Thinking about either a 2022 Taco or 2022 Tundy, need advice

Disclaimer: I don't know with certainty if there's another human being on the face of this earth who calls a Tundra a "Tundy".

I currently drive a 2009 Access Cab V6 TRD Off-Road.

She's been a trusty steed but there's just not enough room in the back for my two kids. Yea, they fit and they don't complain, but it just doesn't feel safe and it's barely practical.

I'm thinking about either a 2022 Double Cab V6 TRD Tacoma or a Tundy.

I'm reading a LOT online about how the Tacoma is underpowered and the transmission shift points are just plain ugly. Apparently, most of the transmission and some of the off-the-line power stuff can be tuned out in the aftermarket, but at the expense of a forfeited warranty.

I'm also worried that going from an Access Cab to a Double Cab will alleviate the back seat room problem to an extent but will not outright "fix" it and that it'll still be tight back there.

Additionally, the "Home Depot" practicality of the 5-foot bed concerns me, as does the overall length and parking lot maneuverability of a Doube Cab long bed.

So that brought me to the Tundra.

A Double Cab 5.5' bed would solve both the back seat room problem and the lumber hauling problem (I think).

I'd have plenty of power off the line and everywhere else.

I'd pay for it at the gas station (although honestly, I'm thinking it won't burn a whole lot more than my 2009, heck it might even equal it).

But my biggest concern with the Tundy is its garage-consuming size and parking lot maneuverability. It's just a bigger truck than I'm used to.

My garage is 23' W x 26' D with an 18' door. It houses my wife's Outback as well. I'm worried it'll be annoyingly tight in there.

So I'm in a bit of a dilemma. Has anybody here gone through a similar thought process as I currently am?

Any comments/thoughts?

Thanks for any replies!

 

Test drives would help with your driveability concerns.

 

You can solve your Tacoma shift points concern with a manual transmission.

 

Go with the "Tundy". The DC Taco isn't much more room for growing kids.
Yes, it will be tight in the garage.

 

What do you want to do with it? That will answer the question. I put the OV Tune 91 Octane tune on my Taco and it is anything but underpowered. But to bring my family on long trips - not gonna happen with such tight space inside. We tow all that we need with it, but we only do construction and yard work. The most we've pulled is a 6500 pound excavator on a trailer, and in the bed we had 1600 pounds of gravel. It performed fine. But the real use for me is offroading, and it does that well. A bit marge for many trails, but better than a Jeep! For me a Tundra would be a better daily driver and family hauler, but would never get me on trails.

 

Fair point.

If I can find a dealer that even has one. As in a single one.

 

I'll be a daily driver that will double as a personal lumber (9-foot dimensional plus 4' x 8' sheets) hauler.

 

For test drives check out the used lots just to take a test drive even if you will buy new. I saw a 3rd Gen on a CarMax lot. Caught my eye because it was the same color as mine.

If you test drive an AT, hit the ECT button and see if you like the shifting better.

 

Tundy?
Sounds like a Tundra fits the bill for cab space and hardware runs,,, not so much for a daily driver (low to mid teens) and garage space. You'll just have to personally evaluate the pros and cons. My buddy went from a new Tacoma to a Tundra (wife had to have a giant travel trailer they rarely use), and quickly bought her(him) a fuel efficient minivan, so he can drive in to work when he's forced to go in. After driving the Odyssey that gets nearly 30, he doesn't even drive the truck to rifle matches we travel out of state for.

 

They make the Tundra in a double cab with a 6.5ft bed or 8ft bed. This is a four door with the smaller rear door. Still a lot of room back there. They also make the crew max. It has the 4 full doors and only comes in a 5.5ft bed. It has a ton of room in the back seat area. Ive had both and also a couple of Tacomas. Even the double cab Tacoma is laking on the leg room. For room in the back seat area I don't think you can go wrong with either variation of the Tundra.

 

My 2021 Sport AT shifts just fine. Most of the complaints about the AT have been resolved with the newer models.

With growing kids the back seat room might be your biggest issue.

We park a Tacoma and a 4Runner in a 20x20 attached garage. No way could I get a Tundra in there. With your 26x23 you should have no problem. The dimensions are all available online.

I've hauled a lot of lumber in my Tacoma without any problems. Haven't had to haul any 4x8 sheets yet. But I imagine that would be much easier in a Tundra since they would fit in between the wheel wells.

For your situation I would think the Tundra would be a better option.

 

He wants the 2022 Tundra. They, apparently, have the 6.5 foot bed option on the crewmax for the first time.

 

"Underpowered" is extremely subjective. The 3.5L in the 3rd gen makes more power up high and is geared for MPG compared to the 2nd gen. Some people have mentioned that the 2nd gen will beat the 3rd gen off the line but the 3rd gen will run circles around the 2nd gen at speed.

In addition it is no V8. But you didn't go with a mid-size pickup for a V8. There's a lot of people who whine about that too.

The Tundra will most certainly have more cab room than the Tacoma. However, the 2022 Tundra is going to be a brand new vehicle. Unless you really want to be the first (and even then) you should really avoid first model year vehicles.

As for length and maneuverability. A short box, crewmax Tundra (or double cab 6.5' box) is currently 3" longer than a double cab long box Tacoma in addition to being 5" wider than a Tacoma. And that's based on current specs. The newest Tundra is almost certainly going to be at least that size. The current wheelbase between the two is 5" longer on the Tundra vs the long box, double cab Tacoma. If size and maneuverability is your concern the Tundra isn't for you.

 

I’d wait some more. This isn’t the time to look for a new truck. Your 2009 is the best year & im guessing it’s paid off

 

You can haul 4x8 sheets no problem as there are built in pockets that accept 2x4's to make a little flat platform.

 

I’ve driven a 14 double cab tundra and the back seat room is comparable to the crew cab Tacoma. Not that much leg space unless you get the crewmax cab.

the Tacoma does have the benefit of being smaller and IMO much easier to drive around the city.

I’m sure you can get by with a Tacoma crew cab with 6.5’ bed. The 5ft bed is kinda useless unless the extent of what you do is anything but doing to the hardware store. The 6.5 on my access cab is just enough for drywall and other home improvement jobs.

 

Any reason you don't like the 2021 trucks? Tacoms is mostly unchanged except for some color options, double cabs are everywhere. The Tundra is all new for 22, who knows how it will perform. I think it's looks are subjective. The out going Tundra looks like a walrus, but the body lines are straight and the grille and headlights look like they belong on the truck. Plus it's a V8.

The two vehicles I like right now from Toyota are the Corolla hatchback, and the 4Runner. Don't want a car, and don't need an SUV. The Tacoma is nice, but do you really want to buy a 3rd gen in this market?

 

Now that I know that the Tundra is going to be all new in 2022, I'll certainly want and see what that looks like. I would never buy a first-year redesign. So if I decide to go Tundra, it will be 2023 or 2024.

 

A tune would solve the shift point issue. I don't think there's a single mention on the forum of someone going into the dealership and having their warranty voided due to a tune. Just concerns. I've been to the service dept and they haven't said anything. If you're hauling lumber sheets, the shorter bed isn't really an issue because you can hang it off the tailgate (with a flag you Karens). The extra foot you get from a "long bed" is negligible IMO (unless you have something that's 5.2-6ft long which can't be hung off the tailgate). The tundra is alot bigger inside which is awesome but it can go less places offroad for the same reason (unless you're a fan of pinstripes). If you're worried about parking in a tight garage, you get used to it after a few focused parkings (I can park in my garage with a 3" boundary with my eyes closed).

If it were me... no kids, and/or I may have the urge to go see the wilderness later, Tacoma all day. Tundra otherwise.

 

OP, I understand you're looking for opinions but that's all they'll be.. and frequently the most skewed perspective is the most vocal.

Perform an extended test drive on both. Only you can decide.

Check my posting history for a thread last week regarding a new metro parking garage (the architects must think all city-folk drive mini-coopers.)

If you're even considering another Tundra I assume you don't have to park in anything resembling a metro area or frequent somewhere with narrow parking spots. If parking isn't a concern then may as well go big and give the kids a large back seat.

If you do decide to go with a Tundra.. do you wait for the swank new generation with a twin turbo v6 or stick with the current design that's 8 years old?