Two toyota trucks parked side by side. Look at the size difference both regular cab four cylinders

In the 80s Toyota’s were called quarter ton trucks. I haven’t heard a truck referred as that in decades.

 

That's crap. The smaller pick ups of the 70s and 80s were not quarter tons. Yes, they were compact pickups but they were rated for over 1000 lbs so guess what? They were half ton trucks. In fact, my '91 pickup would regularly carry 2000 lbs without bottoming the rubber stops.

 

Well it’s not crap. Reading comprehension helps everyone. If you notice I never once said it was an accurate description. I said it’s what they were called. My Dodge D50 was referred to as a quarter ton but it was actually a half ton truck. Further I never saw the term compact truck used back then. They were also called mini trucks. Ever hear of compact truck magazine? Me neither. It was called mini truck magazine and in their articles they often referred to yotas as quarter ton trucks.

 

They were not called quarter tons. I was there and owned them. In fact I just googled quarter ton truck and not one thing came up. The only thing I have ever heard being called a quarter ton was a small Jeep when I was in the army in 82.
M151 ¼-ton 4×4 utility truck

 

I love the pre "87" D-50 4X4, drove my last one for 20 yrs. loved it. They changed completely in "87", my buddy bought one & I realized I did not want one of the newer ones. Way less room inside cab. Now it's "Taco" or bust

 

My 1990 Toyota was a half ton pickup. Small only in size.

 

The Hilux is a one ton rated truck everywhere else in the world. Toyota cut half the frame out and sold it as a Tacoma to the US and it holds two people and a cup of coffee at Max GVRW.

The rest of the world runs on compact trucks from Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Isuzu, etc. Yeah a one ton truck is more stable at doing work but only because our roads are much faster then the rest of the world. Nobody on the globe is using a Super Duty. They are stuffed 6 into a double cab with a cow in the bed. Grandma is driving, and she is banging years on a clapt out manual.

Meanwhile the US gets a TRD Sport with cool bed graphics...

 

the trucks have to be bigger because americans are bigger. the average American is overweight and they can't fit their lard asses in a compact truck. my favorite truck I had was a 84 4x4 reg cab with a 22r. I loved that truck, but rust started to take it over. I prefer the smaller reg cab trucks. they were more fun to drive IMO.

 

You are right!

 

You are extremely right!!

 

The cabs, seats, and driver position were a thousand times better then the 2nd and 3rd gen Taco. First gen Taco cab cab dimensions we're pretty similar to the older body style.

The older ones did have huge rust problems. Man those beds didn't go much past ten years unless you lived in Arizona.

 

My 2008 V6 acesscab is so much bigger than my dads 92 sr5 by accesscab. Its unreal

 

Do you think the cab feels bigger on the newer truck?

My second gen Tacoma feels like I'm driving around a football helmet. Sitting on the floor, head almost touching the roof, and a very short windscreen. I am 6 ft tall but I feel like I should have a little more room in this size vehicle. I don't ever remember feeling that tight in my older truck. Maybe a bit narrower but the passenger compartment on the older truck seemed a lot more ergonomic and well laid out.

I will say that the newer vehicle is quieter and does not struggle to do 80 miles an hour in Comfort.