The Ram 3500 is a truck built around one of the best diesel engines ever made, wrapped in a body that can't quite match it. The Cummins 6.7L will run to half a million miles with religious maintenance, but electrical gremlins and corrosion show up embarrassingly early, one owner found corroded connectors at 2,500 miles. Spec the Aisin transmission and budget for DEF system upkeep, and this truck will haul 36,000 pounds until the sun burns out. Buy it if you need maximum capability and can wrench or afford a good independent diesel shop; walk if you expect Toyota-grade fit-and-finish or can't stomach chasing electrical faults.
You're buying Toyota's reputation tax with the current Tacoma, and whether that's worth it depends entirely on the generation. The 1996-2023 trucks earned their cult status honestly, owners routinely clock 300k, 500k, even 988k miles on original engines with nothing but oil changes, and resale stays absurdly strong even after a decade of use. The 2024 redesign modernized everything (better ride, nicer interior, hybrid option) but lost the value plot: $65k for a TRD Pro when a Ranger Raptor costs $10k less and tows more. If you're shopping used and can find a rust-free 2016-2023, you're buying a truck that'll outlive your mortgage. If you're paying new-truck money in 2025, you're funding nostalgia, not current value.