Looking for a Devil's advocate

Hi all,

Seriously considering a Tacoma but was looking for someone to play Devil's advocate or offer me any last minute guidance/advice as I am also looking at a 4Runner as well.

All I'm really looking for is something with moderate storage space, reliability and fuel efficiency. This more or less suits both the Tacoma and the 4Runner but I'm looking more at the Tacoma as it has the bed that we can transport the dog in.

My only hang-up is snow performance. I have the chance of being transferred to another part of the country which gets quite a bit of snow and was wondering if the 4Runner would fair any better in it as I wouldn't want the hassle of having to add in extra weight to the bed.

Any advice, guidance or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

I've driven in blizzards measured in feet, not inches. I've never added weight to the bed of my truck, nor have I ever felt the need to. 4H and 4L are all I've needed.

 

Get some steel wheels and dedicated snow tires, and you'll be fine.

 

Bed for the dogs beats wet dog smell anytime!

 

But dogs in an open bed in really cold/snowy weather seems cruel. Maybe a 4runner is a better option.

 

What place gets more snow than Canada?
Get a 4 runner for the pets...get a Tacoma and a enclosed trailer for the pets.

 

Ok, I will bite.... Look at a Ridgeline.... You get a whole lot more for your money, a decent bed, great ride and will hold its own on snow and will do ok, in a lot of 4X4 situations, unless your serious or hardcore off roader.
Yes, I am speaking from experience....
Now don't be hatin', you asked...

 

He wasn't asking about a Civic with a pseudo-bed

OP... Hard to go wrong either way.
While I agree that the dog presents a challenge, one option is a simple shell on the Taco.
You can remove it when you need to haul a 'fridge, and put it on when you need to haul the dog when it's cold.
The shell is not going to provide much warmth, but limits exposure... at least the poor guy won't be in the rain/snow.

 

More snow falls each year in southern Canada and the northern U.S. than at the North Pole! On average, the mountains of the western states receive the most snow and are among the snowiest places on Earth. The greatest annual snowfall level is at Mount Rainier, in Washington, at 692 inches (1,757.68 cm); the record there was 1,122 inches (2849.8 cm) in the winter of 1971–1972. Other places with significant snowfall outside the Cascade Range are the Wasatch Mountains, near the Great Salt Lake, and the Sierra Nevada, near Lake Tahoe. In the east, while snowfall does not approach western levels, the region near the Great Lakes and the mountains of the Northeast receive the most.

(Disclaimer: I'm a weather nerd.)

To the OP, get the runner for the mutts. Mine ends up in the cab with me anyway even with a pickup. I especially like it after he rolls in dead stuff or cow pies.

 

Tossing a couple/three bags of sand (pre-packaged) in the back of a truck is no hassle, I have driven in snow/ice for many years & yes it helps, I use the same bags from year to year, jmop

 

Wow!...actually that was very informative . Kudos for being a meteorologist .

 

I'm not a met, I'm a doppler radar technician. My great grandfather did record the coldest temperature in Oregon at -54F in 1933, so you can say there has always been a family interest in weather.

(get the 4runner! lol)

 

This. You can throw a shell on the Tacoma for the dog if need be. Runners are nice, though. It really depends on how much/what you carry with you, and whether you really need the space the truck bed would afford you.

 

All things aside, few things in life make you feel like a real man, like a good pickup truck can.

I will also add, in my experience I seriously got tired of driving through the rich neighborhoods and seeing treasure on the side of the road for free. That's why I got my truck. Now I'm living the life of a bonafide hoarder. I take all the freebies I can find, metal or wood. Wife hates it!

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We are just the opposite, my pups only ride inside and that's a big reason why I'm considering a 4Runner.

 

Get good tires. Tacomas are awesome in the snow. Whether it's a little or a lot.

 

Not sure about fuel economy with the 4runner but the tacoma is not known for fuel economy.

 

Neither one is great fuel economy. Tacoma does great in the snow, even with crappy tires.

But I'll be trading my Tacoma in on a 4Runner - Test drove an SR5 today and it was so much nicer to drive than the Tacoma.

4Runner all the way.

 

Thanks all, appreciate it.

I'll be going from the interior of British Columbia which has moderate snowfall to Ontario which has a much higher average. Work has us usually driving a 350 Ram or Ford so to be honest I wasn't sure how well Tacomas would fair in the snow. I'll be sure to continue my research and inevitably see what is best for my situation. It would also help if I drove a 4Runner because as of right now I've only tested a Tacoma

Thanks again.

 

The versatility of the bed in a pick up always trumps an SUV. While the 4RNR is a great rig, its more expensive for many of the same options simply because its an SUV.

I own an FJ and a Taco now. Love both for different reasons- the reason your looking to buy is why I got a Taco (except the snow- we dont even know what that is in Houston)

We use it to haul stuff and help transport foster animals. Seats fold dlat in the back and an old packing blanket from Uhaul keeps the rest clean from the pooches.

The weight issue I get in snow as I used to live in Western NY and have seen 70" fall in a day. Its easier with 4wd since the cabs weight is also on the front tires so its not like driving an old El Camino down the road. I used to run a Explorer Sport Trac and they have no weight out back and those explosive Firestones rocked in the snow (Hot roads - not so much)

Just my .02