Tacoma as a Work Truck?

They are commonly used here for that sort of thing. As long as you don't have to haul a lot of heavy or bulky stuff. If so, then you need a bigger truck.

 

In the first place, if you are seriously considering the Tacoma as suitable for this use, then I say it would probably work great. Can't think of a more reliable truck. Of course there are other larger model trucks with more power, more towing & hauling capacity... while I don't think overkill is the answer, you never know what you will encounter out in the sticks... or on the jobsite. Just a thought.

 

You really need a full size truck for a survey crew. Especially if you need a 3 man crew sometimes.
A Tacoma is just to cramp in my opinion and glad I never had to work out of one. The steering wheel in a full size truck was just the right distance away to rest the field book and sketch during rain or snow storms. Plus if your truck is sometimes your office you just need more room. Tacoma cab is too small!

 

Wow
This thread snowballed fast.

The poll was kind of a trick question (but I was also curious of your thoughts). I know the Tacoma would suit my needs, because I've actually been working out of a 3rd gen 4Runner for 2 years now

I will tell you it is very tight fitting all of the equipment. But it does work. I built a crude storage box to hold lathes and raise up the cooler. Removed the back seats and put a rack on the ceiling inside for range poles, pin finder, shovel, etc. I can easily fit 4 bundles of lathes, which is usually enough for one day of work. I have about a dozen rolls of flagging, 6 pieces rebar, pk nails, line locator, GPS kit (with rover pole, bipod, 2 tripods, deep cycle battery), box of notes/maps, computer, chargers for everything, extra water, extra clothes, hard hats, hammers, markers, etc.

I use this one vehicle as daily driver and a 4wheeler. It is light enough and small enough that it goes pretty much anywhere our company would normally use a side by side ATV. I drive it like a Baja truck every day. Everyday for 2 years I get home and expect the truck to explode, leak, smoke, fall to pieces. But it has never once failed. This truck drives through anything. Its a blast.

 

Pulls fine for what it is. Don't anticipate going more than 65-70 with a loaded trailer.
My '06 is getting the frame swapped but has pulled this same trailer from Central FL to Savannah, GA at 65 mph. Didn't sway, didn't bounce, just a nice, SLOW, ride.
I often have to transport Co-workers also and our biggest dude is 6'2 240 and he still has room.
Opt for the long bed if you haul anything backside cause the 5 footer is bout worthless. Can barely fit an acetylene tank in mine.

 

With a bed cover I'd think you could fit all that in the Tacoma. I have a similar amount of stuff for Industrial Plant work and with some organizing, you can fit more than you think.

 

I always worked out of a f150 with a silver shield cover. A home built wood box with dividers that would hold 3 sets of legs, range poles, layout rod , triple and single prisms. 3 bundles of lath,2 bundles 16" stakes and all the small tools and gps equipment, level , total station and a area for plans and files.
It was packed, not to mention lunch boxes and winter clothes &boots. I just can't imagine getting everything into a Tacoma with another guy also. One man crew would probably work.

 

I'm a huge Tacoma fan, but, echoing many previous comments, I'd be a bit wary of using it as a work truck. I've used mine doing geological field work in socal and northern Mexico on numerous occasions, each time carrying at least one passenger and >500 lbs of gear and samples. I also use it as a homeowner for home remodeling projects, which is mostly impractical without my trailer. This truck is not made for that kind of work.

These days for survey work you probably just have some GPS gear, a couple tripods and survey rods and maybe a total station? But even with light gear like that, if you have 3 passengers (plus water? cooler?), you'll be disappointed with the capability of stock Tacoma rear suspension, which as far as I can tell is made to ride great empty but pretty much suck under load. I solved this issue by spending an absurd amount of money on a full suspension rebuild, but thats probably not a practical solution for a work truck.

So even though I'm a die hard Tacoma fan, if I were buying a work truck I'd get something bigger, like a Tundra or an f-series. That said, I know several geotech consultants in socal who roll with stock Tacomas and are happy with them, they just usually roll solo and run with light loads.

 

Defiantly, Almost all the oil field pumpers use them around here

 

Yes, it would work well. But a Tundra would work better.