New Tacoma to be shown in Detroit

I have a 3500 lb Casita travel trailer. Would like to get 3 extra people in my cab, bikes, gear, water, etc and not be too slow. All loaded up I would have about 5500 lbs or maybe less. You think a Taco can handle that?

 

I used a 2001 Ford Windstar, tow rated for 3500 lbs with its Crown Vic V6 and Ranger tranny, to drag5500 lbs 1900 miles. If THAT could do it, the Tacoma will be just fine.

 

It'll handle it about as well as a Colorado will. To be honest that sort of load is why I went S/C'd. I don't think the new trucks, either from GM or Toyota, are going to tow as well as people have been hoping because their footprint and weight are still so much smaller than that of a fullsize. Are the bikes mountain bikes or something else? If you're going to have a ton of weight in the bed then you are going too find the Tacoma rides to low stock. Airbags solve that though.

Why not ask a dealer if you can do a test tow? Some will allow it, even though I know GM isn't going to probably say yes Toyota let me do it with my truck. I didn't have my current trailer at the time but I grabbed a buddies 18 footer and went for a quick spin.

 

Normal mountain bikes. Not motorcycles. I have a 3.4 on my 2002 now, and it will pull the trailer, but doesn't like the hills to much. I have a manual so I can downshift much more.

 

Lets not forget, that for the price of a midsized diesel you can most likely get a full-size gas with better specs.

 

There is a huge difference between a 1st generation and a 2nd generation towing. The 2nd gen trucks are wider and longer which really helps stabilize towing. Plus the 4.0 L has a lot more umph to it than the 3.4 L did. I'd wait for the 2016 to come out but you're going to be impressed towing with any truck available new right now over your old 1st generation Tacoma.

 

Yup, this is why I think a V8 or a Diesel wouldn't sell. If anything putting a V8 in the Dakota drove drivers towards the Ram rather than away from it in my experience. If the trucks cost nearly the same and have the same fuel economy at the same trim level most people just end up buying the larger truck.

 

I don't think Toyota has ever really considered dropping a V8 in the Tacoma. Obviously people who are vocal about wanting a V8 don't really know anything about how the auto industry is constrained by fuel regs.

 

Oh, in my ramble I forgot to mention Jeep. http://www.leftlanenews.com/jeep-weighing-wrangler-based-pickup.html

 

They would sell a ton of them. My son has a newer Wrangler Unlimited and it's nice. Their V6 Pentastar is a good motor.

But there are people on that site talking diesel too. Geez.

 

Nothing new. Jeep brought a "Brute" truck to a bunch of shows a year or two ago. Honestly I think Jeep is going to see a down turn in sales if they go the way Fiat is talking about. Fiat wants to pull out the frame and go to a unibody Jeep Wrangler. How in the world is that going to work, especially when the whole thing is aluminum?

They would sell a ton of trucks until people realised that owning a Jeep is more of a culture thing than a comfort thing. Jeeps leak and moan like nothing else. I don't think the average guy who see's zero mud or dirt is going to want to stick with a loud, gas guzzling, and uncomfortable truck for long.

 

Oh God...that can't be unseen!!

 

I agree on the unibody, if they make the Jeep a unibody, that's the beginning of the end.

 

I had a V8 Dakota once for a rental. That thing was fun to drive. I would bet you $1k that we will never see another V8 in a mid-size.

 

That Jeep is on the web site is a crude concept design. Probably would look way different in production.

 

I think it makes more sense for Fiat to make a Jeep mid-size rather than a Ram mid-size.

 

The gas milage would be absoultly horrible and I don't know how the wranglar will survive in the future with everyone having to up the mpg on every model. The thing is litterly a box on wheels, probably the least aerodynamic automobile made today.

 

That's why Fiat has mentioned turning the Wrangler into a unibody aluminum vehicle. I think they figure if they can get rid of the frame they'll have excuses to make the Jeep more aerodynamic. You can't have "x" part be removable because it would compromise this is what they'll say. They'll blame CAFE for eliminating a living legend and the community will revolt. Then Jeep will slowly die off. Which is sad in a way. I even have a soft spot for them, particularly the TJ.

 

See the thing isn't very sensiable to even own unless your offroading alot. And the general public doesn't off road a lot.so even though it is a popular vehicle especially in the off road community people can't afford to have it and another vehicle for a dd cause the jeep just really isn't a good dd for general people.

Plus the jeep is only really good at slow off roading right? It can't handle the fast stuff. I think the Tacoma has proved it can keep with the jeep plus do more. Desert race truck to rock crawler to a (somewhat sensible) daily driver.

 

Sorry if this is a repost, been following along but haven't had a chance to read every page.

Here's an interview w/the chief engineer Mike Sweers regarding the new Tacoma
http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_s...016-toyota-tacoma-chief-engineer-mike-sweers/