My review after 12K miles...the good and the bad...

24 TRD OR Short bed 4x4 auto--no hood rattle and no glare noticed off the JBL. I have had every generation of Tacoma (6 total) and this is BY FAR the best truck--power where you need it, enough gears to keep it in the sweet spot, good brakes (all disc), slightly better gas mileage, and MUCH better suspension. They are pricey but every one of mine has brought more than expected on resale or trade in!!!!! Coming up on 6K miles.
Cheers,
db

 

Yeah like I said....overall, a great truck. I'm just posting my few complaints. Hopefully Toyota R&D people check these forums here and there. I also fill out the Toyota surveys that get sent to me for feedback. In regards to the glare, check the center of your windshield on a sunny day about 11a-3p when the sun is directly above.

 

I appreciate the honest review. I'm going to be considering a new truck sometime next year and am looking at all options. One question though. What does the door sticker say the payload is? There should be a statement that reads something like "The total weight of passengers and cargo should not exceed XXXX lbs."

This was a big negative on the 3rd gens. A 4x4 DC would be somewhere between 900-1100 lbs. I'm hoping they improved the 4th gens. Most comparable 2nd gens were 1200-1300 lbs. Just for reference a Honda Ridgeline or Ford Ranger are 1500-1700 lbs.

I plan to tow a trailer that will be 4000 lbs max. The truck will easily pull the weight, but the limited payload means there can't be anything in the truck except me and my wife while towing.

Going from a 21-gallon fuel tank to 17.5 may be the deal killer. Around 10-12 mpg is the best you'll get towing. 150 miles between fuel stops would be pushing it.

 

How much payload do you regularly carry, or want to carry?

 

Not that three of my fat ass friends would fit into a four-door Taco, but I was thought it would be funny to max out the payload capacity by getting myself and three of my buddies to sit in a midsize truck.

 

I started to comment four Americans would max out payload. I decided to be diplomatic.

 

Toyota is most definitely NOT listening to anyone here.

 

You can bet they capture feedback here. It would be stupid not to.

 

Looks like it says 1,200 pounds....

I do not tow anything, so can't help ya on that end....but there's the door sticker for ya...

 

I'd think that of all the employees who work in the R&D section, sales, management, etc...I'd think some along the way would read it...to think they totally ignore it would be kind of silly. Just my two pennies...

 

Great review ty. I have read nothing but good things about the new powertrain combo and am very curious about it. (Minus the 8AT issues, which seem to be solved).

 

Yeah of all things, I’d say the powertrain is the biggest improvement….definitely happy every time I hop on the expressway ramp or travel down a twisty curvy with inclines…oh, and it just looks good…

 

What sliders/side steps are you running? I think they look great!

 

It seems like the only thing they take away from the forums is very expensive feature dense vehicles.

Which is fine if that’s what you want and what you’re willing to pay for, but like I said, they have zero interest in people like me who have owned/bought over a dozen base Toyotas in their lives.

 

You lose ~60 miles per tank unladen from a 3rd gen to a 4th gen. Not convenient and really not tenable when towing over distance. I would personally choose the hybrid for no other reason than it SHOULD provide some extra range (TBD).

 

Do you wear polarized sunglasses when driving? If not, it's a game changer for any kind of windshield glare or reflection.

I just use cheap fishing glasses from Walmart years ago, but there are all kinds out there.

 

My 4000 lb TT will eat up 520 lbs of the payload as tongue weight. I have a cap on the truck that weighs 180 lbs. I weigh 220, my wife 140. That's 1060 lbs. My current truck has 1200 lbs of payload leaving me 140 lbs for other cargo in the truck. That's cutting it pretty close. I wouldn't want anything less than 1200 lbs and 1400-1500 would be better.

 

I'm getting just as much, if not more miles to the tank on my 4th gen compared to my two 3rd gens. Filled the truck the other day it gave me 392 miles to empty. Last I recall it would estimate me at 345-360 miles to empty on my 3rd gens.

 

With the towing and fuel range, it sounds like you'd be much happier in a half ton.

I'd be trying to get a lowish mileage 2G Tundra if those were my goals.

 

Thank you...took me a while to find a set I liked...I like 'em because they don't stick out past the tires...here's the link:

https://realtruck.com/p/go-rhino-dominator-dss-sliders/v/toyota/tacoma/2024/