Mid-size Truck Recommendations for friend

[D60]

I pulled 4000# across Colorado with an '05 Canyon regular cab (I5/5sp mt). I had a TBC of course and it wasn't bad. The biggest issue was soft rear leafs that sagged with even normal tongue weight (I later Frankenpacked it -- huge improvement).

This was my 9x42 Bridgeport (one ton) on my 18' car hauler (also a ton) so aerodynamic footprint was minimal.

5000# of enclosed trailer is very different than 5000# of a car hauler with cargo, but no one seems to want to think about that.

I stopped in Alamosa on the way home and a guy said, "That drill press is huge -- looks like it weighs a ton." I said, "Why yes, yes it does. It weighs exactly one ton." One of the rare times a figure of speech was dead accurate. I'm easily amused......

 

[meep]

Taco, maybe not:


If the Frontier still gets an ICE V6, I'd absolutely consider that. I service an '18 that I think is really cool. Just comfortable, simple, clean. Everything you need and nothing you don't. But the 2025/6 may be nothing like the '18 I adore (I don't much follow Nissan).

Just like Boot Barn!

 

[meep]

Has he considered a Jeep Gladiator? Or does it not have a high enough tow rating?

Actually a good point. I think it can pull it. It won’t pull anything quickly but it weighs well into half-ton territory and has a half-ton wheelbase. It won’t win any mpg awards on empty days but would be California killa with the top off on those sunny days!

 

[meep]

Taco, maybe not:


If the Frontier still gets an ICE V6, I'd absolutely consider that. I service an '18 that I think is really cool. Just comfortable, simple, clean. Everything you need and nothing you don't. But the 2025/6 may be nothing like the '18 I adore (I don't much follow Nissan).

Also, as a Tacoma owner I’ve watched a few of these Tacoma lemon videos.

I think theres a mental bias that hurts the Tacoma, and thats because they cost a premium. Pay 50k for a compact truck, more than a domestic full-size, and then get nervous? Buyers remorse amplifies and says “GET OUT OF IT.” Many of these videos have this “I had one problem and dumped it because it’s a lemon.” Now, granted, the problem is “rough shifting transmission” with loads of worry from the tundra, and Toyota is replacing transmissions with TSBs, but that’s not a lemon.

Now, I had the same blast at my dealership when mine quit in traffic, and I’m pretty sure it was a very confused transmission grabbing full lockup from a standstill and stalling - I sat there and sternly cried out, “yes youve rotated the tires and changed the oil but did you fix the problem!?” to which the guy lowered his head and said, “no, we can’t figure it out from the data, but we see where it had an error.” And I was Not Happy. But it’s driving today with no further repeats. This is similar to some of those videos. Disappointing, yes. Lemon - not based on this. This truck cost a lot, and believe me I absolutely did drive to Carmax, look at others, and get an appraisal on mine - I could trade it and easily get back into a larger domestic - but at the end of the day kept the taco.

 

[edyvw]

If you buy a Tacoma - no matter how bad it is - it would still be worth half at trade in - even in 10 years at 150k. That’s just how it is.

Not really. Tundra and Sequoia don’t hold nearly as much value as previous generations. And Tacoma is on the way to be valued similarly.

 

[ctechbob]

I find it hilarious these days that people are as brand loyal as ever. Face it, most everything built today has too much technology, has been cost reduced to the final %, and is built by people who largely don't care anymore.

Add to that, all of these manufacturers are designing for about a 120,000 mile life and don't care about the long-term owner.

IE, they're all garbage, every single one of them. They all have some achilles heel that will eventually cause the owner grief in the long run if you choose to try and keep one over 100-150k.

 

[4wd]

I find it hilarious these days that people are as brand loyal as ever. Face it, most everything built today has too much technology, has been cost reduced to the final %, and is built by people who largely don't care anymore.

Add to that, all of these manufacturers are designing for about a 120,000 mile life and don't care about the long-term owner.

IE, they're all garbage, every single one of them. They all have some achilles heel that will eventually cause the owner grief in the long run if you choose to try and keep one over 100-150k.

Ok

 

[Nick1994]

No AWD is a ridiculous requirement.

So I’ll suggest the Honda Ridgeline anyways. I sat in one last year, loved that thing. Comfortable and so practical. I’d get a slightly used one, they seem to depreciate a bit.

 

[ctechbob]

No AWD is a ridiculous requirement.

So I’ll suggest the Honda Ridgeline anyways. I sat in one last year, loved that thing. Comfortable and so practical. I’d get a slightly used one, they seem to depreciate a bit.

Some of us don't want/need 4wd/AWD. If I could have gotten my hybrid without it, that's exactly what I'd have ordered.

 

[Nick1994]

Some of us don't want/need 4wd/AWD. If I could have gotten my hybrid without it, that's exactly what I'd have ordered.

To skip out on the best (my opinion) option because of one thing you don’t like (for whatever reason) is just silly.

In life, sometimes you have to compromise. Sounds like that’s what you did too.

 

[ctechbob]

To skip out on the best (my opinion) option because of one thing you don’t like (for whatever reason) is just silly.

In life, sometimes you have to compromise. Sounds like that’s what you did too.

There's no other truck that offers the 7.2kw on board, if there was and it was a GM/Chevy I'd have gotten one of those.

Its not silly. It is one more thing I'll have to maintain and one more thing to break. I don't need it, and didn't want it. My hand was forced. Sure, I could have not bought one and just waited, but that's not how the planets aligned.

I do agree, the Ridgeline would be good for his purposes though. Do they not offer them in FWD only anymore?

 

[97prizm]

Also, as a Tacoma owner I’ve watched a few of these Tacoma lemon videos.

I think theres a mental bias that hurts the Tacoma, and thats because they cost a premium. Pay 50k for a compact truck, more than a domestic full-size, and then get nervous? Buyers remorse amplifies and says “GET OUT OF IT.” Many of these videos have this “I had one problem and dumped it because it’s a lemon.” Now, granted, the problem is “rough shifting transmission” with loads of worry from the tundra, and Toyota is replacing transmissions with TSBs, but that’s not a lemon.

Now, I had the same blast at my dealership when mine quit in traffic, and I’m pretty sure it was a very confused transmission grabbing full lockup from a standstill and stalling - I sat there and sternly cried out, “yes youve rotated the tires and changed the oil but did you fix the problem!?” to which the guy lowered his head and said, “no, we can’t figure it out from the data, but we see where it had an error.” And I was Not Happy. But it’s driving today with no further repeats. This is similar to some of those videos. Disappointing, yes. Lemon - not based on this. This truck cost a lot, and believe me I absolutely did drive to Carmax, look at others, and get an appraisal on mine - I could trade it and easily get back into a larger domestic - but at the end of the day kept the taco.

Toyota had alot of frame replacements not too long ago. Then they had a decent size batch where the differential drain plug had a slow leak causing a few accidents and a few people to not be happy with Toyota as it took months to get a replacement drain plug. I worked at an independent dealership and we had a Tacoma come in on trade with this issue. At the time we were unaware of this. It took months to get it fixed.

 

[Delta]

Late to the party as usual...

In regards to the Tacoma, new would put you in the 2025 or 2026 model year depending on when your friend pulls the trigger. A lot of the (very few) kinks have been worked out.

Needing to tow 5,000 lbs crosses off the base model SR off, as I think it's only rated to tow 3500lbs. The SR5 trim and up gets a boost in power and is rated 6500lbs.

Mine is an SR5 with the upgrade package which has a bunch of extra stuff I like, but maybe not needed. Also is 4WD which you don't need. I have almost 12,000 miles on mine and I haven't really had any issues. For a while the transmission could not figure out what it wanted to do. Finally got its act together around 8,000 miles. Everyone is up in arms over getting rid of the V6, but after having the past two gens with V6's, I say good riddance! The turbo 4 is so much more powerful and doesn't require the throttle input the V6's needed. Reliability is up in the air, but looking at the engine on paper, it's pretty stout. I imagine with proper service (none of that 10K OCI BS) it will be fine. Only little issue I've had was the factory street tires were garbage in the snow. I swapped them out after the first snow. Not a problem for someone in the Bay area.

 

[vwmaniaman]

Drive them and then choose. Then verify the specs for whatever you like best. I have an old 1990 Ranger XLT that now has 106K on it and due to oil pressure sensor blowing out twice it needs a replacement 2.9 V6. None of the new trucks are as simple or easy to get in and out of as it is. It gets a calculated 21-22 mpg consistently, it has a frame under it. I will either replace or rebuild the motor of it. It still uses no oil and insurance and license plate is cheap for it. I had a lot of time being garage kept and the interior only shows a little wear. The AC and power windows and locks still work. I like the new Ranger and Maverick but either option is more expensive than a rebuilt motor. It doesn't have rust either so why not just keep it.

 

[buster]

The 22 ZR2 I have with the V6 has been extremely reliable so far (knock on wood). 45k trouble free miles. It's the LGZ (came out in 2017 and should not be confused with prior version). The only thing that goes wrong with them is the solenoids. It's an easy fix. Sometimes the thermostat goes bad too. But you'll find many hitting 150-200k easy in the LGZ.

It's the transmission (8speed) that is the problem. Fluid change corrects it.

The old Frontiers were super reliable.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Not really. Tundra and Sequoia don’t hold nearly as much value as previous generations. And Tacoma is on the way to be valued similarly.

Could be - nothing lasts forever. I always felt the used Toyota Tax was too much - buying new made more sense.

 

[edyvw]

Could be - nothing lasts forever. I always felt the used Toyota Tax was too much - buying new made more sense.

They are still trying to tax people, but issues are too common and big to just go under radar.

 

[Govtman]

I had a 2004 Colorado me out. Loved it. Mine had inline I-5 and was 3.5liter. Stout little motor and ran like a top. AC could freeze meat in cabin. I sold it to friend with 347K miles on it, he had it for a while and sold it to another guy that wrapped it around a tree.

Do not know if they still have the I-5 engine but it was great. Get the off-road package in 2wd it comes with higher lift and positive track rear.

 

[dogememe]

Now I read what I posted from AI.
No way I would tow that much. Nope.

Some of that information is straight up wrong. I use AI every day but why just copy and paste from it? Like, it adds no value to the conversion.

 

[Doc8404]

Some of that information is straight up wrong. I use AI every day but why just copy and paste from it? Like, it adds no value to the conversion.

tells me you didn't read it at all. It had great info, it supported which was best along with providing references. It also supported those that said to stay away from Frontier.

I am happy you use AI every day, proud!

But now that I know we can't post from AI, it is gone.