I went for a second test drive and I love the truck, but.......

I personally, do not want battery technology yet. I fix and maintain my own vehicles. I don't think current EVs are DIY friendly yet. So, not for me, yet.

 

Where can I go buy that million mile battery today?

Even Musk is hedging his bets by also investing in sodium-ion battery startups that have all kinds of grand theoretical promise but yet to show real, practical reality yet. The point is if this were truly a replacement, turnkey, ready-to-go technology, there wouldn't be all these startups desperately trying to find replacement battery technology, not would people like Musk be investing in them. The reality? Current EV battery technology *cannot* be the long-term EV future, and there is presently *no* *demonstrated*, viable, workable, ready-to-go technology yet out there to replace it. There are *plenty* of startups out there "looking" at potentials and putting out great, hopeful promotional videos, most likely shopping for investors, but reality is EV is still a nascent technology. Lots of potential, but far from a stable reality. Those who have the $$$ to take that risk are certainly welcome to do so.

 

oooohhhhp, you figured it out

 

Yeah there is nothing to wrench or work on with them lol.

 

Where can I buy a million mile ICE today? Last i check they usually shit the bed around 250k and can go as high as 500k if your lucky. The Tesla Model 3 sold today can get over 500k miles TODAY. Do ICE vehicles have major breakthroughs every 5 years or has investment shifted dramatically into BEV research? Follow the money... The LFP in them today is projected to go 750k+ miles based on lab testing (not out long enough to verify with true mileage)

Why do you think Tesla's market cap alone is worth more than the next 10 auto manufacturers combined?

Your point about so many startups trying to innovate just proves my point for me. Tons of investors are throwing money at what is blatantly the future of non-commercial Transportation, hoping to get in or have a breakthrough early on. You are essentially claiming Carbureted engines weren't good enough to replace a steam engine and it wouldn't be good enough until it was direct fuel injected. How do you think technology advances? Even rudimentary shitty Lithium Ion BEV's made 10 years ago are better than modern ICE motors that have had 100+ years of innovation added to the design and are still inefficient as hell....

 

For the weekend camping, getaways I do with the family… off roading isnt much needed (for me personally).

My plans for the Taco is to keep it stock, Im trying to keep this truck til I retire and to haul my fire gear/work stuff. (Especially when I can be sent to any station in the city for work/OT). Fits my needs

I am however looking for a 2nd rig. Tundra/Sequoia/(Van) etc.

 

Good article on EV battery technology:

https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/lfp-battery-in-your-next-ev-tesla-and-others-say-yes

 

Yes! Was hoping that Mercedes was going to offer the Metris in AWD, but they just killed the entire platform for the States.

https://carbuzz.com/news/mercedes-benz-killing-metris-in-america-and-dealers-are-thrilled

Yeah not for me, lot of guys love ‘em. Could make it work, but I like being able to see out my topper windows with all my gear below the top of the bed rail. With the five footer it would be stacked to the ceiling.

6’ on my ACLB is barely enough, have to augment it with a 5X8’ utility trailer. Went back and forth on whether or not to get a full-size 8’ bed. Decided to stick with what I have been doing for the last 30 years. Even then I am still considering trading it in on the new Tundra or F150.

 

Same, currently have another Tacoma (1st Gen) and an Isuzu Trooper. Thinking about selling both of those and trying to talk the wife into the Sienna. She kinda turned her nose up at it, but told her I’ll drive it for my commute and she can use the Taco. My commute is 40 round trip and hers is 3.

She is kind of coming around when I showed her the mpg, and how much cargo area it has. She tends to hit estate, yard and antique sales.

 

Hope you find a good deal around your area for one. Comparing the Siennas to Trucks and SUV’s out here, there’s a few good deals I have found. Im just doing more research for long term on what best will fit my needs.

 

Thanks.

Even looking at Ford Transits since we need more cargo than a people hauler, but they don’t get all that good of gas mileage.

 

@SwollenGoat

I use the backseat for groceries and excess boxes to move to storage.

The kids are adults now and have their own vehicles...it's just wife and me.

I've used my DCSB to move a couple of hutches to storage and a fridge I donated to Habitat For Humanity.

It comes in handy for those Lowe's trips for Garden Stuff too!

 

I could make it work, since I have a topper my gear would be stacked to the roof, pushing it as it is. Like being able to see out the windows. Plus my EZUP for the moto events I do won’t fit nor will my XC skis. Don’t care for roof racks.

Not seen, have two totes in the cab full of a bunch of crap I probably don’t need. lol! We don’t have any kids, so no need for rear seats. Just not crazy about DCSB. But it works for a lot of people, since they out sell the ACLB.

 

I would definitely put a topper on it. I would likely get a bump cap, like I have on my full size.

 

Originally wanted a bump cap, but the market was (still is?) nuts. There was a several month wait on them, found the cab high for a decent deal on market place. It was like new, couldn’t pass it up.

 

Yeah but probably wasn’t the most comfortable trip

 

I’m sure it wasn’t comfortable. My kids are young and they are pretty cramped in the Tacoma on trips. There’s no way we will be road tripping a Tacoma when the kids are full grown.

 

Really i wish they still made a 5 lug version or that sort of weight and gear ratio configuration is what makes it. Smaller tires, etc.

 

What about the Nissan NV Models?
Not sure how reliable they’d be but I see those more around here than the Fords lately.

 

Needs to be AWD or 4WD, (think mountain snow traveling for skiing) otherwise those city vans would be perfect.

Toyota has a rebadged Peugeot 4WD small cargo van in Europe. However they have no plans in bringing it here. They seem uninterested in commercial vehicles for the US for some odd reason.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UyHkyYR_K8