05 Totaled

Well my 05 was totaled on Monday. I'm sad that the truck is toast but it's time to look to replace it. I'd like to keep a manual transmission but possibly gain some towing capability.

I've considered an 05 with the V6 which would give some extra power over the 4cyl that I had. It seems you can only get the Tacoma with rear drums. Would anyone with experience in both the 4cyl and 6cyl 2nd gens care to offer an opinion on if I should stick with the Tacoma (to include recommended drivetrain) or look to upgrade to something larger? I'd prefer to stay in a smaller vehicle for what that's worth.

I have another car that I drive but I prefer to look at the truck as the dead reliable vehicle. That's one thing the 2TR had going for it.

 

You could look into a 1st gen Tundra. Pretty much the same size as a 2nd gen DCLB Tacoma but has a higher tow capacity than a 2nd gen Tacoma. I don't think you can find them in a manual though.

 

i’d get a v6 taco.


also the taco may have drums in the rear, but it also has best stopping distance in it’s class, and as of right now it’s just about the biggest mid size truck on the road. bigger than the ranger, bigger the colorado/canyon. closes thing to it’s size is a ridgeline, and i don’t really think of that as a truck.

 

I feel your pain; my super clean 05 Access cab 4x4 was totaled just about a month ago.
4.0 V6, 6 speed manual, lifted, wheels, tires, camper...all that stuff...all gone.
Not a straight panel left on her.

I replaced with a new/leftover 2013 4.0 V6 auto double cab short bed.
Nice truck; more gadgets than I wanted in terms of backup camera, electronically "simulated" limited slip and such.

So far, it tows, no sweat, but, I've only done smaller loads like one big John Deere mower, two motorcycles and such. So; I guess it depends what you're talking about.

I haven't put my Land Cruiser on a tandem axle trailer behind it, but I expect it wouldn't care for that much.

 

For what it's worth I had the truck and a trailer weighing in at just under 10k lbs and dragged that through the Rockies. The 2TR managed but it wasn't happy about it. The most I would tow would probably be a light car trailer with a 3000 lbs car or so.

Regarding the V6, has anyone experienced any issues with it? Anything as the mileage racks up? I won't be buying new, I'll probably try to find another 05, either Access cab or the 4 door.

How about fuel mileage? I was getting pitiful mileage compared to most with the 4 cylinder. Usually around 18 in the winter and 20 tops in the summer. Is the 6 significantly worse? I knew someone that had one and they weren't happy with what they got, can't remember the figures though. Preference for premium over regular? I know it ran on both.

I'm sure they power increase would be very noticeable. Hopefully help me not have to full throttle/downshift for a few hills on my commute.

 

I've been getting about 17-18 combined mileage with my 4.0

 

I get about 17 mpg doing 75. I get about 12-14 around town but I have a heavy foot and a heavy truck. Tips the scales around 6000lbs now...

 

i get about 16 to 18. but i have load range E tires and not to easy on the skinny pedal....

i can tell it does like 91/93 better than 87 but runs fine on 87.

i tow about 3k with no mods and good 4 and 5% grades at 75mph and it dose fine. i have the auto trans though so i don’t what difference that may make over a manual trans.

make sure you find one with the factory tow package. it adds more than just the trailer plug and hitch. it adds bigger battery and alternator, trans cooler and i think bigger oil cooler. and is rated to tow 6500 LBS.

 

Seeing y'all getting that mileage makes me sad that I didn't go with the 6/6 from the outset. I guess now's my chance to correct that though. I'm thinking the 4.0 can handle the heavier tires and all that a bit better than the 2.7 did, hence such similar mileage.

Any opinion on Access Cab vs 4 door? I think 4 door gets stuck with the short bed, right? Well, by short it's what, 6 inches shorter or something?

 

You can get a 4 door long bed.
I guess the answer lies in how much bed space you need.
For me, the answer is "neither was full size.
I didn't need four doors, in the Access cab and the 4 door, the seats are always down and covered with a dog bed.

 

If you are looking at Pre-2011's the TRD sports can come in 4 door long beds. 6 ft bed instead of a 5 ft bed. You cannot get a 4 door long bed in a manual though.

 

you can get the 4 door with the 6’ bed. i have the short bed and it’s 5’ so there is 1’ difference.

for what i do the short bed has always worked fine. I load it up full quite a bit. can pack all kinds of stuff in it. kinda depends on how good you are had maximizing your space.

 

Okay, I wasn't sure if the Access cab had the short or long bed. Apparently it had the short 5' bed, not the 6'. I'm fine with the short bed then, never had an issue with the Access Cab.

I was content with the access cab, just curious if the 4 door actually offered more room and if it's worth losing the "suicide" rear door which gives a large opening to get to the inside.

 

I'm pretty sure the Access Cab has the long bed................

 

ya access cab ONLY comes with the long bed (the 6’ bed)

also go look at the 4 doors. you have quite a bit of room to each or put bigger stuff inside. also really nice at stores you don’t have to keep opening and closing the rear door to load shit up like groceries.

 

Okay. So I guess it looks like I'll likely be "upgrading" to the same truck with the 4.0 and 6 speed, hopefully with the "tow package." I guess the trick is to find one now. I'll also be sure to check out the 4 door.

 

You towed a 10k trailer through the rockies with a 4cyl?

Edit: I'm assuming that's combined weight...still scary if you ask me.

 

I did it, yes combined weight. I didn't have much issue brakes wise, it was more the getting up the slopes that was the challenge. Sometimes I was stuck with 1st gear only. If I remember correctly the truck axles pulled in around 6k lbs and the trailer axle was around 4k lbs.

 

So I happened to check out a Frontier today. Not a bad truck. It almost seems a wash with the Taco, both having things better and worse. I think I'm a fan of the 4 door truck now.

 

I went from an 05 4 banger to a 12 v6.

It makes it a lot nicer for towing.

Up to 6500 lbs with the tow package. I have had up to about 5500 lbs. I think the 6500 would be a little sketchy?

Plus with my lead foot I get the same MPG with the 6 as I did in the 4 banger.