Anyone have Tundra experience?

"WRXasaurus" (wrxasaurus)
12/11/2016 at 11:05 • Filed to: None

Alright, it is finally time for me to get a pickup. I am looking at getting a first gen or second gen Tundra. I know the first gen had rusting problems. Being in MN and their liberal use of salt on the roads I know this could be an issue for any trucks I look at. So where are the problem areas that I should inspect. Also if anyone has used a crew max, would it really be worth the premium. Right now my wife and I have a one year old and a lab and we travel a bunch on weekends to both of our parents. I know both the 4.7 and 5.7 are fairly reliable. Anything that I should look at for both. Or something I should stay away from. My budget is $20,000 or less.

DISCUSSION (11)

OPPOsaurus WRX > WRXasaurus
12/11/2016 at 11:12

A builder I know has 2 or 3 as company vehicles. I think they are the V8s. They won’t handle like a WRX. Probably not great on MPGs

HammerheadFistpunch > WRXasaurus
12/11/2016 at 11:14

The 4.7 in a second gen tundra is one of few vehicles to hit a million miles on its original running gear. Both the truck and engine are pretty solid if you look after them. The frame recall is from 2000 to 2003 so bypass those or look for already recalled trucks and you should be fine there

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > WRXasaurus
12/11/2016 at 11:24

So my dad has owned a 2005 Double Cab, owns a 2005 Sequoia, and currently drives every day a 2014 Tundra Platinum on top of fixing Toyotas and Lexi for a living.

Years to avoid: 2007-2008

Things to look for:-Regular oil changes on 3UR(5.7)-Timing belt services on 2UZ(4.7)since it is an interference engine-ask if the air pump has been replaced(3UR)

Things to know: The 3UR has a problem eating very expensive air pumps mostly in the early years. The 1st gen Tundras are Lexus smooth to drive but the tow rating is very low. While towing the same FJ40 and the same route with the same trailer from California to Tennessee we’ve found 8 mpg in the 1.5 gen (05)and 10-12 in the 2.5 gen. Daily mpg is 15 for the 2nd and 13 for the 2.5 while our fully loaded sequoia (the same truck underneath but with a camper and ours is 2wd) returned 18 with a hitch carrier on a trip to Florida. The 2UZ in 2005 had 282 horsepower, 40ish more then engines up to 05 and 10 more then the ‘06. Literally nothing breaks in the 1st gen overall. Nothing. It’s a 1uz from the LS400 except made with a cast iron block and made to 4.7L.

Is the Crewmax/Double Can worth it? So up to 06 it was called the double cab and then in the 2nd gen switched to Crew Max. I would get the biggest cab in both. It is absolutely unbelievable how much room you have in the CrewMax(0.6 inches shorter according the specs then the back seat of an Audi A8L). Also the Crewmax and Double Cab both ensure you get the sliding rear window that goes down like a 4runner.

I’ll try to think of some more and post it.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > WRXasaurus
12/11/2016 at 11:32

I saw one the other day with TRUMP in giant letter across the back window. There were other words below it, but it was going the other way so I couldn’t catch what they were.

I have nothing further to add to this discussion.

dogisbadob > WRXasaurus
12/11/2016 at 11:32

Krown is your friend :)

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > dogisbadob
12/11/2016 at 11:45

That was only a problem on the 2000-2003 models and there was a recal that should have been performed. Also that was only a problem for northerners who are weird enough to live in the inhospitable cold.

vicali > WRXasaurus
12/11/2016 at 11:48

First gens are roughly the size of the current Tacoma, the 4.7 is super nice. We had one as a work truck and it pulled a flat deck full of quads down the gnarliest roads no problem.

Second gens are huge. You will have to get info from someone else on those..

Nothing > WRXasaurus
12/11/2016 at 12:27

I’ve had a 2002 Access Cab and a 2012 Crewmax. The Crewmax has acres of rear seat space. In the 2nd gen Tundra, the extended cab has good space as well. I’ve had a baby seat in one of those with no issues. I’m 6'4", and also fit back there, too. I loved both of my Tundras and would likely still have my ‘02 if I hadn’t been laid off from work shortly after I bought it.

I purchased my ‘12 because my father has had a 2007 from new. Zero rust issues, zero issues period on his truck. At over 100k on it, it didn’t squeak, rattle, and felt as solid as a new one.

My order of preference for me is 2nd Gen Crewmax, 2nd gen Doublecab (the extended cab), 1st gen Access Cab. I skip the crew cab version in the 1st gen, but I’ve never been in one. Also, in the Crew (in either gen) you get the sweet rear window that fully rolls down. I loved that feature. I wish my Taco had that.

Textured Soy Protein > WRXasaurus
12/11/2016 at 12:54

If you get a first gen the 2005-06 have the VVT-i version of the 4.7 with more power than the earlier ones.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
12/11/2016 at 14:04

To be fair, for every one Tundra with that on there, there are 700 Silverado’s, 250 Ram’s, and 200 F150's with those stickers.

osucycler > WRXasaurus
12/11/2016 at 14:12

I have a 2014 5.7 CrewMax. Pulls my lawn mowing trailer with my heavy zero turn mower, couple of push mowers, many handhelds, and stuff like an even bigger truck. This summer we hit Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier Bay. Great highway cruiser, rides firm unloaded, ok on gas mileage for a full sized if you can stay off of the go fast pedal. The CrewMax has tons of interior room. Hit me up for any other questions.