It is Monday, which implies you’d usually be discovering a brand new Baggage Take a look at right here on Autoblog. Sadly, I had a number of autos in February that did not want baggage testing, which implies I’ve nothing to toss six suitcases into in the present day. However that does not imply I can not supply up another …
I believe it is secure to say that the Toyota Tacoma is best recognized for the locations it could possibly take you than the stuff that it could possibly haul. It is extra of an journey rig than a piece rig … nicely, apart from all of the previous ones working round Southern California with beds crammed to the brim with lawnmowers and rakes.
So, as a substitute of seeing if this 2024 Tacoma TRD Off-Street with the 5-foot mattress can reside as much as its billing on a unclean, rocky path, I made a decision to certainly put it to work. I had been wanting to put in a drainage rock creek for a while, and having the brand new Tacoma appeared like the right alternative. I would not want as a lot rock as I did once I maxed out an F-150 constructing a rock backyard/canine run in Portland, so it appeared like one thing the Tacoma might deal with.
Nonetheless, I needed to be cautious. We’re speaking about rocks right here. Fortunately, Patagonia Constructing Provide right here in Agoura Hills, Calif., might inform me precisely how a lot the rocks in query would weigh. The ten 75-pound luggage of river rock was apparent, as have been the 2 50-pound sacks of pea gravel. The larger rocks I picked out have been then priced per pound, so I would know precisely how a lot they’d weigh. The grand complete was 1,111 kilos.
The Tacoma’s most payload is listed as between 1,380 and 1,705 kilos for the 4×4 Double Cab. I am truthfully undecided the place the TRD Off-Street falls in that vary, however the essential factor was that my rock quantity was nicely south of the underside quantity. I additionally weigh significantly lower than 269 kilos.
Loading at Patagonia could not have been simpler … in that I anticipated doing much more lifting. The great chap working there pulled up with a forklift, raised a pallet as much as mattress degree, climbed onto the mattress and moved the larger rocks in one by one. I helped too, trigger I used to be there. We have been very cautious in placing them down as a result of this was a pre-production unit with flimsy scratch-prone black plastic inside and outdoors the truck. I am assuming that features this mattress lining, as a result of if that is the manufacturing lining, it have to be extra sturdy than it appears. Both manner, it survived unscathed. We then loaded the 12 luggage of different rocks aboard, which was greater than sufficient to sag the Tacoma’s butt towards the bottom.
Aside from the nostril noticeably being pitched upward and with much less suspension compression over a velocity bump, I can not say I observed a lot of a change in the way in which the Tacoma drove. True, I did not do full-throttle acceleration run, however neither the powertrain nor the suspension appeared strained.
As soon as at house, I instantly received uninterested in hauling every 75-pound bag out of the mattress, dropping it on my wagon-like wheelbarrow, lugging it as much as my “river” and lifting it off the wagon. Too many steps/lifts.
“Effectively to hell with this,” I mentioned my horrible patchy garden destined to be dug up sometime. I jumped into the Tacoma, pulled it round to my driveway, cut up the uprights between tree and spouse’s Niro, and parked the Tacoma mid-hill. I need to say, the distinction of orange truck and inexperienced home makes for a enjoyable image.
At this level, I need to say that it could be good if the Tacoma had some type of step to assist in climbing into the mattress. Positive, it is a midsize truck and such help steps are sometimes present in full-size vans, nevertheless it’s not midsize due to top. If something, I would not be stunned if the Tacoma’s tailgate is increased off the bottom than the Tundra Lengthy-Mattress I examined. Even when it was only a nook step, it could be appreciated. Oh, and the Colorado and Canyon have them.
With the rocks efficiently unloaded, I’d finally head again to Patagonia for yet another 75-pound bag. Doing so meant driving straight off my garden and off the total curb, which was extremely satisfying. I do not know why. Doing one thing usually verboten like driving the full-length throughout a garden is inherently enjoyable?
Just a few days later I’d be again onto the garden after stopping by Lowe’s to select up eight luggage of mulch to complete up the job. My son did a bang-up job supervising regardless of inclement situations.
He can be rewarded the subsequent day by participating within the subsequent a part of this check: Volkswagen hauling!
You see, our highway is sort of hilly, which means it has been tough for him to discover ways to drive his Volkswagen E Buggy he received for Christmas. Uphill, speeds are OK. Downhill, “it is too loopy,” as he says. So, he wanted some flat-ground follow, which meant lugging the E Buggy to a park. Now, it will simply slot in (title an SUV), however not with out reducing the again seats of two-row fashions. Which means I can not set up his baby seat, which defeats the aim of driving the E Buggy someplace. Anywho, that is only a long-winded manner of claiming “The Tacoma simply held a toddler’s ride-on electrical automobile, as a result of duh.”
So there you’ve got it. Hardly a torture check, however rattling it, I put the brand new Tacoma to work.