Talk me out of the 4th gen

"All of that being said, I drove my friend's 2023 sport and was impressed with the powertrain. Much smoother and quieter than the 2nd gen. My final concern about the 3rd gen is its towing capacity. I towed my 500ish pound motorcycle across the country with a uhaul trailer in a 2nd gen and was not impressed. I have heard the 3rd gen is even worse at towing."

Quote

 

Just do it!

 

Haha yeah the bike only weighed 500 lbs not 5000. I am buying a truck for the utility. I need a vehicle to take my motorcycle to the race track on the weekends. I am not keen on buying or renting a trailer with my civic. The civic was a stand in vehicle. At the time I had a long interstate commute and couldn't really afford a truck. My project car is a 95 Rx-7 that is a lot more sporty than a civic.

 

I think that thought process with the turbos is based on dated technology. Turbo technology has vastly improved. I suspect this 4 cylinder turbo will have more get up than the out going v6. The torque number is what is impressive on this engine. Turbos last a lot longer than they used to. When the engine is in vacuum it is running a lot lower compression than a N/A engine. Not saying you are wrong, because only time will tell what happens.

 

I'd get a Tundra or F150 to carry a race motorcycle.
I have a Vette (much better than an RX7) and just drive it to the track.
Ha ha

 

It will have more get up and go, it still won't be fast. It's a truck.

 

Agree with the above. I am a long time tacoma lover. I think I have had 8 of them throughout my life. But tick for tack apart from size and off road capability the full size's are eating our lunch. Better towing, better MPG, more Space. I just haven't been able to bring myself to leave the Toyota brand because they have all been good to me. The old 5.7 tundra gets similar MPG to my 2nd gen, and the new Tundra I haven't been impressed with and now you can't get a double cab with a 6ft bed..... I am at a loss too as the family grows.. ha.
Good luck in your search

 

I've been quite happy with my 2007, but for towing anything it isn't the best choice. I'm OK with 3000-4000 lbs but even then there are issues. #1 is the low payload. My truck only has 1200 lbs and a lot of the 3rd gens are closer to 1000. It isn't PULLING the weight as much as overloading the suspension.

The 2nd issue is the small 21-gallon fuel tank. If towing anything at all 10-13 mpg is the norm and 21 gallons doesn't take you far.

I bought a used 2014 F150 for towing. The same 3000-4000 lb tralers are towed with ease and the 36-gallon tank doesn't require a stop in every town I pass through. When unloaded my Tacoma only beats the Ford by 1-2 mpg. Pulling a trailer, the Ford does better.

I'm planning to buy another truck in about a year to 18 months and the 4th gen Tacoma is on my short list. I'm not going to tow more than 4000 lbs and I'm thinking the new 4 cyl turbo will PULL the weight easily. I'm waiting to see what kind of payload they will have. If the payload is acceptable, I may just live with the small tank and buy a 2024 Tacoma.

The Ford Ranger is also something I'll consider. A 4X4 crew cab Ranger will have 1500+ lbs of payload. Beating a current Tacoma by a wide margin and their 4 cyl turbo has proven it has the guts to pull 4000-6000 lbs easily. But they only have an 18 gallon fuel tank.

Or I may just stay with a 1/2 ton. Right now, I'm waiting to see how well the 4th gen Tacoma's work out.

 

I think you should get a Santa Cruz you get your civic and truck all in one.

 

Buy an Elantra N.

Trucks drive like shit and will always be a pain.

 

I’d don’t know.
If the the 4th Gen engine makes too much power, it’ll pull the frame apart

 

It’s a love hate relationship.
It’s all good until it isn’t. And when it isn’t, it’s usually bad. Real bad.
Timing cover leaks, head gaskets, torque converters, differentials…..
Toyotas don’t break often, but when they do. They “break big”.

 

I can confidently say that the 3rd gens tow quite nicely AAMOF.
As long as you are under the gross towing/load limits you will be fine

I say this from towing our Off-Grid off road trailer thousands and thousands of miles.
Our OGT trailer weighs about 2000lbs dry, and probably 3200lbs completely loaded w/gear, awning, batteries, fridge, water tank ect.
Now I do have an OTT tune and gears which also help the situation, but otherwise the engine and trans are OEM.

Personally I'd stick with a 3rd gen ICE and wait a few years for the bugs to get worked out of the new design & power train.
YMMV

 

It's bigger maintenance, clunkier handling, and you don't get nearly the features for the money. What you do get is the ability to haul manure and tow the camper once in a while.

 

Buy a 2023 while you still can, maybe a lease turn-in or low mileage used (final year of production) and hold onto it until the 2026 models are released.

There are bound to be bugs in the first year of production trucks, and those bugs on a brand new, =expensive= truck, are going to aggravate you big time

...and: if you want a long wheelbase, 6' bed access cab, a 2023 is the last of them.

 

So what you’re saying is, make friends with someone who owns a truck.
Then borrow theirs when you need one.
Better yet, just let them do “all” the hauling an towing for you.
That way you don’t have to do anything.

Fantastic idea

Wait…….I think some of my friends do that to me.

 

(IMO) If you had problems with a 2nd gen towing a 500 lb motorcycle with a U-Haul, the problem was with something else: certainly not the truck. Would I try towing 6,500 lbs (rated) with mine? No way. Not even with trailer brakes and a weight distributing hitch. 3,500 max. maybe. (doubtful)

 

My ‘16 v6 taco had zero issue pulling a K1200s on a uhaul trailer (5 hours). Would do it again any day including Sunday and the trans and power are fine… Note it’s not a $80k GTS macan, it’s a Tacoma. Works great for what it is. Guess it’s up to how often you are going racing.


It’s easier with a full size and ramps though… and much less weight w/o the trailer.


There are also a few other options if you want to keep the civic…

 

If you want an Access Cab you better get it now. The 2024 XtraCab is 2-door with no back seats. Also if you are looking at a 2024 PreRunner it only comes in 2 wheel drive.

 

toyota has a ton of experience with hybrid powertrains in the prius, camry, and rav4 to name a few, and the yaris gr/corolla gr gives them some recent experience with turbo powertrains.

but they largely have avoided combining the two into a vehicle that can haul anything other than the fat owner around town. until the debut of the 4th gen.

i think it's a mistake to even consider a vehicle that will be a major 'first' for them in combining numerous technologies that have never actually towed anything, when you need it to be a reliable tow vehicle.


imo, toyota is pushing their own limits with the 4th gen engine tech. i would wait at least 2 model years to make sure they know what they're doing.