MY new TUNDRA

escavader · Apr 25, 2008

Patches said:
I bought my double cab last July and love it.Traded my '05 Ford Stupidcrew Lariat for it.Just amazes me every time I hook up to the 8,000 to 8,500# trailer.Yanks it without a groan;the Ford hated that trailer. 400lb/ft of torque with those 4:30 gears is a wonderful combination.I too get better than 19mpg on the interstate, empty, and 12 to 12.5mpg towing the trailer.I took a couple sno-mobile trips up north to the county,370 miles one way,and with 4 people in the truck, gear for four,two of which were women and a double clamshell trailer with two long track sleds and averaged over 14mpg both trips.I would recommend anyone give these a hard look if they need an occasional hauler

PATCHES,
When you tow up the interstate,are you able to use D with the tow button on,or do you have to lock out the 6th gear? I got a vacation coming up in NORTHERN AROOSTOCK ,ill be pulling a tandem with 4 atvs,was just curious on how my tundra would act in drive[will it shift alot]
ALAN

escavader · Apr 25, 2008

Charlesaf3 said:
I've got the crewmax - love it. get around 18mpg on highway at 73mph

Its amazing how they can build a gasoline engine truck with 381 horse power,and still get this mileage.Ithink i read my dbl cab is between 5 and 6000 lbs.Leave it to TOYOTA.
Ithink i read somewhere the f-150s will soon have a 6 speed too.Cant remember if its all or just certain ones.FORDS are great trucks too in my opinion.Istill own a 73 f-100 with a 360 plows like nothing else,and still a solid truck.
My FORD has an open c channel frame,in which i approve of because you can wash out the road salt.My TUNDRA frame is similar.The new FORD F-150S have a boxed frame now

The SMALL toyotas have it also,and have had a buy back because of rust issues.]You cant wash out the road salt on a boxed frame.
ALAN

brandoro · Apr 25, 2008

The new Tundra frame is actually boxed at the front, reinforced "C" under the cab and open "C" for the rest. Same configuration as my '95 Dakota.
The Tundra has incredible power and decent mileage, I see it is improving as I get more miles on it. I haven't towed with it yet, got mine in January, but I think it should be good. Since it's rated for 10,000 lbs and I seldom pull more than 5,000 it should be too easy.

JDPN · Apr 25, 2008

Nice Truck. Let us know if the frame cracks or the engine fails. Seriously, fill us in sometime in the future.

Patches · Apr 25, 2008

escavader;- I use "D" most of the trip until I get into the hills on #161 out of Caribou where I use the tow mode. I'm in So. ME. and travel Turnpike to So. Portland, 295 to Gardiner and 95 from there to Houlton and then #1. You will have no problem with a 4 place and ATV's in "D" unless you have a ton of stuff in the bed

You will definitely downshift on some of the steeper grades on RT 1 between Houlton and Caribou but not worth locking 6th out

escavader · Apr 25, 2008

PATCHES,
I get on in FAIRFIELD and get on 1 in HOULTON and travel all the way to MADAWASKA,Istay inSTAGATHA on LONG LAKE.Rt11 is shorter,but its boREing and the hills are murder.Ithink youD burn more fuel,even though its shorter.Thanks for the shifting tip!!
ALAN

texasjohn · Apr 25, 2008

You guys are killing me..... I desperately WANT a Toyota 4door, 4WD.... and all the glowing reports re occasional towing and really decent mileage is getting to me... now, if my F350 will just go ahead and Die so I can NEED to go ahead and get it

Of particular interest to me is the comments regarding reliability/lack of problems. Thanks for your post and the comments.

Charlesaf3 · Apr 25, 2008

tj- bought in july, no problems so far. no serious towing yet, but its way overpowered empty. and drove through a lot of blizzards in VT mountains with no problems this winter guessing not so much an issue for you)

peterc38 · Apr 26, 2008

escavader,

I bought a 2007 D-Cab 4WD with the 5.7 last June. It has been a great truck so far w/ zero problems. The seat belt chime is annoying. A lot of dealers will disable it if you ask.