Thinking of trading my Jeep Wrangler for Tacoma

Hello! My name is Matt and I live in Oklahoma City. I have a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon that I bought new almost four years ago. I've had a lot of fun in the Jeep but I have truck fever right now. I've had it for about six months now and have been out looking at trucks and what I want out of one. I really like the Tacoma and I don't know why I'm asking here but maybe just a final push to make the swap?

I have put about $15,000 in mods on my Jeep over the years. Lift, skids, 35" tires, dual battery, on board air, etc. There isn't a lot of off road opportunities in Oklahoma unfortunately. We got to Colorado and Utah once or twice a year and go off roading out there. My wife and I love it. We like the scenic trails more than anything but the tough stuff is fun too. I don't think that a Tacoma will be as capable off road as my Jeep is but I can make that sacrifice for everything else that's better about the Tacoma.

My commute to work is 25 miles each way. My wife's commute is three miles. So, I drive her 2017 VW Passat and she drives the Jeep. The Passat gets 30 mpg and is great on the highway. The Jeep gets about 13 to 14 mpg and is like driving a dumpster on the highway. She says she doesn't want me to sell or trade the Jeep but she has been complaining about driving it every day and that she wants her car back! I think a Tacoma would be an excellent tradeoff. I'd probably get the TRD Pro but I doubt I'd lift it. Maybe some skids though. I'd also like to pull a camper and this is another problem I have with the Jeep. It's rated at 3,500 pounds while the Tacoma can pull 6,400. I'd like a 25 foot or so bumper pull. No pop up. With the Jeep, it's a pop up or something that can pull the Jeep and that's very expensive! Anybody pull a camper with a Tacoma?

Has anybody made the switch from a Wranger to the Tacoma? Thoughts? Thanks!

 

Jeep is better at off roading, for sure. But if you don’t offroad but twice a year, I’d grab a half ton if you’re pulling a ~25ft camper and get a Jeep XJ. I had a 14 JKUR built as well, and wish I would’ve kept it.

A JKU is more spacious, better at off-roading. Those are about the two upsides over a Tacoma.

 

Welcome!

I can’t compare it to a Jeep, but I can say I love my Tacoma! Buy one, you won’t regret it.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

The taco fits my off-roading needs better. I enjoy to go to remote places. I have been pleasantly surprised at its capabilities after lift and tires. I came from a built up Jeep XJ with the attitude that solid axles where the only way to go.

 

I traded my 2015 sport that was modded out decently for a Tacoma. I miss it, and if I had the money, I would have kept it and bought a Tacoma. But if I had to choose just one, it would be the Tacoma.

 

You will love having the IFS for regular driving, and if you're willing to put in the time (and finances), your new tacoma will take you anywhere you want to go.

My 2 cents. Cheers!

 

Welcome to Tacoma World!

While there may be some off-road trade-offs going from a Jeep to a Tacoma, the Tacoma will be much more driver friendly than the Jeep. That said, the Tacoma is no slouch when it comes to off-road capability. Browse though TW and you'll find plenty of owners who have transformed their once "pedestrian" Tacomas into off-road beasts. Additionally, TW is the perfect place for all your Tacoma related questions and collectively we're pretty good at enabling you to drain your bank account on modding your Tacoma to your wildest desires.

One thought that comes to mind if you really don't want to give up your Jeep is to re-purpose your Jeep into a dedicated off-road vehicle and have a Tacoma for all your other needs.

 

Thanks for the replies! I'll definitely be thinking about it. We have a lot of memories in the Jeep. If I kept it, I'd probably make it even bigger. 37" tires and beef up the axles and just keep the miles off of it. It doesn't feel like a vehicle that is built to last. It has 51,000 miles on it now and I've never had a single issue with it that I didn't cause myself though. Personally, I like more of the overland type of off road but I also enjoy going to places like Moab and going on the gnarly trails out there. I hit the bumpers on my Jeep out there so I know a Tacoma would hit.

The Jeep is also paid off! I could trade or sell it and only have to pay a few thousand for a new Tacoma I'd think. One thought I had, was to buy something like an older Jeep Cherokee XJ and build that up for my trail rig. I'll go test drive a Tacoma tomorrow and see what I think.

 

Test drive with ETC turned on. Makes for more fun when running around town. Enjoy the Taco!

 

Welcome to TW. I recommend a thorough test drive before buying. This is a great thread for info on towing. Good luck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gen-3-towing-thread.413026/

 

Welcome to TW!

 

I haven't had a jeep and my second Tacoma, a 2017 SR5 is basically a travel vehicle with a "Bak Flip" cover that my wife and I use to travel back and forth from NJ to FL. (For the record, NJ is hardly off-road country.) Away from the coasts of Florida, there is plenty of "inland" for those so inclined.
If I had a Jeep with that much invested and looked that nice.......I'd keep it.

I have several friends over the years who always comment, " Wish I had kept my motorcycle." "Should have kept my truck."

If your wife drives only three miles, I'd look for a decent, small economy car at a bargain price. You obviously have mechanical skills and should be able to find and inspect a used masterpiece.

Good luck!

 

Trade the VW and keep the Jeep. We have a 2013 JKUR similar to yours and would not trade it. Coming from the exact situation I just traded my beloved STi for a TRD OR.