Why Do You Love Tundra?

[LunarRockAddicted]

Hello All,

I'm in the market to move from a Land Rover (shudders in British electical system) to Toyota and trying to make up my mind on what fits my needs best.

For all of you Tundra offroad enthusiasts, especially overlanders, what informed you to choose full size pickup over options like Tacoma or things such as 4Runner/GX/Land Cruiser?

Thanks in advance!

 

[vtl]

2/2.5 Gen:

#1 Unbeatable in reliability
#2 Does not break
#3 Very reliable
#4 Starts every time
#5 No engine knock
#6 No transmission failures
#7 Goes there and back
#8 Known to last million miles and more
#9 Did I tell it is the most dependable half ton truck of its era?
#10 Tows Space Shuttle
#11 Available with 6.5 ft bed and still has 2nd row that fits 2-3 children (Double Cab). With cap installed I can sleep inside the bed
#12 Rear section of frame is C-channel, which flexes like crazy (aka rear axle articulation is enormous)
#13 38 gallon tank is good for 700 miles of gravel road (at ~45 MPH avg on a warm day)

4Runner is small. GX is expensive and small. LC is super-expensive and small.

I have a TRD PRO Sequoia as well. Tundra is a more serious overlander.

 

[LINUS]

38 gallon gas tank is the 2.5’s only, 25 gallon tank for pre-‘14’s.

 

[kbahus]

That 38 gallon tank is optional and hard to find, I wish I had one.

Cons:
Can’t run in 4wd on dry pavement.
Weight capacity low for a 1/2 ton.
Small fuel tank.
Don’t buy the flex fuel model.

I really like my 2015 Tundra, plenty of offroad time on reasonable trails. It does well unless the trails get tight.

 

[LunarRockAddicted]

What are the issues with Flex Fuel on Tundras?

 

[vtl]

It looses its mind, engine starts to run rough, need to reset a counter from time to time.

 

[LunarRockAddicted]

Ahh, a hastle for sure.

Good tip, thanks

 

[kbahus]

The fuel system at the tank is different too, so replacing the fuel pump is a bit more of a hassle. Mine is flex fuel, I didn't know it when I purchased it. I put in an aftermarket fuel pump and keep a good Toyota bi-directional scan tool in the center console so I can take care of any issues live.

 

[vtl]

@LunarRockAddicted probably brings a fork of the dealer's cable + proprietary diagnostic software with him to trails, along with a full set of electric wiring diagrams, offline copy of two dozen HOWTOs, multimeter, oscilloscope, logic analyzer, protocol decoder, set of wires, 12v soldering iron, hot air, BGA rework station and a sacrificial chicken. Keeping a bluetooth dongle in console and having an app on phone feels like cheating after that. Yet he will barely use it, because it's a V8 Tundra =)

 

[LX Cruiser]

Hello All,

I'm in the market to move from a Land Rover (shudders in British electical system) to Toyota and trying to make up my mind on what fits my needs best.

For all of you Tundra offroad enthusiasts, especially overlanders, what informed you to choose full size pickup over options like Tacoma or things such as 4Runner/GX/Land Cruiser?

Thanks in advance!

A 3UR Tundra is an underrated and overbuilt half ton truck that shares a lot of DNA with the 200 series.

I traded a 5th gen 4Runner in on mine. We just outgrew the 4Runner. I originally wanted a Tacoma, but I took one for a test drive and was extremely disappointed. It felt like a Camry with a bed.

The Tundra on the other hand is big, comfortable, and powerful. I have a Crewmax. The big cab and 5.5’ baby bed is perfect for how I use the truck (hunting, camping, carrying gear for work, etc).

 

[SteveH]

I drove a '14 LX570 yesterday, followed by a '12 Tundra Platinum crew. The Lexus dashboard screens and buttons felt somewhat overwhelming, but the truck drove just fine. $40K at a dealer. It has had a fair number of repairs up to 103K miles.

I then drove the Tundra ($19K) and it had heated/cooled seats with power thigh support (just like the Lexus), power tilt/telescope, a better axle ratio (4.3 vs 3.91 in the Lexus) and hauled bootie. The pickup felt less encumbered and crapped up with luxury features. It has had an alternator and brakes in 185K miles. I liked seeing a vacuum brake booster instead of a $1100 electric brake pump. Great turning radius.

I'm not comparing these as apples-to-apples, I have a 100 series and an F350 and am considering replacing either one.

The Tundra spoke louder to me than the Lexus, as of this test drive. I think the Tundra's aren't real attractive, but it's a tow vehicle for me, and I'm not sure how much I care. I was surprised at how much I liked the Tundra.

 

[vtl]

I drove a '14 LX570 yesterday, followed by a '12 Tundra Platinum crew. The Lexus dashboard screens and buttons felt somewhat overwhelming, but the truck drove just fine. $40K at a dealer. It has had a fair number of repairs up to 103K miles.

I then drove the Tundra ($19K) and it had heated/cooled seats with power thigh support (just like the Lexus), power tilt/telescope, a better axle ratio (4.3 vs 3.91 in the Lexus) and hauled bootie. The pickup felt less encumbered and crapped up with luxury features. It has had an alternator and brakes in 185K miles. I liked seeing a vacuum brake booster instead of a $1100 electric brake pump. Great turning radius.

I'm not comparing these as apples-to-apples, I have a 100 series and an F350 and am considering replacing either one.

The Tundra spoke louder to me than the Lexus, as of this test drive. I think the Tundra's aren't real attractive, but it's a tow vehicle for me, and I'm not sure how much I care. I was surprised at how much I liked the Tundra.

Tundra had me recalibrated. Less is more.

 

[TwelveGravity]

Thanks for the thread. I too am on the fence about getting a newer Tundra. I currently have a 2011 Silverado 2500 and a 2022 Ford Bronco that I am thinking to consolidate to 1 vehicle. I have read that Toyota had a lot of issues with the new motor. I wonder if thats been resolved?

 

[LX Cruiser]

I too am on the fence about getting a newer Tundra. I currently have a 2011 Silverado 2500 and a 2022 Ford Bronco that I am thinking to consolidate to 1 vehicle.

I think a 5.7 Tundra would be a great option to cover the ground of those two vehicles. It's a full size truck, but it maneuvers so much smaller than it is. It is also great for light duty towing, and those old 2500s don't have a whole lot more payload than a Tundra. My buddy had an '09 LMM 2500 with 1700 lb of payload. He's in a 2021 Tundra now. It's not like modern HDs that all seem to start at 3k lbs.

I wonder if thats been resolved?

Everyone is wondering. That engine did the same thing back in 2017 with the LS500. There were just far fewer of them made. Toyota has been extremely tight-lipped about the situation. There are multiple failures of vehicles built after the extended recall window. I think a lot of people want to believe it is completely fixed and 100% in the rear view mirror so to speak. I just don't see any concrete evidence that is the case.

 

[vtl]

Everyone is wondering. That engine did the same thing back in 2017 with the LS500. There were just far fewer of them made. Toyota has been extremely tight-lipped about the situation. There are multiple failures of vehicles built after the extended recall window. I think a lot of people want to believe it is completely fixed and 100% in the rear view mirror so to speak. I just don't see any concrete evidence that is the case.

They redesigned the block around main bearings and oiling. Only time can tell if that's was enough.

 

[Weedhopper]

I have a 2015 Ltd, a 4Runner and a Lexus GS and I use the Tundra most of the time. It's safe, comfy and I can see over traffic.

I found myself sliding around on the leather so I got Escape Gear seat covers for the front seats and I love em !

It has 87K miles now, the water pump quit at 75k and last month the intermittent steering shaft bound up and had to be replaced. Otherwise problem free.

 

[clrussell]

I’ll be the odd one out.
I had a 2016 TRD pro. Sold it after a year and 5,000 miles.
It was a great truck. I despised the seats. In fact I wouldn’t drive it because of the seats. It did a lot of things I liked, had all the right factory mods. (Other than trd exhaust, I didn’t like it either)

Sold it and haven’t looked back.

I am a smaller person (5,10 and 200lbs) the seats were just too damn big for me. I slid around constantly, and they were super stiff which did not help my back problems. I could never get comfortable driving it.

Sucks as I really like the tundras. And if I could find a seat solution I might buy another one.

 

[vtl]

I’ll be the odd one out.
I had a 2016 TRD pro. Sold it after a year and 5,000 miles.
It was a great truck. I despised the seats. In fact I wouldn’t drive it because of the seats. It did a lot of things I liked, had all the right factory mods. (Other than trd exhaust, I didn’t like it either)

Sold it and haven’t looked back.

I am a smaller person (5,10 and 200lbs) the seats were just too damn big for me. I slid around constantly, and they were super stiff which did not help my back problems. I could never get comfortable driving it.

Sucks as I really like the tundras. And if I could find a seat solution I might buy another one.

I'm about your size, I think I understand what you are talking about. Don't like faux leather seats in wife's TRD PRO Sequoia either. Cloth seats in my SR5 Tundra are better. Also have neoprene covers on Tundra's seats. They help with the seats being cold in winter and hot in summer. If I had faux leather seats, I would also get another set of Okole covers.

Really like the Tundra's cloth seats. They are too wide and not the most comfortable, but the sheer size has a benefit of infinite buttocks adjustments. They also don't pinch blood vessels as much. At the end of the day I can drive a very long distance comfortably.

 

[CaptRussia253]

Hello All,

I'm in the market to move from a Land Rover (shudders in British electrical system) to Toyota and trying to make up my mind on what fits my needs best.

For all of you Tundra offroad enthusiasts, especially overlanders, what informed you to choose full size pickup over options like Tacoma or things such as 4Runner/GX/Land Cruiser?

Thanks in advance!

I had a Frontier (similar size to the Tacoma), loved the truck but outgrew it with two kids. Had a GX460, loved the V8 and smoother ride but not enough storage. Still have our 2016 4Runner, but just like the GX it lacks storage especially with two kids and a dog. I would love a 200 series LC but the price is outrageous.

I love my 2017 Tundra crewmax. Its got plenty of power and a lot of storage with the canopy. I prefer going on trips with the family so it’s the perfect size for what we use it for. It’s does great on long trips and off road as long as the trail isn’t too tight.

I just put on 5.29 gears, rear lsd, and a front locker. Off roading is going to be even more fun.

Don’t hesitate. Go with a 5.7 V8 Tundra.

 

[Ditcherman]

I had a Frontier (similar size to the Tacoma), loved the truck but outgrew it with two kids. Had a GX460, loved the V8 and smoother ride but not enough storage. Still have our 2016 4Runner, but just like the GX it lacks storage especially with two kids and a dog. I would love a 200 series LC but the price is outrageous.

I love my 2017 Tundra crewmax. Its got plenty of power and a lot of storage with the canopy. I prefer going on trips with the family so it’s the perfect size for what we use it for. It’s does great on long trips and off road as long as the trail isn’t too tight.

I just put on 5.29 gears, rear lsd, and a front locker. Off roading is going to be even more fun.

Don’t hesitate. Go with a 5.7 V8 Tundra.

View attachment 4104566

I don’t hear of too many of those gear swaps.
What size tires and lift?
I did my 07 gears after the first drive out west overloaded overlanding when it just hunted the right gear constantly. I’m only on 34” tires, was hoping for better mileage and that didn’t happen. But it’s a blast to drive.

230k hard rough miles so far as a work/play truck. If the frame wasn’t going I’m sure I’d take it to 300k+.
Best cab and most comfortable seats, for me.