Question for Tacoma guys. I dig my wife’s 4Runner off road and wonder if I could transition from full size Ram hemi crew to a midsize crew 6 cyl. Kids are out, just wife and I, tow nothing. How cramped is it? Any perks to downsizing other than some garage space?
Phew, lots to dissect here. First off I love my truck, and it was my dream truck at one point. When I am, or when me and the wife used to be solo adventuring it was perfect. Now the kids are getting bigger, they don’t sleep as well in the cab and bed. This is why I’m going to probably be transitioning to a full size.
Tacoma’s benefits are resale value, compact enough to go down most roads and trails, super capable off road if you get the TRD off-road package, insanely durable, one of the largest aftermarket parts suppliers networks, and they look great.
Drawbacks are they are overgeared from the factory, they need lower gears or different transmission. Most benefit from 4.56 or 4.88, and if I keep my truck I will go 5.29. They have horrible payload, you can over load them quick. My truck is probably close to gvw without anyone in it. The 3.5 v6 engine is not a bad engine, but the usable power band is to high in the rpms for normal truck guys to like it. If your a 2wd street truck guy or that asshole who has to bounce off the rev limiter each shift you’ll love it. Perfect for that dude who has that super tourquey v8 who revs it out 3k rpms past its peak power in the power curve and just sounds dumb. This engines for that guy. Those are the major downfalls.
As for downsizing from a full-size to a midsize you’re just going to have to see if that works for you. With me and the wife the truck still has plenty of room. We are both bigger, but not fat but

6’ 200*, 5’9”160*. Not too far apart for the occasional group, but far enough for our elbows are bumping off each other. Throw the kids in the back it gets noticeably tighter.
If it was me I would stick with the 2500, And drive the wife’s 4runner when you can. Those are my plans, my wife has a TRD pro 4Runner, and I’m probably going to upsize to a 2500 with a different style camper on it. Not sure if I’ll go with the 6.4, antiquated but bulletproof, or the Cummins.
anyone got recommendations for me on that one?
Thanks
Morgan