Your Tacoma Needs an Umbrella This Summer

[LASFIT]

I know it sounds funny — a Tacoma with an umbrella.
But if you’ve ever parked your truck outside on a hot summer day, you probably know what I mean.
Open the door and it feels like stepping into an oven.
The steering wheel is too hot to touch.
The seats are burning.
The dash sits under direct sunlight for hours.

We talk a lot about tires, lifts, lights, racks, and camping gear, but sometimes the most useful upgrades are the boring ones that make the truck better to live with every day.

A fitted windshield sunshade is starting to feel like one of those underrated summer essentials — especially if your Tacoma sits outside at work, on trails, at campsites, or in the driveway.
Not the coolest mod. Not the most expensive mod. But maybe one of the most practical ones for summer.

Curious what everyone else is using — how do you keep your Tacoma cooler when it’s parked outside?

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[ridetime]

That has got to be the worst idea for a sunshade I have ever seen.

 

[LASFIT]

That has got to be the worst idea for a sunshade I have ever seen.

Fair enough — appreciate the honest take.
Is it the umbrella-style design you don’t like, the way it sits on the windshield, or just the overall setup?

Genuinely curious. What would make a sunshade actually useful for your Tacoma in summer?

 

[ridetime]

Fair enough — appreciate the honest take.
Is it the umbrella-style design you don’t like, the way it sits on the windshield, or just the overall setup?

Genuinely curious. What would make a sunshade actually useful for your Tacoma in summer?

The umbrella setup is too difficult to deploy. You run the risk of scratching your trim or center display. The ones that have a flexible covered wire around the edge are better and usually fold up small for storage.

Look at the premium brands available and make one better than that! Focus on quality, coverage and ease of install removal and storage. Don’t put a huge billboard size logo on it.

By the way I use your floor mats and happen to think they are one of the best options on the market.

 

[lauren01]

Awful. The types that fasten by A pillar and pull to open might be a better alternative.

Like @ridetime I have Lasfit mats front and rear which we use on trips in the Tacoma and all the time in our Subaru Outback Wilderness.

 

[lauren01]

Can I buy just the case?

 

[Miqie]

Shouldn't this have been posted April 1st?

 

[LASFIT]

The umbrella setup is too difficult to deploy. You run the risk of scratching your trim or center display. The ones that have a flexible covered wire around the edge are better and usually fold up small for storage.

Look at the premium brands available and make one better than that! Focus on quality, coverage and ease of install removal and storage. Don’t put a huge billboard size logo on it.

By the way I use your floor mats and happen to think they are one of the best options on the market.

That’s fair, and I appreciate the detailed feedback.

You’re right that with an umbrella-style sunshade, the way it’s deployed and removed really matters. If the process isn’t clear, it can look awkward or even make people worry about hitting the trim or center display. We should definitely do a better job showing the proper way to open, position, remove, and store it safely.

I also don’t think umbrella-style is necessarily wrong for everyone, but I get your point that the flexible covered wire-edge style feels more intuitive and compact. That’s a helpful benchmark.

The quality, coverage, easy install/removal, compact storage, and subtle logo points are all very useful. I’ll pass that feedback to our product team.

And thanks for the floor mat comment — really appreciate that.

 

[LASFIT]

Awful. The types that fasten by A pillar and pull to open might be a better alternative.

Like @ridetime I have Lasfit mats front and rear which we use on trips in the Tacoma and all the time in our Subaru Outback Wilderness.

Appreciate the honest take — and thanks for using our mats in both the Tacoma and Outback Wilderness. That means a lot.

The A-pillar pull-to-open style is a really helpful suggestion. I can see why that would feel more convenient for daily use: quicker to open, less handling, and easier storage since it stays in place.

For the umbrella-style one, we probably need to show the proper safe-use process much more clearly. But I agree the bigger priorities are quality, coverage, easy install/removal, safe contact points, compact storage, and subtle branding.

Would you personally prefer the A-pillar pull style over the foldable wire-edge style, or is fast/easy use the main deciding factor?

 

[LASFIT]

Shouldn't this have been posted April 1st?

Haha, fair point — the “Tacoma needs an umbrella” line does sound like an April 1st post.

But for summer heat, what kind of sunshade would you actually use every day?

 

[lauren01]

Appreciate the honest take — and thanks for using our mats in both the Tacoma and Outback Wilderness. That means a lot.

The A-pillar pull-to-open style is a really helpful suggestion. I can see why that would feel more convenient for daily use: quicker to open, less handling, and easier storage since it stays in place.

For the umbrella-style one, we probably need to show the proper safe-use process much more clearly. But I agree the bigger priorities are quality, coverage, easy install/removal, safe contact points, compact storage, and subtle branding.

Would you personally prefer the A-pillar pull style over the foldable wire-edge style, or is fast/easy use the main deciding factor?

The A-pillar pull style is what I’d prefer. It’s not going to clutter the vehicle and is always ready.
A friend had it in his Honda CR-Z (tiny car) and it was out of the way, convenient, and effective. I had the same car but couldn’t get one because they sold out. So I used a spring steel folding shade that didn’t fit well but was better than nothing. Still want something for the Tacoma.

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

Haha, fair point — the “Tacoma needs an umbrella” line does sound like an April 1st post.

But for summer heat, what kind of sunshade would you actually use every day?

I would have never bought these TRUMMGETA window sun shades for my Tacoma but I, entered the drawing and won. I really like how they allow you to open the window too reduce the heat inside of the cab. It's a nice bonus to be able to keep the bugs out of the cab.
I use them almost every time I go camping, they work well too keep the dust out also.

 

[lauren01]

I would have never bought these TRUMMGETA window sun shades for my Tacoma but I, entered the drawing and won. I really like how they allow you to open the window too reduce the heat inside of the cab. It's a nice bonus to be able to keep the bugs out of the cab.
I use them almost every time I go camping, they work well too keep the dust out also.

I like those better than the ones we got for the Subaru, which are one size fits all nets with elastic straps that fit so-so.

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

I like those better than the ones we got for the Subaru, which are one size fits all nets with elastic straps that fit so-so.

I haven't seen the ones for the subaru, but I can say these are well made and function better than expected. One nice detail that they included in their shades is there are magnets in the bottom of the shades to keep them tight.
I just saw set on ebay for $45.Good deal.

 

[NoSlushbox4Me]

I use one of these. It does a great job and rolls up.

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