3rd gen payload capacity

Am I reading this right? The payload of a 4
3rd gen is ~1200lbs? This is without engine fluids and fuel right? So 5 slightly larger people let's say 200lbs each and a full tank of gas is already at the limit?

 

Your math is correct, but the truck doesn't really notice. I've had the load you described in my little truck (It really was a tight squeeze) and the truck didn't really care for the 200 mile trip. I Lost 2 mpg for that tank. I still had a fair amount of suspension travel ( I didn't hit the bump stops going over railroad tracks)

 

Correct, payload is 1175. I believe that leaves 150 pounds for the driver and includes fluids however in reality payload is the GVWR (5600 pounds) less whatever the truck weighs. If you want to know what you can really legally carry, find a local truck scale and weigh your truck with you in it and a full tank.

What you carry and where matters to how well the truck handles it. Just from personal experience, 1000 pounds spread across the truck in the form of two adults and two toddlers plus accessories in the cab and camping gear in the bed makes less of an impact on handling than 1000 pounds of cargo in the bed alone.

 

Don't worry. You'll only have to do short trips with five 200lb people in it. Nature will take its course and whittle it down to a comfortable 3 people in no time.

 

What's perhaps more surprising is that civics are only 850. 4 people with nothing in the trunk could go over that. I never really looked too close at the numbers but thought vehicles were rated to carry more.

I have a conspiracy theory that Toyota is holding the Tacoma back to prevent it from competing with the tundra. I used to own a Bedford Rascal that had 13" tires (not rims, tires) and it had a capacity of 1210lbs.

 

No conspiracy theory, just rules. Who to blame? Everyone who votes, not Toyota. Take a look at load capacity in other countries. Our rules are like everyone gets a trophy.

 

What do you mean?

 

Tow your fat friends

 

man I fuckin' love moose haulers. So cool. If I had a double cab and I had to fit four slightly "larger" people, say around my size so 5'10 and built on both muscle and fat, in my truck I would be buying another truck. There's no way four of my fat asses can fit in a Tacoma, five is absolutely treacherous. Take two, driver and passenger, a third in the back seats and a dog and you might be comfortable. Leaves plenty of space for a week long camping trip with gear, food and whatever camp site entertainment you prefer. Get the two other freeloaders to drive 'emselves where they need to go.

 

Payload numbers don't include the driver (150 pounds allowed). My double cab long bed has a payload of 950 lbs.

 

Same with mine (except mine's a short bed). 950lbs. Pretty weak.

 

Now add two more doors, an engine bay, a bigger engine, 4wd, more ride height, bigger wheels and tires, creature comforts, and everything else a Tacoma has over that Rascal and see how it compares. Or look at the pic in your first post, where a 2wd access cab SR5 has more capacity than that little truck. An it is surely a better driver than the mini truck.

It’s not a conspiracy theory, the Tacoma is just a small truck. Put 1000 pounds in the bed and you’ll see you are definitely pushing it’s limits. Soft tall suspensions that are good off road aren’t good for carrying heavy loads. If you need to haul 4 fat guys and a bunch of crap in the bed, you need a bigger truck.

 

4cyl 5spd has the highest payload rating of any 4x4 taco. Handles that (and more) in the bed with ease.