opinions on TOYOTA TUNDRA for my towing needs

[Lynkage]

PS: just rememeber folks that what ever you buy, gas and diesel will not get cheaper, it will continue to go up. Buy accordingly.

This is very true!!
I will stick with my diesel truck as I am doing on average 25-35% better mileage than a Gasser.
But I also do not use it as a daily driver. I have a little Chevy Cavalier for that.

 

[Northland]

Here's the URL to the comparison Chuck mentioned

Comparison Test: 2007 Half-Ton Pickup Trucks

 

[gemini5362]

This is very true!!
I will stick with my diesel truck as I am doing on average 25-35% better mileage than a Gasser.
But I also do not use it as a daily driver. I have a little Chevy Cavalier for that.

I am in the same boat. I do not drive my truck as a daily driver. I have a chevrolet tracker for that, It gets around 29 miles to the gallon and is the best handling vehicle in snow and ice that I have ever personally owned.

 

[Northland]

My local Toyota dealer - which is the only Toyota dealer in 60 miles - is absolutely terrible, just abysmally bad, I really could mine the thesaurus to describe how horrible they are. Their horrendous attitude and service are the main reason I don't own a Toyota now and haven't since I became able to buy new cars instead of used ones. My dad, who has owned a Tundra for about 6 years now, has had a range of mediocre and awful service from all the Toyota dealers he has dealt with - some in Las Vegas (when be bought the truck) and others in Colorado north of Denver. I realize this is only relevant in my area and my dad's area, but hear this: I was once on an airport bus with a guy holding a Toyota part in his hands, and I chatted him up and it turns out he was an engineer for the Toyota tech center in Ann Arbor. I mentioned to him that I thought the cars were good but the dealers awful, and without skipping a beat he said Toyota knows that lots of their dealers are bad, but has no motivation to change it as long as their cars keep selling. Something to think about.

I am not surprised by what that Toyota engineer said or your sentiments as I agree with both of you based on my Toyota owning experience and that of my brother who also owns a Toyota. I believe all the auto dealer networks needs to be upgraded to a higher standard.

I have been really happy with the Pickford MI based Kubota dealer where I bought my B7800. I wish they sold cars and trucks too.

 

[RobertN]

As I noted in my previous post, the Toyota seems to be a nice truck, but why would someone pay the same price and buy a 1/2 ton, when one can get a 3/4 ton truck, perhaps with a diesel engine and heavier everything for only slightly more money???

My wifes 1/2 ton rides better, sits lower, easier to get in/out of, parks easier, commutes easier etc. She has an '04 RAM1500 shortbed 4-door 2wd; I have a '01 RAM2500 4x4 xcab longbed diesel.

I had to make two trips back/forth from near Sacramento to outside of Palm Springs in one week last year, for family reasons. First trip I took my truck by default. Drove down saturday, home sunday. Did the same the next weekend, but took the 1/2 ton; much nicer! Even though my truck rides nice for a 3/4 ton 4x4, that 3/4 ton rear end is stiff when empty. So are "E" rated tires compared to the lighter tires on the 1/2 ton...

I got my truck while I still had a large cabover camper that really needed the 3/4 ton ratings, and I hauled a horse trailer. I needed it then. Now, hauling my Kubota(trailer/tractor/implement is about 3800 lbs)I could do most things with the 1/2 ton easy.

One of the big things that gets me on my 3/4 ton, is tires. I am about due. For a decent "E" rated AT's, you're looking at about $800, in a stock size. Stock size 1/2 ton tires "C" rated are LOTS cheaper... Ya, I take 12 quarts of oil and stuff at oil/filter changes, which is expensive, but those tires really get my attention at $800 in one whallop

I would look at a Dodge first(brand loyalty, Dad works for Dodge since '65 so I get a good price, and I like them), but that Tundra should easily do everything the original poster wants. I would look at one before I bought anything else(although I might be hesitant of first year production)

 

[cp1969]

Like I said before it looks good on the surface, Rides Good, has some really neat features. Under the skin is a different story. 2 peice drive shaft, Frame concept good but execution failed, check the crossmembers. Lightweight hood. Small door hinges. AC line less than 1/2" from the front bumper. Stamped steel banjo style rear end. Timing belt instead of a chain. No real limited or locking differential and what they have only works in 2wd. Just to list a few items.

Kurt

That alone would do it for me.

 

[_RaT_]

My wifes 1/2 ton rides better, sits lower, easier to get in/out of, parks easier, commutes easier etc. She has an '04 RAM1500 shortbed 4-door 2wd; I have a '01 RAM2500 4x4 xcab longbed diesel.

I had to make two trips back/forth from near Sacramento to outside of Palm Springs in one week last year, for family reasons. First trip I took my truck by default. Drove down saturday, home sunday. Did the same the next weekend, but took the 1/2 ton; much nicer! Even though my truck rides nice for a 3/4 ton 4x4, that 3/4 ton rear end is stiff when empty. So are "E" rated tires compared to the lighter tires on the 1/2 ton...

I got my truck while I still had a large cabover camper that really needed the 3/4 ton ratings, and I hauled a horse trailer. I needed it then. Now, hauling my Kubota(trailer/tractor/implement is about 3800 lbs)I could do most things with the 1/2 ton easy.

One of the big things that gets me on my 3/4 ton, is tires. I am about due. For a decent "E" rated AT's, you're looking at about $800, in a stock size. Stock size 1/2 ton tires "C" rated are LOTS cheaper... Ya, I take 12 quarts of oil and stuff at oil/filter changes, which is expensive, but those tires really get my attention at $800 in one whallop

I would look at a Dodge first(brand loyalty, Dad works for Dodge since '65 so I get a good price, and I like them), but that Tundra should easily do everything the original poster wants. I would look at one before I bought anything else(although I might be hesitant of first year production)

Robert, I like your logic. I no longer need a monster tow vehicle. I often wonder what everyone here is towing anyway but thats another story. In my opinion, whoever comes out with a nice 1/2 ton type truck that is well built with a robust but not ego bragging diesel that gets supreme mpg will win my money. I don't need or desire 400 HP and 700 lbs of torque, give me 30 mpg and decent tow and payload and I'm signing up for the long list of would be customers. No doubt you will have a winner with that configuration. Right now I think Toyota has just such a combination but our lovely politicians don't think this is what we want so they are not yet allowed. With 15 ppm ULSD diesel here in California, I hope that will change. I want one and will drive my daily repair or fix until one comes out. I don't tow much and I don't want to. RaT....

 

[escavader]

Like I said before,the price i saw on the tundras was no where near what you guys are saying they cost.No way in ....I would ever pay that much.I could buy another low end sports utility and use two trailers and tow vehicles to get my toys from a to b .I was thinking i wouldnt have to spend more than 30 grand on one.If it had said 37000 on the window stickers id probably had have heart failure. If they cost that much,TIME TO RE THINK THIS.Guess i got to talk turkey with the sales man.
ALAN

 

[_RaT_]

Like I said before,the price i saw on the tundras was no where near what you guys are saying they cost.No way in ....I would ever pay that much.I could buy another low end sports utility and use two trailers and tow vehicles to get my toys from a to b .I was thinking i wouldnt have to spend more than 30 grand on one.If it had said 37000 on the window stickers id probably had have heart failure. If they cost that much,TIME TO RE THINK THIS.Guess i got to talk turkey with the sales man.
ALAN

I can get one for $500 over invoice and I suspect you can too. Go to Edmunds and you will see what that is.

 

[gemini5362]

Like I said before,the price i saw on the tundras was no where near what you guys are saying they cost.No way in ....I would ever pay that much.I could buy another low end sports utility and use two trailers and tow vehicles to get my toys from a to b .I was thinking i wouldnt have to spend more than 30 grand on one.If it had said 37000 on the window stickers id probably had have heart failure. If they cost that much,TIME TO RE THINK THIS.Guess i got to talk turkey with the sales man.
ALAN

Like I said in my post I just did the online priceing thing and I compared to my truck which has heated leather seats, fancy stereo, all the bells and whistles the prices i mentioned were right off line. I also mentioned that my dealer worked with me a lot on price but the toyota dealer when we were buying a car did not really want to come down off of sticker any aprciable amount. We went to the toyota dealer just to buy a toyota but could not make any kind of reasonable deal.


For the other poster that wondered what people haul with their 3/4 ton truck. I haul my 50 horse montana with a cab and FEL that is about 6000 pounds
I have a dump bed trailer I am going to start using that will be several thousand pounds
Basically I can haul whatever I feel I need to. Unlike with a 1/2 ton where I have to worry about how overloading it. We took my truck on vacation last year for two weeks and drove over 5000 miles. I did not get tired like I usually do driving that fun and it was extremely comfortable.