Bigger tires on tacomas vs a full size

sorry if this is in the wrong section!
but im looking into getting a truck and i plan on lifting it and puttin bigger tires on it and all that good stuff. i feel like putting bigger tires on a tacoma would cause more of a strain on the motor than it would for a v8 that the full size trucks have, causing more wear and tear lower gas mileage..? i could be wrong but idk.. i don't necessarily have anything monstrous to tow (small fishing boat, dirtbikes and four wheelers) so towing power isn't really the main issue..
so basically what i'm asking is
would it be smarter for me to get a Tacoma or a full size?

 

So are you planning to lift either one? Because I know from being on TW that lifted Taco's get about the same mpg that my stock Hemi Ram got in most cases. So I can't imagine what kind of mpg's a lifted full size would get.

 

What sort of question are you asking? Are you wanting the best truck for your needs or do you want big tires?

 

What these folks said is the best advise.
Look at what your truck will be doing, work, hauling loads, off roading, commuting, gas cost.
As we know 20 mpg on a 2 wheel drive Tacoma is doable. However lifted bigger tire 4X4 Tacomas don't see 20 very often.
Gas will go up so if that is important keep it in mind.
Good luck and welcome.

 

I believe the taco will fulfill your needs and more!

 

i dont necessarily need a full sized but my buddy has a tacoma with a 3 inch lift and 33's and my other buddy has an extended cab f150 with 35s and the f150 is getting about 4-5 more MPG there both 4x4.. i mean thats nothing huge but its a little better than the tacoma.
i basically want something that isnt absolutely horrible on gas, something i can have fun with out in the trails and mud and something i can pull around my boat and bikes.

 

Whether you need a full size or mid size truck depends on your needs. I've had both a full size 2004 F-150, 4x4, Quad cab, 5.4 Triton V8 and now my 2003 Tacoma, Double Cab V6. Personally I prefer the Tacoma over my old F-150. It is much more nimble, handles more like a car, has a decent power to weight ratio and is the perfect size, is MUCH cheaper on gas and maintenance, and still gets the same job done. The ONLY reason I would go back to a full size V8 is if I needed to haul something like a gooseneck trailer or camper weighing over 6,000 lbs. Right now I can still haul loads, motorcycles, and can still pull my 21ft boat and trailer with full gas, supplies, and four people. On another note true story, I never really realized the potential of this truck until this happened.

Story: Last year Texas had a freak snow storm here in Austin. Well I live out in the hill country and the roads are not only steep and winding, but very dangerous. Anyways that night it was snowing I left work, and noticed how bad the snow was failing and the roads were iced over (Black Ice.) Well I head my normal way home and once you get passed a particular town is when the hills start getting extremely steep and high. As I was coming down the highway I see not one, not two, but three full sized trucks with all their awesome power trying to make it up the hill. One was a quad cab Dodge Ram dually with 4" inch exhaust pipe, the other was a newer Tundra V8, and the other was a new Silverado V8. All three V8 trucks were spinning their wheels frantically trying to make it up the hill, not ONE could make it. They would get all the way almost to the top and the tires would just spin out and they would start sliding backwards. Basically these trucks had too much power and too much weight. I approach the hill and one of the guy warns me that he has a V8 and he couldn't make it there's no way I would. So me being a cock strong Texan never backing down from a challenge smirk and back up and turn around to attempt to defeat this Goliath of a hill. Also knowing that because of the near perfect power-to-weight ratio of this truck there was a good chance I'd make it. So after I turn around I hit the hill and once the hill starts to apex is when I thought it would get sketchy. My rear tires spun out barely towards the top, but it was more of a controlled rear spin, and very beautifully like a well balanced and controlled machine cruised right over the top. I rolled down my window and just waved goodbye. Did I mention this was in a 2WD Prerunner?

 

i always thought that putting bigger tires on a truck with a smaller motor would put more of a strain on the motor? causing parts to prematurely break, and lowering the gas mileage?
and vice versa on full sized.. I.E. more motor the easier to turn the tires?
i could be wrong

 

but you would think that because the fullsized has more motor behind it and the drivetrain is designed to haul alot heavier loads, that it would be less of a strain?

 

yeah ill probably end up getting a tacoma, thanks for all the help and answering all my annoying questions haha

 

hahahahahahaha
nicce.. yeah i never realized how much weight plays a role in situations like that, alot of my buddies have these big ol diesels but whenever we ride out to the dunes or in the trail there always the ones to get stuck.. im sure all the power is nice but what like a fat boxer.. what is all that weight good for.. haha

 

^That's exactly my point. A Tacoma can and will go places a full size could never dream of going in the trails and in the mud. The Tacomas are the ones usually pulling everyone out. Jeeps and Hummers included.

 

yeah and ive heard nothing but good things about tacomas..

 

I always thought the Tacoma's would fair better off roading due to the weight and smaller size but I thought the heavier trucks would do better in the snow due to more traction. Seems like the heavier truck would stick through the snow better. Not doubting the story, just saying. But I live in GA and don't have much snow to deal with.

On a side note, I bought my Taco a little over a year ago, not long after having the "big snow", at least for us that is. I had wanted another 4x4 for a long time. My wife said I would jinx us getting snow again. We didn't get anything remotely close to a snow this winter. So I haven't had my Taco in the snow at all btw.

 

In his story, I think they were not just fighting the ice but also gravity because they were going up a steep hill.

 

Gravity and they fact they were too heavy... basically all they power they had was useless because they couldn't get any traction.