Tall Driver - need feedback

My local dealer is finally getting stock in. I’m trading in my 2018 Ford F-150 Screw STX 2.7L Ecoboost. They have offered me more on trade than anyone else.

I’m most interested in a 2020 DCSB OR with 6MT. They have a cement coming in next week.

My two biggest fears or concerns are getting into and out the truck and back seat space when I need to put an adult back there.

I’m 6’3” tall, 265# and 53yo. I have one kid left at home and she is 17yo and 5’10”. Wife is 5’4” tall.

I have test driven a 2020 DCSB SR5, DCSB OR and Sport. I don’t like the bulge in the Sport’s hood. The hood line already feels like it’s 12 inches higher than the Ford. The scoop makes it worse.

Anyway, I adjust the seat all the way down and I notice I have to duck my head as I enter/exit. I’m worried that will get very aggravating.

Backseat space - 2 or 3 times a year we drive from Virginia to Florida to visit my mom. We have to take my vehicle because we take our 18# rat terrier. She doesn’t ride in my wife’s Honda. That means either my daughter or wife gets to ride in the 2nd row with Sprout for 8 hours.

How are you tall drivers dealing with these areas of concern?

For those with 6MTs, what’s your mileage like? I drive 8 miles one way to work. 2 miles at 25mph and 6 at 70mph. Not worried about it but curious. The Ford gets 18mpg consistently.

Thanks,

Chris

 

I have no trouble getting in and out with headroom. No sunroof here. No adults sit behind me, but I don’t think it will be an issue for either your wife or daughter to be on the passenger side of the truck. But hey, throw them in there and take it for an extended test drive. Good luck.

 

I'm the same height and weight, I have no issues sitting in the truck for long hauls. Some people do, though. I guess it's how you're built. I'm long legged and short torsoed. My gal is the exact opposite. She is nearly a foot shorter than I am, but we are the same height when seated. It's freaky.

Also my seat is usually all the way back. Putting an adult in the rear for 8 hours is a real concern. I probably wouldn't get this truck if that's done on a regular basis. I'd take the whole fam and go sit in one, really think if that feels comfortable and doable for a full day of driving.

 

Just get a sun roof. No problems.

 

I'm 6'1", and i found the driver seat too high & flat, very uncomfortable and awkward. i went to an upholstery shop who's experienced in these modifications, and they custom bucketed the seat for me, which dropped my sit bones a good couple inches, maybe a bit more. that made the seat comfy, took weight off my thighs, and put me in a more comfortable position for driving. i have more info if you want. i also don't have a sunroof so more headroom than those that do.

mileage is weird in these trucks. there's a lot of variance as there are many small differences truck to truck that are significant. this motor is super sensitive to these differences, like exhaust, tuning, and how you drive & throttle, etc. I'm in a 2017 MT. my mileage varies from 17.5-19 depending on how i drive and the tweaks on the tune I'm running.

 

I’m 6’2” and find it very comfortable in stock form. I’m less than 200 pounds.

 

Im only on 3rd gas tank since bought and easily average 19.5MPG City/highway....65-70 on highway...If all highway it will do 22-24..

that hood scoop is dumb IMO...I got the TRD 4x4 and like the hood

 

I'm 6'3 and couldnt grab the steering wheel with how far back I was. Also be aware of the rear view mirror/camera in your line of sight.

Also couldn't own a tacoma with a sunroof, even with power seats.

Make sure to take a loooooong test drive.

 

Behind drivers seat will be tight but should have plenty of room on passenger side.

As far as mileage. I had a 2017 OR with manual and now have a 2020 OR with manual. 80% of driving is highway and I usually do about 75 mph. In both trucks I averaged right around 17mpg.

 

I'm your same weight, four years older and almost two inches taller. You will fit and your passenger too. Back seat is tight for anyone over five feet tall.
My suggestion is to take your wife and daughter and test drive test drive test drive.
I had a 6mt too and got around 19 mpg overall.
Good luck.

 

Chris,

I will be the first to tell you that you will not "like" it.

You can get "used to it" and "deal with it" but if comfort you are looking for it is kind of a pain in the ass.

No one will say that the truck is comfy but it depends on your use!

As far as visuals go "I have test driven a 2020 DCSB SR5, DCSB OR and Sport. I don’t like the bulge in the Sport’s hood. The hood line already feels like it’s 12 inches higher than the Ford. The scoop makes it worse"

1. The "scoop", unless I am mistaken coming from a 2019, it is for looks only. Engine is the same across all the 3rd gens. Nothing gained except for the styling.

2. Anyway, I adjust the seat all the way down and I notice I have to duck my head as I enter/exit. I’m worried that will get very aggravating.

Yup and you will still have to deal with that. The height adjustment stinks with the constraints of how the truck is. You get some adjustments within the range of the cab but if you want to go "lower" you have to deal with the fact the seats adjust but no more clearance as far as I know.

3. Backseat space - 2 or 3 times a year we drive from Virginia to Florida to visit my mom. We have to take my vehicle because we take our 18# rat terrier. She doesn’t ride in my wife’s Honda. That means either my daughter or wife gets to ride in the 2nd row with Sprout for 8 hours.

DOG SCIENCE 101 on our end.....we used to do the 1000 mile trips in my 1993 YJ and it sucked. The 2019 Tacoma was our solution.

Suggestion....figure out something for the "trip" you plan with the terrier...she is small.

We take our 55 and 75 pound dogs and our 35 pound elderly dog everywhere when we are camping or visiting parents from Colorado to Maine.

4. For those with 6MTs, what’s your mileage like? I drive 8 miles one way to work. 2 miles at 25mph and 6 at 70mph. Not worried about it but curious. The Ford gets 18mpg consistently.

I can't comment on your mileage. I run several hundred pounds of armor and gear on my truck 2019 DCSB OR.......with now 15k on it. Someone else can comment.


Here is what I do with mileage!....I run 80 miles per day. Yup 40 miles back and forth up in the mountains of Colorado. The BEST mileage...granted on an AT and you are looking at a MT....22 mpg.

In typical use after the modifications, I get around 19 mpg on stock tires and armor/lights/roof rack etc

Just some things I wanted to toss out!


I love the Tacoma!

We have 6 vehicles and it came down to wants/needs/purposes.

Based on what you put up......and being honest....I could not advise you to consider a Tacoma......look for something in the Ford Range and GOD FORBID the Chevy range.

 

I drive three miles to work. Speed limits range from 25-45. I average 13 mpg. It may be a taco, but I’m still part of the Stoplight Mafia.

 

I got 14mpg in my 16 tacoma, similar drive.

Really bad for the motor so I would idle it and take the long way home when I could.

 

I get shit mileage because I am heavy on the skinny pedal.

 

I’m 6’2” and 250 with a long torso and short legs.

I fit fine and am getting just under 23mpg in my 20 dcsb. Then again, I am driving 55 miles with 50 of that being cruise control on the interstate.

 

I think I can chime in. I’m 6’4” with a 2017 MT sport.

Traded my sport hood for someone’s OR for $300! The dude drove 2 hours and paid me! More $ for other farkles.

I’m super comfortable driving 3-4 hours to the mountains. I have no human passengers in the back so can’t speak to the legroom. But I’d pity someone sitting behind me/you. My wife is short too 5’4” and she hates the seats. A 10$ cushion and she’s fine. Looks like adequate legroom behind her. Not spacious but adequate. I’m now pondering how I’ll fit me, wife, new baby and 3 dogs in mine...

As for mileage, as any post will say, it’s all how you drive. If you’re like the dude above and hammer every stop light you’ll get mid to upper teens. If you take it easy and keep it at 65 you’ll get 20+, with stock tires, no lift and that visor thing. I came back from the mountains in no hurry and averaged 24! It was all downhill. But I kept it below 70 and was shocked. The 6mt is a little goofy to start but you get used to it. Or do the actuator delete mod (supposedly), which is on my short list.

Cement is a sick color. I’m envious all the time. Like others said. Test drive and make sure you and the other three are happy otherwise no one will be.

 

Back seat is very tight imo for any adult assuming the front seats are occupied and aren't pushed all the way up. I test drove both TRD trims extensively last year when I was in the market for a new vehicle. I'm tall with long legs and a shorter torso so I fit fine in the driver seat with plenty of headroom to spare. Being long-legged, I do have to have the seat adjusted back. My wife is also tall and we have 2 rear facing child seats with one of them being a fairly bulky convertible seat so rear seat room was a premium for us. That was eventually the deciding factor and what pushed me towards the 4runner.

 

Thanks everyone. I drove the Ranger. My shoulder was perpetually slammed against the B-pillar, shifting me towards the middle of the truck. And it has the 10R80 10-speed transmission. My current F150 transmission has been a nightmare. The dealer has changed the valve body due to extreme scoring in the fluid passageways. They wouldn't rebuild the other internals though. Wonder why there was scoring?... Not even going to look at a GM product. Period. I have to say no to Fiat rebranded Jeeps. I've owned a CJ5 and J10. They weren't the pinnacle of quality but at least I could work on them and they didn't cost a small fortune.

Anyway, my daughter is a senior in high school. It's not as though she's constantly riding in the back. She rides in the back of the F150 maybe 2 - 3 times a month.

I'm fairly pragmatic. This purchase is a lot about wants, not needs. I'd like to go back to a manual transmission. If there's a bad shift or heavy clunk, it will be my fault. I like the looks of the Tacoma. Out of >40 cars in 37 years, I have never owned a Toyota. I could never make a deal on one where I was satisfied. If I look at needs, I haul bags of mulch 1x year. Take two bags of trash and 1 bag of recyclables to the county station 1x a week. If my push mower breaks down, I might haul it to the local shop, which happens about once every 3 years. So, I don't need a truck. I like trucks. But I like Subarus, too. Always been a fan of hatchbacks as a kid growing up in the 70's - 80's. We have owned an 81 3-door hatch and 2 Outbacks. We liked them fairly well. Maybe I need go Crosstrek and save $5k - $6k?

I don't know. I'm one of those people suffering from analysis paralysis, too. The F150 was a huge mistake. I wanted something I could drive for 10 years. The F150's transmission will not last that long. I'm sure it will make it to 60k miles when the warranty runs out, and I thing that's Ford's bet, too. But after having it drop from 10th gear to 3rd while on interstate with cruise set at 70mph on level ground, nearly causing me to sideswipe a tractor trailer (2 different occasions), I don't trust it. My wife refuses to drive it, and I'm unhappy with it.

 

I am 6'4" 245, with a 2020 MT Pro, and here are my observations. Get in the truck takes some getting use to, but once inside I find the room not bad, it's tight but not bad at all, even with a sun roof, the adjustable seat was the key to me getting a 3rd gen. One thing I will say is if I lean to the left then yes my head might touch the headliner. The biggest problem I have is by the time you adjust the seat back far enough for my legs I have trouble reaching the steering wheel comfortably, and with the seat all they way back the rear seat is not a seat it is an area to put crap. I consistently get 22.4-22.8 MPG

 

Get the vehicle you feel comfortable in for your daily use, rent a comfy ride for the trips to Fl with the full team.