I am thinking about getting a new truck in the near future. Right now I am driving a Ram 1500 with 230k on the clock.

I am between a Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma (not considering the newer versions of either of these). There are many great things about the Tacoma; however, I am a bit concerned that it may be too small.

Has anyone gone from a full-size truck to a Tacoma? If so, what has your experience been? My main concerns are just overall space and protection if I were to get in an accident.

I'm not the exact case you're looking for but I have a double cab 2nd gen Tundra and my daily is a fleet Edge. For daily driving, highway trips, and running errands, I have always preferred a smaller vehicle. In the rare instance that I do use my Tundra, it's usually not with the whole family and it's almost always towing a trailer or hauling materials for home projects or my non-profit work. In the event that I do have multiple people with me in my truck, I kick myself for not ordering a crew max (when I was young, single, and had no kid plans on the horizon). It also used to be the case that a Tundra was only moderately more expensive than the Tacoma, so a Tundra used to be an easy choice.

All that to say, assuming 2nd gen Tundra prices are still close to Tacoma prices, I would buy a Tundra Crew Max in a heartbeat. So much so that I have thought about selling my low mileage double cab just to buy a similar crew max (when I'm not cross shopping 80 series LC's and Jeep LJR's).

Toyota engines are not getting rave reviews right now. Even with supposed corrections they are having some infrequent but catastrophic failures. I'd look into it.

Stunningly the new old Hemi 5.7 plus the ram 8 speed is often considered the most reliable drive train, as both are well established and any hemi issues are known and easily diagnosed. The ford 5.0 and 2.7 are also highly rated but the 20 speed auto they are used with is a little less so.

At this point, I am leaning Tundra because I will soon be making a weekly drive to Temple from Dallas.

Furlock Bones said:

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mrmill3218 said:

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I am thinking about getting a new truck in the near future. Right now I am driving a Ram 1500 with 230k on the clock.

I am between a Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma (not considering the newer versions of either of these). There are many great things about the Tacoma; however, I am a bit concerned that it may be too small.

Has anyone gone from a full-size truck to a Tacoma? If so, what has your experience been? My main concerns are just overall space and protection if I were to get in an accident.

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I've had 3 full size trucks. I now I have a Gladiator. There are times where I wish I had a bigger truck again, and I am sure I will at some point. But, this does 90% of everything I need plus is easier to park and more fun to drive off road places.

but note I'm not a big guy.

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I'm stuck on a mid life crisis delimma right now, same scenario.

I'd be downsizing from a Ram, and looking for a 2024 Sport with Max Tow. For the 10% of the time it doesn't do what you need, is it mostly towing/hauling related, or interior space?

I got a little FX4 Ranger and I love it. Quite possibly more reliable than these new little turbo tacomas

I drive a 2016 3rd Gen double cab long bed Tacoma. I would say if you have kids or routinely want to have more than 1 other person in the car with you, get the Tundra. The back seat on the Tacoma is fine for occasionally putting 1-2 adults or kids in it, but if you want to have car seats, groceries, etc. and then routinely have others sit back there it will be tight. I love the truck otherwise and don't routinely have anybody in the back seat so it doesn't affect me. I will also say that if you plan to tow anything over about 2500-3000# any decent distance on a regular basis, I would also lean towards the Tundra. The 3rd gen (2016-2023) Tacoma V6 power and gearing just aren't a good fit for towing heavy and it absolutely kills your gas mileage at highways speeds over long distances.

There are a lot of things it does well and it is very well suited for the way I use it, but those are the two cases I would not recommend the Tacoma for.

mrmill3218 said:

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I am thinking about getting a new truck in the near future. Right now I am driving a Ram 1500 with 230k on the clock.

I am between a Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma (not considering the newer versions of either of these). There are many great things about the Tacoma; however, I am a bit concerned that it may be too small.

Has anyone gone from a full-size truck to a Tacoma? If so, what has your experience been? My main concerns are just overall space and protection if I were to get in an accident.

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Most people who aren't avid off roaders or overlanders end up moving from Tacoma to Tundra.

Drove a Tacoma for 7 years.

Switched to Tundra's 13 years ago


I like the Tacoma but the backseat is not good for stuff or people or car seats.

Also the towing capacity is less and the older Tacoma's had rear drum brakes versus the tundra's disc.

Also the tundra's bed capacity is a lot greater if you haul stuff.


If you tow anything the Tundra is a better choice.

I had smaller v8 Tundra's and the gas mileage was around the same as the Tacoma 4.0 engine. The bigger V8 tundra likes to eat gas though.

mrmill3218 said:

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At this point, I am leaning Tundra because I will soon be making a weekly drive to Temple from Dallas.

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I can't help you with the tundra or toyota debate but I've driven temple to dallas plenty of times (and still do, just not weekly) and the number of idiot drivers would have me getting the bigger vehicle from just a safety standpoint.

unlicensed, illegals, bad truckers, and then normal every day drivers and congestion. even on a good day i avoid I35 when i can.

I was going back and forth between a Taco and a Tundra myself. My first Toyota truck.

I went with a 2015 Tundra 5.7 and I haven't regretted the size at all. I've had it about a 6-7 months. Even at 10 years old, I get a lot of compliments which is a little surprising to me, but people love their Tundra's from my interactions.

I definitely feel safer in it.

Rule 1 (With my old plates visible)

all my life as a child and now adult someone in my immediate family has owned either a full size or mid size toyota vehicle. They both are great. The biggest thing in my opinion is where are you driving it and where are you living. If in the city I'd get the tacoma. So much easier to move in and out parking garages and going through tight spaces.

The more room of the tundra is nice, but the ability to park in tight spots easier is damn nice.

Agree with this. My Ranger is my commuter and my Tundra is truck for when I need to do big truck things

I'll exclude "truck things" but I always drove full size and HD trucks. Bought the wife a small truck that I drove 50%+ of the time.

Seating position not my preference more car like.
Smaller center console and storage generally
Bed narrower so some things didn't fit like I expected
Smaller rear seat especially with front seats pushed back not great for adults but fine.
Less difference in fuel economy than I expected
Parking more easy than I expected compared to full size

I celebrate OP's Automotive board posting history.

Complete Idiot said:

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I celebrate OP's Automotive board posting history.

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Thank you!

fixer said:

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mrmill3218 said:

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I am thinking about getting a new truck in the near future. Right now I am driving a Ram 1500 with 230k on the clock.

I am between a Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma (not considering the newer versions of either of these). There are many great things about the Tacoma; however, I am a bit concerned that it may be too small.

Has anyone gone from a full-size truck to a Tacoma? If so, what has your experience been? My main concerns are just overall space and protection if I were to get in an accident.

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Most people who aren't avid off roaders or overlanders end up moving from Tacoma to Tundra.

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Even a lot of overlanders move to Tundras when they discover how limiting the Tacoma's payload will be for their plans.

I really like my Tacoma and we make it work with two rear facing car seats, but it's not ideal.

For many people Tundra is going to be the better option.

As someone who has owned both and loved both I'd say Tundra.

The Tacoma is a great truck and I didn't want to get rid of it but with kids arriving it was the right move.

With that said it's just a room issue. The extra room to stretch your legs and have a roomy backseat is what gives the nod to Tundra.

But yes the post-2022 Tundras are having engine issues as a result of debris during manufacturing Imine was a 2017). Take that for what's it worth.

Naveronski said:

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fixer said:

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mrmill3218 said:

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I am thinking about getting a new truck in the near future. Right now I am driving a Ram 1500 with 230k on the clock.

I am between a Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma (not considering the newer versions of either of these). There are many great things about the Tacoma; however, I am a bit concerned that it may be too small.

Has anyone gone from a full-size truck to a Tacoma? If so, what has your experience been? My main concerns are just overall space and protection if I were to get in an accident.

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Most people who aren't avid off roaders or overlanders end up moving from Tacoma to Tundra.

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Even a lot of overlanders move to Tundras when they discover how limiting the Tacoma's payload will be for their plans.

I really like my Tacoma and we make it work with two rear facing car seats, but it's not ideal.

For many people Tundra is going to be the better option.

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It really is just a matter of how you use it and what you need it for. The Tacoma is not an ideal truck for a family of 4 that wants to haul a camper across the country. But it is great for a couple that wants to go places a lot of other vehicles aren't well suited to go and also occasionally wants to have a truck bed to haul some stuff in. I drove a Tundra before I bought my Tacoma and it felt like I was driving a barge because of the size of it. That great big interior cab space that is a must for people wanting to carry around a bunch of kids or other adults felt like the inside of a cargo van to me coming from a 99 access cab Tacoma. The sizes between the two are much closer than they used to be, but the Tacoma still drives less like a barge and I am probably one of the few who prefers the Tacoma's lower seating position relative to the "bench seat" style sitting position of most full size pickups.

AustinCountyAg said:

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all my life as a child and now adult someone in my immediate family has owned either a full size or mid size toyota vehicle. They both are great. The biggest thing in my opinion is where are you driving it and where are you living. If in the city I'd get the tacoma. So much easier to move in and out parking garages and going through tight spaces.

The more room of the tundra is nice, but the ability to park in tight spots easier is damn nice.

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Can't speak for 2022 and up but on the older models the tundra is only 5.5 inches wider than the Tacoma and only about 12 inches longer if both trucks are configured with a 6.5 ft bed