Why did Toyota widen Gen 2 Tacomas?

Just wondering why the gen 2 trucks are wider and if they go around corners better. I have Ikon coil overs up front with the Ikon add a leaf in back (2004 TRD V6 extra cab) Considering wheel spacers to increase track width and interested on comments regarding use of them. Thanks to all.

 

1) IDK. Too new to Taco fandom
2) IDK. What do you mean by "go around corners better?" Like, turning radius on tight trails or highway speeds?
3) Nice. Suspension is pretty important.
4) I had Spidertrax for about 6 months and the slightly wider track did not give much more confidence when cornering at highway speeds. Later, I replaced stock wheels and tires with Cooper Adventurer AT and FN Wheels, which put my tracking farther out. Feels pretty good going up twisties, but I observe posted speed limits and don't treat nor expect my truck to handle anything remotely like a race car. I've driven a 3,500lb stock car over 150mph and, thanks to an oval track setup, aero work and a tall spoiler, that thing handled like a magnet non a tube TV screen.
5) I imagine if you lowered the truck, put the seat in the floor pan, added some fat gumball tires and stripped excess weight, it would probably do alright. There are cool midsize and compact pickup truck racing series on other continents.

 

Car manufacturers don't make small trucks anymore because of pollution and emissions laws. The bigger the vehicle is, the easier it is to be approved for production. The smaller it is, the more severe the requirements are.

Instead of investing in R & D for more fuel efficient engines for small trucks, manufacturers opt for the easiest and cheapest solution: increase the truck's size.

There is still a market for smaller trucks, so "small trucks" (or "compact trucks") became "midsize trucks" because of this

 

Americans are getting fatter.

 

We're getting uglier too, but they aren't tinting all the windows.

 

In the US the "footprint" law/regs were/are only recently implemented & well after the design life of the 2nd gen Taco.

That said I'm VERY impressed. I'd wager < 10% of the people have a clue of this (accommodating to the big vehicle maker) rule exist.

I think it's this too because preference.

 

I'd guessed that it was mainly due to crash test ratings. Largers cars are probably easier to get good ratings. Either way, it sucks for the consumer.

I spent almost an entire year looking for an 02 doublecab 4x4. There's still so many people that want a smaller truck. That and people hold onto their Tacomas forever it seems.

 

don't know

 

The rise of the belt line for sure on crash test.

But crash test results are misleading IMHO. An IIHS safety pick + or whatever they're called today isn't equivalent in terms of energy disapation across vehicle weight categories.

Crashing into a fixed barrier is the equivalent of hitting another car of the same weight, traveling at the same speed, head on. Needless to say a small car like a notsoSMART hitting another of the same head on is way different than a smart car hitting and F450 head on or two MB S Class cars.

Of course dissipating all that energy (tho a lot less) on a small car and keeping it directed away from the occupants presents its own set of challenges I'm sure.

 

Crash tests are a definitely a bit misleading, I once saw a volvo(highly rated in a crash) run head on into an old meteor montcalm, the volvo crumbled like an aluminum beer can and you couldn't detect any serious damage on the meteor, nobody was hurt in either car but the montcalm owner drove home.

 

Cars are designed to crumple. It helps dissipate energy away from the passengers.

 

If you load down a 1st gen to the same weight as a 2nd gen, the 2nd gen will corner better, thanks to its wider track and inverted rear leaf shackle (less flex, but also less float).

Vehicle design is driven by customer surveys and focus groups. Ask a typical customer and he/she will want "more interior room".

Lifted 2nd gen TRD Sport doing an SCCA autocross. Note the GoPro is mounted higher than the track marshall:

 

When I see people with a broken tail light or no damage to their bumper AND they claim it was a (pick your number) mph impact sometimes I just smh.

I'm always amazed at the damage.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g

 

Omg

 

Y'alls sigs are gonna get me in trouble at work lol

 

Simple - in TW option, turn off display of signatures, or use the browser's adblocker to block specific signature images

Can't speak for @Mush Mouse though, for having a Jeep in the sig.