Rivian fully electric 4x4 - the future

Can you say awkward?? But if it works for you...

 

I don't doubt there is truth in your comment. For hauling, a long bed is superior. A work truck in particular with a short bed seems silly. When I've considered the logic of a camper shell on a SB, my immediate thought is someone subconsciously wanted to get an SUV, bought a truck instead, then made it look and function like an SUV. (A SmartCap is kind of its own thing, those are badass even on a SB.)

There are a couple of benefits to a SB, though, compared to LB or non-truck vehicles:

• Shorter truck = fits better in larger towns and cities
• Improved departure angle off-road
• Articulates off-road, unlike unibody
• No vertical constraint compared to SUV, wagon, sedan
• Many options to 'build up' with racking
• It's still a truck that can tow

The DC, meanwhile, is the best choice if you regularly have more than 1 passenger and/or pets.

There are some more capable outdoorsy stock unibody vehicles like the Subaru Outback Wilderness and Hyundai Santa Cruz. But these are definitely a class below a Tacoma (or Frontier, Ranger, Colorado, etc.) 4x4 in just about every way when it comes to non highway stuff and hauling, though the interiors are plush in comparison to most trucks.

I'm a DCSB owner, but definitely thought through the trades between AC and DC, LB and SB, truck vs SUV. Personally, I needed more than an SUV or wagon, but less than a full size truck, and the ability to drive 3-4 bodies reliably in town both day to day and for light to moderate off road stuff on the weekend.

My general feeling is I'll regret not having a LB a few times, but will be able to work around it. And I would be a lot more annoyed day to day with having an extra foot of truck to navigate or (especially) to worry about other drivers damaging.

I do think there are a ton of people who are about 'truck persona'. I can guarantee there is a hefty percentage of DC SB OR Tacomas in my area that never really need the 4x4 capability and don't use the bed for anything. And there are even more guys and gals in full size trucks across the country for no reason other than liking to be in a luxury appointed cab on a massive frame.

TLDR--> back on top topic . . . .

The Rivian R1T fits the mold pretty well for what folks in my category want to get out of their Tacomas. The R1T's tonneau + bed rack setup is exactly what I've done to my Tacoma, in a more slick factory-integrated way. The R1T is more tech-y, less after market customizable, a shit ton heavier, way more expensive, and who knows about reliability plus build quality at production scale.

I like the concept of the R1T as a sporty highway truck with real truck-y capability off highway. The engineering and attention to detail is cool. I agree it's targeting a fairly narrow demographic of current truck drivers, though I think it will draw attention from traditional SUV folks as well. The big question mark is how the R1T will do in the real world over time.

If I have the means and Rivian prove themselves out, I'll be a potential future buyer, but I don't have the patience or time to be a 'beta user'. A Tacoma is a known quantity, the track record isn't perfect, but I like my odds a lot more to get the capability I'm looking for.

 

LAMO, 6' ain't a long bed. It's a not quite as short short bed.

 

Oh yes yes, you are correct .

I thought we were arguing between a 4 door , 4.5 foot bed and the 2door(access cab) with a normal 6 foot bed.

I totally forgot about that abomination 4 door, 6 foot bed, long ass school bus Tacoma they offer. . I would think with 37" tires it might actually be ok because you wont be constantly dragging the underside over things off road. otherwise holy shit, why buy it? just get a f150 or tundra or any other Shamu sized whale truck. The hell are people thinking with that thing? get a sprinter van if you're using it for work ... pishh people do odd things i guess

 

right!?….this is a long bed!

 

No Tacoma's have a 4.5 foot bed, l think that is reserved for the Maverick and Santa Cruz.

 

The Rivian R1T has a 4.5’ bed.

 

Tell me you don't know what you're talking about at all without saying you don't know what you're talking about at all.

 

An EV with solar panels has free use of the largest fuel source in the solar system.

 

Negative, you could have gotten an access cab or swapped in a manual trans. Don't rely on the OEM to shut down your idea of possibilities.

 

That seems to be a naive comment without knowing what else exists outside of this measly planet.

 

The Off Road doesn't come in MT Access Cab unless you live in Canada.

 

My 2010 did, Toyota got lazy because consumers weren't agressive enough to want to shift their own transmissions. Dan Aykroyd can help you through your problems, I just saw the new ghostbusters the other day and it's clear he still needs the funds.

 

Yeah I had 3 prior Access Cab OR with MT too but when the 3rd Gens came out they did away with them here for whatever reason.

 

2 words, Minivan moms. They rule the auto industry unfortunately. They all want heated seats, cooled seats, auto transmissions, auto parking vehicles, bluetooth, wifi, auto rotating tires, magic auto engaging brakes, auto windshield wipers, etc. Because robots are suddenly smarter than humans, even though humans have designed the robots. Once the electric vehicle takes over, it will only be a matter of time before we aren't even allowed to drive them.

 

I really don't want a self-driving vehicle, just doesn't sound appealing at all. I understand that it can be beneficial to drunks, elderly, or injured people though.

 

None of which people should be on the road regardless, they should all be in a hospital. But yes right now we are at about level 2 of autonomous driving, wait until level 6. I hope I'm long gone by then. With the auto parallel parking features, kids these days won't even know what it's like to have to do a driving test and parallel park on their own. I'm going to enjoy gas and diesel engines until it becomes illegal. Commiefornia isn't far off, they just passed a bill that works on banning sale of small gas engines such as lawnmowers, blowers, weedeaters, etc. The residential consumers aren't the major contributors to the planet going to shit, but that's who the government can pin it on so here we are to pay the price.

 

I DO dig your adherence to the 'appeal to lack of knowledge' fallacy.

So, I'm not saying there aren't baby neutron stars hiding Jupiter's weird stormy red hole...but

...there aren't neutron starts hiding in fallout shelters in Jupiter's weird stormy red hole.