Moving from a Tundra

Been a long time lurker and enjoy all of the information sharing there is here.

I am currently coming off lease from a Tundra and am looking to downsize. I love my Tundra, but my commute is 52 miles round trip per day and the mPG is killing me at 15 combined. Work also takes me to DC and surrounding cities and parking can be a nightmare.

I tow a TT at 4,200 dry about 8-10 times a year, no more than 100 per trip, but mostly 40-50. The Tundra tows great. I laugh when people complain about Tacoma towing mpg, because the Tundra doesn’t get much better in tow/haul mode.

I know I will be giving up a lot of room, but my kids are still small. I have been considering the Chevy Colorado, but have just had nothing short of great performance with Toyotas. Hoping to get into a new DCLB OR in the next month or two. Anyone else move from a Tundra? Thoughts?

 

Can you ask to test drive with your trailer attached? I know with mine the issue is not weight but the hole it punches in the wind. I basically run in 4th full time. As you can see I am not loaded heavy. Other than towing the enclosed the Tacoma fits me much better than my old 2500 w/Cummins. It is no comparison when we talk towing but for everyday the tacoma fits literally in my life much better. Like you said parking is much easier in a mid sized. If I were towing my enclosed more often I would go back to a full sized just to keep the revs and noise down and more comfortable / relaxed.

 

4200 dry? when you add cargo etc you are going to be getting close to max on the taco. That thing is going to be screaming towing especially if you live in hills/mountains

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

I don’t think 4200 dry would be over 5k loaded. I towed my boat around town yesterday, and it’s around 7k wet on the trailer. You’ll be fine.

 

I went from a Tundra to my Tacoma. Loved my Tundra but love my Tacoma even more. I don’t get great mileage with it but a lot better than I did with the Tundra. I use it for everyday driving, off road for hunting, fishing and camping trips and I tow my boat with it. My boat and trailer when loaded is around 3800lbs. My Taco pulls it just fine, in fact surprisingly well.
Your trailer when loaded Im guessing is probably around 5200lbs give or take. Depending on what model Tacoma you get (with tow package) the tow rating will be around 6500lbs. or so. You should be fine, you don’t tow very far or very often. For me my biggest complaint towing with my Taco are the side mirrors. They are totally inadequate for towing. I don’t know why Toyota doesn’t offer towing mirrors, especially if you you get the tow package.

 

The only options are those strap on generic crappy ones. Been looking for a year now. I am looking into having a set of mirror covers made that I can solidly bolt my tow mirrors to. Snap off the colour matched ones and snap on the modified ones.

 

Fully loaded, I put it at 5,000 and we bring another 800 pounds in kids and gear. We don’t Need fresh water or propane and all of the places we go have full hookups. There are also very few hills with much grade here in SE Pennsylvania. I think I’m OK and we’ll within the tow limits, but still plan on getting it weighed before I make the move. Thanks for all of your comments.

 

I too went from 2015 Tundra to 2017 Tacoma for commuting purpose.....

 

Had a 15' Tundra, had a 16' Tacoma... Have a 17' F150 with the Gen 2 3.5 Ecoboost w/10 speed tranny . I don't drive the truck but 1 or 2 days a week and the majority of the time its either towing a boat or atv. Tundra seemed like it got 15 mpg on a good day and towing it got around 11. Tacoma, with 265/75/16's was getting 17-18 mpg unloaded, 12 while towing the boat. Ecoboost with 275-75-17 E's is getting 18-19 mpg unloaded and around 15 towing. Before the tires it was around 22 mpg unloaded in the Ecoboost. I read somewhere on here about tire weight and the effects on gas mileage, they were right. .
All that to say, if I had it all to do over again, I'd be in the same truck I am now

IF I was in your shoes, gas mileage from one to the other wouldn't be my deciding factor. It'd the downsizing from a full(er) sized Tundra to what would have been considered a full size truck 10 years ago (now a mid-size). Tundra's are a little outdated but proven to be damn near bullet proof and new Tacoma's are very nice and serve folks well that either need short/narrow wheel bases for off-roading tight trails or someone that wants a truck bed but doesn't want to fool with a giant truck to park and drive. They aren't tow monsters or speed demons, but they are nice for what they are intended for.

Is your current tundra a crew max or a double cab?

 

I am in a crew max now.

I have given the F-150 some consideration, but I like Toyota’s dependability. I was in an FJ, then kids required a bigger back seat so we got a 4Runner. Then we sold the R-Pod and went with a 26 foot TT which was too heavy for the 4Runner. Suffice it to say, I never had an issue except early wear on the Tundra brake pads.

I should have also mentioned that I am near two off-road parks that I would love to go to, but full size trucks are too wide for most of the trails, so I have read.

 

The Tacoma's back seat isn't much to brag about. I'm 6'2" and for me to be comfortable in the front, you needed to be an amputee to enjoy the back. It was bearable, but not recommended for extended trips. Also, the Tacoma's towing capabilities are nothing close to the Tundra but at that weight for your travel range you should be fine, as long as you have trailer brakes.

As far as reliability goes, I am a firm believer that no car maker is head and shoulders above others now days. I grew up thinking Ford's were junk, but my previous work vehicle was a 12' Expedition that I put over 120k on, with a lot of that being in 4wd. The only issue I ever had with it, that weren't self induced, was a window track/motor issue. A lot of parts are common across most manufacturers. Things like window switches, door locks all generally come from one or two vendors. Even the transmission in my F150 is a shared venture between the Bowtie and Ford. Now my 3rd Gen 4Runner (the hot sister to the 1st gen Tacomas), thats a different story.

You can walk away with a lemon from any lot you step on, but being happy with the vehicle you just signed your name to is what's important.