Comparison Question

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landcruising

landcruising

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Any one over here ever drivin or owned a Double Cab Tacoma 4x4 from 2001 to 2007. I'm looking for a comparison to an 80 for overall thoughts, comfort, aftermarket support, trail ability, reliability. Considering the purchase as an alternative to my 80 especially for being towed to the trail by an RV. I read a bit on the truck site and all recommend the TRD edition for a rear locker even though the axel is smaller and weaker. I have followed one from a member in BeachNtoys a few times and his extra cab seems to wheel very well.

I'm looking for an option for an easily towed/trailer alternative to the 80 since with a trailer and the 80 it would be more than 8000 lbs. I need 4 seats for the family and a 1000 or more lbs choped off to get to a reasonable tow trailer combo of 5-7 K lbs. Since it seems that tantem axel trailers are usually double 3500lbs axels for 7K capacity minus the 2k trailer weight. Even 2- 4K axels would be pushing it a bit much for an RV to pull and 10K trailers are about the cost of buying a decent FJ40.
 
My brother has a 2004 Doublecab. We just took it to Mammoth.
Its a good truck, steering is tight, but so is the cab specially if your a taller person. The seat sits low and it doesn't really have a lot of leg support. My 80 is much more comfortable.

Funny thing is he had a 2005 double cab too (2WD 4.0L) and it has more power and more leg room. I like the look of the 2nd gen Tacoma but for comfort & power I would go with the 2005+ 3rd gen.

Just my $0.02
 
ScottyDog said:
My brother has a 2004 Doublecab. We just took it to Mammoth.
Its a good truck, steering is tight, but so is the cab specially if your a taller person. The seat sits low and it doesn't really have a lot of leg support. My 80 is much more comfortable.

Funny thing is he had a 2005 double cab too (2WD 4.0L) and it has more power and more leg room. I like the look of the 2nd gen Tacoma but for comfort & power I would go with the 2005+ 3rd gen.

Just my $0.02
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Thanks that is the kind of info I was looking for. I am very tall 6'6" so room would be an issue, however I have found that our 4 runner has more leg room than the 80 in stock form. I still have the seat extension to install in the 80. I was thinking the 3rd gen did look bigger, however I am wondering is will this effect ability. I quess compared to an 80 it might not be too bad. I was however looking at older ones because of cost since the newer ones seem to hold value very well.
 
comfort on the tacos are ok except i wouldn't know for a guy who's 6'6". as for reliability and trailability the only difference i see is the IFS. tacomas have proven reliability and durability.
 
Tacoma double cab

I did a bit more research and found the following in regard to head room HR, leg room LR, shoulder room SR, base weight W and Wheel base.

The 80's HR-38.6, LR-42.2, SR-58.7, W-4850, WB-112.2.

The Tacoma DC 2004 HR-38.8, LR-42.8, SR-53.9 W-3705, WB-121.9.

The Tacoma DC 2005 HR-40.1, LR-41.7, SR-57.7 W-2045, WB127.8

So it turns out the 2004 Tacoma has more head and leg room but far less shoulder room than an 80 and a longer wheel base and a foot longer. The 2005 Tacoma has more head room but less leg room a much longer wheel base and is 1.5 feet longer than an 80.

So what I now want is the suspension and wheel base of an 80, weight and leg room of a 2004 Tacoma, and the power and motor of the 2005 Tacoma that is reliable and able to wheel moderate-difficult trails. What would fit this, or how can you chop off 1000 lbs on an 80? Looks like I will need to find a light weight trailer that can tow the 80 instead.
 
I just sold my 02 and it was a great truck. It definitely feels nothing like an 80 as far as comfort and offroad capabilty. On trails, it was a bit rough on you but overall a great truck. I'd buy one again. Definitely not for tall people though and the back seats are a bit tight for a family.
 
TemeculaTim said:
Carl- you want too much.
Click to expand...

And I thought finding a girl that can adjust valves and kick start an XR600 was too much to ask for. I bet you even want her to kick start it without a compression release.

Either way I may be hitting up a few of you that I know have car haulers for a test run towing the 80 behind my latest and most ill concieved investment. A 1997 SAfari SAhara Diesel Pusher, The Big Baloo Bus with shamoo on the back. Picked it up as bank repo and hope it can tow a trailer with the 80 on it, since I can't flat tow the 80 easily. I still need to get a class 4 hitch and trailer brake set up, by the CAT 300hp diesel and allison 6 speed should be able to handle it.
baloo 2.webp
baloo.webp
 
landcruising said:
And I thought finding a girl that can adjust valves and kick start an XR600 was too much to ask for. I bet you even want her to kick start it without a compression release.

Either way I may be hitting up a few of you that I know have car haulers for a test run towing the 80 behind my latest and most ill concieved investment. A 1997 SAfari SAhara Diesel Pusher, The Big Baloo Bus with shamoo on the back. Picked it up as bank repo and hope it can tow a trailer with the 80 on it, since I can't flat tow the 80 easily. I still need to get a class 4 hitch and trailer brake set up, by the CAT 300hp diesel and allison 6 speed should be able to handle it.
Click to expand...


I am still searchin- got close with one- female motocross rider- but........ she drove a jeep liberty-and she has issues with dogs.

Can I reserve a spot in that thing for next years Cruise Moab?:D Guess the tent trailer is also up for sale- what a jump Carl.
 
0.02

As far as wheeling goes the length of my 05 D cab was not too convenient. I remember having trouble with Pleasant canyon shelf road. Although aside from that I loved it. The thing had power and with coil overs Bilsteins and a Deaver 12 pack it was a great off-roading beast. My friend Jason has the earlier model and is well over 6 ft, he complains about space but he also wheels it great and enjoys his truck.

I wish we could have an 80 with the new 4.0 L V6
 
Jiggawu on here is 6'1 and has a d-cab tacoma as a daily driver. That truck went places stock that I have seen other, more built vehicles struggle with. It is a TRD with a rear locker. He is comfortable in it but then again he isn't 6'6" of man meat.

I have a car hauler and tow my mini truck frequently. When I was shopping for a car hauler, I had an 80 and struggled with the weight of the truck. Most car haulers are rated for 7500 lBS. An 80 with a light build will put that trailer at max capacity; maybe even over with a more weight intensive build. That is not a good way to travel. The next size up is rated for 9,999 lbs (to avoid CDL issues). I ended up buying the 10k lb rated trailer to make sure I would not be at the max capacity of the trailer all of the time. In addition, I have a heavy tractor to move now and then so it made sense. The axles on the trailer are rated for more than 10k lbs and the build quality and "beefiness" of the 10k lb car hauler is worth the extra $$ in my opinion. I have a Carson and it has been a good trailer so far. I have a 3/4 ton diesel and it tracks very nicely behind that. I'm sure it would be quite nice behind your RV.

Sweet score on that whale wagon BTW.
IMG_0087_online.webp
 
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