I've come for HELP!

Welcome but this is wrong on sooo many levels.

1. You're trading for a very similar truck to your frontier. You will NEVER see 24mpg in a DC taco. You won't see 19 in town. EVER.

2. RL unibody probably has better crash protection, esp. pre-09. Taco sucks bad in side impact and your in a family way.

3. If you're not off-roading, the RL suspension is quite decent. Search "vibration, alignment, balancing" here.

4. Honda build quality is at least as good as Toyota. Great cars for people who don't want to know much about cars. No point in modding, go play with the kid.

5. You really consider this a place to get objective opinions? What the hell did they say when you asked on the RL board??

 

dude just buy the tacoma already we have given you the fuel for the fire now bring the flames, (analogy for buy the damn thing)

 

06 DC 6spd here. I'm getting 20mpg on country roads/city along my 30 mile commute up and over a mountain range with a few stop signs and red lights along the way. Oh, and an annoying intersection before stopping every block a mile from my office.

I fit 3 kids in the back. A 2yr old in a booster, 1yr old in basket, and an 8 yr old. They all at room. Plastic is kinda tight together, but only because the car seats are wider than the kids. Once those are gone they'll have even more room. This is with my wife and I both being almost 6ft tall.

The RL may be fine for "most" trails, but the minute you hit a washed out or off camber one that picks a rear wheel up you'll have problems. At least with the taco's solid rear end you're more likely to keep both wheels on the ground. Even better if you get the OR package with the locker.

Some pics of mine:

 

Thanks! Whats the "OC" package?

Assuming TO is Tow. Forgot to mention that too!

 

Can't go for the Tundra bc of the mpg, I have to get what I am getting now or better! Thank you for the pictures.

I am having a tough time deciding what will be the best investment because obviously I can't go buy a NEW truck and I need my payments to be "around" what they are now. I know 98% of you guys will NOT say go for the RL or go for this truck or that truck but that is mainly why I came here to here your opinions on the DC Taco's w/ children. I love the Taco's being an e-owner and all. Really I have been trying to decide what is best for me for four months now and I have come to a DC Taco or a RL because they are the only trucks that the mpg are the same or better, the carseats will fit with ease and space, and I can still hunt and fish out of. In your HONEST opinion are there any other trucks I am looking over or forgetting?

 

Well with the DC long bed 4WD V6 I was able to get 22 100% city driving. I had to use the SGII to improve my driving styles, but when I filled up and divided the miles by the gallons i put in it, 22.1 was what came up. Now I really did baby it but worth it IMO. Good luck, oh and go with the taco!

PS: After I proved I could get that high of mpg and returned to old driving habits and usually get 18 or 19 all city

 

um...false buddy. Never say never you just need to drive better if you really want the mpg 19 is not even close to unattainable

 

Well, the RL does have heated side mirrors which I wish were available on the Tacomas without doing it yourself, and that bed trunk thing. Just make sure you don't have to get into that to get the spare tire out like someone else mentioned.

In reality thought, I believe the RL is designed more for streets than offroad. Just check out these two pictures. Not even remotely close to a hunting trail and the RL already has 1 wheel off the ground. How is that going to affect you getting to hunting/fishing spots?

 

Another bad thing about the RL is that they didn't come with towing packages which I NEED! It was an option but many of them have to put on separately which is money that isn't needed to spend if you know what I mean

 

According to Honda's site, they are only rated for 5,000lbs WITH their "towing accessories" too. Only a 1500lb difference, but if you tow 5,000lbs you'll be pushing the max capacity all the time while a Tacoma would be 1500lbs under the max amount.

Your choices for bed covers and caps would be more limited too due to the odd shape of the bed sides. Whereas with the Tacoma the standard ones just need to be made shorter and have different mount clamps.

 

Did the double cab size change with the body style in 05'?

 

Here's a comparison between the Tacoma and Ridgeline:

 

Yes. Which is why I bought one!

The 01-04's were too small for me. No know could sit behind me when I was driving, and there seemed to be more body roll around corners than with the 05+.

 

What would you say the odds of me finding an 05-06 DC 4wd short bed for around 16k?

 

Low. I just did a quick search on autotrader.com. Found a couple reg cab 4cyl's for around $15-$16k, but DCs jumped up to $20k minimum.

 

Yea I saw that too not good news for me I am afraid!

 

I don't imagine a RL would be any cheaper either. Seems like new they're about the same as a DC 4x4 Tacoma, and if Hondas hold their value like Toyotas them used ones won't be any cheaper.

 

05 is a great truck! I have 88,000 miles on mine without a single problem.
All I have had to do is Gas, oil changes, brakes, & tires.

 

car and driver rated #1 but really pricey. but wouldnt trade my tacoma for it.

 

just purchased 09 dc six spd manual 4wd short bed. with about 700 miles on it, i've gotten 16 mpg the first tank and 16.25 the second. this is in hilly areas, a/c on and no real highway mileage or enthusiastic driving either. as far as child seats, i have one behind the pass seat. i move it all the way up so my 3.5 year doesn't kick the seat but its not necessary. she loves it and fits well. i looked at the ridgeline, i just couldnt get past the looks. my choice came down to tundra or tacoma. they say the mileage is close between them. i just really have a hard time believing that. i figure i can get away with a smaller truck with small kids now. my son is 2 and daughter 3.5 yrs. maybe bigger trucks will be better on fuel in the future and i'll buy one then when my kids get bigger. for now i only need one car seat. we use our honda mini van when we take both kids. good luck.