Answers?

Im new here, and really need insight on some questions. Seems to be a pain to search for them, for what i need answers for.

Anyways i have a 2014 Tacoma SR5 Double Cab, standard bed V6 4WD, i only had it for 19 months maybe. Well dealer will give me $30k, which that's what i paid out for the door for it. Owing only $20k, gives me $10k to play with and they will cut me a check for that if i buy something through them. Its hard not to do something. My truck also only has 7300 miles on it as well. Could be the reason why they want it so bad. However other dealers i have gone to, wont give me much at all, only $25k. Probably cause the dealer offering me $30k, is the place i bought it and its mint condition etc.

Now for little more info then onto the questions. Trade in for a Tundra 5.7 or 4.6. However reason why id like to trade my truck in is since i have some play money that id like to get 2 things with the truck. One is a tandem axle 77" x 14" landscaping trailer to haul a John Deere 1026r with loader and mower deck, weight around 4500lbs total. The other would be a plow, most likely if its a Tundra it would be a 7.5 Drive Pro Meyer. If i went with a Tacoma again it be a 6.8 Drive Pro Meyer. Both are around $4100-4300 installed. My driveway is around 350 feet long at a slight incline, with a good size area where we park of 50x50. then i have to plow my grandmother, so that's another round about driveway of 100 feet long 2 cars wide. Both are gravel. plowing wont be to easy. Living in Maine may be an issue as well. I read that plowing trucks should have a solid front axle. Where Toyota trucks do not.

Question 1 - Towing with a Tacoma would it take the weight of max of 5000lbs and there are major hills here but i could easily take routes that wouldn't concern me with that. it would be once a week, and on other special occasions, and be around 20 miles 1 way, sometimes maybe 50 miles 1 way. I wouldn't use the truck to commute to work. Id go to home depot etc once a month. Basically sits in the yard lol

Towing with a Tundra 4.6L V8, Toyota site says 6500lbs with tow package? Tacoma will do that. Is this really all the 4.6 will do? What would be the difference in towing between Tacoma and Tundra 4.6? I know the 5.7 will have no issues doing it, however for the mpg loss where i would be using the truck more for daily use of running to the store. Idk

Question 2 - Plowing, what do you think? Tacoma with a plow may struggle doing my driveway, where a 4.6 would be better but still be an issue? Or should i just get a read mount 54 inch snow blower for the John Deere 1026r. Right now i use the loader, however it takes a hour at least, storms we been getting here it takes 2-3 hours and also have to plow my grandmother across the street as well. It gets super cold out there lol. However i don't want to put major wear on a truck if its not made for it.

Basically looking to trade in my truck for most likely a 2015 or newer. Dealer already gave me a price on a 2016 Tundra 5.7 SR, double cab, standard bed, around $35,125 with some other little options with it. Id have to finance around $35,500 to get that truck, plow, trailer and a few little things with the truck. Not sure i need a 5.7 or even a Tundra. I love the nimble of the Tacoma. where a Tundra im sure isn't as much. Then lose in MPG. I get 20 MPG here, since all the roads are 50-60mph. that with a load or not. I have put at least 1500lbs in the back of my truck with huge logs, so much that the front lifts up and when u turn u can feel that the front tires aren't gripping much.

I cant decide on what to do at all, its very stressful etc. Thanks for any answers on this, i know its a lot to read and think about. im in no rush at all.

 

My short attention span wouldn't allow me to read with understanding your ENTIRE post.

Welcome to TW first off...

A few points I'll throw out. Liers can figure. They can show whatever number they want...& make it up on the sale of the new unit if you're not careful.

Snow plows + trucks = a lot of very hard use.

 

Lol what?

On a serious note dealers constantly ask for buy backs of trucks like yours because they can sell you a brand new truck, and sell your barely used truck for the price of a brand new truck. If you are indeed looking for a new vehicle because your current Tacoma isn't fit, go for it. Here's a thread discussing plowing with the Tacoma to give you an idea.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/just-ordered-a-snow-plow.129762/

I don't know anything about snow plows, but Tundra's sure are nice.

 

I wanted to list as much info as possible so i wouldn't have to keep answering. However im surprised i still really haven't gotten any answers. I read forums but lots of the forums are old, what about towing and plowing with new Tacomas? I want insight of people that have plowed and if they would with a 2014 or newer Tacoma, and if so is it better to go with a TRD rather then a SR5, etc. Then will the Tacoma tow 4500-5000lbs with no issues, will i feel it back there? Would it pull the trailer up a steep incline? I don't believe i seen a Tacoma or even a Tundra in the area with a plow. However there is lots of Tacoma's around here and some Tundras. Most plow trucks are chevy, ford etc. Since there is snow here. Last year was over 10 foot banks easy. I was running out of places to put the snow. Most likely that it wouldn't be worth putting a plow on any Toyota it seems, for the amount of snow we get here and how big the driveways are? That i should just buy a 48 inch blower for the tractor. Ok so will the Tacoma tow that much weight? Or will it just put major train on the tranny and engine? That the Tundra 4.6 would do it better and less strain etc?

Are the frames still an issue with Toyota trucks, even for the new trucks? TRD shocks are probably better? I haven't plowed in over 8 years and we always used silverado with a diesel engine, and using the same for pulling same size trailer and tractor. which u couldn't even feel it behind us. However that was my uncles set up. My family is Toyota all the way. But if its going to kill the truck, i rather stay away from it. thanks again.

 

I had had to do a search text on that to see if OP actually said it

 

@tcBob

 

5000 word limit on questions.

 

Very few here recommend a Tacoma for plowing as the frames are pretty weak, most who do use them to plow don't do gigantic spots and don't do it as a job, so
I would say no for that reason alone.

The Tacoma makes a poor plow truck. It also doesn't tow 6500 lbs very well.

For your uses, the Tacoma is too little of a truck IMO. Is a Tundra the best answer? Don't have a clue about that.

 

I haven't plowed with my Tacoma myself but our ex-neighbor used to plow our driveway every once in a while, he had a F-350 and one of the commercial grade snow plows.

@-Dc-
I'd stay safe and stick with a Ford. Don't make a mid-size truck do a full-sizes job, and Tundras get crap mpg unfortunately compared to a Ford F-150 ecoboost for example, or really any other full-size.*
The frames for the tacomas are still a problem, threads pop up every once in a while about it, there was a recall at one point but that thread got buried.

*not intentionally bashing tundras
**from a Ford/Chevy-born family

 

Try to find a plow with a bit of angle to the right side, that way your not stacking snow in front of plow and instead moving it away, if possible.

 

Thanks for the answers, i suppose a Tacoma wouldn't be good to plow or even pull 5k lbs up hill etc. I love the truck, always had Tacomas, 4Runners, Rav4s, etc. Best reliability going. Id like to see a 4.6 v8 in a Tacoma, lol. Or a low end diesel engine. For such a huge market for Tacoma's you would think they would give us more options for engine size. Thanks again .

 

Having a vehicle that you owe money on to sit parked or accomplish tasks that are above it's capabilities is financial silliness.

You need a $5-10k cosmetic beater that has been kept mechanically sound, has the capacity for your towing and plowing needs and is basically at the low end of it's depreciation curve. Even a 100k mile oil leaking gas guzzler would have a cheaper TCO for your usage profile.

Several American trucks will fill that bill rather well.

PS, don't be swayed by the dealer shell game. If they won't give you that $10k in a check to walk out the door, they aren't giving you $10k over your pay off. Restricting it to use on another overpriced ride on their lot means it's real 'worth' is a lot less.