Why does the Hyundai Santa Cruz have more payload capacity than my Tacoma?

The Hilux could be lighter than the Tacoma, but I doubt it, and it wouldn't be by much.

I don't know if, frame strenght, drive train power, composite VS steel bed. Toyota claims the composite bed is stronger than steel, are factors in payload ratings. Those factors have to have some impact, in a trucks capability. How much it can carry, for how long it carry.

Using a Tacoma in the same fashion someone might use a Hilux, could sideline a Tacoma before the same conditions would effect a Hilux.

I think the Hilux, is a stronger platform than the Tacoma. The Hilux is primarily designed as a commercial vehicle in the markets that it's sold.

There are people who use the Tacoma for commerce, but rarely do you see the same level of up fiting available for a Tacoma. Toyota does not sell a Tacoma cab and chasis. Why would they in NA, plenty of other options.

 

Payload is simply GVWR minus curb weight. I have no clue what Hyundai specs are but am pretty familiar with Ford. GVWR is determined by frame strength, wheel load rating, braking capability and the suspension. Every truck is different, the GVWR will be the same within the same model type and model year.

The heavier the truck, the less payload you have. A 4X4 has 200-300 lbs more running gear, and 200-300 lbs less payload. A crew cab is heavier than a regular cab. Toyota doesn't offer nearly as many options as Ford so the payload ratings are all reasonably close since the Tacoma and Tundra are all equipped pretty much the same.

Ford F150 however offers nearly unlimited possibilities with 4 bed lengths, 3 cab styles and 4-5 different trim levels with multiple options available within each trim level. A Ford dealer could have 200 trucks on their lot and none be the same.

Depending on the exact truck payload can range from 1000 lbs (less than many Tacoma's) to close to 3000 lbs. (More than most diesel 3/4 ton trucks. Gas engines are lighter and 3/4 ton gassers have more payload). F150 is also available with a Heavy Duty Payload Package (HDPP). The GVWR is increased by 500 lbs which increases payload by 500 lbs. Those trucks use a thicker frame, and stronger wheels along with E rated tires.

Ford purposely designed the Ranger to beat Tacoma with a more rugged frame, better brakes, better suspension, and a more powerful engine that gets better fuel mileage. Ranger is rated to tow 1000 lbs more than Tacoma, they have greater GVWR, and real-world payload is 500 lbs more than Tacoma. Toyota can do the same, but so far Toyota has taken the approach that Tacoma drivers don't care about payload. And most don't. I suspect they will address that with the next gen Tacoma. If they don't Ford Ranger will take a lot of sales from them.

 

I believe the Hilux is the top selling vehicle in Australia

 

I agree with you 100%. Toyota needs to be competitive to keep its top spot. I've read sources that say the Tacomas advantage in reliability is overrated. Toyota's have great resale but how long will that last if competition puts out a better product at a better price point

 

It's one of the reasons contractors use older mini vans for their work.

 

do they really though?

there's countless threads here of waiting lists, and searches for trucks in specific trims/colors/options. toyota's selling every one they make. and because they don't 'do' orders, it means their sales metrics are actually lagging. if the other trucks gained popularity, there'd be new trucks languishing on dealer lots with cash on the hood. but there's few to none at all, meaning it's a consumer 'problem' instead of an oem 'problem'.

personally, i was signed up for the santa cruz forum back when the concept debuted at the chicago auto show. i loved the concept, still do. the front end styling was drastically different, and the extendable bedsides were perfect for my needs. the reality is an entirely different beast that i've got no interest in. the ranger won't fit in my garage without a lowering kit. it's also an entirely different truck from the '98-11 rangers that i still love, but being in the midwest, they all suffer road rot. and a fullsize truck won't fit in my garage either. while it's easy to say 'just raise the garage', it's been an interesting issue to get around, one that the tacoma does in 100% stock form without issue, and honestly keeps me from collecting too much crap in the garage anyways!

 

I am waiting on a new Tacoma too as mine just got totaled in a car wreck. I think all dealers are having issue with getting new vehicles on the lot due to the chip shortage. Don't get me wrong, I like the Tacoma but I do feel that they really need to up their game. They were the only midsize truck option for a while but competition is really catching up.

 

Because the Hyundai's truck nuts drag the ground. You're beloved Tacoma? Meh....let's just say it's nuts barely hang down below it's bumper.

 

Because you don't own a truck. You own a sedan with an identity disorder.

 

that's just generally toyota though. historically, they always lag behind every other oem in features and functions, and use only tried/true methods/materials. it's been a recurring theme of toyota for a very long time. they play everything well within the boundaries of safety and let other companies take the risks of new and innovative ideas, but they keep their ear to the market, and if an idea catches, they generally work to implement it in the next gen.


toyota even went so far as to create the scion brand the 90's to become a testbed to try new and innovative ideas and designs so they didn't need to worry about mucking up the toyota pedigree. but then they let the brand languish, and fall back to the root ethos of toyota, they started playing it safe, and it descended into the same boredom and same-ness as the parent company until they re-combined it with the toyota brand in the late 2000's few even noticed. we saw nearly the same pattern play out with GM and saturn in the 90's.

 

It would be instructive to see how payload is calculated across vehicle classes.

My previous Ford Fusion commuter was rated to 850 (140lbs less than my Tacoma). Powertrain-wise, it handled weight much worse than the tacoma, let alone loading the trunk up with anything close to the weight I'd put in a truck bed.

Our 4 Runner is rated higher than the tacoma by 200lbs. It won't take anything close to that in the cargo area before the squat becomes untenable.

I suspect trucks are rated based on most of that payload going in the bed vice distributed across passenger seating as would be expected in an SUV or sedan. Tacomas have a pretty weak rear spring set as manufactured. You can have a level stance, good articulation/ride, or high payload. Won't get all three.

 

I vaguely remember reading something about payload in the Santa Cruz, the bed itself can only hold like 600 pounds and the rest has to be in the passenger compartment.

 

i prefer to go by the EU towing standards instead of the US SAE standards.

 

It would appear that's the case

 

If payload is important to you I wouldn't be considering a Tacoma or Santa Cruz IMO.

 

My WAG is the vertical weight distribution of the payload...from different manufacturers.

 

Payload definitely matters. Not enough for me to go out and buy a dually 1 ton, but I want my truck to be able to do truck things. I get if you have a well-rounded truck truck that is also good on trails that there are going to be some compromises, but I just can't get that a Santa Cruz could have more payload than a tacoma. Look at a picture of one. It looks like someone put a bed on a Honda Accord

 

But it's so much fun to see them spaz out.

On another note, the Santa Cruz has much more torque and weighs much less than Tacoma. This rockets the Santa Cruz down the 1/4 mile stretch faster than a Honda Civic Si, and about 2 full seconds faster than a Tacoma.

 

My 08 Ridgeline has a payload rating of 1550. It's done it, and had no issues. It identifies as a truck and gets used as such, probably more than most other trucks. We had an 86 (I think, it's been awhile) 2WD 22R with manual trans that we overloaded with pavers...somewhere around 3000 lbs. It only had to go a few blocks. It was about an inch off the bump stops, drove a little squirrely but did the job. Personally I think payload capacity is about as subjective as tow ratings. Not really something to stress over unless you go to extremes.

 

The designed cooling capacity is a major factor in determining the payload ratings in vehicles.