Sell me on a Tacoma

[BigCutty3]

I’m on my 4th Tacoma, with just over 1 million miles driven.  So I may be biased lol.  What they are is reliable.  Other than normal maintenance (oil and air filter, brakes, etc) all I’ve had to do is one failed fuel injector and one failed u joint at 250k on one which was replaced free by Toyota.  Not one clutch replacement.  The only one I didn’t get what I paid for was one I bought new, and I still got a tremendous trade in, just over 300k and nothing but oil and air filter changes.  I’ve never been stranded by a Tacoma, even with the bad fuel injector I was able to limp home. 
What they aren’t is good on gas mileage, particularly in low gear in the hills.  You can literally watch your gas gauge go down.  But they are awesome woods vehicles, handle well, and can turn around in a two track.  They handle well in snow and ice if you weigh them down in the back.  They don’t have much room for larger guys or for more than two people.  But if you like reliability low maintenance and good resale  value, they are the truck for you.

[Alchase]

Looking at the Tacoma pretty hard. Need a smaller truck with decent gas mileage that I can take on longer road trips. Won’t ever pull much max around 3500/4k.

Will be a auto and 4x4

What model of Tacoma and what motor would be best to fit these needs?

Carpsniperg2, I should have quantified my first post. I am not anti-Tacoma. I do believe they are way overpriced, but that is up to the buyer.
All, I repeat all trucks have their idiosyncrasies and problems, and all brands have a lemon drop in the mix. Taco's are no different.

But if the Tacoma fits you and is what you like, then by all means you should go for it.

[Brushbuster]

Get the biggest motor you can get no exceptions!! I had the 6 cylinder my brother still has an older 4 cyl. Huge difference in power & pulling. Not sure if this is important to you but you cannot put chains on the front! You can barely get your hand between the UC arm located at the top inside of the tire. I am not sure about older models though. One thing I heard about Toyotas is the seats are lower to the floor. You may want to check this out to see if that's an issue.

Here's a pic of my 2013 Taco. I sold it in 2017. Great rigs!! Congrats! on whatever you decide. 

[Sandberm]

If a person never keeps a vehicle beyond 150,000 miles...why even enter into the debate reliability?

My a-hole brother changes his vehicles engine oil every 3000 miles so they will last forever...then he trades them in at 125,000 miles.

If you have the money...BUY FOR COMFORT first

[MtnMuley]

I’m on my 4th Tacoma, with just over 1 million miles driven.  So I may be biased lol.  What they are is reliable.  Other than normal maintenance (oil and air filter, brakes, etc) all I’ve had to do is one failed fuel injector and one failed u joint at 250k on one which was replaced free by Toyota.  Not one clutch replacement.  The only one I didn’t get what I paid for was one I bought new, and I still got a tremendous trade in, just over 300k and nothing but oil and air filter changes.  I’ve never been stranded by a Tacoma, even with the bad fuel injector I was able to limp home. 
What they aren’t is good on gas mileage, particularly in low gear in the hills.  You can literally watch your gas gauge go down.  But they are awesome woods vehicles, handle well, and can turn around in a two track.  They handle well in snow and ice if you weigh them down in the back.  They don’t have much room for larger guys or for more than two people.  But if you like reliability low maintenance and good resale  value, they are the truck for you.

There's a lot of truth in this post. I'm basically in the same boat as you and feel the same.

[JakeLand]

I’m on my 4th Tacoma, with just over 1 million miles driven.  So I may be biased lol.  What they are is reliable.  Other than normal maintenance (oil and air filter, brakes, etc) all I’ve had to do is one failed fuel injector and one failed u joint at 250k on one which was replaced free by Toyota.  Not one clutch replacement.  The only one I didn’t get what I paid for was one I bought new, and I still got a tremendous trade in, just over 300k and nothing but oil and air filter changes.  I’ve never been stranded by a Tacoma, even with the bad fuel injector I was able to limp home. 
What they aren’t is good on gas mileage, particularly in low gear in the hills.  You can literally watch your gas gauge go down.  But they are awesome woods vehicles, handle well, and can turn around in a two track.  They handle well in snow and ice if you weigh them down in the back.  They don’t have much room for larger guys or for more than two people.  But if you like reliability low maintenance and good resale  value, they are the truck for you.

There's a lot of truth in this post. I'm basically in the same boat as you and feel the same.

and this is why we buy Toyota

[Dan-o]

I keep waiting for Thinkingman to chime in.             

[JakeLand]

I keep waiting for Thinkingman to chime in.             

[huntnnw]

Ive owned 2 yotas in the past and no thanks for a hunting rig. If its a day trips around the house thats great and maneuverability on narrow roads is a bonus. Other than that not even close to enough room for week long trips with 2 people and gear. Hell my full size short bed was barely enough at times. Like mentioned fuel economy sucks and I still dont get why they are so bad. My 9k lb long bed crew cab diesel gets 22mpg with double the room 

[carpsniperg2]

I appreciate all the posts. It’s something new to me I have never done new before and want to make a good pick as I do plan on having it Avery long time and probably my sons first truck hand me down possibly to lol.

When I get time. I’m going to go run a bunch of different rigs. She what feels the best. I could still end up with a full size but I’m just not digging the price tag for what I’m looking for but comfort on longer trips may be a factor in over looking. Is it worth another 15/25k maybe.

[b23]

It's kind of a double edge sword.  What I liked about my midsize Tacoma was just that, it's midsize.  Up in the woods where the roads don't always have the most room I really appreciated its smaller size.  But, on the flipside its smaller midsize is exactly why I got rid of it and went back to a fullsize.  If it'll mostly just be you and your gear then you may get along fine with one but when you start adding another person or persons and there gear the inside starts getting cramped up real fast. 

When I bought mine I also had a 4dr super duty so a smaller truck was no big deal and I was covered both ways but then I sold my super duty and was down to only one truck it didn't take me long to realize I missed the extra room of a fullsize.  Also, I couldn't imagine pulling 3500-4000lbs with my Tacoma and mine was the 4.0L that I also put a TRD supercharger on so it had wayyyy more power than any year factory stock Tacoma new or old.  Would it pull that kind of weight, sure, but those Tacoma's barely weigh more than that and I wouldn't want to pull that kind of weight with one.

Prices of these new or even slightly used trucks is absolutely insane.  With the shortage thing the way it is prices of 1-2 year old used trucks is higher than what people even paid for them so it's definitely a sellers market which really sucks for people trying to buy a new truck without having to sell a kidney.

[ljsommer]

I put the rear seat spacers in this afternoon. So far, the seat seems comfortable. The wife and I will take a longer ride this afternoon and we'll see how that goes.

Hey Pianoman, tell me more. I drive a 2017 Off-Road with a canopy and it's about the best hunting rig I can imagine, especially if you drive places that involve some 4x4/locking the diff. Great vehicle.
The power is fine, the gas mileage is...not. But that's not the point of a 3.5L V6. The point of that motor is the size and weight so that it fits in a small truck, and small vehicles are great for offroading.

The big issue, the million dollar issue, is the seats/riding position. I can only drive mine for an hour before my lower back hurts and this is AFTER the front seat jacker mod from Desert Does It.

I hate these seats. I hate them so much.

[MR5x5]

I put the rear seat spacers in this afternoon. So far, the seat seems comfortable. The wife and I will take a longer ride this afternoon and we'll see how that goes.

Hey Pianoman, tell me more. I drive a 2016 Off-Road with a canopy and it's about the best hunting rig I can imagine, especially if you drive places that involve some 4x4/locking the diff. Great vehicle.
The power is fine, the gas mileage is...not. But that's not the point of a 3.5L V6. The point of that motor is the size and weight so that it fits in a small truck, and small vehicles are great for offroading.

The big issue, the million dollar issue, is the seats/riding position. I can only drive mine for an hour before my lower back hurts and this is AFTER the front seat jacker mod from Desert Does It.

I hate these seats. I hate them so much.

This:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-aluminum-seat-spacers-risers-jackers-for-seat-mod-xmas-sale.561819/

I'm installed them and am 6'2".  They do seem to help.  I will be road tripping in a week to get a better idea.

[pianoman9701]

I put the rear seat spacers in this afternoon. So far, the seat seems comfortable. The wife and I will take a longer ride this afternoon and we'll see how that goes.

Hey Pianoman, tell me more. I drive a 2016 Off-Road with a canopy and it's about the best hunting rig I can imagine, especially if you drive places that involve some 4x4/locking the diff. Great vehicle.
The power is fine, the gas mileage is...not. But that's not the point of a 3.5L V6. The point of that motor is the size and weight so that it fits in a small truck, and small vehicles are great for offroading.

The big issue, the million dollar issue, is the seats/riding position. I can only drive mine for an hour before my lower back hurts and this is AFTER the front seat jacker mod from Desert Does It.

I hate these seats. I hate them so much.

This:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-aluminum-seat-spacers-risers-jackers-for-seat-mod-xmas-sale.561819/

I'm installed them and am 6'2".  They do seem to help.  I will be road tripping in a week to get a better idea.

I put the rear seat spacers in this afternoon. So far, the seat seems comfortable. The wife and I will take a longer ride this afternoon and we'll see how that goes.

Hey Pianoman, tell me more. I drive a 2017 Off-Road with a canopy and it's about the best hunting rig I can imagine, especially if you drive places that involve some 4x4/locking the diff. Great vehicle.
The power is fine, the gas mileage is...not. But that's not the point of a 3.5L V6. The point of that motor is the size and weight so that it fits in a small truck, and small vehicles are great for offroading.

The big issue, the million dollar issue, is the seats/riding position. I can only drive mine for an hour before my lower back hurts and this is AFTER the front seat jacker mod from Desert Does It.

I hate these seats. I hate them so much.

I'm starting with just the spacers for the back brackets to see if lifting the rear of the seat will take some pressure off the upper leg. My main problem is right leg pain just below the buttock and if I've been sitting in traffic coming home from Hillsboro, it's excruciating. If that doesn't work, I'll try the seat jacks on the front.

[Alchase]

The wife I am heading out on the 7th of May for a road trip from Oklahoma, to Albuquerque, then up to Four Corners Monument, UT. Meet up with our Daughter and her family of 8 kids coming from Bonney Lake, Wa. From there we head up to Moab for a couple days exploring the Dinosaur Museum and the Aches. Then down to Capitol Reef, Ut for a few days. We start our way back from Capitol Reef, we go to Saragosa Springs CO. Then back down to Amarillo, TX, to see the Palo Duro Canyon.
Then back East to home in Oklahoma.
We will be in my 2016 Nissan Frontier. Coming from a 2007 Dakota, the Frontier is night and day better.
It does really well on road trips. Very comfortable. Gas mileage is only 18 MPG average normally though. Last year on a trip to Branson, MO, I averaged 19.5 mpg at 80 MPH most of the way.
The wife loves the heated seats, LOL.