Considering a Tundra

Hi, I’ve been shopping for a new truck and I’m considering a 3rd Generation Tundra. I don’t know much about these trucks and was hoping for some information from owners. I’ve owned a 2nd Generation 2009 Tundra before and experienced transmission, axle, and paint failure – two of which were warranted. The rear axle failed after the transmission and wasn’t warranted cause of driving the vehicle with the transmission that had failed to lock up the torque converter and had failures in 2nd gear and 5th gear clutch packs. The lower part of the back door rusted and the rear cab welds rusted near the rocker panels. Transmission and paint failures were warranted by Toyota. I know 2009 was the lowest production year of the tundra and there were concerns of lay-offs in the plant. The lower paint on one door was not baked properly. Otherwise the 2009 Rock Warrior was a solid vehicle. It just differed, somewhat negatively, from my experiences with previous FJ40, FJ80, Truck (Hilux) and Tacoma.


I have been test driving a TRD Pro Crew cab model. Truck will be used towing 6500 to 7500 lbs approximately 320 miles round trip. Max elevation will be approximately 10,000 ft. Truck is to be equipped with cap for transporting of two hunting dogs.


1. What has changed with the AB60F transmission to solve the torque converter lock-up problems of the 2007-09 or 10 models covered under the previous TSB?

2. How has the lower paint at the bottom of the doors, the cab welds, and the rocker panels been holding up long term under use in salt, brine and cinder coated roadways? I see several newer 3rd generations operating with rust in these areas.

3. How does the TRD Pro preform for towing and holding gear under load? It seems some small amount of torque is either lost, or peak torque is shifted higher in the rpm range, with the dual exhaust this vehicle is equipped with due to a reduction in back pressure at low rpm affecting valve seating.

4. Does the exhaust drone impact dogs in the bed while the truck is loaded and towing when climbing to higher elevation? I have not driven the truck under load up any sort of significant hill. The dog’s hearing is approximately three times that of a human.

5. Does the Fox suspension sway more under load, or does it sag more, than a stock suspension? The vehicle seemed to readily display body roll unloaded during test driving. It also does not appear to have normal rake built in to it. The ride quality was very good unloaded.

6. Does the crew max have any bed bounce or shake during operation on washboard roads or on grooved and segmented highway? This was a problem with the 2009 Rock Warrior DC but I understand TRD now offers a bolt on sway bar.


Thank you for your help.

 

Hiya and welcome from SoCalif!!!

 

Get a Ford F250 with a 6.0 L Diesel. Sounds like you're hard on drive trains.

 

Hi and welcome from Oregon.

 

Welcome to the party!!

I dont do very much towing or live in an area with snow/ice conditions. So i would be a burden to myself trying to answer questions. Although, ive never had a paint issue and i doubt the stock exhaust would have much effect on the dogs.

 

Welcome from Ohio.

 

Thanks for the insight. I have a diesel now and no issue with the drivetrain after 5 years. Pulls great and at lower rpms than the 09 5.7 L tundra needed. Just looking to get away from the emission systems (and repair costs) now needed on diesels, hence shopping third gen tundras.

I am perplexed as to why the 2019 TRD Pro does not have a transmission temperature gauge. I'm assuming most owners just monitor this through an OBDII application such as Torque.

I really liked the old 7.3 L diesel Fords use to have. The 6.0 L had great power, but drove a F350 work truck with that motor that had head gasket and turbo issues early.

 

Welcome. I can tell you that paint was also a weak point in my 2010 Tacoma, and I’m hoping I don’t have rust/paint issues in my 2018 Tundra. Trying to keep it washed, waxed and garaged. Hope it still looks good in 10 years!

 

Also, does the TRD Pro have accelerated wear on the front end components compared to the stock suspension?

The Fox suspension is higher in the front end, but it does not appear the front differential has been relocated nor the upper control arms altered, though I may be wrong on this as I've only viewed the truck on the lot. It seems reasonable to suspect the tie rod, CV and UCA geometry (angle) is different from stock design and hence the possibility for increased wear rates. Toyota must believe it to be adequate for the warranty period though.

 

Welcome from Texas

 

Welcome from South Carolina

 

Welcome from NY.

 

You're trolling right?
You need a 6.0 l Ford Diesel ! Then you have the best truck ever made. 2x the mileage towing.

 

if i knew i was going to tow a 7k trailer in the mountains regularly I wouldn't buy a tundra. 3/4 ton at least

 

No, I'm not trolling. I am shopping for a new truck and looking at a Tundra again, due to its resale value, to get back into a gasser. I've only test drove the TRD Pro model a few times and had some questions I didn't get answered fully at the dealership. I was hoping to get some perspective from owners. I've towed many miles with an F-350 6.0 liter, and though it was a strong truck, it was one I'm glad I didn't have to pay for upkeep on. Thank you for the suggestion and I fully agree with the mileage of the 6.0, but fuel economy of the Tundra would be acceptable. It's got to beat a 6.4 liter hemi.

 

Welcome from CO. I'm no help with your questions, but do need to say that we are still in 2nd gen. 3rd gen will be in 2021 or so.

 

Welcome!

From Cleveland, Ohio

I had an 2008 SR5 TRD with 155,000 plus miles on her and Toyota gave me $12,500 for a trade on my current 2017 below is a pic of my 2008. I had no paint issues and obviously quite a value for my trade!

Was your 09 bought new?

 

Sounds like you need the longest lasting most dependable truck on the road... A good old F-150 with eco-boost super technology. These out dated dinosaur tundras just ain't getting it done. That's why we keep them around to help prevent others from suffering the horrible transmission and paint failures. Everyone on tundras.com is just nice enough to jump on a grenade and drive one of these trucks.

 

The TRD PRO had a a louder than stock TRD Exhaust. Although not loud at all in the cabin, my concern is for the decibel level in the bed while the truck is loaded and pulling a steady grade. One can reasonably assume with the engine operating around a steady 4k rpm it would be louder in the bed than a stock tundra exhaust. I do not have opportunity to test this before purchase, hence I'm asking from those with experience using their tundras with dual exhaust if it's an issue for the canines whilst the truck is loaded pulling a grade.

Thanks for your suggestion, but I'm in the market for a new truck. Last I knew ford stopped using the 6.0 around 2007. I drove an F350 6.0 2003 for many miles, and as I stated before, I'm glad i wasn't paying upkeep. I appreciate the suggestion but I am passing on purchasing a used 6.0 L.

My mistake and apologies; I was under the wrongful impression the MY2014 to current was the new generation. For the purpose of my thread, I'm asking for knowledge of improvements made in the 2014 or later tundras.

Yes, the 09 was bought new. Sticker was approx. 35.5k, purchased for 28k, sold for 22k in 2014 so I agree with what you are saying about resale, hence I'm interested in another purchase of a new tundra. 2008 Tundra production was 137k units and 2009 was 79k units. Hard to keep staffing for 137k units employed at a 79k unit production level. The rusting around the cab welds was common, but the rear door I am suspicious of. It never had the lower paint baked and didn't display the orange peel typical in the lower section. There is probably more to the door's story than I know. I never noticed it wasn't baked and lacked orange peel of the rest of the lower paint till it started having corrosion issues. The 09 truck looked good for it's age after warranted repair. Your 08 looks fantastic and glad you got great mileage out of it. That is the sort of ownership experience I'm interested in.

Transmission / Torque Converter TSB from Toyota, referenced for the warrantied transmission was TSB- 01807. I am not interested in a exhaust scavenging direct injection gasoline engine since it will, by design, lead to carbon deposition on the intake valves. Thank you for the suggestion of the F150 Ecoboost, but my preference is a port injection gasser, hence interest in the tundra.

 

I can’t answer most of your questions, but I can say that towing something that size/weight with a tundra will not be a good experience.

 

Ha! No worries. It's a fun topic around these parts as to what gen we are actually on.

 

Well whatever I end up with, it'll be a white truck since they seem to pull stronger than any other truck color.

 

And are faster too.