I know this is your local forum, but I owned and wheeled an '06 double cab for 4 years so I thought I'd chime in.....
I ran 285's and 255's on it, 3" lift, sliders, bumpers, M8000, and belly skids (Budbuilt). Like most "new things", people tend to say the older ones wheel better, look better, do X better, etc. I'll tell you that I wheeled mine all over Moab and Colorado, and daily drove it in between. These trucks are by no means flawless, but it's very capable and has its advantages over the older Tacomas (and other rigs). My take on the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Interior is comfortable and roomy, especially compared to the older Tacoma
- CV axles are pretty strong for 33 or 34" tires. 35" and bigger and you are starting to ask for trouble.
- low center of gravity and pretty light for its size
- 4.0 V6 is a nice engine with good power
Cons:
- long wheelbase (almost 130") makes for some breakover issues. Sliders are a must
- weak ring gear? (I never had any trouble though)
- hard to seal up and secure the bed for long term travel
The last point is why I ended up going back to a wagon. A Wife, 2 growing kids and a full size dog - so we started to outgrow the Tacoma.
Enjoy the new truck. I love my Cruisers, but I do miss the Tacoma.
