4th Gen Blows the Doors off the 3rd Gen

It’s murky space. Automakers, just like a lot of companies will pay established influencers who carry followers. Or, they’ll offer all expense paid Hawaiian trips & merchandise to “independent reviewers”, who gleefully show us how their legs fit now in the back seat yet don’t seem to know the difference between a spark plug and a yard sprinkler.

I’m also guessing that if they fly you to Hawaii and you complain too much about say, a ridiculous looking chin spoiler, your invitation to the next 4Runner reveal might get lost in the mail.

 

Software engineers now turned “truck experts”…

 

Ahem, I see no problem with that.

 

I’m betting that you know both software and trucks, very well.

Sadly, a lot of the folks we see making videos of themselves in Hawaii fondling HVAC toggles don’t appear that they can spell the word software…You almost feel sorry for the legitimate tier-one Toyota engineers who have to babysit them.

 

I got mine for the gas mileage lol. My previous T4R got 13 mpg. Oh I also wanted a bed in the back.

 

Never mind that 6' of usable bed space behind the cab. Imagine if men carried hand bags, the whole thing would need to be designed to open flat for easy access. Along with needing 200 storage compartments for all your junk.

Why are some of guys carrying around so much stuff and need immediate access to it?

 

TFL

I remember early on Andre out “testing” a Sprinter cargo van came across a herd of cattle in the middle of the road, acted like he never seen cows before. Thought to myself this guy is has no idea what he is doing, went from the office to truck/van expert without any previous experience working with them.

We owned a construction company, I literally grew up in them. Have been using trucks and working on them long before they were loaded with computers. Don’t see me trying to get in on the influencer game.

Started driving Toyotas 30 plus years ago, since it was nice to jump into something small after sitting on earthmoving equipment all day. Great small trucks for getting to the bigger ones that actually were used for work. The Toyotas were great for running around to get lunch and small parts though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_....com/&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

 

I'm going all in on gen4 but will wait a year and enjoy my 3rd gen until then. Alot of 3rd gen owners, myself included, don't like the end of the V6 but what about the end of the 2.7 runs forever motor? Sometimes I wish I had just gotten a 4cyl with the SX package. Looks pretty nice and most likely would have been fine for my use.

 

I have some DeWalt toolboxes in mine, keep some tools that I tend to use often in there. Had to help a guy jump start his car the other day, jumper cables are right there and I didn’t have to dig for them. Plus they act as a shelf for daily duties, literally use the clamshell doors every day grabbing stuff from the store and tossing back there, stuff I don’t want rolling around in the bed or need to keep cool. Have a topper that is kept locked, easier to throw stuff in the cab than fiddling around with keys.

For camping I use totes, both in the cab and the bed, the stuff I need readily available I keep in the cab, plus way easier to them in and out of my 3rd Gen AC, than it is my 1st Gen. Also have thrown my MX gear bag in there too, it is fairly big, was a squeeze to fight it in and out of the 1st Gen. Watching the new Tacoma engineer struggle to reach back there on the new Xtra Cab is funny. If the head engineer is struggling, what does that say?

We have a bunch of animals, feels like we are at the vet a couple times a month, rather have the carrier in the cab, so we can comfort the sick pet. This particular pink carrier my wife had since she lived in Panama when her ex-husband was stationed there while in the Air Force. Does me driving around with a pink object in my easy to access storage area make me a pussy??? Lol! There is a 4lbs sledgehammer and a hatchet in that toolbox underneath it though.

 

I think the XtraCab will be fine for people who don't want the DoubleCab. I like a regular cab, but the XC gives you some room to recline the seat stretch your arms in traffic while keeping the cab more rigid. Rear doors are better than no rear door, but extended cab trucks worked fine for decades with out rear door. When the only 4dr crew cabs available were HDs with 8' beds. It's seems like a small compromise to retain the 2dr, or extended cab Tacoma.

Toyota probably sells most of their AC to fleet customers who probably don't really need the access door. The AC door is still a convenient feature to have. For all practical purposes the DC is more effecient to acces the rear of the cab, and has more space one the seat is out of the way. I pefer non crew cabs.

 

The extra cab did work fine for decades, then was much improved by the AC, seems like the Xtra Cab is going backwards. Which is odd since Toyota’s motto is to keep moving forward. Everything else advanced forward, except that, doesn’t make sense. The excuse is crash test, seems more like the bean counters got it nixed.

You are correct a double cab would be even more easy access from the outside. I just didn’t want the extra length. The DCSB is too short, the DCLB too long, the ACLB is just riiiiight, the Goldilocks.

Now that the DCLB Tacoma has darn near the same wheelbase as the Tundra, nearly the same rear legroom, and less power. Don’t see the point of it, might as well step up to the Tundra. Other than the grill, thinking I am liking the Tundra better over the 4G. Definitely needs the Sequoia front clip though.

Depending on my needs in 3.5 years, probably skip the 4G and buy either a half ton or 3/4-1 Ton. All depends on what travel trailer I decide to buy. Would like to stay smallish, but my wife has other plans.

 

I still like Ford or GM 1/2 tons over the Tundra. Tundra really needs bumpers 35's and a lift for me to like it. I don't really like the interior lay out, the controls are all over the place, the materials look nice, and the over all fit and finish seems better than Ford or GM. I don't like the composite bed, and would rather have rear leafs. Tundra is nice if you want to go for a high trim truck, I don't really like all that luxury stuff, I'd just go F-150 Tremor if I'm spending over 60k on 1/2 ton.

I prefer the 4G Tacoma over the 3G Tundra.

Somebody at work was telling me they recently boght a Chevy 1500 5.3 LT, said they would have really liked to get a Tundra but the Chevy won out on price, and they were leaning toward the 3.0 diesel. I asked them about the 2.7 t4 in the 1500, said it was a lot of truck for that motor.

 

The Tacoma is fine for what I do now. We plan on retiring in 5 years. So would like to get an 8’ bed, have OVRLND or Hiatus build me a camper that I can fit 3 bikes in. Plus have a TT, setup a base camp with the TT, use the truck for short 3-4 day trips. Don’t care for luxury trucks, like the base, since here in Idaho we have to clear a lot of deadfall to be able to ride, I am always covered in wood chips, mud, and blood. Much prefer vinyl seats and rubber floors.

For all the weight and towing a TT, a 3/4-1 Ton makes more sense.

 

Didn't Bonestar buy a Ram ?

 

You’re retiring at 55?

 

Good insights. Thanks.

 

Yes, that will be traded/sold/given to family for a 4th gen when the truck has a few years under its belt.

 

Trying! I am a cheap SOB for a reason. We are considering selling everything and hitting the road.

 

I did. But I sold all my dangerous toys shortly after. All of my hobbies are really low impact now.

 

@batacoma

Typical daily use, running around today… wife wanted some flowers and groceries. The Taco is great for this light duty work. Some stuff I want in the bed, others in the cab. No bags of mulch this run.

Use the Hell out of those access doors.

Toyota FINALLY does some major upgrades to the Tacoma, nice toquey engine, better paypload. Unfortunately when I am ready to buy in a few years, it isn’t enough. Would like to stay Toyota, however they don’t make a 1 Ton. Would push the limits for a half, ovrlnd camper, 3 bikes and gear in the truck, and a bumper pull toy hauler…is kinda pushing the limits of payload. The toy hauler is more for my wife to do her art and have some space to do it, rather than putting the bikes in there.

Have been looking at the inTechs.

https://intech.com/rv/models/ovr/adventure/