I want to start camping again. (The unintentional build)

No, Sir. I've not really contacted anyone yet. Still researching and will test drive some stuff later this week. I didn't want to waste his time if the test drive doesn't sell me on it.

 

Yeah, but idk how they'll feel about me still using my Tundra in the mean time. Plus, Elk season starts October 1st. I might be stuck waiting a bit before I could possibly get down there. I am not getting my hopes up that anyone will meet my financial needs to get me in the Pro, and that's the only one I'd do. I'm bracing to keep the Tundra.

 

If he gets your truck before you can get down, he can either hold it for you (if short term) or he will just turn around and sell it at a higher price and you will just have to wait until another comes in.

Based on a few folks I've sent his way, as long as you are open and honest about your vehicle and mileage and driving habits. He will work with you in the same manner. He gets its your daily and you will have to put miles on it. Just talk with him and once an eta on the Taco is brought up, mention that you have xyz trips planned and you will be adding roughly xxxx miles by the time you get there. You'll be surprised what the General Manager can do for you

 

Once I get some test drives in I will 100% get in touch with him.

 

Damn. That's awesome. If the test drives go well I may just have to give him a call.

 

Yeah, its been game changer. The dealership was better than most to begin with, but now that we have the contact with the big cheese its even better. They don't play games and are straight up with you if you treat them the same. I've sent a lot of folks his way and they are all surprised at the experience. Its unfortunate how rare of an experience it is to enjoy going to the dealership.

 

I've always hated it. If you go in honest and upfront they try to weedle more out of you or lie about your trade so they can get it cheap and sell it high. I'd love to have a pleasant experence more than the once I can think of in my years of driving/buying vehicles.

 

Oh it'd have to be that. No way I'm driving over 1000 miles AND sitting through dealership BS.

 

Damn. The taco guys are pretty solidly saying I'm crazy. one of them made a pretty damn good point, too. I need to use my RZR more for the trail stuff and then I won't need a Taco, basically.


I'll be thinking on that for a bit. Feel dumb for not seeing that.

 

Yeah. Solid point. That’s kinda what I was getting at here. That RZR is badass, and your Tundra will pull it anywhere you want with ease. It would seem you’re better covered having the two vehicles that don’t overlap in utility quite as much.

 

Yeah. That may be. Still gonna test drive, though. I'll be taking the RZR out to elk camp, and I'll see how it does. The biggest advantage the taco would present is the comfort while doing the trails. AC/heat, enclosed cab, and better MPG. RZRs are thirsty.

 

Which vehicle would you like more on trails? The Taco or RZR?
If you think you would like the Taco more for what you want to do, sell the Tundra and RZR, get your Pro Taco, turn your trailer in to an overlanding trailer with the RTT mounted to it so you don't have it on the back of the Taco during trail rides. If you don't have the RZR, I think the Taco will easily pull everything else that you have and you already have the trailer you could modify.

Just another idea to think about.

 

Definitely an option, but the whole point of a RTT for me is so I don't have to haul a trailer to camp. That's why I dropped wanting a camper to start with. The ability to just get in the truck and go is huge for me, so the RTT is definitely going to be on the truck. Especially since @Squatting Pigeon confirmed that I don't need a new bed rack for it.

I don't know that the Taco would have a problem towing the RZR, would it? Keep in mind, I tow slow. I'd only go 60-65 tops, and TFL towed a 3000 lbs trailer with a 2000 lbs Canned Ham 6x6 with the Taco. Got the same MPG my Tundra does towing my set up. I was kinda surprised.

The thought of dumping the RZR for a motorcycle did cross my mind, though. I could trail with the Taco, commute the bike, and do some light trails on it. IDK. Lots to think about.

 

Sorry, I misread an earlier post. I know the Taco can tow about half of the Tundra. With the RTT, you will want to look at your limits and capacities just to make sure that you can tow while loaded up.

Sounds like you have a lot to think about

 

I think I'll be ok... link after pic if you wanna go see it.





https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...y-for-a-slide-in-camper.754965/#post-26906628

 

Sounds like you will be in good shape

 

Let's just say I'm not as confident in the Taco as that guy is.

 

That's a 4.0 Taco and thank God that guy didn't hurt anyone. YMMV

 

Agreed. I wouldn't do anything even remotely close to that.

 

You could always sell the RZR and buy a Taco to build out into a trail truck. I’ve seen a few on here who use their Tundras to tow extremely built Tacos to the trailhead.

 

That'd give me a budget of about 20 grand. No garage, no shop, etc to build it in.

 

So, did test drives in an SR and a 2019 Off Road premium. The difference is noticeable and the leather is a nice upgrade. I'm reaching out to dealerships to try and see where a Lime or Octane Pro would sit. As long as the math works, I'll pull the trigger.

 

Just to clarify my test driving comment, over the last week I probably put 50 miles down in a Tacoma, more if you count my time as a passenger, and I can't find any faults that aren't nitpicky. The transmission is a bit shift happy on my buddy's new SR, but the used truck with almost 50K on the clock seemed a bit less so. Transmission learning perhaps? IDK, but the OR suspension and softex seats were super comfy. Really close to what my Tundra feels like with the Falcon suspension and bigger AT tires, so I have high hopes for a Pro.

My intended use isn't any different for the Taco than my Tundra. Sole means of transportation at the moment, so it'd commute, get groceries, tow my RZR wherever I decide to take it, drive the dirt roads and trails to go camping, fishing, hunting, etc., so that means a bed rack and my RTT on it at all times, and taxi my best buddy (my Pug, of course) around in her golden years.

I'm struggling to find a deal breaker aside from the likely increase in debt to pull it off. I truly don't like the idea, but I don't think I'll be getting $50K for my Tundra. Realistically I'll be taking on a little more debt, but more than likely at a smaller payment and worse interest rate. Currently I owe a touch over $12,500 on my Tundra, so even if I were to double that I'd have a significantly smaller payment just by virtue of renewing the loan to a 60 month set up. Keep making my current payment (more than the minimum as is) and I'll pay it off plenty fast. If I can swing it for less than double the increase then I can probably even run a double payment on it. If things turn around in the next 6-12 months on interest rates, then I could also refi to a lower rate and really not be in a bad spot. Worst case scenario is still nothing I can't readily cover, even if I were to lose my job and cut my income to half what it currently is I would be able to cover it.




So, downsides to the Taco swap:

1. Loss of power - going down from a V8 is going to be noticeable, especially when towing.
2. Increase in debt is likely.
3. Smaller cabin - no other way to say it; Tacos are smaller inside than the Tundra, and double so when coming from a CrewMax.
4. Lower seating position - lamented by many and the reason I didn't even test drive one in 2019 when I got my Tundra.
5. No more glorious full roll down rear window

And now rebuttals for these and Pros (hah, punny):

1. The power loss is there, but the Taco doesn't feel slow. It's also slightly cheaper to supercharge.
2. Debt is to be hated, but I'm positioned well to weather it and pay off early.
3. The cabin is smaller, and I'm claustrophobic, but I didn't feel super cramped. The under-seat storage and fold down rear seats of the double cab Taco are definitely bonuses.
4. It's similar to my WRX, and that was plenty comfortable with a power seat. Again, I've put some time in it, and I don't mind it.
5. The full rear window was one of my favorite features of the CrewMax, but since adding my rack and RTT I don't use it much. At most I use it before unrolling another window to avoid the pressure drumming, but the power slider on the Taco will do the same thing. It'll also make it feel like less of a sacrifice to run the rack and tent as it won't actually be killing a beloved feature.
6. The base SR Taco interior has a nicer look, dual climate controls, and everything is much easier to reach.
7. Hand brake! I hate pedal parking brakes.
8. Value retention on a Pro is obscene.
9. Potential increase in fuel economy would be a bonus.
10. Significantly cheaper tires.
11. More usable bed space. Currently my full size spare and matching wheel live in my bed because of my increased tire size and coachbuilder shackles. Sticking to a stock size tire will keep the spare under the bed, so even though I'll be getting a smaller bed it will actually get me more usable space.
12. I can reach over the sides of the bed. Small bonus as I'll likely have the RTT and rack in the way, but if I ever get to where that comes out on the regular it is a bonus.
13. Wheel wells are lined/framed with plastic. My poor Tundra has chipped paint in the wheel wells because I live on a rough road and rocks get thrown. No such issue on the Taco.
14. Smaller size results in more line options on trails, and easier parking in town.
15. Easier to get into, but magically doesn't lose a lot of ground clearance.
16. SOLAR OCTANE.

Yes, I'm biased. I want to get a Taco, but I'm not unreasonable. Point out some more pros or cons if you see them!

 

I've been following this thread quite a bit. I originally wanted to use my Tundra as a camping and trail truck. It has been such a great truck all around and as my family has been growing, I've been thinking about keeping it more as a dad-wagon than beating it up offroad. I've also had a thing for the 4Runner and had a blast driving one out west. The Taco would make a great camping truck, with adequate room for camping gear and passengers, while not being as large as the Tundra on trails.

OP, I think you'll love the Taco, but I think towing the RZR will suck, especially in the mountains. Maybe Magnuson can help with that?

 

A few responses for you @GODZILLA , probably nothing you don't already know...

Responses to your cons:
1. Agreed. Former Taco owners tell me they knew this going into it, but it still got really old; hence the "former"
3/4. I know some tall guys who love their Tacomas. I think it's more about the length of your legs vs arms. Because the seats are on the floor, I felt that my knees had to be up in the air for me to have the seat-to-steering-wheel distance where I wanted it. That would get fatiguing over long trips. If you have long arms and shorter legs or if you're a guy who sits far away and keeps one finger on the bottom of the wheel, might not be an issue.

Responses to your pros:
1. The one I test drove felt gutless on hills (a 2019 with 20k miles), especially when trying to pass on a long grade. Like "why am I even trying to do this..."
8. True, but it's not like your truck doesn't do really well on that front, too. You have a special color that is gone for the time being.
9. This will stay a bonus if you keep it stock as you plan to do. But towing, LT tires, and bolt-on stuff tend to drop it pretty quickly. Seems to me that mods have a more significant effect on MPG than with the Tundra.
11. Your Tundra spare will fit underneath, won't it? Even with the shackles? Just bend those tabs out, or remove them. Free up that bed space!
14. Biggest pro of the swap IMO.
16. It's a cool color for sure.

Best of luck!