Another Tundra or Jump Ship

There is a very distinct reason why the tundra has a better trade in value..

 

Wife and I crashed my Tundra last Saturday morning...Kind of same as you but: guy made a right turn from left lane right in front of us, then as I'm disabled with a lunched out radiator: He takes off.

Anyway, I'm goring to trade it for a 2020 Tacoma long box this morning. I have tight garage space so, this will fit better.

 

What specs are you referring to? Go to your door sticker and tell us the numbers on your loaded F150. Payload it will likely have the Tundra beat because of the body weighing ~500 lbs less, but towing you might get a surprise. Ford creates tow monsters that are stripped out and meant to do one thing only, Toyota doesn't mislead consumers by doing this. I've seen door stickers with the payload down at ~1000 lbs, tell me how that's better than my ~1500 lbs payload in my Tundra?

 

I just looked at my door jamb stickers:

Max payload is 1538 lbs. I have by no means a plane Jane, it is a fully loaded Platinum.

Truck weighs just a hair under 5000 lbs, add the pay load to that and I have around 6500 lbs. According to my owner manual a truck with my configuration (wheelbase, axle ratio, engine, 4x4) can have a max combined weight of 16100 lbs with trailer, so theoretically it can tow a 9600 lbs trailer. Engine wise it will pull that much with ease. Those are the undisputable numbers.

If I had to tow that much or near that on a regular basis I would own a Ram 2500 CTD as I did years ago when I had a need for it. IMO it is not wise to use a 1/2 ton truck and tow max weight weather you have a Tundra or one of the big 3, it just isn't safe.

 

@71_340 Thanks for posting those Towing and Payload numbers from your truck it gives a real comparison compared to what is put on paper.

 

There should be another sticker that shows any adjustments for additional equipment. I believe that is what @belanger9 is referring to.

 

That is the payload sticker for my truck and is VIN specific as you can see. The other sticker shows tire pressures, permissible axle weights, date of manufacturer, paint code, etc.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about the towing capacity; I just wanted to give some real numbers since there is a lot of guessing. We look at our truck as a big luxury car with a huge trunk, we hardly ever use the wife's MB SUV.

 

The sticker @71_340 is the one that shows vehicle specific info. It shows how Ford misleads consumers - he's bought one of the popular trims and it's hardly special, the one's they advertise are very specific models that almost no one buys just so they can say class leading. Ford is very shady in how they get these class leading numbers, and it fools way too many people. Ram and GM do it as well, just not the extent that Ford does it. It's why I get ticked off when someone says that Ford's easily have the best numbers. Having the opinion that Ford is the best truck is cool, I will disagree, but we all have our opinions. I put my money where my mouth is for saying the Tundra is the best truck to own - very key word there, off the lot I think GM's are the best - and some of that has numbers behind it, while some is opinion. All 5 1/2 tons are close enough that I can't say someone has a wrong opinion, when it comes to buying a truck we all look at different things. I just don't want to see someone spreading false info that the Tundra is noncompetitive in the 1/2 ton market, we're literally tweaking around with a few hundred pounds. If those few hundred pounds are important then go HD and get a couple thousand more.

 

So, what you are saying is that the information Ford puts in writing on the VIN specific sticker I posted and the towing information/numbers in the owner manual are lies spread by Ford? I like to know where you get your information to base your assessment on. I highly doubt that the NTSA or consumer organizations would let that go as it would create a serious safety issue and would have massive legal and financial consequences if something would happen. I doubt that any manufacturer would go there in an era of a lawsuit happy society.

I do agree with your last sentence.

 

I am assuming he believes your door sticker is correct but is calling out Ford for how they advertise their trucks. That is what I got from reading his post.

 

Bingo.

For the trucks most people buy - Lariats and up, the towing and payload numbers are similar to what are found on the Tundra (1500 and 9000 respectively), not the 2300 and 13,000 you hear or read about. For some reason Ford has a hard on for producing a model that is class leading, then trying to infer all of their models are just as capable. That reason is why when you dig into the numbers as I was told to do, you find out all 5 1/2 tons are very equally capable, and when it comes down to picking a best one it is very subjective.

 

I guess all manufacturers do that......achieve maximum payload and towing ability with the base models nobody wants. Ford does it as well as Toyota. Plane Jane 2020 SR DC 4x2 can tow 10200 Lbs but if you get a nice Platinum 4x4 it goes down to 8800 Lbs. You ever noticed that they all use the highest number in advertising but then it has that tiny footnote which give you the true picture.

Maybe we can agree that all trucks in similar configuration are pretty much equal. In the end most people don't even come close to the limits any truck has

 

You can still buy a F150 that will out tow a tundra, simple as that. Moving to configuration; Platinum Tundra only offered with short bed. Want those features with 6.5’ bed? You are SOL. The features that are offered on platinum tundra fall way short as well.

When you buy an F150 you have 4 engines to pick from, any bed configuration you wish, several rear ends, and the list goes on and on. (The limited f150 being an exception as it only comes with the HO V6 and short bed I believe, but all those features can still be obtained in regular bed with platinum f150).

Both the 3.5 L V6’s offered will out perform the 5.7. Don’t want a V6? The 5.0 is pretty much the same as the 5.7, boasts slightly better specs but I doubt perceivable difference.

Let’s be honest, the F150 isn’t an S-Class but it’s still way ahead of tundra on cabin finishes and refinements. The technology and comforts offered in the F150 are simply astounding. It’s like a luxury car with a 6.5’ bed. Toyota cannot match or come close in given configurations.

I just don’t see a compelling reason to buy a tundra in today’s market, unless you are shopping ONLY on reliability. I’d rather buy a $2000 warranty to cover me for 8 years and not drive around like Fred Flintstone.

 

so, after weighing in at a full 1000 libbies more than the f150, the Tundra can still out-tow it by 1800 lbs.

Just stop already.

 

I am late to this discussion but will add my two cents worth. Stick with Tundra and not GM. The GM and Chevy still have issues with the active fuel management where it cuts out cylinders during light load to conserve fuel. It may work well for awhile, but after enough heat-cool cycles it will malfunction. Read the Chevy forums, it is all over there to read. I went through plenty with my Chevy right after the warranty period expired. That is exactly the issue that caused me to look hard at a Tundra. None of that crap on the Toyotas. And don't even get started about the Ford EcoBoost issues. For trouble free driving I would hang with the Toyota definitely.

 

I like the F150. The Platinum SuperCrew is the best family sedan in the Ford lineup, especially since they aren't making sedans anymore. Look, Toyota is always late to adapt to new technology because it is a better formula. They work the bugs out, then release it to market. So off the lot your going to pay 5-6k more for comparably configured and capable F150 Platinum, throw another $2k into a warranty. So you've got $8k more into your truck.

Your truck is still instantly worth less than the Toyota Platinum the moment they both hit the street and that $2k warranty isn't going to stop it from still needing repairs. Hey, but at least you've got a rear tow camera that you don't need and can't use because your family sedan is in the shop and you don't tow anyway.

Meanwhile I'm taking trips with my wife and family in my incredibly comfortable Platinum. We are racking up mile after mile trouble free with our boat or seadoos in tow. Man the things that I could do to my tundra for an extra $8k.

 

Wrong. You are making apples and oranges comparison. Just pick any higher tow capacity F150 with any tundra. You elected to pick lower capacity one.

 

Hilarious. No I picked the same 2 vehicles you compared. That would be apples and apples.


Also,

 

This thread is becoming entertaining to read. Subbed!

this reminds me of the late Friday talks with a glass of whiskey with my buddy from FCA.

 

You are picking a lower capacity F150 vs A regular tundra to compare tow capacity across the line. Just go pick out one of the higher capacity F150s and do your comparison.

 

It never gets old!!

 

Also not as if my opinion means anything here but I do believe the domestics have a slight edge on paper specs; however outside of technology (Which IMO isn’t really that behind in Platinum trim) and finish materials is still competitive in the tundra. I think what’s missed is how a 12 yo truck is still reasonably competitive to newly designed domestics while having reliability to boot.

 

Wrong again. I’m picking platinum trims in each vehicle. It’s right in the google search in the screenshot.

 

I had this dilemma right before I bought my 18. I've been happy with mine and modded away a few of the major deficiencies. I also spent about $25k less than what I would have on a Raptor.

I also would not compare Tundra platinum/1794 to F150 platinum despite the name. On price and equipment, they're closer to Lariats.

 

Just because I was reading this at the gym, I took a picture of my sticker, 2019 Platinum with factory running boards and sunroof. 1200 lbs of payload is nothing to brag about but not far off the F150.

 

That is a pretty good apples to apples to me considering both Ford and Toyota sell mostly Crew models of their half tons. You can argue it however you want but at the end of the day the door sticker does not lie. Now do not get me wrong I am no fanboy of a brand which in turn gives me a ton of choices. When I compared a F150 to the Tundra I have now and did the research before my purchase in 2018 the ratings were very similar unless I looked at the bare bones trucks. It is what it is Creature comforts add weight and take off from the payload and towing capabilities of the trucks. You are right though the Fords have much more luxury options than the Tundra for sure. When it comes to towing and hauling however, there is more to tow ratings than just how powerful the engine is.

 

He wants you to pick a Base Model truck and compare it to a Platinum Tundra so that he is proven right.

 

The other exception is the HO 3.5EB that's only available in the Raptor and Limited.

I don't disagree with you but I'd just like to point out that Ford doesn't sell a long box crew cab F150...

 

As the owner of a 2017 Tundra Limited and 2019 Tundra SR5 (both Crewmax) I think I can say this:

1. the technology in my 2017 Tundra is ancient... the technology in the 2019 is at least medieval.
2. the 5.7 / 6 speed combo is ancient but does the job.
3. The performance of the Tundra in the driver and passenger NHTSA small offset tests should be an embarrassment for Toyota. They redesigned the driver side to improve performance somewhat in 2018 but didn’t bother to make any improvements to the passenger side. Bean counting at its worst IMO and shows a total disregard for us family guys who use these trucks as family haulers.
4. The MPG driving empty is horrible. I get 14ish in the 2017 which serves as the family truckster. When towing a bigger trailer, I don’t think the MPG is that different than the competition (I’m getting around 9 MPG with the 2019 pulling a 7,000lb trailer).

That being said: the resale value of these things is ridiculous. My 2019 lease costs me less than $300/month all in... sign and drive. I won’t even have to put tires on it. My 2017 Limited, which I own outright, has 38,000 miles in it and is still worth about $35,000. I paid $43,700 for it almost 3 years ago. When the redesign hits the streets, I’ll probably trade the 2017 in and get a new one. I hope I timed the 2019 lease right to grab another sub $300/sign and drive on the last of the 3rd generations to use for work.

It’s a waste to debate Ford/GM/Ram vs the Tundra. Toyota doesn’t have nearly the R and D budget as the big three. Then again, you can grab a new 4th gen redesign in 2021 and keep it 12 years / 150,000 miles until the 5th gen comes out and probably never have a major repair. And at 12 years old and with 150,000 miles, it’ll still be worth 35%-40% of what you paid for it if you take good care of it. Hard to beat.

 

As far as towing, there was a, or there still is a national towing standard "towing" test that Toyota was the first to apply / use called ( SAE J 2807) maybe 7-8 years ago.

I get a lot of visitors to my home where they see my Tundra parked, by my RV trailer. A few weeks back a person with a F-150 commented on he was purchasing a new RV trailer of decent size (34' 10,000 gross). I noticed there wasn't the 3.5 eco-boost emblem on the fender of his Ford truck. I asked the owner if he know "his" trucks towing capacity. "O, it's good for 12,000. Here he has the "small" 2.7 L eco-boost. Let's look at the door tag. Door tag said 7500...max. As it sits, you can only even attempt to tow a RV trailer with a "dry weight" in the 5500 lb. range to allow for the 1000 -1500 of added cargo. It didn't seem to phase him...

With my 14' Tundra I have towed two different sized RV's. The first (400 nights of use over 5-6 seasons) spec-ed at 4400 dry, 5800 loaded, 25' long, 10' tall. #2 New-er RV ( 140 nights over 2 seasons) spec-ed at 6600 dry, 8000 loaded, 28.5' long BUT 11'6" tall. Definitely, the Tundra knows it's towing something now. Even with RVing in the mountains of New England, PA, OH, WV, VA, NC and SC. AND doing mostly state and National Park locations where many are off the beaten path, the Tundra was confident in its power band and not being over taxed. But, I would not tow anything larger than a 30' long trailer. MPG's on the old RV were 11.25, the new-er heavier RV 9.5 mpg. Because of the newer RV's 18" taller profile, wind has more effect on the MPG's. **** I did add the Firestone air bags on the rear suspension as the new-er RV is tongue heavy.

The towing capacity tag on my door sill, says 9900 lbs. I'm confident in "HOW" Toyota comes by that number. But I still see Tundra owners towing RV's both bumper tow and a few 5-wheels in the 10,000 to 12,000 range...and 34' to 36' units. I'm not a rocket scientist, but I would see that is pushing the over loaded button.

With all this said, I'm watching carefully on the spec's of the Gen 4 Tundra's. In the last 3-4 months I have "looked" at both a Ford - 250 (gas) and a Chevy 2500 (gas)..just as an option, if the next gen 4 Tundra exits the towing race. Meaning if the gen 4's are built to be "eye candy" only and let the big 3 fight it out for the "first" half to tow 30,000 lbs ( sorry a little sarcasm)....I will be disappointed. I have a 8 year / 100k warranty to run out "about" when the gen 4's "MIGHT" ever arrive...I have had zero issues where the warranty was used, but for the $1,700 for the warranty (Toyota) I have the peace of mind.