F150 owner considering making the switch

Hello fellow members. I currently own a 2018 f150 supercab stx with the 2.7 ecoboost. I’ve only had the truck a short amount of time (I tend to trade vehicles off very frequently... far too frequently in fact). I’ve always had a soft spot for Tacoma’s. I’ve had 2 prior ones. A 1998 and a 2012. Never any complaints but just traded them off for something else. I have no complaints with the current f150, other than it’s not a toyota lol. It’s only got 28k miles on it and if anything happens it’s under warranty for a while. I stumbled upon a 2017 trd sport Tacoma, dclb, with quite a few more options than my “base” model f150 and I’m having a hard time passing it up but also having a hard time making the deal lol. I don’t need a half ton truck. I have a small 5x10 utility trailer and a pop up camper that is all I tow at the moment. Idk what it is about Tacoma’s but they just draw me in. What are your opinions on what you’d do and why?

 

Do what you want. Enjoy.

 

Do you plan to do any mods at all?

 

The tacoma is going to be a lot smaller inside and probably less towing capability.

But the tacoma will be on the road for a long time, and I bet way more smiles per gallon especially if you want to hit the trails.

 

I traded my 14 GMC Sierra in on my 17 Sport and have been happy with the decision . I too have a 5x10 trailer for whatever and that allows me to have a tonneau cover which is great for me . I have no real complaints and enjoy this truck a lot .

 

I love my Tacoma because it’s the perfect size for me and because of the reliability. Just don’t think the smaller size and and less power will get you any more MPGs in the taco

 

The Tacoma has a small interior, and it not what I would call peppy. You will have to get into the pedal a lot more than you would with the F150. That being said I went Tacoma over F150. The Toyota service department is great, truck is nimble, super dependable, great off road, feels like a truck, and if you can pack a suitcase you can pack the truck. Good luck!

 

You’re wasting an obscene amount of money switching vehicles every couple years. To each his own.

 

And be slower, much slower. The 2.7 F-150 is faster, gets same or better MPG, tows more, has more interior room, has surprisingly good resale value, etc. I really like my 2021 Tacoma, I also really loved my 2020 Ford Raptor. When I sold the Raptor in September I seriously considered getting a 2.7 F-150 as my daily driver, I waited until January and got the Tacoma instead because I wanted a little smaller truck for Cape Cod with it’s small roads and tight parking places. If I were still in AZ I’d have an F-150 and probably a Tacoma for my wife.

You can put a 8 year 125K warranty on the F-150 for about $2300 through Flood Ford up until your 3/36 factory warranty is up, so reliability isn’t a major issue.

If this were a 2018 Dodge or Chevy vs Tacoma thread I’d be telling you to jump ship immediately, but Ford makes a damn good half ton truck.

 

I have a problem honestly. I’do why but I can’t ever stick with a vehicle. I guess I just haven’t found one that has me hooked. I can always come up with an “excuse” to get rid of it. The Tacoma would get a lift, wheels/tires, and whatever else I felt like throwing at it. My current f150 has a leveling kit and 33’s and averages 15-16 if I’m lucky. Most of my driving is 50/50 but my city driving isn’t stop and go, it’s more 35-50 with a light here and there. The Tacoma on paper tows 1000 less pounds than my f150 (~6500 vs ~7500) I’m sure, from what I’ve read, towing 6500 pounds in the Tacoma is not going to happen lol. But I don’t see my f150 handling 7500 either. Power wise sure but not suspension or braking.

 

Previously I had a 05 f150 and a 2015 Silverado 5.3. The 2019 Tacoma I have now is by far my most favorite. Nimble

 

That is the most important aspect of towing...getting the load stopped. I rarely read here where that consideration is mentioned. This small truck has a two-wheel disc setup so that makes me think it is not going to stop very efficiently, where life-depending safety in traffic becomes an issue. People here boast a lot about the towing capacity and few mention how well (or not so well) to get stopped. Nay-sayers will always have a point of rationalization.

Good on you for making mention.

.

 

Did you do a long test drive ? You may want to do this before committing so you won't have buyers remorse. I have a 2017 and I learned how to drive it. Light on the pedal and learned to modulate it . I had it vf tuned by a member here and now I enjoy driving it.

 

So what you’re saying is that you ruined your F-150 and now want something else? The 2.7L ecoboost is a decent engine, but going up in tire size will certainly make it struggle and kill the MPG. The 10 speed trans can compensate for some of the tire size, but really the 3.5L ecoboost with the lowest axle ratio available is the way to go if you’re going to upsize the tires. I’m guessing you have the same problem I had when I was younger, you never buy what you really want and end up disappointed with the compromise. Buy a Raptor, you’ll be hooked

If you get a Tacoma, I’d probably just buy new because the resale is so high. It is the only way to get a power seat which made the Tacoma drivable for me. Secondly, if you modify go all the way. Going to 33” tires means spending $2-3K regearing to make the truck really perform at a stock or better than stock level, otherwise we’ll see you on a different truck forum in a year contemplating trading out of the Tacoma because you’re not into it. I’m not trying to be harsh, just a reality check from someone who’s been there. I went through 4 trucks in a 6 year period in my late 20’s and early 30’s, it was expensive. In 2008 I finally bought the truck I really wanted (2006 Dodge 2500 diesel) and was happy for 12 years. I contemplated the Raptor for 3 years before getting one because they were going away, as soon as I had it I was kicking myself for not getting one in 2017. Now I’ve got the more practical Tacoma, and am happy with it. Unless my needs change I see having a Tacoma in the stable for years to come, but not this one because I leased it.

 

I traded a 2002 F150 Supercrew 4X4 in for my 2007 4X4 Tacoma DC almost 14 years ago. But in 2007 my youngest had moved out and it was just me and my wife and I no longer needed the room.

By 2016 I had 5 grandkids and needed the room and at the time bought a used 2014 F150 Supercrew 4X4. We kept the Tacoma as a 3rd vehicle.

If you put a lift and bigger tires on the Tacoma you won't get any better fuel mileage with it either. I'd keep what you have. Financially you need to keep a vehicle 5 years minimum or you just keep getting further into debt. And 10 years is better.

Next time do your research carefully before buying. Toyota trucks are pretty simple when it comes to buying, they are all pretty much equipped just alike when it comes to the drivetrain and the ability to tow and haul. Ford on the other hand offers 5 or 6 different engine options. They offer 4 different axle ratio's. You can get 5-6 different cab/bed combinations, 5-6 different trim levels along with 3-4 different GVWR's.

Because of all of those options a significant number of F150's on the road won't tow or haul as much as a Tacoma. At least 1/2 of them. And there are a lot of others where there is some overlap between what many 3/4 ton trucks will tow or haul. If you're going to buy a F150 and plan to tow or haul anything with it you had better read the spec's carefully and make sure of the trucks axle ratio and payload ratings posted on the actual truck.

 

I just switched to an f150 (2017 5.0 supercrew 4wd)

Wanted to get back into a Tacoma, but couldn’t pull the trigger on a 3rd gen over the truck I have now for several reasons.

 

Considering you’ve previously owned Tacomas and don’t need a full size truck, I think you’ll be satisfied with the Tacoma at least until you find interest in something else. You know the Tacoma’s pros/cons. In terms of the 3rd Generation Tacoma, there are some universal complaints/recalls (transmission, fuel pump, frame, etc.) that you will encounter here on the forum. I also trade vehicles frequently. This is my fourth Tacoma since 2017. I haven’t had a major issue with any of them.

 

I just haven’t found a vehicle I like sticking with. I get one, modify it to make it my own, get bored with it and ready to move to something else. Usually I don’t lose out. If I do it’s on the parts I added to it. The vehicles I usually end up getting into for less than trade in. Like my f150, I owe a few thousand less than it’s trade in value is at the moment. In 6 months I may owe more than trade in with how much these trucks drop. Honestly I can’t think of a vehicle that would hook me for a while. I would love a raptor but i couldn’t spend that much money. I could buy and modify a truck to be equal for much less $$. I always have to modify my vehicles to some extent. I’ve tossed around the idea of a tundra (because I love toyota as a brand) but god they’re pricey around my area.

 

Won’t be equal for less money. The delta between a regular XLT and a base Raptor is less than $10K. You can’t do suspension, wheels and tires, fiberglass front and rear, engine mods, and have it all dialed in for $10K. The base model 800a Raptor is a deal at $55K, especially compared to a $49K TRD Pro. Mine was $71K, but I went full retard with the 802a and most every option. Compare a Lariat to the 802A I owned and the delta is less than $10K.

 

It also depends on location. Also what options you want. Are fiberglass fenders a necessity? Not for me. The raptor is a bargain but the necessity to have a long travel full size truck. To rephrase my previous statement with what I should’ve said, I could buy and modify a truck to be equal (for me) to a raptor. I don’t need or want a lot of the extras that makes a raptor a raptor. Sure id love to buy one. But tack on an extra 10k or more and I can modify a truck to make it my own for much less. Get into the used truck market and a raptor is much more than a 10k difference. I’m also would not be looking for a lariat if I was buying which would widen the price difference more.