Tacoma alternative?

THIS IS AN OLD THREAD - Already bought my truck, no more input needed. Thanks!

New member - be gentle

I've got a 1992 22RE 4WD RCLB right now (only 125k mi) which I love. But with a kid now we will be camping with three - including a car seat. And I'd like a pop-up camper which there is no way the 22RE is going to handle (I'm already 35mph in 2nd gear on steep mountains). So despite wanting to drive the 1992 for another two decades to 300k it is time for a new truck.

My default choice is a 4WD DCSB with a FlipPac on it. This would be for camping only, not a daily driver. 10k miles or less per year. Off-road camping in SW deserts (SoCal, AZ, NV, UT), all driving and storage in SW. I'll wait for the 2016 announcement to decide between 2nd or 3rd gen. Need to buy by mid to late 2015.

But looking for some devil's advocate on alternatives to this so I've considered all the options. No vehicle is perfect of course!

Requirements

- Don't want full size (Tundra, F150, etc.) as some of the roads I go down get quite narrow with tight turns, sometimes have large rocks sticking into road, partial washouts, etc. etc. The narrower and shorter the better.
- Don't want DCLB length, same as above. Don't think I'll need the extra space.
- Do want a DC, need to have a car seat in the back and from the looks of things this kid is going to be tall ten years from now. Would keep whatever I get for 15 to 20 yrs so planning long term for three adults camping.
- Don't need OR upgrades, my 1992 4WD is stock with 31" wheels and gets me everywhere I need to go. I don't drive hard trails on purpose just for the challenge. I just need to get places and some of the roads suck. Stock Tacoma 4WD or TRD OR should be just fine, not so sure about stock 4WD from other brands.
- I don't want an effing Jeep or SUV. Pickup with pop-up camper of some form.

I don't see many obvious alternatives to my default choice. Nissan Frontier, but I don't see how it improves on the Tacoma for this purpose. Colorado, slightly higher payload in some configurations. Don't have confidence in the Colorado as far as stock OR performance and reliability goes though - but maybe that is just bias and ignorance on my part. Ranger doesn't exist in the US anymore. Ridgeline is gone and wacky bed design incompatible with a pop-up camper anyway.

Seems like a lot of folks here with knowledge and experience beyond Tacoma - so please, throw darts at my thought process here. Am I missing a good alternative? Or missing a more useful Tacoma configuration than DCSB for my needs?

Thanks!

THIS IS AN OLD THREAD - Already bought my truck, no more input needed. Thanks!

 

Sounds like you want a midsize and then only other midsize is frontier, I don't care for the motors, Dakota which is an obvious no no, and ranger. The Colorado got steroids and is border line silverado. Drive them all but the Tacoma will have the longevity in my opinion

 

Unfortunately there are very few mid sized pickups in the US. None of which, IMO, compare to the reliability of the taco.

 

Quad cab Dakota with the 4.7.

Or same above with the 5.9.

Low mileage for the year can be had for 4-6k. 2000-2003 year. Or 04 for the 4.7 only

 

So basically you need to get a Toyota lol

Sorry to not offer much else in the way of help, but no way a domestic is lasting that long without some MAJOR repair bills

 

in a nutshell

dcab Tacoma short is 208

dcab Tacoma long is 221


the Colorado/Canyon will be 4" longer on both options.


right now we can barely fit the dcab Tacoma short in the garage. so the other options pretty much rule out getting those. we are stuck with the new Tacoma when it comes out to replace the 2012 the warden drives.

 

Are you willing to consider used? If so, considering your well stated requirements/goals

Tacoma Gen I or II, best example you can find (even if you have to travel to get it) and expect to pay the 'Toyota tax' just because it is. Crazy prices. I know it's not the alternative you asked about, but based on your wants, it's the leader.

Nissan Frontier. Very close #2. It will be cheaper to buy, just as easy to fix, very reliable. It's not as 'refined', may get less MPG, but MPG at your miles per year level doesn't matter.

Rangers are available. With low miles in good condition. However, they never made a double cab. They did make what they called a 4 door super cab, but that's about like a Tacoma Access cab. So on that alone it's disqualified.

Canyon/Colorado of the last vintage can be 'ok' if they were loved on. But shop carefully if you go there. I was waiting to see the new ones, and bought my '13 Access cab after I did. While smaller than the Silverado, they don't really look it at first glance.

BTW, you shouldn't have difficulty selling your existing truck for a nice sum (considering age/mileage). I know a few folks here who'd love to have yours just to haul kayaks and mountain bikes to our rural locations!

 

Just sold a '98 Sonoma with 135k with just normal wear item bills it's whole life.

Can show you lots of Rangers, Mazdas (Ranger) and Izuzus (S10) in the same arena.

Sometimes 'facts' aren't.

 

Thanks everyone for the helpful input so far! Sounding more and more like Tacoma for sure.

Comments:

Used - I've no objection to used, typically prefer to buy used actually, but in this case I suspect it will just be too much trouble for limited gains. I live in MD but want to take delivery in AZ, NV or UT. There is no way I'd buy a used truck (especially a Tacoma with frame rot risks) that has driven on salted roads like where I live around MD. And it is just not going to be practical to shop for a used truck on the opposite side of the country where I'd be comfortable with a used truck. Heck, when I bought my 92 back in 2000 I was right in SoCal and it took months to find the right truck and untold man hours of calling, searching, visiting and so forth. Was a poor student with plenty of time back then. These days I'm better off just working extra hours with my day job and paying the new truck penalty. Especially with the used Toyota Tax. But thank you for the excellent run down of the used options - I hadn't put in the time looking at those options and looking at them now makes me more comfortable with a new purchase.

Dakota - Forgot about those! Thanks for the pointer, but probably going to buy new.

Canyon/Colorado - Thanks for the tip on size, didn't realize they are even a little bigger than the Tacomas. Nothing huge, but would still like to avoid any further swelling of the footprint.

Frontier - I've run into Frontiers out in the wild and they look nice. Nissans in general very reliable on road. But the few Frontier owners I've seen out with a load in the back on 4WD roads have both said essentially "It is fine, but I'm buying a Toyota next time". Not sure if that is "grass is greener" or since in both cases these folks had owned Hilux's before their Frontiers they might have been similarly lukewarm with a Tacoma.

Tacoma Options - Thanks for the quick run down on the SR5, TRD, Pro options. Haven't looked in great detail at that yet. Suspect I may need to be a little flexible on exactly what option package I get as I'm insisting on white DCSB and will probably be purchasing as the 2015 MY runs out or the 2016 MY is rare as hens teeth...

Current truck sale - Yeah, I suspect will be easy to sell my 1992 w/125k on it, actually already have a waiting list of people I know

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to reply! Very helpful in making me think through all the options - even if I in the end eliminate all the alternatives and end up with the DCSB Tacoma as expected!

 

I had a double can short bed before my current long bed... And I love the long bed so much better. It's only like an extra 1000 if you buy new. I wouls strongly recommend the long bed

 

But no DCLB TRD OR (Though of course you could get an SR5 or TRD Sport DCLB and do some upgrades for similar capability)

More importantly I felt the DCSB length was already long enough for the trails I usually do, not that the DCLB is hugely longer but angles do get a bit worse.

Finally, my application is to put a Flip-Pac on the back (going on in two days in fact). With the Flip-Pac open the living space is the same regardless of LB or SB. So you just lose on rear bed storage space with the SB. I'm actually quite happy so far with the SB storage space - plenty for my camping needs. Now I completely understand if using the truck to haul stuff around town that a LB offers a lot more utility. But in my case, as a dedicated camping vehicle, the SB is just fine. And I prefer the shorter wheelbase more than I would the extra storage.

But thanks for sharing your experience. I've read of many people being much happier with a LB - especially if they are used to using a truck as actually a truck!

 

if you want something reliable

the only option other than tacoma is a furd f150

 

F150s are nice. I heard a new Tacoma is coming out soon too

 

Gen I Tundra Access Cab is 218 inches long. That is the best option.

Smokes the 2012 Tacoma in every category, that's for sure.

 

tundie forums are totally weak!
i think the OP should get a 2015 DCSB TRD OR 4x4...