They are so popular in rock crawling because they have manual hubs, and most importantly solid front axles up until 1985. However, a solid front axle from a 1985 or older can be EASILY swapped into any 1986-1994 Toyota 4x4 with the independent front suspension. If you have ever seen rock crawling you would know that these trucks get ABSOLUTELY THRASHED and keep on keepin on!

I do admit that the 4cyl (22RE) trucks do not like hauling stuff on the road, but they will do just fine. I pulled my uncles 14' bass boat no problem at all and used the truck to move once. However, when they are in the mud, those 4.10 rear gears and 4 low will amaze you. I yanked my buddies Ranger out of one serious mud hole (up over the bottom of the door). The V6's are even better, but I don't think are quite as reliable.

The newer Tacomas (1995 and up) have been great trucks and you see lifted and heavily modified ones down here in SC all over the place. I think the teenage and 20 something crowd down here driving smaller Toyota trucks may just be driving full size Toyota trucks in the future when they have a boat/camper and family to tow around. This is another way the reputation of the smaller trucks could impact fullsize truck sales. Like those driving domestics, they havent been given a reason to change.

 

The construction industry makes very good use of those types of trucks, which is a very big segment of the market, and has a LOT of these trucks. I've been on what seems like a thousand construction sites over the last 12 years, and Ford and GM are the only trucks you see on there... well, a few dodges here and there too. Automotive dealerships (mostly the used-type, i'm connected to a few by friendship) make good use of them too, hauling vehicles from lot to lot. And don't forget medium duty transport... manufacturers make big use of these trucks hauling stuff around that don't require rigs, but will need something like a beefed 1-ton.

The diesel HDs are making a statement though, it's hard to beat a truck of the size and capability of the domestic HDs and still knocking down 18-20mpg stock (the latest diesels can approach 22-23mpg with exhaust and a tuner), and lasting for what seems like forever under harsh conditions. I personally know of a half-dozen diesel dodges and fords back home with well over 400k miles, all are fleet haulers or construction trucks, and had minimal problems for the work they do (mostly transmission problems, not the trucks themselves). My uncle's '96 3500 dodge cummins (manual trans) has almost 600k miles on the stock engine and transmission... only non-maint. items (i.e.- other than brakes, clutches, etc) done to it are a fuel pump, new injectors, and a rear end rebuild, all done within the last 2 years. It's hauled a goose-neck trailer loaded with cotton gins (HUGE) and a forklift back and forth between SC and Alabama since he bought it new. I don't know what Toyota and Nissan produce in other countries in this class of truck, but they have some impressive resumes to compete against here in the work field.

 

I think we are getting way off base with this discussion now. The new Tundra is a 1/2 ton pickup ment to compete with the GM, Ford, and Dodge 1/2 ton pickups. It is not in anyway ment to compete with the HD's. It's competition is the Ram 1500, Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500, and F-150. It stacks up very well against the current competition, but many of the domestic trucks are due for a makeover and you better believe they will pay attention to the upcoming Toyota.

On a side note, the new Chevy SUV and Avalanche restyling is fricking gorgeous! So nice it is enough for me to look at Chevy first when the time comes to get a truck again.

 

We may be talking about a 1/2 ton truck, but if you go to Toyotas website, this new Tundra is being touted in that 3/4 to 1 ton market. I'm sorry, but your comparing apples to oranges at that point. From reading their website a little, I get the feeling that they expect to not only convert a few 1/2 ton truck owners, but mostly 3/4 and 1 ton owners. I just don't see this happening.

BTW, between the Tundra and Titan, I don't see much of a difference at all. The Titan can tow 9500lbs, while the Tundra is at least 10k. Anyone know what they new 5.7 in the Tundra will make for power?

 

The main difference in the Titan and Tundra is the reputation of the companies that make them. Toyota has a much better truck reputation and is pretty popular with the younger crowd, down here anyways.

I don't see how Toyota thinks they are going to convert 3/4 and 1 ton owners to a 1/2 ton pickup. That is just retarded. Oh, and I did finally see a Tundra work truck yesterday in Greenwood, SC.

The 5.7 in the Tundra makes 350hp but I do not know how much torque. Anyone know what the torque is?

 

The Tundra won't fall apart as fast as the Titan
From what I've seen of the Titan, looks pretty damn cheap.

 

I'm not knocking the Tundra but I've have slightly over a year and 15K of service out of my Titan and nothing has "fallen apart"....in fact, nothing done other than scheduled maint.