My first Tacoma might be my last

A coworker of mine learned this the hard way..

 

Just curious. If you don't have a Tacoma. Why are you a moderator on a Tacoma web forum?

 

Very good..just making sure, as I didn't pile on or insult the OP and my other 2 that were in similar veins were left

 

Top of my skull:

Jumper cables, air compressor, gloves, flashlight..blanket and sweatshirt as well. 2 cell phone chargers as well just in case one dies and I need to call for help.

I keep several ratchet straps as well, though I guess that's not really applicable for what we're discussing.

I'd keep a small tool set as well, but with a single cab I have zero storage space to begin with.

 

/\ This

 

OP, its not a matter of if but when the shit hits the fan. Unfortunately you have to nut up and take risks once that day comes. Had a blow out once in a straight up blizzard in over 2 feet of snow. Over 50 miles from any help. No cell service, no light, no nothing. Its sucked a fat one but I got my flashlight, crawled my ass under there with my p.o.s stock jack and changed that sucker. Took off all my clothes, cranked the heater and mobbed home in my underwear. It is dangerous and no one one wants to do it, but the sad truth is... Sometimes you are on your own my friend. Dont take it out on Toyota.

 

If you think that's bad read this. Friend of mine and his wife have a BMW 3 SERIES. Driving up to the mountains their tire blows a golf ball size hole. These vehicles don't come with spare just repair kit. Called tow truck. truck came picked them up by the time they got to the dealership they were closed no other tire shop open. They had to get a hotel wait till morning to get new tire put on. So feel good about having a spare an taking some the to change it. I'm glad tacoma come with spare. By the way there tire was not covered paid 300 bucks for one tire plus install

 

+1, had a friend get killed in college, changing a tire on that side of the vehicle with traffic whipping by 2 feet away

 

It will take more than a flat tire for me to say this is my last Toyota purchase. Even though my truck is less than a year old, I maintain a AAA Plus membership for road emergencies far from home base.

A full sized spare tire is one of the reasons I purchased a Tacoma rather than another CUV. In my other vehicle which uses a donut spare, I've been there, done that, where I had to limp over a quarter mile to a spot that was marginally safer with regards to passing traffic along side of a busy highway.

Changing a tire along a busy motorway sucks - Keep all your tire tools in an accessible location - Practice removing the spare tire and raising the vehicle at home, just in case.

 

I am pretty sure OP has been scarred off. Can't blame him. Too many variables to say he did or did not do the right thing. Whats right for one of us surely isn't right for all.
I personally would have tried to get to a safe spot and changed it out myself. If I couldn't...well...who knows.
I certainly wouldn't trade my new Toyota off though because of it.

Cheers!

 

I had to call Toyota Care for my week old Tacoma when it got stuck in 4WD low...They answered the call quickly...They sent a tow truck and it took only about 45 minutes and the driver was great... Fortunately I was at my house so it wasn't a big deal...It wasn't the closest towing company but I'm sure they are contracted out...They even called me the next day to follow up on how the whole ordeal went....My one and only experience with Toyota Care was excellent....Sorry the OP had such a hard time as his experience was probably the exception, not the rule...

 

LOL....I had more storage room for small items when I had my '97 single cab compared to my '16 access cab....I had stuff stashed under and behind the seats out of sight...The small compartments under the access cab's jump seats are relatively small with one being filled with a jack...

 

Drive the vehicle off of the highway, even if it ruins a wheel, put the spare on and get on with it. The great thing about Toyota's are the wheels they come with are dirt cheap. There is no way I'd risk my safety, safety of my passenger(s) or the safety of someone coming to help me over a wheel. It will drive with four flat tires, so getting off the highway with one shouldn't be an issue.

 

When I was on Patrol I ONLY changed flat tires for old people and women. I'm bound by no duty to change a flat tire for anyone. If you're a grown man who can't change a tire, you need more help then I can give you on the side of the road for 30mins... I understand changeing a tire on the side of the road isn't ideal for anyone. I also have enough sense to know that it will take less time for me to limp it someplace safer and change the damn thing myself. AAA wait times in my area usually run about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. Toyota care, AAA, Allstate, Etc all usually utilize the same tow trucks in the area.

 

Yep. And we fall for it every time.

 

They worked great for me!

 

This...

I've had the same experience with AAA. It was years ago. But still. Companies like this are only as good as the tow company they hire out to.

With that said, Damn! OP catching a lot of flack for being pissed. I'd be pissed too. And don't think anywhere he said he couldn't change it. But when you have that service, why would you?

You 3rd genners are an interesting crowd.

 

I will not sit anywhere waiting for some dumbass to hit me and have much worse issues than a flat. Fuck that wheel if it comes to that. Drive where it is safe to change flat, roll on spare, go about my way, buy another wheel if needed. Not pondering or bashing OPs actions or any of the helpful opinions, just saying. Having a flat or how much a roadside service sucks or not has no bearing on not ever owning another of that kind of vehicle tho. Same shit could of happened to anything there is to drive.