It is Monday, which suggests you’d usually be discovering a brand new Baggage Take a look at right here on Autoblog. Sadly, I had a number of automobiles in February that did not want baggage testing, which suggests I’ve nothing to toss six suitcases into right now. However that does not imply I am unable to provide up an alternate …
I feel it is secure to say that the Toyota Tacoma is healthier identified for the locations it could actually take you than the stuff that it could actually haul. It is extra of an journey rig than a piece rig … effectively, apart from all of the previous ones working round Southern California with beds stuffed to the brim with lawnmowers and rakes.
So, as an alternative of seeing if this 2024 Tacoma TRD Off-Street with the 5-foot mattress can stay 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 proper alternative. I would not want as a lot rock as I did after 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 might know precisely how a lot they’d weigh. The grand whole 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 actually undecided the place the TRD Off-Street falls in that vary, however the necessary factor was that my rock quantity was effectively 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 after the other. 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 out of doors the truck. I am assuming that features this mattress lining, as a result of if that is the manufacturing lining, it should be extra strong than it appears. Both method, 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.
Other than the nostril noticeably being pitched upward and with much less suspension compression over a pace bump, I am unable to say I seen a lot of a change in the best way 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 dwelling, I instantly obtained bored with 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.
“Nicely to hell with this,” I stated taking a look at my horrible patchy garden destined to be dug up sometime. I jumped into the Tacoma, pulled it round to my driveway, break up the uprights between tree and spouse’s Niro, and parked the Tacoma mid-hill. I have to say, the distinction of orange truck and inexperienced home makes for a enjoyable image.
At this level, I have to say that it will be good if the Tacoma had some kind of step to assist in climbing into the mattress. Positive, it is a midsize truck and such help steps are usually present in full-size vans, but it surely’s not midsize due to top. If something, I would not be shocked if the Tacoma’s tailgate is larger off the bottom than the Tundra Lengthy-Mattress I examined. Even when it was only a nook step, it will be appreciated. Oh, and the Colorado and Canyon have them.
With the rocks efficiently unloaded, I might ultimately head again to Patagonia for yet one more 75-pound bag. Doing so meant driving straight off my garden and off the complete 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?
A number of days later I might be again onto the garden after stopping by Lowe’s to choose up eight luggage of mulch to complete up the job. My son did a bang-up job supervising regardless of inclement circumstances.
He could be rewarded the subsequent day by collaborating within the subsequent a part of this check: Volkswagen hauling!
You see, our highway is kind of hilly, that means it has been tough for him to discover ways to drive his Volkswagen E Buggy he obtained 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 (identify an SUV), however not with out reducing the again seats of two-row fashions. Meaning I am unable to set up his little one seat, which defeats the aim of driving the E Buggy someplace. Anywho, that is only a long-winded method of claiming “The Tacoma simply held a toddler’s ride-on electrical automobile, as a result of duh.”
So there you will have it. Hardly a torture check, however rattling it, I put the brand new Tacoma to work.
