Is a Toyota Tundra the way?

[ClivesTriceps]

I'm a pretty staunch American auto brand guy, but after seeing this Donut video about how Toyota builds all of their vehicles, I'm seriously considering buying a Tundra instead of a Silverado or Ram. Anyone here have experience with Tundras? I'm looking for a truck that'll last a couple decades and serve me well when I start venturing into the tradie lifestyle next year. That Ram interior is by far the best out of any truck though.

[nosirrahx]

Loved my Tundra. Traded it for a 14 Sequoia and just traded that for a 21 Sequoia TRD Pro.

They aren't fancy on the inside but who gives a crap. Its a truck that does truck things, reliably.

[ClivesTriceps]

Loved my Tundra. Traded it for a 14 Sequoia and just traded that for a 21 Sequoia TRD Pro.

They aren't fancy on the inside but who gives a crap. Its a truck that does truck things, reliably.

I was never a bells and whistles kind of guy anyway, I only care about performance/reliability. How many miles did you put on it? How many you bought it with?

[Redfish225]

Never owned a Toyota and never will. Silverado crew for life. Just got a 21 RST Texas edition with 5” lift. Love it.

[nosirrahx]

I was never a bells and whistles kind of guy anyway, I only care about performance/reliability. How many miles did you put on it? How many you bought it with?

I put about 50K on the Tundra, about 90K on my first Sequoia. Nothing ever broke and I did a LOT of winter driving and crap condition dirt road driving.

[elterrible987]

Have a VW gti right now and my next car will prob be the hot hatch toyota is making, not the yaris he is talking about but they are having a corolla version soon in the US.

Nothing major failed mechanically but I am tired of the BS from VW, chit leaks all the time, the doors leak water from the speakers, its a common issue. Its also a common issue to leak out the rubber boots into the hatch area. Toyotas dont have stupid problems like that. Also have an electronics problem now with the keyless access module/antenna shorted out somewhere and it makes a stupid warning message and beep all the time with no way to turn it off.

I would be fine with a downgrade on the interior and/or performance for something that I dont have to fuk with.

[Bigworm365]

The new Toyotas have worse frames that rusted then the old ones. The new Toyota truck frames are very weak in car accidents. There are several lawsuits against Toyota right now for how weak the frames were in car accidents. Toyota is absolutely a joke now a days. Ford, Chevy and Dodge are the big three truck makers for a reason.

DO NOT BUY A TOYOTA

If buying brand new I would recommend the ford and all the warranties from the factory.

I drive a 2018 Silverado. very reliable 5.3 motor and strong Frame.

I did drive a rented dodge for a while on a trip and it drove VERY WELL

[Exiled93]

I would wait until they do the redesign unless you really like the current model. It's reliable but you're paying a huge premium to drive a truck that's currently 13 years old.

[icetrauma]

I would wait until they do the redesign unless you really like the current model. It's reliable but you're paying a huge premium to drive a truck that's currently 13 years old.

I believe a new model is coming out in 2022 and OP, Tundra's are made in Texas.

[blazenbb]

I put about 50K on the Tundra, about 90K on my first Sequoia. Nothing ever broke and I did a LOT of winter driving and crap condition dirt road driving.

Why buy a Toyota if you’re not going to keep it long or put many miles on? Big 3 will generally make 100k problem free. many dealers even include 5 year 100k mi warranties. I think raptors are great option. Badass truck with unreal resale value. 8 year old raptors with 150k miles still damn near go for 30k.

[Hypernation]

OP. Any real tradie lays a smack down on their interior. Go with the Tundra - it’ll look cleaner longer with easier maintenance overall.

Plus there’s something fruity going on with how aggressive they try to make the Ram’s exterior look. Kind of extra.

[Exiled93]

There are very few trucks I have not owned and driven into the ground, like 300,000 miles with 1-3 oil changes style abused

Have a 2019 Silverado with 165k miles on it now, transmission janks around sometimes and valves are rattling pretty loud. I’m not sure how much longer this truck is going to make it

Had a fully loaded 2012 Ford F-150; nicest/most loaded piece of crap I’ve ever owned. Totally died/needed a new engine at 225k and that’s with overdrive being gone for the last 40 or 50,000 miles. Have an F-650 also now that just cannot be killed; totally basic on the inside but a powerhouse beyond all belief/extremely resilient. I would buy anything Ford above the F-350 level, nothing below it

Had everything from a basic Frontier to a fully loaded four-door one and they are pretty good! Not fancy and not comfortable but hard to kill. Too small for me.

Fukkin LOL @ anything Dodge. Constantly breaking, transmissions give out quicker than anything/truck else, total waste of money when it comes to real work and longevity. Have had 5? Never again

Tundra is not bad! Seems like everything inside of it breaks before the engine does and the doors are a little excessively large for my taste. Expensive and just not the best use of money spent vs. life expectancy/experience imo.

Number one GOAT = Nissan Titan. Absolutely cannot kill it, best truck I’ve ever had. Runs and runs and runs and takes all the abuse you can dish out and it never quits. Not as loaded/luxurious as my Silverado but the only thing you will do to this truck is change out flat tires. My personal recommendation/10

Why don't you maintain them lol?

Also what kind of work do you do that you need a f650 lol? Would love to see pics of it those things are bad ass.

[nosirrahx]

Why buy a Toyota if you’re not going to keep it long or put many miles on? Big 3 will generally make 100k problem free. many dealers even include 5 year 100k mi warranties. I think raptors are great option. Badass truck with unreal resale value. 8 year old raptors with 150k miles still damn near go for 30k.

I buy what I want and need. I think Toyota's look better. We also have a FJ cruiser, 4Runner and 2 Rav4. They don't break.

[akmerle]

I’m on my 3rd Tundra (01, 2010, 2018), owned two Tacomas prior (97, 01), and last winter bought the Mrs a 2020 Pro 4Runner. So I am in no way unbiased, but I have gotten to that point thru probably half a million totally trouble free miles over decades of my own experience to go with the tons of real world objective data.....

If you are looking for a truck to keep for a couple decades, then there is no question. Get the Tundra.

The good:
Since the 2nd Gen came out in 07 there hasn’t been any real changes to the truck. Motor / transmission / suspension / brakes / etc. Only real changes have been cosmetic exterior / interior. This equates to unrivaled reliability. Here is a recent article about the tear down of one of the several million mile tundras out there.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/mill...the-tear-down/

Get the 5.7L motor since there really isn’t any mpg benefit in the 4.6/4.7. The 5.7L is anvil reliable. Power is 380hp/400tq, so still competitive with today’s motors. Mpg is 14/17, so not great, but not brutal either.

6 speed transmission is very stout for towing and shifts well, but is also comes at the expense of some mpg compared to the new domestic 8 and 10 speeds. But can also go 1M miles stock.

Crewmax cab is massive, and very comfortable. Full roll down rear window is such a cool feature.

Tons of quality aftermarket for the trucks to upgrade suspension for off-road or whatever needs you have.

Check out Tundras.com as a great resource. You’ll also see where there isn’t the typical threads about problems. Just a bunch of threads of guys upgrading and building up there trucks. Great community.

The bad:
Towing is decent, but payload is a bit low compared to more modern trucks. Guys totally overload them with no issues, but payload Is also easily fixed aftermarket too.

MPG is not great at 14 city / 17 Hwy. Tows well tho with its gearing, and nets typical half ton numbers.

Toyota is notoriously Spartan when it comes to their interiors and interior features. Will have everything you need tho, just not the extra bells and whistles. Everything will work and look basically new for the life of the truck tho.

In closing, for a truck you plan on keeping for decades there really isn’t any other option. Find any 2007 - current Tundra that you are comfortable with the miles and service history, build it up to fit your wants / needs, and enjoy it for a long time.

Oh, also..... New fully redesigned Tundra is going to be introduced spring / summer 2021 as a 2022 model. Going to a twin turbo V6, and dropping the legendary 5.7.

I will be keeping my 18 Platinum for a while to see how the new Tundra does after a few years. Hoping they come with a game changer like they did with the 2007, instead of like what they did with the redesigned Tacoma and the motor / transmission debacle guy are dealing with.

[dizzin9]

Newer ones were not as bulletproof 2 decades ago but still better than most automakers

[nosirrahx]

Oh, also..... New fully redesigned Tundra is going to be introduced spring / summer 2021 as a 2022 model. Going to a twin turbo V6, and dropping the legendary 5.7.

This was my primary reason to trade my 14 Platinum for a 21 TRD Pro. I like the 5.7 and wont be interested in the TT V6 until I see it in action for a few years.

[Bigworm365]

Don't buy a Toyota. they were a really good choice for awhile. especially when chevy had the Bi-pass issues with there AFM v8 motors in 2007 and up to 2013 or so. And definitely were more reliable then ford or dodge. Now days Ford and dodge handle better and Chevy 5.3 is a bullet proof motor.

[Krackerjacked]

I buy what I want and need. I think Toyota's look better. We also have a FJ cruiser, 4Runner and 2 Rav4. They don't break.

Anything done to the FJ?
I’ve owned 2, they’re great rigs.

Also Tundra is a great choice.
Bulletproof drivetrain.

[guest89]

I like Tundra's but they are a very basic truck with a high price tag. I personally believe you'll find a GMC, Chevy or Ford to be just as reliable with a ton more amenities for a similar price. Also Toyota's are just terrible with fuel millage. Even a V6 Ford or Chevy four door f150/1500 class should get better fuel millage then the much smaller/lighter Tacoma.



With that said Tundra's are a very American truck. IE assembled in America with the majority of its parts also being sourced from America.

[jlsnyderTypeR]

I'm on my 3rd Tundra w/a 2020 TRD Pro! I love my Tundra and that is all I will drive for a truck.

[guest89]

I'm on my 3rd Tundra w/a 2020 TRD Pro! I love my Tundra and that is all I will drive for a truck.

Why didn't you wait for the new model coming out? Or do you plan to upgrade in a couple of years?

[jlsnyderTypeR]

Why didn't you wait for the new model coming out? Or do you plan to upgrade in a couple of years?

I purchased this one new in 2019!

[nosirrahx]

Anything done to the FJ?
I’ve owned 2, they’re great rigs.

Also Tundra is a great choice.
Bulletproof drivetrain.

Its my wife's truck, only has an exhaust. My TRD Sequoia though, I am getting the itch to lit it and go bigger on the wheels and tires, supercharger, exhaust system ....... and its not even delivered yet.

[Krackerjacked]

Its my wife's truck, only has an exhaust. My TRD Sequoia though, I am getting the itch to lit it and go bigger on the wheels and tires, supercharger, exhaust system ....... and its not even delivered yet.

Nice dude my last one was an 08. Ended up going OME 2.5 with 35s. Thing would go just about anywhere.
I don’t blame you man, the Sequoia is one hell of a platform

[JoshLV]

In for every possible anecdote of every truck. Brb got lost in the wilderness with my F150 and used tree sap as an oil change and got home just fine and with the same mpg.

[tunafishha]

Here's the thing, I do like the Toyota crowd because they have an appreciation for hard work and dedication to craft. However, what I don't like is when they overprice their cars for god knows what and when they overvalue the resale price of their cars comes time to sell.

The reason why I don't like it, is because other brands are just as "reliable" or maybe even more.

[SouthDakotaBrah]

The 5.7L sounds badass - one of the best sounding V8s in a truck. I really like the 2019 Tundra TRD Pro in voodoo blue. I would have bought that truck, but they’re still $50k when a first gen raptor is closer to $30k and is even cooler and will depreciate less. The tundra comes with a warranty which is worth something, though... but I’m glad I went with the raptor

[Jasonw1178]

You really can't go wrong with full size trucks for the most part. Manufacturers have put extra time and money in them because they are the bread and butter of a car company. The only real bad thing about the Tundra is that it seems it has a bit too soft of a frame and it's a real gas guzzler. You don't buy a truck for MPG but when you start getting into the low teens it really starts to stack up.

I don't care what brand. The biggest factor in how well that truck is going to hold up is YOU.

[ClivesTriceps]

I appreciate everyone's thoughts and experiences. Lots of good info here.

[Miked1978]

I dont think you can go wrong with any of the major brands and probably the first thing that will go out in them is the electronics since they have so many of them. Base models will probably last longer.

I have a 2014 RAM with just over 70k. I have never had any issue with it. I had a 05 Silverado and had no issues with it. All my friends have tundra's and fords and no one has had any issues.

At this point its just about personal preference. Yeah every now and then there will be a lemon but it seems to be rare.