Tundra or Tacoma

Hey guys. We currently own a 2000 Nisan Xterra and we have to make a decision whether to invest into it or just invest into a new vehicle. we were considering a Tacoma or a Tundra. I want the Tundra the wifey wants a Tacoma (her main reason is the V6 and its a smaller truck). we definitely want the crew cab / 4 door, since we have kids. wanna make sure its easy accessible for them. We have never driven ether of those so we're still yet to go for some test drives. as far as needs:
I want to make sure our truck can handle towing a trailer. currently we have a little pop up trailer, which I have no doubt either of them can handle without having the gas mileage being affected. but eventually we want to switch up to a double axle hybrid camper. so I wanna make sure if we go away on trips and tow that thing behind us its not going to drain our wallets and if I go to mountains or on hills up and down the transmission wont blow up. and so on.


also would you guys recommend buying brand new or used?
Any info, suggestion, recommendation, tip will help.


thank you


oh yeah another reason wife doesn't like the idea of the tundra is cause she's 4'11". LOL

 

Sounds like you need a Tundra.

 

Tacoma and Tundra... hmm... On TW, people will be biased and say Tacoma...

If you're going to be towing regularly a bigger camper, I'd go with the Tundra... The Tacoma can tow up to 6500 (if equipped appropriately), but at that weight the truck doesn't do very well on hills.

Cons of a Tundra are that the thing is so damn big... it definitely takes time to get used to.

 

Tundra

 

I've owned both & towed with both. My 2006 & 2013 Tacoma's towed my enclosed snowmobile trailers OK but the 2011 Tundra it was like the trailer wasn't even there. The mpg towing with Tundra was better. The inside of the Tundra is spacious & came with heated mirrors standard which may not be a big deal to some owners but in VT is really necessary. I went back to a Tacoma because of its footprint. Many of the trail heads I frequent are very small. The tundra wouldn't fit. Parking is challenging at times. If you do choose a tundra go 5.7. I had the 4.6 V8 and the mileage gains were minimal plus the trans hunted under load which drove me crazy. My two cents.

 

Although I am tacoma biased, I would say you definately need a tundra to suit your needs.

 

I got both. The 5.7 Tundra is a towing masterpiece. Unbelievable power. The difference in mpg is not worth worring about. pretty much 15mpg every where I go, on the xway it drops to 13.5. I just can't make myself drive 70. This thing runs the best at 80.

Parking the Tundra sucks if you are used to the mid size trucks, but you get used to it.

I'm on the shorter side (5'8), so getting in and out of the Tundra is not nearly as easy as the Tacoma. Because of this fact I find myself using the Tacoma for quick trips and errands.

I tow a 6k fith wheel camper with little issue.

 

I would test both and decide which one will serve your family's needs best.

 

Which 4 door model are you after? The crew max has back doors that are as big as the front doors, the double cab has 4 as well, just the back 2 are a bit smaller.

If you are going to be dealing with car seats, go for the crew max. Just be aware that you give up bed length with the cm, but get a bigger back seat.

I need the longer bed so I have the dc. My 6' friends have no trouble riding in the back seat.

 

x2, both are great but serve different applications.

 

Thanks guys much appreciated advice.

 

Yeah I see why the Tacoma is better to hop in and out. See we have another vehicle. Toyota yaris. That's our errand car. Also I drive it more cause I work 45 mins away where my wife works 5 mins away so she would be driving the truck more. So I'm stuck I want the big guns but she'll be driving it mostly lol.