Toyota TACOMA OFF ROAD Lunar Rock - Brutally Honest Review of Access Cab Tacoma 

As someone who's in the market for a new Tacoma, I really appreciate your honest thoughts and feedback. Refreshing to see. I can't say I'll ever put an ATV in the back of mine, but it's good to know the truck could do it. I'm definitely subscribing to your channel. Keep pumping out the Tacoma updates and I'll keep watching while I wait for mine to be built!

Your vids are badass! I’m waiting on a Taco myself. Keep these coming👍

2021 access cab with long bed here. Actually use mine like a truck also. Have hauled lots of things and put to the test. So far it's been great.

Can't wait to see the journey man, awesome truck, putting it to the test out of the gate 🤘

Nice in-depth review brother. Same truck and I absolutely love it

This is a great video. Getting a Taco, first ever truck, and wanted to see if it would fit my ATV, looks like it will! I'm also in Colorado! Solid video all around though, subbed!

This man has a great personality 💪🤘

A tip for the movable bed cleats! Twist the knob to screw them tight and they won’t flop around lol. That’s why the button is ribbed, so you can hand-tighten. When you tighten it, it’ll also lock out the button

Great review of this super rare Tacoma configuration. Access Cabs in TRD are mostly Sports, only about 25% make it to the Off-Road trim level. I opted for the Sport because I wanted the 6MT. Some things to note for future longevity - relocate the AC condensate line. I did a DIY on this and it'll prevent the frame from rusting. Also when you lift, the TSS warning may go off as the truck wants to see the factory 1" rake in the back. When putting on aftermarket wheels - you'll need to change out the wheel studs because Toyota uses ET style lug nuts and you'll only get 6 lug turns if using the OEM wheel studs. Matrix AWD Dorman studs up front and ARP IS300 studs in the back (trimmed down to 1-1/8") from the drum to stud end. Good luck on this truck and yeah, lots of thin plastic components on this sadly as thats how most of new cars are built - cheaply with material savings in mind. Also for rear suspension, I'd recommend rear leaf packs either from Icon RXT, OME, Deaver or Dobinsons. Heard some reviews that Add-A-Leafs are just a band aid fix as the OEM leafs are aweful.

Enjoying your videos and perspective. Yes, the plastics are questionable at first but actually are durable. They help serve to reduce ever increasing emissions standards and crash ratings. You may want to consider the OEM bd mat. The composite box is very slippery. You may slip and fall while out in the backcountry. Also, OEM running boards and aftermarket mud guards to help with debris flung up onto the side of the truck. Or just rock sliders. Great news is there are a ton of aftermarket options for the most popular midsize truck, the Tacoma. I’m really enjoying my 2020 DCLB TRD Sport 4x4. And yes I take it off road exploring. Amazing trucks off road just stock. A few mods and they are beasts. Looking forward to more content as we ride along. Oh and as a family we enjoy looking for old mining and ghost towns. The Taco gets us there and back reliably.

Thanks for the honest review man. I have a 23' Taco OR. I hate the quality of body panels, even though Taco is affordable and reliable mid size truck, it is truck. It needs more heavy duty stuff. I am planning on replacing fenders with aftermarket bodykit for allowing more clearance, racing parts, and looks. I always pray to not get dents before overlanding

Hey neighbor! Fellow Coloradan here. In fact, you drove right through my district and it looked like you drove right along my commute route through Salida! Found your vid while researching new Tacomas. Currently waiting on almost the same one you have from the same dealership! Those guys at Mountain States Toyota have been good so far. Right now, I'm running a '99 Tacoma and often load up my Kodiak 450 in the back. When I drive it up forward, like you did, I run into the same fitment issue. However, if I BACK IT into the bed, I can close the tailgate. It's a bit tricky to do but, it might be a quick easy solution for you.... if you haven't found an alternative route.

This was a awesome video

Great videos. You gained a sub. I am getting one of these on Friday.

Nice vid, right up my alley. Just got the same truck and I'm gonna use it for hauling a Yamaha raptor in the bed 450 lbs only. Just wondering what leafs you'd recommend?

Beautiful truck. I'm getting one soon and I have the same as yours with color, trim, and bed length

I have a 2015 ext cab and love it. Take the keys out of the ignition to stop the beeping, just don't lock your keys inside!

First! These vids are just a good as your other ones

I see they make a sway bar for Tacoma, would help with handling in the mnts too. The payload for that configuration is 1400lbs I think. I put Nitro 4.88s in my 2WD Access cab, it feels like thats what the truck was made for. Other wise 5th and 6th gear are over drives.

Hell yeah I have 17 TRD PRO Tacoma and let’s go places ❤❤❤❤

Appreciate the honest review. I have a 2021, and came from a 2021 Ranger. I really miss the extra payload of the Ranger and the Ecoboost. The Taco "squats" if you so much as put a few cinder blocks in the back. My 4 door short bed only has 990 lbs of payload. Ranger was 1540 lbs. Got the Taco thinking resale would be better long term, I liked the looks better, and bought into the "reliability" that everyone clamors about. As I type this, it's at the shop having transmission shifting issues (12,000 miles) shifts from 1st, slips, then jams to 2nd. Really wish I had gotten the manual. Finally, careful with that weight on the tailgate too. I've heard they're rated from Toyota as having NO (yes as in technically "0 lbs" actual weight capacity. Scares me putting any weight on it. Kinda glad I got it on a cheap lease, cause when it's up, it's probably going bye-bye.

I’m glad I was able to see how wimpy those rear leaf springs are. I’ll have to find some aftermarket ones that can haul more. Perhaps I’ll look into the “ballon’s “ . I had adjustable rear air shocks on my old pickup and they were awesome. My old truck was a Ford Ranger and before I had the rear air shocks installed, I could only haul a 1/2 a yard of Topsoil, but after the air shocks were installed I could put 75 psi (the max capacity was 100 psi) and I could haul over a full yard. I know it would have been able to haul more, but I would have had to build walls past the bed height. I don’t want to change the shocks on my 23 Tacoma, so I’ll have to figure something else out. During the winter months I put 260# of sand bags over the rear axle for better traction on our snow covered roads.

I love that color, looks classy.

Interesting. I actually noticed the same details on my 2021 TRD OR. Some things didnt feel as solid like on older cars but rest assured that the truck is still well made and uber reliable! I have 40k+ trouble free miles on mine so far and the truck is still solid. Im sure shell go a few hundred thousand easily. Actually, there are a couple of people on youtube as well as other forums that have now have 100k+ problem free miles on their gen 3. I myself have the army green color but man that lunar rock looks sweet! Your videos are awesome man.

Lots of plastic I noticed also! That peeping when door is open you can hit that black button on the access door it turns the door ding off. Get the bed matte the rubber one when that bed is wet it’s slippery as heck and you can also get those led bed lights and cargo switch it’s all pre wired

What suspension are you going to go with?

The reason why the metal is thin is to save gas because if you put way more heavy crap on you car you will go slow and have less mpg. I have a 4wd trd off road and it holds good on rocky terrains

I said the same thing my Tacoma is all plastic in the font , but good news you can easily replace if you ding it 😂

Did you get scammed into buying this ? Based on your initial overview of the truck seems like you’d be better suited with a base model work truck version Chevy or a base model f250

You need to turn the center of the tie down to tighten it.

Tons of aftermarket parts to upgrade.

Nothing would pass this guys inspection

Those holes are drain holes for when it rains.

15:00 the editor's decision to zoom in while unloading makes it much more difficult for the viewer to compare loaded vs unloaded ride height.

I can't bear to give up my 2000 Tundra TRD but 300k is just about enough. I know a Taco is not the same so I'm feeling bummed. My tundra actually handles BETTER with my 500lb Kodiak loaded. Somehow I doubt the Taco will. This is killing me brother!

all you need is a set of off road tires. yes its all plastic, won't rust. more truck than most people can use.

What? Youre actually going to use your truck? Keep us posted, I'm looking at Tacomas also but it will live of pavement mostly

Man , I`m shopping for a Tacoma , and youve got me concerned with all the flimsy parts and panelling

I found the power of my 2018 TRD Off Road Tacoma to be really too low. Transmission was also awful. Slow to down shift.

Tanks have no "give" ...maybe you should check in too one of those? Just get ya a trailer too pull behind you 👍

Mudflaps should 💯 be standard on every vehicle these days. It’s pathetic to get rocks kicked on your windshield due to the vehicle passing u not having mudflaps. Personal beef lol

Maybe you should of got a 2nd gen Tundra.

Had a 2001 for 9-10 years, very reliable, few to no issues, except frame rusted. Metal light pole ended her life prematurely,(although I think I saw her at the dump the other day still running,someone salvaged her!), right after Toyota put a brand new frame on it, new frame probably saved my ass. Had to add helper springs to both my Tacomas to correct the sag. Got a 2011 after the 2001 demise. After 9-10 years, had a few issues…horn broke, battery, trans started acting up, and the frame rusted! Toyota screwed me on the second frame. Got a Colorado instead. So far, the new Colorado is still running strong, (32,000 miles). Concerned about the transmission though. Chevy certainly doesn’t have the reliability that Toyota has. Miss not having the rear locker as well. There are a lot of things, though, about the Chevy that blows the Tacoma away…30 more horsepower,(she moves!), drives great, comfortable seating, way more payload capacity,(no sag, no helper springs!), more towing,(7000lbs), roomier headroom,(no hitting you head on the ceiling, I’m short so never had that problem!😊), wireless connect to infotainment center Apple CarPlay, key fob operated locking tailgate, remote start,(does the 2022 Tacoma have remote start?🤔), taller sides which equate to larger tailgate,(good for camping, cooking, and working), smaller, more comfortable steering wheel, heated seats and steering wheel,(not sure if the new Tacomas have this?), hood assist shocks,(that Tacoma hood is heavy!), disc brakes all-around, much better braking, (rear drum brakes are reliable, they work, but Tacomas nose dive!), much better gas mileage in the Colorado! I’ve gotten as much as 28.9 mpg,(my Tacomas couldn’t touch that! Not sure how the new Tacomas are, but I know they’re still not that great), fully boxed frame!(Tacoma is a c-channel and prone to rust!), like the looks of both trucks honestly. Some things that are better about the Tacoma…reliability and resale value, rear locker, better clearance,(height wise, my Colorado seems to have the same 9.5” clearance but the stupid shocks hang down and the tire mount is ridiculous!), 110 outlet in the bed,(Colorado don’t got that!), better turning radius in Tacoma as well as departure angles, led headlights!, 6ft bed,(my 2021 Colorado is a 6ft bed, but new Colorados no longer offer a 6ft bed! What??!!!😮), better looking,(I honestly probably like the looks of Tacoma better than Colorado). Anyway, good luck with your Tacoma. It’s a sweet looking truck and should serve you well. I’d think about getting that exact same truck myself if they weren’t so overly-priced right now and my dealership weren’t assholes! Signed, Covert Fanboy😊 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mq8Jo1t2Uqw.htmlsi=qd-39m-Hiul4vEVM

Damn, if only the bed was slightly longer for the ATV!

Manufacturers have to reduce weight of vehicles somehow to meet the feds overly demanding mpg requirements, etc.! Probably same reason manu. don't put actual off road tires on their OR trims.

THANKS I WAS GOING TO BUY THE SAME TRUCK YOU HAVE! Think I’ll stay with my 02 tundra 4” lift new LED LIGHTS plus limited slip differential 150,000 miles on it ! I will continue to watch your program and enjoy your journey! Thanks for your HONEST REVIEW ! 👍

See olot of these around here w roof tents

You need to invest in a Headache Rack

Just do 5k miles oil changes and use 91 octane and that truck will run for ever , I say use 91 octane because that motor has a high compression ratio 11:1 , you can use 87octane but it will suffer in fuel economy and it will feel sluggish, you will notice the difference after going through about tank or two of 91 octane, I know I certainly did.

You're never gonna find the perfect truck. All vehicles have issues.

Tacomas have the lowest payload rating of any truck out there. Not meant for heavy loads. Access cab will for sure have more payload but a Double cab V6 4x4 you can max it out with just 4 big people in the cab. If you're towing anything near 5000lbs it leaves very little room for passengers/cargo.

Buy an old Dodge Ramcharger

I’m just as pissed as you are. I should have gone with the TRD OffRoad 4 Runner made in Japan

I have a 2004 SR5 3.4L 4x4 5 speed manual, 170,000 miles new frame from Tacoma. If you were to offer your 2022 Tacoma for mine I would decline. Granted I use mine for backcountry camping and not loading a ATV but I think the leaf springs in my 2004 are more solid than what the 2022 has. Also the exterior of the new Tacoma has fail written all over it. The hood will "shimmer " when you drive because it is so thin. The steel toyota is using for their 4runners and Tacomas will scratch in cold temperatures and is not sturdy at all! Your video alone shows how flimsy the exterior is. Plus my 2004 came with 4 4x4 styled mudflaps. Oh none on the new ones unless you purchase extra? Don't get me started on how outdated the interior is and those circular vents! The only good thing I can say about current gen Tacoma is the engine is incredible. The rest of the truck is a joke for the price.

You needed to buy a new Tundra. This Taco is too light for your needs.

Buy a TRD Pro if you don’t like all the plastic trim garbage.🙄

Unfortunately this is how they are making all trucks now full of plastic. It's all about Gas Mileage and saving money.

🌹 ƤＲＯ𝓂Ｏ𝕤ᗰ

This guy hates this truck. He should have done more research before purchasing.

Your a squid bro go swimming

Over priced plastic crap like all vehicles

Great video! Cannot wait to see what you do. 🫡