Thinking about downsizing

Currently driving a 2019 Tundra (I call it Vera.) that I've upgraded a little over the 3 years I've owned it.



When I bought it I had plans, one of which was to tow a camper. None of those plans worked out. I adore my RTT and have no desire to drag a house behind me anymore. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had passengers in the back seat, and the way you see it loaded in the pic is the most towing/hauling I do.

I recently rode in a buddy's SR Taco out on some trails that I had also taken the Tundra down. The off-road manners of the Taco are amazing by comparison. The Tundra will go anywhere I want to go, but it is a land barge about it.

As a result I'm considering downsizing and using what I've learned modding the Tundra to mostly skip that bit by going for a TRD Pro Tacoma. Items still up in the air would be color (only interested in Solar Octane, Electric Lime, or White), transmission choice, and whether or not I could make it a lateral move financially.

I'd miss the V8 and I do love the Tundra, but the Tacoma is so much better off road. It's also about the time I get the itch to want a new vehicle too, and I'm trying to stick to just one.

So, anyone else here downsize into a Tacoma?



P.S. Don't be jealous if my original @War Machine Edition avatar and user name.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Well Adam, Here is my thoughts. I love my 21 tundra pro LunaRock. I keep going back and forth of maybe going back to a Tacoma Pro. Had more Tacomas then my tundra and 4Runners. But every time I get in my truck and start it and drive it I tell myself I cannot give it up. One thing I don’t do is off road with it. Mostly used for bad winters getting to work or somewhere needed. I don’t really need a full size truck but now owning it hard to give up.

 

Understandable, for sure. If I could I'd have both, but I'm not willing to dig that deep into debt. The only way to swing it would be to trade. This is all just preliminary and want at the moment, but I wanted a midsized when I bought my Tundra. Those plans that never happened were the thing that finally nudged me into a full size, and it's been great. It just wasn't what I wanted, and I'm not sure if downsizing will scratch that want.

 

Welcome aboard

 

Funny thing is I’m looking to get a full size down the road to add to my stable but don’t want to get rid of my Taco though either.

 

I mean, just look at it!





I may need a tissue.

 

Ah, my financial advisor has arrived!

 

If I go Tacoma Pro Octane or White.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

Figure out what you want. Years ago I went from a Cummins with 8 inch lift and 40s to a reg cab taco. then upgraded to a 4 door taco coincidentally putting one tons and 40s. Haha making it to what I started with really but just a smaller less powerful vehicle. It is more capable and more fun. Tundra is nice but not for what it sounds like you want to do

 

No way I would trade my pre 22 Tundra for a taco. And you already have a SxS, no taco is going to be better than it offroad. I flat tow a samurai behind my Tundra/fwc and that gives me a plated toy to drive around.

 

For off road this is true, but the SxS is not perfect. It is loud for hunting and such. It is also the narrow and low Trail version that struggles over small trees that a four wheeler rolls right over, and snow stops it pretty effectively. It's plated too. It'll go out this hunting season, and it may prove to fill the niche well enough.

I appreciate the perspective. I'll think on this.

 

If I had such a nice Tundra, I would not downsize to a Taco.

Yes the Tacoma is more nimble and gets better gas mileage, but with Tundra dropping the V8, those 2nd gens are gonna hold their value like crazy (crazier?).

Plus the Tundra is more powerful, more legroom, fits your needs off-road.

If you are ok with the fuel economy and don’t need a shiny new truck, stick with the Tundra.

 

can you swap suspension on that model SxS? I have buddies that wheel the Rubicon and other west coast trails on SxSs and keep up fine with built rock crawlers. 1500lb SxS on 35s compared to our 5000lb rigs on 40s+ and the SxS can keep up fine almost everywhere.

But if you are looking for a one rig that can do it all then maybe a taco. Really depends on your body type and height as the drivers position sucks for me.

 

Thanks for the welcomes and different perspectives.

To @TACORIDER 's point, I have had several vehicles and kinda, maybe know what I want. lol

For perspective and relevancy to this I will just stick to vehicles I actually liked.

1. 2005 Dodge Stratus sedan- 1st brand new vehicle I bought, drove it until 2017. Not gutless, not fast, but comfortable, good economy, and plenty of room. Learned I hate black paint, want vehicles to be fun, and I'm terrible about washing/treating. Also learned don't try to help out a "friend" by cutting them a deal on a car you are getting rid of. They will always "have something come up" so they never pay on time.
2. 2003 Ram 2500 Cummins crew cab with 8 ft bed - Bought a few years after the Stratus, owned with the Stratus until 2018. First truck I personally owned. Learned I hate black paint, love power, hate parking a limo, hate helping people move, diesels are expensive to maintain. It sat for quite a while.
3. 2017 WRX Limited 6 speed stick - After a decade of regretting buying the responsible family sedan (stratus) because I might have wound up with a family, I said eff it I want fun. Fast, silver, 3 pedals and I loved it. Winter snowed it in for about 4 months. I learned I like the upgraded trims, RCTA is a must have, and a sweet handling car will beat up your kidneys on washboard dirt roads. Only car I've ever regretted parting ways with.
4. 2018 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk - Got a ridiculously good deal and decent trade sight unseen for my beat up old Ram. I learned power isn't the only thing that makes a rig capable. I was flabbergasted how amazing that little buggy tore through snow and over middling rough terrain. Also learned that a compact SUV is the absolute best grocery getter rig there is. Loved the ability to park, bomb through snow drifts, and get decent MPGs. Also learned that I need to have a little more off-road ability than the Renegade could offer, because snowplows leave big piles at the end of an already drifted driveway out here.
5. 2019 Tundra SR5 - After the Renegade just barely making it through the winter of 2018-2019 and the WRX being snowed in for 4 months I found out I don't like paying for a vehicle to sit and that I need something more than a Renegade. Traded both for a lateral move in debt (owed no more on my Tundra than those two combined after trading) and caught a serious mod bug. I learned that modding gets super expensive super fast, I love a V8, I like older/proven tech, I miss smart handles, remote start, and push button start, and that reliability is of extreme importance to me.

All this has kind of taught me that I like buying new vehicles more than I should. I get the itch about every 2 years. I've made it 3 on the Tundra, spent way to much on the mods (should have just got a higher trim), and learned with the mods some of my preferences are a little different than what I thought they were. For example, I love my SCS wheels for looks, but they are a PITA to keep clean and wheel poke looks cool and trashes wheel well paint. Not as big an issue on the Taco, cuz of the awesome plastic fender trim, but the Tundra is all painted metal there.


Sorry for the novel.

 

If your bored and want a new ride then do it. Some people get so hung up on that fact. You dont need to keep it forever, have your fun and move on and let the next person enjoy it.

I get bored with dailys and swap them out every 1.5ish years. Normally they are cheaper vehicles but lately Ive been using my f350 for a daily, just bought a fiat 500 turbo. Liberally half the size of my truck will fit in the bed and I have more fun in that cheap car than any vehicle I have owned

 

Keep the tundra. Sell all the overland stuff. Buy a little 1st gen access cab Tacoma and throw a GFC or AluCab camper on it and use that for your Backcountry adventures