod through an FM transmitter and spin CDs in the stereo.

Be like me, and refuse to buy a new truck.

Though I do have to use Bluetooth/Smart phone at work...need it to run Square for card purchases. Like manual transmissions...cash is about dead.

iPod from 2005 just died, we long ago converted our CD's into the computer...I may have to break down and buy a Bluetooth head unit. Backup camera might be nice...

The better half scored a bunch of old vinyl from the music department at work that they were going to toss in the trash...so she bought a new turn table...and it is blue tooth to run through the *receiver. A bit oxymoronic, but hey!


*My 25 year old receiver died, bought a new one...which has bluetooth...didn't think I needed it, but kinda nice to listen to music from my Apple laptop without having to hard wire it in.

 

[DaveInDenver]

but in reality, I rarely go over 65 and try to avoid the interstate at all cost. So don't really need all that power.

I really don't get it with all this lack of power stuff. My truck is a stock 1GR-FE with the stick shift, 82K miles old. Nothing fancy, normally aspirated, no ECU mods, no cold air intake. I do run Mobil1 engine oil, MT90 in the transmission and synthetic 75W90 everywhere else. In the process of moving across the state from Ft. Collins to Grand Junction I did two U-Haul tows, one a 6'x12' utility and a second 5'x9' cargo, with my truck and had no trouble going as fast as I dared and while it wouldn't go 0-to-60 in 8 seconds making the pull over the Divide, it was still able to pass slow moving big rigs.

 

[Clutch]

I really don't get it with all this lack of power stuff. My truck is a stock 1GR-FE with the stick shift, 82K miles old. Nothing fancy, normally aspirated, no ECU mods, no cold air intake. I do run Mobil1 engine oil, MT90 in the transmission and synthetic 75W90 everywhere else. In the process of moving across the state from Ft. Collins to Grand Junction I did two U-Haul tows, one a 6'x12' utility and a second 5'x9' cargo, with my truck and had no trouble going as fast as I dared and while it wouldn't go 0-to-60 in 8 seconds making the pull over the Divide, it was still able to pass slow moving big rigs.

Mine will cruise 80-90 mph down the interstate no problem. I just don't like driving the interstate...so much more to see taking the back roads.

Most of our back roads here have a max limit of 65, but I do catch myself driving slower than what is posted. I am not much in a hurry these days...why I have no need for all that power that the "empty bedders" seem to need.

Did test drive a 3rd Gen with the 4 banger awhile...thought it was more than enough power. Might be a little slow for the 10% of the time (loaded on the weekends), but I could live with it. Damn shame they killed the manual trans in it though.

 

[toylandcruiser]

I sat in a friend's new Tacoma. I couldn't believe how much less room it had inside than my 4Runner, especially vertically. It felt like sitting in a Camry.

The older designs by now are extremely reliable. Reliability is a major factor driving sales. And their sales are too high to want to change much.

They are all reliable now, so Toyota needs to start innovating.

They’re all not. Really they’re not. Toyota’s sales
Of the tundra hasn’t changed much since they first started selling them.

 

[DaveInDenver]

The better half scored a bunch of old vinyl from the music department at work that they were going to toss in the trash...so she bought a new turn table...and it is blue tooth to run through the *receiver. A bit oxymoronic, but hey!

Probably not a shock...

Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III w/ acrylic platter, Speedbox, Michell clamp, AT120Eb (photo shows the Super OM10 I was running before the AT)
Phono Amp: Hagerman Labs Bugle 2 w/ OPA2134 in first two stages, AD826 in final stage
Preamp: Maverick Audio D1 Plus w/ Raytheon JRP-5670 Black Plate 'D' getter
Power Amp: Adcom GFA-535mkII
Speakers: Paradigm Mini Monitor v.5



BTW, photo on Tri-X using my trusty FM3a and Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AIS. ;-)

 

[Clutch]

They’re all not. Really they’re not.

Yeah, don't really hear about 1'000'000 mile F150's much...

...I say would buy a F150 given the choice, but when it came down to handing over the cash. Man, I dunno...owned Toyotas for far too long.

Mine just rolled 376'000. Just changed its' oil in it today...that is roughly 125 oil changes so far...

 

[2025 deleted member]

They’re all not. Really they’re not. Toyota’s sales
Of the tundra hasn’t changed much since they first started selling them.

You could make an argument based on data that a new Toyota is still more reliable, but, and its a big but, the others have closed the gap so much that Toyota should no longer sit around and make the same old stuff. Well I guess to an extent they can, they sell Tacomas faster than they can build them, but the other makes just offer more IMO.

 

[bkg]

Yeah, don't really hear about 1'000'000 mile F150's much...

...I say would buy a F150 given the choice, but when it came down to handing over the cash. Man, I dunno...owned Toyotas for far too long.

Mine just rolled 376'000. Just changed its' oil in it today...that is roughly 125 oil changes so far...

well... we've only heard about 1 million mile tundra... so...

Good news is that Toyota hasn't had to recall any frames on the new tundra yet...

 

[Clutch]

You could make an argument based on data that a new Toyota is still more reliable, but, and its a big but, the others have closed the gap so much that Toyota should no longer sit around and make the same old stuff. Well I guess to an extent they can, they sell Tacomas faster than they can build them, but the other makes just offer more IMO.

True. Could look at like this...they figured it out long ago...no real reason to invest more into it. Like Harley they just sit back and collect profits now.

Other manufactures do offer a more, but how much of that is just gimmicks to sell more trucks? I know I am luddite, but I find the amount of fluff that people need on vehicles rather ridiculous.

I was following a short box '72 Chevy today...and thought to myself..."man, that is all you need right there...sweet and simple" something about the smell of carbureted non-catted V8. Not good for the environment, but hey!

 

[Clutch]

well... we've only heard about 1 million mile tundra... so...

Good news is that Toyota hasn't had to recall any frames on the new tundra yet...

Ha ha!

Before the internet...I remember my mechanic talking about 400-500K mile Toyotas...and I was like...yeah right!?

Now...mine is going to be real close to that 400K mark in about a year.

 

[bkg]

True. Could look at like this...they figured it out long ago...no real reason to invest more into it. Like Harley they just sit back and collect profits now.

Other manufactures do offer a more, but how much of that is just gimmicks to sell more trucks? I know I am luddite, but I find the amount of fluff that people need on vehicles rather ridiculous.

I was following a short box '72 Chevy today...and thought to myself..."man, that is all you need right there...sweet and simple" something about the smell of carbureted non-catted V8. Not good for the environment, but hey!

drove past the new Toyota dealer here... 8 new frames sitting in the back lot. Not sure about you, but having a frame NOT rust out in 10 years is a "gimmick to sell more trucks" that I can get behind.

 

[Clutch]

drove past the new Toyota dealer here... 8 new frames sitting in the back lot. Not sure about you, but having a frame NOT rust out in 10 years is a "gimmick to sell more trucks" that I can get behind.

Yeah that is BS. Toyota always did have the market cornered on rust.

Mine still looks good.

But you do know my '76 F250's frame rusted, broke in half, it was only 14 years old when it did it. Floor pan and bed rusted out long before that. Ford did nothing about it.


Oh you know the gimmicks I am talking about...heated mirrors, heated steering wheels, 20 point self adjusting power seats, self braking, auto parking, lane sensors, automatic transmissions, va-jay-jay warmers, and all the other BS fluff...

 

[toylandcruiser]

They’re all not. Really they’re not. Toyota’s sales
Of the tundra hasn’t changed much since they first started selling them.

You could make an argument based on data that a new Toyota is still more reliable, but, and its a big but, the others have closed the gap so much that Toyota should no longer sit around and make the same old stuff. Well I guess to an extent they can, they sell Tacomas faster than they can build them, but the other makes just offer more IMO.

But, it’s a big but they haven’t closed the gap. You’re feelings may you that. But the truth is they are still not there.

 

[toylandcruiser]

Yeah, don't really hear about 1'000'000 mile F150's much...

...I say would buy a F150 given the choice, but when it came down to handing over the cash. Man, I dunno...owned Toyotas for far too long.

Mine just rolled 376'000. Just changed its' oil in it today...that is roughly 125 oil changes so far...

well... we've only heard about 1 million mile tundra... so...

Good news is that Toyota hasn't had to recall any frames on the new tundra yet...

Aaawww pure ignorance. . If you really cared you could easily search and see ALL manufactures have rust issues. But then you’re too lazy and you hate Toyota so you won’t.