Tacoma redesign wish list

And deezul...

http://offroad-nestle.de/de/offroad-4x4/offroad-neufahrzeuge/hilux-single-cab/

 

Exterior bed tie-downs and mounting options for 3rd party racks - a great solution for on tonneau covers AND racks perhaps like the Hilux above or Ranger blelow.

 

Don't know why Toyota did away with the external tie-downs. aesthetics I am guessing.




Can get them on the Global Ranger, probably disappear when Ford brings the Ranger back into the US market. As trucks really aren't used as trucks in the American market anymore.

 

Perhaps they can just redesign. Heck even some fixed points for racks/cleats (al la roof rack factory points) would be awesome.

 

Edited my post above, be like the ones on the Ranger.

 

I had an older truck (1991) and I weighed rebuilding it vs. a Tacoma and it wasn't realistic for me to do that. I would have had to buy another truck to use while the '91 was out of commission. Having a shop do it would have been quicker but then there's no cost advantage. My '91 had close to 300K miles (200K that I'd put on) so even with an engine swap the rest of the truck was just starting to wear out. Body was getting rough, interior was wearing out (I had even swapped seats, so I was on my second set).

I bought a newer truck that I could live with that wasn't too complex because it was a toss up compared to what would have essentially been a frame-off restoration. Maybe some day I will have the resources and space to rebuild another old truck, but realistically it wasn't an option.

I really wish Toyota would just offer us the Hilux as a commercial/stripped down option. They could keep the Tacoma as the option for people who want full features. The Hilux with a diesel or 4-cylinder gasoline, 5 or 6 speed stick, just a radio, crank windows, keep it basic.

 

This is where I am currently....335K on mine, owned it for 14 years now. Bought it used with 70K. Getting to the point...when do you stop fixing it? It didn't really give me much problems until about 250K. These past two years, I have rebuilt the under carriage....talking about all of the suspension components, including bushings, ball joints, et....new axles, bearings/seals all the way around, new steering rack. Past 6-7 weeks, it received a new fuel pump, clutch...currently in the shop getting the 3rd member in the rear diff rebuilt.

Guessing the engine will be the next thing to go. When I do that, will "basically" have new truck. Sure would be nice just to buy a brand new version of what I already have. But I can't.

There will be a day when I will have to break down, and buy a new one. Test drove a 4-Cyl last week, while I did like it, seem like the 4 will be adequate for my use, kept on seeing how much stuff they put on the SR that I simply don't need. Without all the fluff, I could see getting the price closer to $20K. Guys paying $40K for these things, seems absurd to me, but you know what they say about a fool and his money!

 

@SwollenGoat, it really does boil down to the rest of things. My old truck is living on as a beater/landscape truck for a friend. It'll probably do that for a few years more until the Iowa winters take their final toll. But you're right, the suspension needed a rebuild (it wasn't even original, I had an OME suspension on it), the drivetrain, brakes and wheel bearings needed another service. It was just wearing out as a daily driver and was at the point that you either dump a bucket load into it or drive it until something major fails.

The price really wasn't super critical. I mean I paid $5K for my '91 when I bought it and got 16 years and 200K, so I had saved plenty over the years and ~$20,000 was fine. I'd have happily given Toyota $25,000 for a brand new version of my 1991 DLX XtraCab 22R-E, which is essentially the Austalian/Mexican/South African Extra Cab Hilux SR. I honestly think Toyota is missing this market, all these 2nd and 3rd gen Pickup owners like us have gotten all the life out of them are looking at replacements.

I'm happy with my Tacoma but it really wasn't what I wanted, so I'm making it into it. I'm probably the rare exception. I'm taking a TRD Offroad (which I only got because I wanted a MT Access Cab) and making it into a SR. Taking off stickers, removing stuff like tow hitch, looking for crank window doors from a base model to put on. LOL. Already took off the stock suspension. When I'm done it'll still have the e-locker and cruise control, but otherwise won't really be a TRD Offroad anymore.

 

i got one that kills me. AC vs DC. id think the poeple going for the access cab probably use their trucks more for work and needed the 6' bed. so why cant we have a cargo light? thats only a 5' bed, 4 door truck thing? no because the DCLB has one. i feel forgotten

 

A cargo light is of no use to me because I have topper and I suspect that a lot of Access Cab trucks have toppers. If it had one I'd have taken the bulb out like I did for the 3rd brake light. They should make it an option. Honestly I wasn't even aware the Tacoma had one.

 

The issue is how it mounts. Cant even swap one from a DC truck because they mount from inside

 

IIRC the stock TRD suspension on mine was clapped out at 90K. That is when I started replacing the suspension. The rear has had 3 different leaf packs in it already. Has OME currently (maybe 150K on those??? Can't remember), just replaced the bushings...and it's 4th set of shocks.

My SR5 TRD was 4 years old when I bought it for $17K...didn't really need or want a TRD, but the truck fell into my lap, it was a buddy of mine selling it. Was looking for an extra cab V6 to replace my '92 RC 22-RE. So spending $25K for a new SR isn't too much of a stretch...still hate spending money though, especially when I can't get exactly what I want.

Went and looked at a 2004 SR5 (non-TRD) yesterday that had lower miles for a replacement for mine. It only had 120K on it, which is low for the year, but I still consider high miles for a vehicle. I am seeing Tacomas with close to 200K miles, that they are calling "low mileage"...when did that happen!!?? I used to think under 30K was low mileage, and still do even though others do not.

He wanted $15K for it...a 12 year old vehicle with 120K miles...for $15K....I know Tacomas hold their value, but that seems a bit high. Especially when I paid $17K for a 4 year old TRD with nearly half the mileage. Might as well bump the budget up another $10K and get a brand new one. The frame was pretty rusty too...not horrible, but to fix it right, should pull the body off, media blast the whole thing, and POR-15 it. More effort than I want to do...especially for $15K!


One thing I miss the most from the old trucks is the wing window vents, thought of importing a set of doors for my 1st gen. from an early 2000's HiLux to get them...I "think" they are the same. Alas...more effort than I want to do.