Why pick 2016 Tacoma DCLB over F150 DC (supercrew)

If you are going to install a slide in FWC pop up, then the extra space between the wheels and wider bed wall will prove the difference between a cramped space and a very cramped space. I would go for a 6.5 foot bed rather than a 5.5'.

I surprise that no one has mention the amount of space within the cab. The extra space between the floor and the roof the cab means you'll sit higher off the floor than you do in a Tacoma.

When I bought my 2015 Tacoma AC - I did check to see if a normally aspirated F-150 regular cab, short bed was available. There were none. The dealer mentioned the possibility of a special order for 2016.

Good luck on your Truckquest.

 

Figured I'd add some fuel to this fire...

I talked to a coworker today who picked up a 2014 Silverado when it was new for $31k (v6, extended cab, 4x4) ... Gets 21mpg and has a truck that has as much leg room as a DC taco and a 6.5' bed. Basically a DCLB taco but with a fullsize frame. He gets a claimed 22mpg (both by him and by the EPA) and a 7100 lb trailering capacity. In every way (except fitting in my garage) a small fullsize is very comparable to a now large midsize truck. Oh and the 4.3L has marginally better HP and TQ, but not really worth caring about.

TLDR; I'd get a fullsize too if I had thought about it enough ahead of time.

 

@OldandSlow, thanks for the feedback, and yep, that's the way I'm leaning, although I want to test some of my surfboards to see if they will fit diagonally in the 5.5' bed before making a final decision as this truck will be my DD around SD, and I would like to keep it as nimble as I can. Also, you can't get the 2.7L Ecoboost in the SCREW 4x4 with the 6.5' bed, and that sounds like the right engine for my needs. Not too concerned with being cramped in the FWC, figure it will be as you put it "cramped or really cramped." Plan on spending most of my time outside the camper when doing solo missions to Baja, etc. When the wife wants to tag along, plan on looking for a Casita type trailer that will give us more living space. Trying to find the right balance between agility and hauling capacity, thus my looking at both the DCLB and a full size. I think any truck I choose will involve compromise, just depends on what I am willing to compromise on more. Really want to believe in Tacoma, but since Toyota admits that towing and hauling are not high on their design priorities, I am keeping my options open.

As for space in the cab, I was really impressed by the F150. During the test drive, we rotated drivers and I sat in the back while my wife drove, and I was able to comfortably stretch my legs out and lean back (I'm a shade under 6') with several inches still to spare with the passenger seat in front of me, and that was with the passenger seat all the way back. Important when you and your adult kids are taking an 8 hour road trip to Mammoth for some snowboarding. On my '08 DCSB, anyone sitting in the front seats had to move their seat up to an unnaturally cramped position in order to let an adult sit comfortably in back. I was also impressed by not only the tall sitting position in the F150, but the relative shortness of the hood as well. I have seen some comments here about how long the hood feels in the '16 Taco, so will be interested to see that for myself.

For all those like me that are here listening to other's opinions as we try to make the best decision, I would encourage you to take it all with a grain of salt, figure out what you plan on using your truck for, do your own research and then finally go and drive the different trucks you are looking at, preferably one right after the other. The right choice will quickly become apparent to you. After listening to some people on here describe the F150 as a "huge truck" I was concerned that it wouldn't meet my needs, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out otherwise when I test drove one the other day.

Now I'm looking forward to seeing the '16 Tacoma in person, and seeing for myself this hideous front end, the long hood, no headroom and gutless engine that "everyone" is talking about. My gut tells me that I will actually find a well put together truck that I really like, and will have to decide which of the two trucks I like will best fit my needs. All while still hoping that Toyota does something to improve the gas mileage on the Tundra, so I can have even more options...

I would encourage everyone to keep up the discussion. I think there are a lot of people on here like me, who want to go midsize, but think we might need more, and are looking for real insight and feedback. Thanks!

 

I think I'm going to the Ford dealer today to talk some hard numbers so I can make a decision on switching to an F150. As I've said before, I like the Tacoma a lot. That's one of the things making this a difficult decision. But the deals and incentives Ford is giving right now are too good to pass up if I want to move up to a full size. I can't keep a full size in the garage, but as others have just mentioned, the interior room on the F150 is one of the main reasons I'm looking full size. Tough decisions. It's probably all going to come down to the numbers.

 

A lot of people keep talking about how they can't fit a full size in the garage.

I'm not sure my truck would be in the shape it's in today if it was not a garaged vehicle. I think it makes a considerable difference when it comes to rust but also with other workings of the truck. My truck went without a garage for 6 months two years ago. It was a very hot summer and my power steering pump ended up getting damaged because the fluid had reached it's boiling point and expanded. I do think it was related to the truck being outside 24/7. Also UV does a lot of damage to tires and paint. A lot of damage. Also if you don't have good tinting to protect from UV your interior will get trashed too.

Anyone else feel that having a vehicle in a garage is like top priority and matters when it comes to the life of the car?

It's amazing to me how many houses have garages that can't fit a 20 foot vehicle.
Mine barely fits with the mirrors in and the truck pulled up to about 2 feet within the door. This is why suburbia is not for me. I like the country where pole barns as big as your house come standard ^_^.

 

While it does save save the vehicle from the elements when not driven. Not a top priority for me, unless it is Sunday driver.....DD's and work vehicles who cares... our earth moving equipment and work trucks lived outside.

As I age, I have come to realization that you shouldn't be emotional attached to a vehicle, me thinks the uglier the better, one you wouldn't shed a tear over if it happened to land upside down in a ditch and caught fire. Though the 2016 Taco wins the contest for being ugly! Too bad the specs are lack luster or it would of been a shoe-in for my next truck to go beat on. A run around little truck that can't really haul anything needs to get 30 mpg at least, and be somewhat cheap I believe...otherwise why bother?

 

Challenge.

 

What I have learned in my insignificant 24 years on this planet is that one shouldn't be under-insured if they are very attached to their vehicle. I love my trucks. If mine got totaled without a doubt I'd probably shed a tear. After getting into a very serious wreck recently that left my mom's Subaru Outback totaled I learned that things are in fact things. I didn't care at all about the car after the accident. It's people that matter.
When on the tow truck lot trying to pry all of our belongings out of the car I started thinking about how much it would suck if this was a heavily modded truck. What could you recover with #1 the tools you had, #2 that wasn't damaged, and #3 what can you take without it impacting the quote you get from your insurance company on the damage/loss?

As long as I walk away not financially screwed, I'm ok losing even a truck that means as much to me as some people's kids mean to them.

 

Gonna give the Taco another chance.

 

So, I just couldn't resist. I am so weak.

 

@RZChief90 details please; xlt w/?

 

Oh, sorry. I was expecting the beatings to begin, lol.

XLT 2WD, 5.0 V8, 302a package, tow package including the integrated trailer brake control, console, tail gate step. MSRP 44,800. Out the door price 38,000. They gave me 28,500 on my Tacoma for the trade in. I really had a tough time pulling the trigger because I like the Tacoma so much. But I wanted to get back to a full size and this was the opportunity while the Tacoma still had real good value and Ford was offering killer pricing.

 

Dude, Im so jelly. Love the color! Thats the setup I want except a 4wd.

 

Congrats! Loving mine too! I can't believe the differences between the two trucks, and two schools of thought (like hardly any buttons illuminated in the Tacoma while EVERY button in the Ford is).

 

Real nice truck Chief.

 

Nice truck.
I've had 2 F150's. Ordered a '95 and ran it to 170,000 with only general maintenance. Sold it local and it is still on the road. Bought a '99 from a friend and ran that one to 130,000. This one had a cracked exhaust manifold which was an issue with the 1999-2000 models. I sold it to a co workers son and spoke with him the other day. He is still driving it with 200,000 miles on it. He paid $500.00 to get the manifold fixed when he bought it a few years ago.

Honestly I've had more issues with my 09 tacoma than any ford I owned. The clutch/throw out bearing, (Toyota covered half), the rear leafs and the "I have no answer when the fix will be available" TSB. How damned hard is it to rig 4 pieces of steel together? I have frame rust as well. Fuel milage is horrible. I got the same out of any full size I had.

Overall I like the Tacoma but not enough to by another one. The 2016s' leave me a little underwhelmed personally. More than likely I'll be back in an F150 early next year. I just like a full size truck.

Its all subjective. I'd never knock the Tacoma, lot of people love them and run the hell out of them. I don't off road other than gravel to the family farm. Again me personally, I've just had better luck with Ford.

 

After 41 years of driving, and quite a few vehicles over those years, this is my first Ford truck. I'll let you know how it goes, lol. I've had a lot of friends with them who were always pleased, so I have a lot of confidence. You can get a lemon from any manufacturer. I grew up a Mopar guy and then a primarily Chevy guy for years. Mainly because my neighbor where we used to live was a Chevy salesman at our local dealer and a good friend was a mechanic there. Never any hassle buying a car then. When we moved, we bought the wife's '13 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and the Tacoma. Talk about changing brands. I have no complaints with either of them. Actually, I've been very lucky with cars my entire life. As much as I loved the Tacoma, a full size will serve me better. And I really didn't need the 4x4. Didn't use it at all for the 2 1/2 years I had it. The new truck has the electronic locking rear diff. That should serve me fine for any "soft stuff".

 

Why did you chose to go with the V8?

Interested in your reasoning. I am very hesitent to buy the EcoBoost. I do feel it will come with more maintinence/repair and it really does nothing for fuel economy. The configuration I want (Super Crew w/ 6.5 ft bed) does not come in the non-boost V6 which is what I want. So I'll have to go V8

 

I'm curious about this as well. Me personally, I think just the sound of a V8 would be my deciding factor. Also, the 302 Coyote motor is awesome in the Stang.

 

I wouldn't own a full size w/o a V8. And, the 5.0 has one of the sweetest exhaust notes in the biz.