Placing custom order any thoughts on the 2021 vs 2022? Also some random towing questions.

Hi Guys,

I need help making a purchase decision. I freaking love this community...you guys have been so helpful to date. I greatly appreciate the expertise that many of you share! Brief background, I've not purchased a new vehicle in a LONG time. I've had to make some sacrifices over the years in order to raise a large family but now that my kids are mostly "adults", it's time for a new truck! I've always loved the Tacoma. Not going to lie, my infatuation started with that black SR5 in "Back to The Future". I've wanted a Toyota Truck variant ever since! Anyway, that's all to say, this purchase is both exciting and nerve wracking! I want to order exactly what I want/need. While we pretty desperately need a new car, I don't mind limping along with our aging fleet of vehicles in order to get what we want.

Researching trucks in this segment is an interesting process for Tacoma fans. Let's face it, the car reviewers are not very kind when comparing the Taco to some of the newer offerings. I don't really care though. The Taco is known for it's reliability, off road ability and resale value. Yeah, the back seat REALLY sucks in the Taco. I've got four sons, ranging from 6ft to 6'5", but I figure they can endure the backs seat for short trips and not to sound like an asshole, but this truck is for my wife and I, not our adult Children. At one point in my truck search, my wife mentioned to me that she'd really enjoy owning a camper. This one threw me for a loop to be honest and set me down the whole path of considering full sized trucks. I love the new F-150 hybrid. That truck is a BEAST...however, I wouldn't get the resale value that I can expect from the Tacoma AND, it's almost impossible for me to configure an F150 for less than 60k. For the price difference, I could be well on the way to owning a nice micro-camper.

So, we are back to the Taco and will simply find a camper that she can tow. Here is what I'm gong to order:

• TRD Off Road/Double Cab/Cement (the Army green is tempting but I've not seen it in person)
• Six foot bed (I know this is an unpopular option but the proportions of the 5 foot bed look weird to me with the double cab. The 5ft bed also seems impractical for a pickup). I don't plan on doing any crazy off roading, so the longer wheelbase isn't a huge concern.
• Auto Tranny only because the manual isn't an option.
• TRD Premium Off Road Package w/Advanced Tech package. I'm a bit torn on this one TBH. The advanced tech package seems cool, but I'm wondering how useful the terrain monitor really is.
• Trailer hitch, center console safe, bed lighting, Remote Tailgate lock, Glass breakage sensor.

Any must have options that I'm missing?

Does anyone know when the 2022s will likely roll out? I'm betting that by the time a custom 21 is delivered, the 2022s will probably be available. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but I haven't heard much on the 2022s. Any significant improvements that you guys know about?

Let's talk towing for a moment. From my understanding, the Taco I spec'd out should have a tow rating of 6400 lbs. I want to make sure I stay well within the Taco's towing limits for the obvious safety reasons but I also don't wish to over work the truck. I plan on driving this thing for A LONG time. For those that pull campers, what is the target "wet weight" that you guys aim for? I found a nice Jayco 171 BH, that has a wet weight of 5k. I figure that should probably be the max because by the time we pack food/beer and gear we will be closer to 6k. We live in a mountainous area, so the Taco will have some fairly steep highway grades to tackle. Any thoughts on that target weight?

Last question, and I know this is pushing it...but in an ideal world, I'd love to pull a camper and put an ATV in the bed. I'd probably want to do a side load if possible. I'd appreciate any input on this from those of you with toys and like I said, I'm aware that I may not be able to do this safely, given my trailer weight.

Thanks folks! Super excited to join the Taco club!

 

Your spec'd Taco may have a tow rating of 6400 lbs, but keep in mind that every pound you put on the hitch reduces the trucks payload capacity.
If you plan on 10%+ of the trailer weight on the hitch (as you should), and the wet weight is 6K, your truck's payload capacity gets reduced by 600 lbs.
You, your passenger(s) and anything stowed in the truck counts as payload.
Every trim/option package you select with reduce the truck's payload capacity.
Keep in mind also the Toyota's mention of tow capacity includes the phrase "up to".
-
I have a '21 TRD OR AC Auto. I opted for this over a double cab simply to keep the shorter wheelbase and 6.5 foot bed.
Also: While your dealer may allow you to think that you have a 'Custom Order', you really do not. They watch the Tacos allocated to their facility and when production seems eminent they try to tweak the configuration closer to what you want. It may match or it may include things you don't want. Getting a true and for real 'Custom Order' goes beyond the dealer level. I've been through that process in my region. It ain't fun.

 

Our Hideout 19FLB is around 5k lbs headed to the campsite. I wouldn't want to go more than that.

 

I thought 2021 orders are closed now?

 

They stopped production.

 

Good point on the trailer hitch weight. I hadn't considered that. Sounds like an ATV is out of the question. Thanks for the input!

 

If you plan on towing a camper and the typical extra weight of "stuff" in the bed I would pass on the Tacoma. Not enough beans, not enough braking, not enough (none actually) transmission aux cooling.

Most people don't know this, but the J2807 standard (towing) numbers are calculated at a max speed of 45 mph (!). If you are going to haul a 5 or 6,000 lb dump trailer around town 25 miles you will be fine. Once on the interstate, fully loaded and moving uphill with passengers you will wish you were in a different truck. BTDT.

You should also know that the tow ratings numbers are meaningless in real-world applications. Nobody drives 45 mph. Nobody really cares if their loaded Tacoma pulling a 6,000 lb camper can stop from 20 mph (!) in EIGHTY FEET (!). I mean, yeah, you would have passed the J2807 standard with those numbers, but the standard is frankly, completely flawed and useless. Scratch that, is is useful for comparing truck A to truck B, but I wouldn't compare their actual towing capacity.

Did you know that the max weight of driver and all passengers in the truck can't exceed 300 lbs? If it does, that extra weight is subtracted from the towing capacity. This is all per the J2807 standard.

If you can move your loaded Taco fifteen feet (!) up a 12 percent grade in a minute (!) and do that five times without blowing up, you are "certified". How stooopid it that? Very.

You can spec a F-150 Hybrid Crew 4x4 with towing package, cruise, a/c, and other essential for under $50k. Toss in another $750 for the 7.2kw in-bed 30 amp outlet to power your camper no matter where you are, and you would be GOLDEN!

Imagine camping with a 7.2kw generator and 1.6kw battery pack built into your tow vehicle. Sweet!

Look, this isn't 1985 anymore ;-) Taco is great for stylin' around town or hitting the trails but for actual truck things, (especially towing a decent sized camper) the full-size trucks kills the Taco. The resale on everything is through the roof, so don't buy something based just on resale. Get what you want. In your case that is a black Tacoma. Enjoy it. Rent a camper and after one or two trips wifey will probably get the whole thing out of her system ;-)

 

Here's a link to some great information on the 2022 Tacoma's. If you're not in a hurry, I'd say wait for the fall.

https://www.carindigo.com/news/2022...o be released in,paint available on the model

 

Man, now you have me back on the fence, lol, although I will say, spec'ing a f150 4x4 hybrid for under 50k is a stretch. I really appreciate the info on the towing capacity. I didn't realize how restrictive and misleading the "max towing" figures can be. The biggest selling point on the F150 for camping purposes, besides the obvious towing capacity, is that sweet 7.2kw generator. That's an insane amount of power and from my understanding, could easily power a camper's AC and then some. The f150 would also allow us to get a two seater quad either in the bed or via a toy hauler. Thanks for the info man! Much appreciated.

 

Just me, but if I were towing anything over 3K lbs. consistently and especially long distance, I would want a full-size. At 3K, it is a comfortable tow and the engine/trans/brakes can easily handle it. You are going to get lots of opinions on this topic thou....

 

This is an option for a camper and ATV and should be light enough for the Tacoma...
https://www.intechrv.com/models/flyer/discover/

 

I owned a 2009 Taco, you can see it in the pictures. My 17' Forest River Sonoma Bunkhouse weighs 3200ish dry (also in the pictures.) I scaled it fully loaded for camping and it was right under 3800. With me, the wife and my two boys in the truck (12 & 10) I felt the trailer, a lot. Anyone who tows an equivalent or larger trailer with a Tacoma and says "they can't even feel it back there" can be dismissed. I always felt safe with one exception... braking. I refused to take the trailer over any of our numerous passes around here as I just didn't trust the brakes. The trailer and truck had trailer brakes but on a single axle trailer that's not adding much stopping power. I will say the truck pulled the trailer fine, we did several trips 200 miles one way and never had an issue. Emergency braking concerned me and long descents worried me.

If you start putting things in the bed of the truck you'll approach the combined GVWR before you ever get to the max tow rating.

Study and understand the numbers involved and how they're calculated before making any decision on a truck or trailer.

 

The F150 might be worth getting just for the generator. Unless you need the ground clearance or the narrow stance the Tacoma provides, a fullsize truck would be your better option.

 

Pretty late in the game to order. It won't actually be "custom" either. Your dealer will have to request that build and hope Toyota says they'll build it (allocation) or you or your dealer will have to source it elsewhere. I think dealers only have one more chance for Toyota to approve allocation requests and that is likely this week. I'm not 100% on that however. Take a look at the "how long did you have to wait..." thread for an idea on how ordering works and what timelines are like. I'll be at 7-8 months after "ordering" my truck before it's in my driveway. Some have had much better luck than me though.

Also fairly certain that Cement will not be on 2022s so take that into consideration.

I'd also look for something smaller than a 17'. You can do it but if you're up around 6000lbs you'll be pushing the max weight. I have a 13' trailer that I try to keep below 2000lbs loaded. We run as light as possible but every pound you add makes your truck that much less happy. Pulling 6000lbs across town to the dump is fine, but hauling that much across the country, and up the mountains isn't ideal.

 

a few months ago a saw an allocation for a voodoo blue TRD OR AC on a dealer's sight. I thought I should try to get that, if it wasn't already allocated for another buyer. That truck was gone from the sight after about a week.

 

Do yourself a favor and get a full size truck if towing that much....in the long run you'll be happier.

 

I appreciate the candid input especially coming from folks that I know love their Tacomas. Sounds like the F150 hybrid is probably a better fit. If I lived in an area that wasn't quite so mountainous, I might entertain the idea of using a Taco to pull a 5k camper but as many of you stated, it's not the best tool for the job especially given the steep highway grades. Pretty sure an f150 could tow twice that without breaking a sweat. I'd honestly, much rather have a Tacoma as my daily driver but the F150 should work for me. Better MPG and more room for my giant sons, lol. Thanks again folks!

 

Better MPG LOL my company provided 2019 F150 gets better MPG than my 2018 Tacoma ever did. That's stock compared to stock

 

I had to google the new f150 generator system. I honestly thought theat 7.2kw was a typo until I looked it up. Looks like a really cool option.

 

I think you made up your mind, but just a note about the payload. I have a 2020 TRD OR 5’ bed, I had about 500-600 lbs in the back and just me in the cab, after a 1100 mile drive, the back end was squatting. Dropped about 2-3” from stock with 19k miles on it and not used to haul anything before this trip.