Small trucks are slowly getting bigger and bigger

Broadly speaking, we eat a lot more than we used to: The average American consumed 2,481 calories a day in 2010, about 23% more than in 1970.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.pewr...icas-diet-has-changed-over-the-decades/?amp=1

 

Yup, people are getting fatter so they need more room. Hit the gym fatso!!!

 

Fatter people means bigger mid-sized trucks. It's all connected!

 

I agree

 

What you are saying fits you, and a lot of other people perfectly. That is fine. However it doesn't fit all of us. If you want to drive around in a battleship sized vehicle, that is fine. If you want 700 hp in every vehicle you own, that is fine. Just don't assume that we all "want" that. What is the matter with having a choice? Right now, manufacturers don't give us a quality vehicle with the small choice. I bought a 2004 Mini Cooper because it, in my opinion, was a small vehicle built with higher quality standards in mind. I loved that car. The Mini Coopers have also grown considerably. I have no desire whatsoever to own a new Mini, but sure wish I could buy another 2004 Mini that incorporated newer technology. Same goes for a Toyota truck. I sure wish I could buy a new version of my '86. My wife is the same way. She loved her 2004 CRV but hates her 2016, because of size. But someone has decided for us that we want larger vehicles.

 

I posted this one page back. The first gen Tundra is bigger in almost every dimension interior AND exterior.

2017 Toyota Tacoma
SR5 V6 4x4 Access Cab 127.4 in. WB

INTERIOR
Front head room 40 "
Rear head room 35 "
Front shoulder room 58 "
Rear shoulder room 57 "
Front hip room 57 "
Rear hip room 52 "
Front leg room 42.9 "
Rear leg room 24.6 "
Standard seating 4
EXTERIOR
Length 212.3 "
Body width 74.4 "
Body height 70.6 "
Wheelbase 127.4 "
Curb 4,305 Lbs.
Gross weight 5,600 Lbs.

2005 Toyota Tundra Specs
SR5 V8 4dr 4x4 Access Cab

INTERIOR
Front head room 40 "
Rear head room 38 "
Front shoulder room 62 "
Rear shoulder room 63 "
Front hip room 59 "
Rear hip room 57 "
Front leg room 41.5 "
Rear leg room 28.6 "
Standard seating 6
EXTERIOR
Length 218.3 "
Body width 75.2 "
Body height 71.3 "
Wheelbase 128.3 "
Ground clearance 11.2 "
Curb 4,785 Lbs.
Gross weight 6,300 Lbs.

 

I would say that the size is more similar to the T100.

Edit: I’ll fry to format this the same as my post above when I’m at my computer tonight.

1998 Toyota T100 XtraCab Manual SR5 Specs

DIMENSIONS
Gross Axle Wt Rating - Rear (lbs)- TBD -
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Cap (lbs)5700
Curb Weight - Front (lbs)2320
Gross Axle Wt Rating - Front (lbs)- TBD -
Gross Combined Wt Rating (lbs)9200
Curb Weight - Rear (lbs)1685
Front Head Room (in)39.6
Second Leg Room (in)29.6
Front Hip Room (in)59.4
Front Leg Room (in)42.9
Second Shoulder Room (in)60.2
Passenger Capacity6
Second Head Room (in)37.8
Front Shoulder Room (in)62.4
Second Hip Room (in)60.4
Length, Overall w/o rear bumper (in)204.3
Front Bumper to Back of Cab (in)- TBD -
Frame Width, Rear (in)- TBD -
Overhang, Front (in)32.3
Ground to Top of Load Floor (in)- TBD -
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)75.2
Cab to Axle (in)- TBD -
Ground Clearance, Front (in)7.7
Wheelbase (in)121.8
Overhang, Rear w/o bumper (in)50.2
Ground to Top of Frame (in)- TBD -
Height, Overall (in)68.1
Cab to End of Frame (in)- TBD -
Ground Clearance, Rear (in)7.7
Cargo Box Width @ Top, Rear (in)- TBD -
Cargo Volume (ft³)- TBD -
Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)- TBD -
Cargo Box Width @ Floor (in)61.4
Ext'd Cab Cargo Volume (ft³)21.4
Cargo Box Length @ Floor (in)76.1
Tailgate Width (in)- TBD -
Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)49.2

 

That was never the conclusion. I would prefer a truck option instead of having to buy the soccer mom version with a box. People make what sells and that is the end of discussion. I too have to buy based on what is offered in the marketplace. It is what caused me to look at the Tacoma in the first place. I wanted an Eco-diesel in a reg or extended (whatever the AC equivalent is) and didn’t want a lot of other options. Ram pushed me into something I didn’t want so my optioned truck went up a few levels just to get certain things. At the same time I could have had DC and a higher trim level for thousands less. I got pissed and started looking at other options, other manufacturers and other options. By the time I was done I had a TRD OR instead of the eco diesel. Did I get the truck I originally intended to buy? Not a chance. Dodge / Ram literally pushed me into a Toyota.

Now go back and re-read what I actually said. I think you read things too quickly and missed the point a few times.

 

Oh yes....I definitely remember the Couriers with their rotted out front fenders.

But those rigs were a bit older than the ones I'm talking about. I was referring to the '86-'92 B2000/2200/2600.

That gen was my favorite of all the '80's compact trucks.

 

Just me being a tight wad. My wife begged me to get it and I messed around for a day or two "thinking about it". When I decided to pull the trigger it was gone.

 

As mentioned by others the 3rd gen did grow in size
Toyota Tacoma 2017
212-226″ L x 74-75″ W x 71-72″ H

Nissan Frontier
205.5" L W,

 

Not all cars are getting bigger

I had a ‘66 Cadillac Coupe Deville that was 224” long.

2005 coupe deville 207”

Right up to the late 70s early 80’s cars were pretty big.

But yeah the trend is going back up.

 

Look at the Ford police interceptor, although the Taurus and Crown Vic are different vehicles, Ford's police car has gotten smaller.

 

I just think that Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos determined it was not the right truck for you.

That is what usually gets me through in such a situation, so maybe it will work for you also.

 

What are those numbers overall length?

I don't know what the numbers are, but 3rd gen, and 2nd gen look like they have the same wheel base, and the cab dimensions look the same.

I could be wrong.

My comment about the frointeer was based on shoulder room in the front seats with a passenger the Tacoma felt more confined or cozy than the frointeer.

 

Wheel base for a 2nd gen and 3rd gen are both 140.6 for a double cab long bed. Weight is up few hundred pounds.

Unless I'm putting it a parking spot, or designing the truck as RORO cargo. Overall vehicle length isn't my concern. I go by wheel base.

 

The 2gen Tacoma had an overall length of 190-221″ L , depending on model and configuration.
The 3gen Tacoma has an overall length of 212-226" L, depending on model and configuration.

I read a report sometime back that the reason for the increase in length was to accommodate new / expected crash protection standards. The length seems to be added to the front end. (from the firewall forward).

Wheel base may be the same. Toyota just added more hood length.

I posted the overall length of the current Nissan Frontier of 205.5 inches to show that the current Tacoma is 6.5 to 20.5 inches longer than the Frontier.

 

Okay that all makes sense if its accurate.

What I was saying is [refer to that post if need be] the wheelbase for a 2ng DCLB is 140.6 inches, where a 3rg DCLB is 140.6 inches, those are the exact same measurements.

I was talking about interior space on the Frointeer cab, there is more room between the front two seats than there is in the Tacoma.

 

There's no single cab 3rd gen, so using the single cab 2nd gen length is just dishonest. It looks poor. Match similar models.

 

Yeah I’m not from “the states” we got “export” vehicles back then. We didn’t have the “Ranger” (except a few people must have shipped in) until it’s last generation, before that we had the “Courier” and some B2000s, they were almost identical except the name plate