Considering a new Tacoma Off-road — Can you help with some questions?

I’m new to the forum, and live in Escondido, California.
I am considering the purchase of a 2017 or 2018 Tacoma Off-road 4WD.
I like the shorter wheel base, but the longer bed, so I think an Access Cab would be right. They just seem really hard to find in 2017 Off-road models.
I currently drive a 2000 Nissan Xterra 4WD, but it’s getting pretty long in the tooth. There seem to be very few options for off-road worthy vehicles anymore, and I appreciate the reliability of Toyotas, since my family has owned a Camry and an Avalon (325,000 miles). Truthfully, I would prefer a small-sized SUV, but those are pretty much non-existent now. I’m really not interested in Jeeps. I would buy a J70 Land Cruiser, but I don’t live in Australia…. I just wish Toyota would produce a small modernized FJ40 series, but that seems unlikely.

I have a few questions that I’ve had trouble finding online.

1. What kind of armor does the Off-road come with? I haven’t seen much about what’s under there.

2. What are the diameter of the shocks? Are they pretty decent?

3. I have custom square tube rock sliders on my Xterra, flush and under the rocker panel only. What’s a good simple bolt-on rock slider for the Taco?

4. I don’t have kids to haul around anymore, so I don’t need the full back seat of a double cab. Are there any cons to getting the Access Cab versus the double cab? It seems there are a few features missing on the access trim.

5. How easy is it to wire lights to the outside such as on a bed rack or roof rack? Is there a 12V line in the bed, or only 110V? And where is the inverter for that back outlet anyway?

Here’s my Xterra. I'll be sad to see it go. Mods include ARB bumper; custom rock sliders (not in this image); fire extinguisher; always-on 12V outlets, with three additional wired in for a total of 6 in the truck; wiring for roof and rear lights; Hella fog lights mounted on the bumper; Optima red top battery; and a flashlight mount on the driver’s door.

 

There's no armor that comes stock on the Gen3 Off Road edition. The very light 'skid plate' on the independent front suspension (IFS) and steering is really more suited to deflecting flying gravel than pushing over rocks. Apart from that, there are no sliders or skid plates that are stock.

I'd look at PelfreyBilt for skids and sliders. (www.PelfreyBilt.com) I don't work for them, but I am saving my pennies for their armor.

C4Fabrication (www.C4Fabrication.com) also has some really nice armor and racks. I don't work for them, either.

Best of luck on the switch!

 

1. Not much of any armor to speak of. Just some superficial skid plates that are soft and thin and will get mangled quickly. If you actually want to offroad you'll need to upgrade to something heavier duty eventually.

2. The shocks are OK for occasional off road use but if you plan to drive long distances on rough roads and do more frequent off roading you might want to consider stepping up to something beefier like a bilstein 6112...the OEMs are bilstein 4600s. My 4600s were already leaking at 23k miles.

3. ton of aftermarket rock sliders... literally too many to list. check out https://mobtownoffroad.com/2016/04/12/mobtown-offroad-2nd-gen-toyota-tacoma-rear-plate-bumper/ or http://rcimetalworks.com/

4. can't think of any except you can't really fit any adults in the rear ...if you have a lot of gear you want to keep dry (coming from an SUV) you may need to look into weather/waterproofed toppers

Get familiar with the search function is my suggestion. You will find a ton of answers to your questions if you run varying searches. Also try the subforums such as https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/suspension.18/

Also recommend researching this truck more before you pull the trigger. They have had MORE than their fair share of complaints and problems. Don't rest on your laurels "because its a Toyota"....

 

Also coming from an SUV, why not a 4Runner? We have a 2016 4Runner and it is a MUCH better quality vehicle than my 2016 Tacoma has been. They're still made in Japan and they have the trusty 4.0L motor with much better low end torque/throttle response and they do not have the new quirky atkinson cycle 3.5L that the Tacoma comes with ....yet....

 

Not sure what transmission you are wanting but the Off Road Access Cab only comes in Automatic

 

Thanks for the replies so far.
I have considered the 4Runner. It just seems a bit large to me compared to what my ideal vehicle would be. I wasn't aware of those advantages, however.
There have been a few occasions where I wished that I had a truck bed for hauling mulch and other landscaping materials. The 4runner also costs a lot more — money that I could spend on upgrades. I'm not really crazy about the front end looks of the 4runner at the present time either.

I'll likely get an automatic instead of manual for the truck.

 

We got my wife's 2016 4Runner (SR5 Premium) for maybe 2k less than my TRD Offroad Tacoma. The dimensions are very similar on both vehicles. The 4Runner just "feels larger" but really it's about the same.

Dimensions on 4Runner
190-191″ L x 76″ W x 72″ H

Dimensions on Access Cab Tacoma
212″ L x 74-75″ W x 71″ H

Also consider for price, if you have to buy a topper or camper top for that Tacoma it is probably going to run you another grand or two....maybe more.

EDIT: At any rate, I'd still test drive one just so you can see the difference. Make sure you take them out on the interstate or highway, and get on them. The top end power for the new Tacoma is a bit better but you'll notice the low end throttle response and torque is better on the larger 6 cylinder equipped 4-Runner.

 

I dont have kids......yet.

That being said, I am so glad I got the double cab for the space. I have the seats folded regularly and utilize all the space back there. Not sure I could survive with an access cab but thats just me. Test drive it and play with the seats and picture how you might end up using it.

 

Dealer had a white 4 dr base 4 cylinder (Rubber floor and no rear seat- can't remember the designation but someone will chime in) I considered trading into. Still thinking about it. Good luck with whatever you get!

 

Welcome to TW....I may be able to better give you an impression of going from a 2000 Xterra to a 3rd Gen Tacoma as I had the exact same year and vehicle as yours, and I made the similar hard decision a year ago to trade it in on a new more reliable off road vehicle that put a car payment back in my life. My 2000 Xterra was set up for offroading VERY similar to yours but it was long in the tooth as well and I had admired Tacoma's for years so I made the jump....and I have not regretted it for one second. My switch to the Tacoma has been great so far. Like all vehicles there have been some that have had bad experiences on here..........but overall you will hear positive feedback from many on here too.

The Tacoma was my first truck and I was skeptical at first I would like a truck after so many years with a SUV and like you was not interested in Jeeps (for me rough daily ride and reliability issues kept me away). But now that I have owned my TRD Off Road 4x4 Double Cab Long Bed for a year now I would never go back to a SUV. The versatility that this vehicle has given me over what I could do with my Xterra is just incredible. I still have kids so I needed to go with the Double cab but since you don't have to worry about that I think you are making the smart choice and looking for a access cab TRD OR. That way you still get the versatility of the long bed with the slightly shorter wheel base. I sleep a lot in the back of my long bed when camping and I could not do that with the tailgate up in a short bed. Just wont happen. The long bed is worth the search trust me.

Also people complain about the power of the 3.5L engine now in the Tacoma. Coming from the 175 hp in the Xterra the power in the Tacoma feels like I am in a dragster so it is all relative. My Xterra was painful to drive in the mountains or anything with a grade for that matter. The power in the Tacoma really comes on about 3000 rpms so in the mountains I just drop it into 4th when I need to go and I can hold speed and accelerate all day just fine. It is a different beast and power band than the Xterra. Like any new vehicle it just took a bit to get used to the new powerplant and all is good. No issues for me I am more than satisfied.

In any event I will try and answer your questions:


1. What kind of armor does the Off-road come with? I haven’t seen much about what’s under there.

The OR comes with the standard stamped steel skid plates for the IFS and transfer case. You get a hard plastic one that provides courtesy protection for the gas tank. As other have said I have already dinged my IFS skid really well but it is hanging in there. Eventually I will upgrade when I can afford it

2. What are the diameter of the shocks? Are they pretty decent?

Not sure on the diameter but the shocks are Bilstein and have been awesome for me in over 400 miles of off road driving. Plenty of washboard roads in the desert too at speed and no leaking from mine at this time. I will upgrade in the future when needed.

3. I have custom square tube rock sliders on my Xterra, flush and under the rocker panel only. What’s a good simple bolt-on rock slider for the Taco?

Good simple bold on slider her in California (save on shipping) you can look into a company on here named BAMF -- Bay Area Metal Fabrication. I have mine from there complete bolt on and have been amazing. But there are tons of companies that make off road products and sliders for the Tacoma you will not be short on any options.

4. I don’t have kids to haul around anymore, so I don’t need the full back seat of a double cab. Are there any cons to getting the Access Cab versus the double cab? It seems there are a few features missing on the access trim.

The only con I can see to getting the Access cab to the double cab is I do fold my seats down alot in the double cab and I do have more weather tight storage than an access cab? Other wise you will be fine with the access cab for your needs.

5. How easy is it to wire lights to the outside such as on a bed rack or roof rack? Is there a 12V line in the bed, or only 110V? And where is the inverter for that back outlet anyway?

I have no exterior lighting so sorry I can't answer this question.


I loved my Xterra but being honest my Tacoma is so much better for my needs at this point in my life. It is a daily commuter and weekend overlanding rig and it does it all. Not to mention it can tow up to 6800lbs in my configuration and rides so smooth on the highway. The other day I carried home 38 bags of mulch at 1600lbs in it as well. I could never do that in my Xterra. Mine has been rock solid reliable and I also getting the combined 20 mpg as advertised. when I traded my Xterra in I was getting 13 mpg combined.

Only cons I have experienced is mine need the transmission TSB to eliminate the slight delay from going from drive to reverse but that was a quick reprogram done at the dealership. Other than that it has been solid. My Xterra had to go through at least 4 TSB's and I had a recall for a cracked manifold so I experienced issues on it as well. That SUV lasted me 17 years so I am hoping to get the same length of time out of this Tacoma. So far so good.

Do yourself a favor and search around here. Read the good and bad reviews both. This is an online forum so everyone is extra vocal behind the keyboard both ways so just remember that when you read things.

Good luck with your research and with your decision.

 

This truck is not going to tow 6800lbs dude. Well at least not safely.

Step away from the koolaid

 

Rated to tow up to 6800lbs is the manufacturer stated limit. If you want to tow to the limit that is your decision.

Haven't had koolaid for years.....they still make that?

 

I bought my truck less than a year back and tried to look past the issues but bottom line is I been spending more time at the dealer which is exactly what I did not want to do with a new vheicle. The transmission is very quirky and motor feels gutless. I have seen an experience a lot of issues with this truck so I cannot recommend it. You are on an enthusiast forum for Tacoma so you are going to be getting a heavy dose of rainbows and sunshine pumping here. I say just do some of your own homework on these look at the online reviews and ratings from consumer reports and jd power! As it turns out those quality ratings are dead nuts accurate!

 

The max stated tow capacity ratings are HIGHLY misleading. I tow 2500lbs with my truck and no way I'd tow double that weight up or down mountain grades.

 

Not in the 3rd gen section.

 

Test drive.

 

Had to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCkBmiZV09w

 

Yeah if you want to have your motor screaming at you like a leaf blower at 4800rpms in 2nd gear trying to maintain 50mph.

 

Working as intended, but no I agree, I wouldn't tow much.

 

So a manual would get better scores as you would be using the gears unlike the automatic did.