Tacoma Limitations

I have a 2011 Tacoma double cab TRD sport. When I bought the truck, I thought it would be great for general home stuff and would also accommodate a growing family. Since owning it for 2.5 years, I have noted the following limitations (with examples): payload (not enough to move the amount of topsoil i needed efficiently), bed size (certain items would not fit, so I needed to use a full size truck), interior space (very limited front seat room with infant seat in back) and lack of options (heated mirrors, etc). I will say it is easy to maneuver around town and it is mechanically solid.

What I am contemplating now:

1. Keep Tacoma
2. Buy a Tundra double cab (nice due to increased bed size, but interior space doesn't give me much more than tacoma). The tundra crew max is too big/disproportionate
3. Buy an F150 Crew 5.0 (nice interior space, but bed doesnt give a whole lot more than the tacoma and reliability issues, options are nice on the fx4 though)
4. Buy a different vehicle and rent a truck as needed (owning a home and a truck does make everything a lot easier)

Any suggestions?????

 

You didn't notice these things before you bought it?

 

Did you get a DCSB OP ?

 

When I first got my taco, the access cab fit. After the first kid, it was hard for all three of us to fit, wife's knees were up against the dash. It worked for short trips but I ended up borrowing/renting a 4 seater on long trips. After the second one, I gave the taco to my dad and got a Sierra Denali. Worked perfectly but taking long trips with luggage and baby stuff was hard (weather) even with a tonneau. After the third kid, I said screw it, traded the Sierra in and got an Avalanche. Been working out real well thus far.

I re-acquired the taco since my dad moved to a new Sierra and am using it as my to work vehicle and use the Avalanche for whole family outings. We also have a Subaru but the mileage is up there (200k+) so am looking at the new 4runners but the wife would be primarily driving it.

 

Trailer.

I like the size of the tacoma, so I probably wouldn't go to a full size. I rent a trailer whenever I need it. I just used a uhaul trailer to haul over 2 yards of topsoil. Sure it cost me $40, but I don't have to maintain it.

 

I didn't notice what i wrote in the examples because i was never in those situations before where i needed a truck for certain tasks.

Yes DCSB.

Joe dirt---sounds like my situation. I would prefer not to go through so many vehicles though. Not because I dont like driving new stuff---just get screwed on trade in each time. My wife drives a rav4.

Speaking of trailers. I would consider buying an SUV and renting a trailer with that. I dont think I would rent a trailer with a truck.

 

Well there we have it

 

I had a 2005 Tacoma we traded in for a 2008 Tundra double cab (not crewmax). We sold the trailer we bought the Tundra for and ended up going back to a 2014 Tacoma Double Cab. The interior space may not be substantially more, but I do miss the space it did have inside. Especially with 3 dogs. The center console area is also big enough to have dinner at. The Tacoma feels quit cramped after being in the Tundra for 5 years.

 

Would you say there is more room in the tundra double cab than tacoma double cab? I need more rear space for infant seat in order to give front passenger more room.

Why did you go back to the tacoma? I am thinking about test driving the tundra soon to compare.

 

Absolutely, just the specs on Toyotas web page say there is. I think it would would be a good idea to take a drive in the Tundra. I just asked my wife to try and explain the difference and all she could say was "bigger". Width was the biggest difference I think. I notice it when trying to pack crap in the truck. The best we got for fuel milage was around 19 and we averaged around 13-14. We got rid of the Tundra because we sold our travel trailer. It had the 5.7, and I do miss the ability to pass cars on the interstate on the on ramp. I have always enjoyed manual transmissions, my wife didn't like parking the Tundra. She drove it fine just don't ask her to park in a single space between two cars, cause you'll be walking from the back of the parking lot. I would suggest taking the car seat along on a test drive cause theres probably only a couple inches of difference there. Theres also a ton of stuff I miss about the Tundra. Fan speed options, temperature and current fuel economy on the dash are on the top of my mind.

Do some spec searching for payload capacity differences though. You might be surprised.

 

To be honest about the real reason we traded it in. I had the front diff rebuilt due to a growling noise, had the fan blower motor replaced (burned up on X-Mas day), the engine would rattle if it sat for more than a week (I commute on a motorcycle so it sat a lot). They never could duplicate it at the dealer, I even filmed it at home and the manager had no idea. It sounded like the oil had drained down off the top end, and it would rattle till it got oil again. Lastly, the straw that broke the camels back, was the drivers side developed a high pitch squeal. I chased it around with a GoPro. Then put the truck on jacks and removed everything but the axles and determined it was coming from the drivers side real axle. Dealer thought it was a loose oil baffle in the diff rubbing on the shaft and since I was out of warranty, wanted $1200 to fix it, and couldn't guarantee that was the problem. Otherwise I would still have it.

 

I put both my kids in my 08 Tacoma DC. I do have to move the front seat up but nothing uncomfortable. Im 5'11.

Are you using a rear facing car seat? Those take up more room. Once you go front facing, it gets roomier.

 

Yes, rear facing infant seat.

 

Why not just get one of these? Cheaper than a Tundra

 

x2. You can get a trailer fairly cheap. Cheaper than a Tundra.

 

This ^

 

+1...I don't own a Taco yet, but one of my biggest worries is going to a 5' bed - I have a Ranger with a 6' box and notice a big difference in the extra 6" in my father-in-law's F150. I know I can get a DCLB, but I'd really like the OR package. If I do end up with the Taco, I'm definitely going to save for a 4x8 dump trailer! Plus the dump feature would be huge when hauling firewood/topsoil/mulch every year.

I'm leaning toward the Tacoma because of the reliability and the size - I'd love a full size truck, but it's my daily driver too, so the MPG's of the Tundra/F150 aren't too appealing.

 

DCLB FTMFW!

 

#highfive

 

Don't know what to tell you, man. Compact trucks are obviously a niche market - there are only 2 manufacturers playing in it. Sounds like you needed a full size and didn't know it. Lucky for you, Tacomas hold their value and you won't get killed trading for a full size.