# Does Toyota truly make the best 4X4 Truck? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 25, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608 "2011-02-25T18:19:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/21 "2011-03-02T06:21:13Z")
If towing is a priority, I’d look at an F-250 or other 3/4 ton. I think they’ve fixed the problem, but Tacomas were rusting out and the frame was splitting in half. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/22 "2011-03-02T07:42:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Isn’t that covered under the recall? Yes and no. Do you want to have to argue with Toyota over a used vehicle? They’ve had a pretty bad year with brakes. It’s just something to be aware of. Personally I’m not overly impressed with their truck quality. It’s the little things like the tailgate latch. I just replaced one on a 10 year old truck and it was an expensive piece of crap. Little stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/23 "2011-03-02T12:02:56Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > If towing is a priority, I’d look at an F-250 or other 3/4 ton. I think they’ve fixed the problem, but Tacomas were rusting out and the frame was splitting in half. and even not rusted, the Tundra’s frame is made of spaghetti. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EWjTbiYo3x0/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgWShJMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCvbI3VXOeofHTGrPzhyP38NMnk9w "Ford F150 vs Chevy vs Toyota - Bed Bounce") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWjTbiYo3x0) and I want to scream every time someone brings up that stupid Top Gear segment. if you think the Tacoma and Tundra have _anything_ to do with an almost 30-year-old HiLux, you’re seriously mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/24 "2011-03-02T12:18:12Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Yes and no. Do you want to have to argue with Toyota over a used vehicle? They’ve had a pretty bad year with brakes. It’s just something to be aware of. Personally I’m not overly impressed with their truck quality. It’s the little things like the tailgate latch. I just replaced one on a 10 year old truck and it was an expensive piece of crap. Little stuff like that. Toyota didn’t take into account that people like to drive ATV’s and golf carts into the bed by driving them up over the tailgate. > **[Loading...](http://www.bodyshopzone.com/editorial/about_Toyota/Tundra_quality_problem.html)** > [@jz78817](#): > > and even not rusted, the Tundra’s frame is made of spaghetti. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWjTbiYo3x0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWjTbiYo3x0) > > and I want to scream every time someone brings up that stupid Top Gear segment. if you think the Tacoma and Tundra have _anything_ to do with an almost 30-year-old HiLux, you’re seriously mistaken. I was going to post that frame bending video too. It’s hardly unbiased since it’s the test is set up by Ford, but the results are pretty dramatic. Domestic manufacturers get a lot of criticism, but one area where they dominate by sales and general consensus is that they know how to make a full size pickup. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/25 "2011-03-02T14:20:42Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > and I want to scream every time someone brings up that stupid Top Gear segment. if you think the Tacoma and Tundra have _anything_ to do with an almost 30-year-old HiLux, you’re seriously mistaken. _ahem_ > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Note that _Top Gear_ tested a (1988) Hilux, which is Toyota’s global-market utility truck. The Tacoma occupies the Hilux’ market slot in the US, and is designed to be less utilitarian to meet the needs of American buyers (who buy pickups to use as everyday on-road vehicles, which is unusual). ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/26 "2011-03-02T14:33:31Z")
are you agreeing or disagreeing with me? The Tacoma and current HiLux are not the same thing, with little or no commonality between them. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/27 "2011-03-02T15:27:01Z")
I believe we’re agreeing entirely. It’s blatantly obviously a different truck and a more commercial-focused one. It’s _still_ an awesome bit of tv, though not especially relevant to American cars. I wasn’t expecting anyone to even think that a british model of vehicle would be even tangentally similar to an American one… by god, the next Focus that happens to be the euro-model in America will be the first. … and it will be, too. Very nice. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/28 "2011-03-02T15:34:38Z")
> [@](#): > > the next Focus that happens to be the euro-model in America will be the first. Saturn Astra. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/29 "2011-03-02T17:02:41Z")
Oh WOW! The Toyota [HiLux](http://www.autocar-today.com/2009/10/10/toyota-hilux-2/) - Dang, I want one! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/30 "2011-03-02T17:29:13Z")
Agreeing. > [@E-Sabbath](#): > > by god, the next Focus that happens to be the euro-model in America will be the first. Eh? The original Focus was the same in the US market as it was elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/31 "2011-03-02T18:06:35Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Agreeing. > > Eh? The original Focus was the same in the US market as it was elsewhere. Heck, even the Mondeo/Contour was from Europe. Or more recently, the Fiesta. Oh, but there are surface differences on those, you say, while the new Focus looks the same? They’re not the same car, meaning that they’re not identical. Oh, they’re close, and have most of the same characteristics. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/32 "2011-03-02T18:51:15Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > I am planning on making this a work vehicle, meaning it will be in 4-wheel a lot, and it will be hauling a lot. > > The American trucks just don’t seem to hold a stick in terms of re-sale value, and degradation over time [mechanically]… > > What say you? Revisiting the OP, I note that you are looking for a work vehicle that will do a lot of hauling. Not sure given this why you even bothered to look at the Tacoma. In any even, 1/2 ton class trucks from all the manufactures are barely capable as work trucks. They are all slanted toward the commuter end of the spectrum and compromise strength and reliability for unloaded ride quality and highway manners. Get yourself a 3/4 or 1 ton truck with a diesel engine and you will find fewer issues with mechanical degradation and that they hold their value much better than the 1/2 ton trucks. Of course this is my opinion, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/33 "2011-03-02T19:00:11Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > Revisiting the OP, I note that you are looking for a work vehicle that will do a lot of hauling. > > Not sure given this why you even bothered to look at the Tacoma. In any even, 1/2 ton class trucks from all the manufactures are barely capable as work trucks. They are all slanted toward the commuter end of the spectrum and compromise strength and reliability for unloaded ride quality and highway manners. This is not really true. An F-150 can haul over 3,000 lbs and has a towing capacity of 11,300 and can be configured for an 8,200 lb GVWR. that’s basically what the F-250 could do a couple generations ago. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/34 "2011-03-02T20:56:17Z")
But’s it’s going to get terrible mileage if it’s constantly used that way. A Powerstroke will still get decent fuel mileage being used like that. For the occasional heavy hauling or towing, an F-150 would be just fine though. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/35 "2011-03-03T02:47:41Z")
The Tundra is a world beating 1/2 ton pickup at the price of 3/4 or even 1 ton truck. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/36 "2011-03-03T18:38:00Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > Not a truck you would buy, nor me. But the best? > > A = [Unimog](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unimog) > > For example: No chance. One of my previous workplaces had the misfortune to have the repair contract for the Unimogs used by NIE (Northern Irelands electricity supplier). They run like shit, and are an absolute, unmitigated disaster to actually work at. Avoid, avoid avoid. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608/37 "2011-03-03T20:03:36Z")
I find the Tundra, Sierra/Silverado, and F150 to be in a dead heat for resale value. The Dodge Ram and Nissan Titan can be had for a little less. In my most recent searches – in which I really want to find the right Sierra – they all seem just out of my range, but a few Tundras with similar equipment floated below the Sierra. This is on 2-4 y/o trucks with up to 60k miles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-toyota-truly-make-the-best-4x4-truck/572608.md?page=1)