Anyone come from a 3rd Gen Tacoma?

[LloydChristmas]

Hey everyone. Just wanted to see if anyone could provide some feedback for me. I currently have a 2021 Tacoma, and I am contemplating making the switch to a new JL.

I thought that I needed a truck a few years back, but don't really use it for anything truck related except for a trip to Lowe's every other year. My main issue is the howling rear diff that is common on these trucks. It drives me absolutely nuts, and the Toyota community seems to think it's normal, and "trucks make noises."

I grew up around Jeeps, and had a few when I was younger. My rusted old 95 YJ is still my favorite vehicle I have ever owned, until it caught on fire while being high centered in some dry weeds.

Anyways, I have the itch, and I am daydreaming about popping those doors and top off when the weather gets warm. Anyone else ditch their Taco for a JL? Do you regret it if you did? Thanks!

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[Rubi SoHo]

Hey everyone. Just wanted to see if anyone could provide some feedback for me. I currently have a 2021 Tacoma, and I am contemplating making the switch to a new JL.

I thought that I needed a truck a few years back, but don't really use it for anything truck related except for a trip to Lowe's every other year. My main issue is the howling rear diff that is common on these trucks. It drives me absolutely nuts, and the Toyota community seems to think it's normal, and "trucks make noises."

I grew up around Jeeps, and had a few when I was younger. My rusted old 95 YJ is still my favorite vehicle I have ever owned, until it caught on fire while being high centered in some dry weeds.

Anyways, I have the itch, and I am daydreaming about popping those doors and top off when the weather gets warm. Anyone else ditch their Taco for a JL? Do you regret it if you did? Thanks!

Do you like to get off road? If so, you’ll find that the JL is worlds more capable in crawling situations. Other than that, the Tacoma is going to be more comfortable on the road, it’s going to be more utilitarian, and it’s going to be just as useful for dirt roads and non technical wheeling. It’s also going to be way way more reliable in the long run. And if you think rear differential noise and other “truck noises“ are annoying, the JL will probably drive you crazy. I’ve got creaks and squeaks. from the doors, from the hardtop, sometimes from the suspension. Not to mention road noise. But I love the vehicle, and I would not personally trade it for a Tacoma.

I’ve got a JL, my brother has a 2019 Tacoma. We go out wheeling together and I can do a lot more than he can. We still find ways to get his rig through most stuff though.

 

[Johnramboh]

The best decision I have ever made.
People say that’s a nice Tacoma… After, they will say… Wow that’s your Jeep???

You feel driving a really tough car but you don’t want to go faster than 100 km/h. Mine is lifted and you feel floaty as hell.

Also it is obvious that mine is and will be a city princess lol just heavy snow time to time…

 

[Mikey T]

Traded my platinum Tundra for a 392 Wrangler. No regrets at all. I built this truck to tackle anything. 6 inch lift on 35's. Supercharged, the whole package on this thing. We'll my wife got a used Wrangler and we decided to go offroading. I was sure she would never be able to follow me through this very rough trail. Well, at the end of the day she out preformed me in every way. She was able to do climbs in that jeep that I had to watch from the bottom because my truck wasn't having it. I was mad and embarrassed at the same time. I put all the money in glorified pavement princess. Don't get me wrong, it was a solid, dependable truck, but if you want to get really nasty in a canyon, then the jeep is where its at. My 392 has outdone my Tundra in every way except MPG!

 

[embedded rock]

In August of '24 I traded my eight month old 2023 12k mile Tacoma TRD O-R with manual trans for JLU Willy's with the v6 and auto with Xtreme, safety, and comfort packages. Really enjoyed that Jeep and went a lot of places with it for the next 16 months and 24k miles. No regrets at all.

 

[ForrestGump]

Anyone else ditch their Taco for a JL? Do you regret it if you did? Thanks!

I ditched my Taco for a Jeep. Twice.

In 1996 I bought a brand new first generation Tacoma. That vehicle fit my life perfectly at the time, and I drove it for eighteen years until it had a bunch of problems where fixing them would cost more than replacement. I then made the first ditch the Tacoma for a Jeep to a 2010 JK Sport. It was reasonable transportation but enough problems of using a soft top vehicle as a daily driver piled up in my mind. After five years of that first Jeep, I went to a 2012 second generation Tacoma. It was a okay vehicle, but it being a mid-size rather than the small pickup of the first generation prevented it from ever really being an ideal. It was reasonable transportation, but nothing to make a driver smile. So, in 2024, I had the cash, and I did the custom order 2024 JL that I have today. I am supremely happy with that decision.

To my mind, the second and later generation Tacomas are bigger than I want in a pickup. I suspect that since CAFE legislation forced them to scale the Tacoma up to being a mid-size, they are now in the business of making the fourth generation Tacoma as unappealing as possible so that anyone looking at that vehicle decides to go spend more money on a Tundra. I do get that sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it fits what I can see from here. Toyota wants to put you in either the most profitable full sized pickup, or a four door SUV with a four inch bed. Forget about them.

Ditch your Taco for a Jeep.

... don't really use it for anything truck related except for a trip to Lowe's every other year.

Many Lowes and other big chain stores will rent you a truck to carry your loot back home. Enterprise rent-a-car will rent you a big-big full sized pickup with a trailer hitch and hookups already installed for when you want to tow something big. The need to carry big stuff every so often should no longer be on anyone's list of reasons to buy a big vehicle. Leave those big vehicles for carrying big things to people who need that every day, day in and day out.

Ditch your Taco for a Jeep.

 

[RicRecon]

Not sure what generation mine was. 2006 Tacoma double cab sport 4wd. Loved it. First three years put 50k on it as a work truck for surveying. Carried everything I needed and went anywhere I told it too. But that was work and I only used 4wd when I needed it, not because I was trail riding. Kept it almost 19 years and 145k miles with very little maintenance and repairs.

Thing was, I picked up a new 2018 JLUR (wasn’t my first jeep) and I just fit better in it. Way more comfortable in the front drivers seat than I was in the Tacoma. Kept hitting my head climbing into the truck. Then I traded in my 18 for a 21 JLURD and never looked back.

Sold the Tacoma 2 years ago for 14k. Took the money and bought a used 21 JT Overland diesel. Loved the Tacoma but I don’t look back and no regrets. Life driving both the Jeep and the Gladiator.

 

[FF5Cobra]

Always had Toyota Tacomas . Last one was a 2010 Tacoma Trd.4x4
v 6 auto trans,loved the truck in snow and limited off-road up our place in W V.never had an issue. Trade in value high.
had to upgrade to ford 250 4x4 to tow new fifth wheel camper
gas milage killed me as daily driver.
since I did’nt need two pick ups decided on 2025 4 door willies for daily driver and limited off-roading and snow duty
for my purpose Toyota did great. However after renting 2020 jeep for few months, fell in love with jeep So got one as daily driver.

loved my yoga.for what I needed

 

[fireman9027]

I traded mine in, and Ive definitely learned my lesson, I'll never be without a Jeep again.

 

[yokramer]

If youre actual concern is a loud diff and dont like the "Trucks make noise" excuse you are gonna hate a Wrangler.

 

[Jared1956]

2005 Wrangler to 2005 Tacoma
2005 Tacoma to 2012 Wrangler
2012 Wrangler to 2012 Tacoma
2012 Tacoma to 2015 Tacoma
2015 Tacoma to 2017 Wrangler
2017 Wrangler to 2019 Tacoma
2019 Tacoma to 2021 Wrangler
2021 Wrangler to 2021 Tacoma
2021 Tacoma to 2023 Wrangler
2023 Wrangler to 2025 Wrangler
2025 Wrangler to 2025 Gladiator

I’ve swapped between Wrangler and Tacoma for 20 years. Bottom line is Toyota drives better and is quieter. Wrangler is more fun. Prices finally came down enough on Gladiators that I’m in one of those now. Just get a small trailer for the truck stuff.

 

[jharp]

I've test drove Tacomas and Tundras more times than I can remember. I've never been able to force myself to buy one. I've always found the ergonomics are just "wrong" for me, for some reason.

By the time I get the seat setup where my legs are comfortable, the steering wheel is in an awkward spot. If I get close enough to the steering wheel that my arms are comfortable, my knees are bent at a weird angle.

Strangely I've always found a perfect ergonomic fit with JL & JT's.

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