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What kind of driving do you do with your Tundra? Daily, or Road-Tripper.

Discussion in 'General Tundra Discussion' started by GreatBigAbyss, Sep 15, 2020.

  1. Sep 15, 2020 at 5:20 AM
    #1
    GreatBigAbyss

    GreatBigAbyss [OP] New Member

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    When I bought our Tundra a couple of years ago, it was our only vehicle in a family of four, so it pulled daily driver duty for us. I hated putting short trips on what is the nicest, most expensive vehicle I've ever purchased. I only work a 5 minute drive away from home, and most of the errands we run are also close. What's more, with the engine no having a chance to warm up, it would suck the fuel back. My mileage was averaging about 11mpg on those short little trips.

    So I bought another car about 6 months ago. A little 2008 Honda Civic Beater. I use the car to drive to work, and for all of our errands, and now the truck stays parked most of the time. We'll take the truck on longer drives, and on drives where the entire family is coming, and we want to be comfortable. And, of course, the truck gets used whenever we pull our camper trailer, or go canoeing, or need to do some sort of work. But no more stupid little short trucks that will shorten its life. It now primarily does long trips, mostly on the highway, which is great for a vehicle's longevity. I also only fill it about every month and a half, rather than every week and a half.

    The money I save on gas by driving the car most of the time pays for the extra insurance from having two vehicles, and I get to put all the shitty low km trips on a car I paid $2500 for, rather than my nice new truck that I'm proud of.
     
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  2. Sep 15, 2020 at 5:31 AM
    #2
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

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    I bought my first Tundra 17 years ago, and it's been my dedicated work truck ever since. I experimented with a few different cars as daily drivers over the years, but they didn't scratch that itch... three years ago I bought a 2007 Tundra, it is my daily/ road tripper, and it definitely scratched that itch. The 1st gen does get used for road trips from time to time because it's good for the engine.
     
  3. Sep 15, 2020 at 5:34 AM
    #3
    timsp8

    timsp8 Former Tundra owner for 13 years

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    Tim
    NY
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    Both. I use it for my drive to work which is about 20 min/ 12 mi. We also take the tundra on our road trips. It’s more reliable and has more room than the wife’s car.
     
  4. Sep 16, 2020 at 7:35 AM
    #4
    CaptainGrumpus

    CaptainGrumpus The Mailman

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    Matt
    Maine
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    Daily driver for me with some road trips once in awhile. Been thinking of buying an old beater for to and from work but then I would probably never drive the Tundra except when it snows.
     
  5. Sep 17, 2020 at 8:50 AM
    #5
    Fishhead

    Fishhead New Member

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    I have a jeep also so that gets used a bunch although I wouldn't call it a daily driver.

    I use my Tundra towing my boat and my travel trailer, so it gets a ton of highway miles. I also use it to hauling stuff around my acreage like a gravel trailer, firewood, etc.
     
  6. Sep 17, 2020 at 8:53 AM
    #6
    ZappBrannigan

    ZappBrannigan The mind is willing but the flesh is weak

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    Canada, by way of Hawaii
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    2018 1794 MGM
    NVS light bar
    It’s a truck for work. Whatever work demands it does and it doesn’t give me any crap about it. It’s also frequently my office and it’s pretty good at that as well, meaning it sits idling quite a bit.
     
    Cpl_Punishment and TNTundra16 like this.
  7. Sep 17, 2020 at 8:59 AM
    #7
    palehorse

    palehorse @grey_ghost_trdpro

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    Jason
    Mount Pleasant, SC
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    My commute to work is 485 miles and back every other week. On my home weeks, I try to let it stay parked and drive my wife's car as much as possible. Trying to keep the miles to less than 40k per year on my truck.
     
  8. Sep 17, 2020 at 9:06 AM
    #8
    CavBluTundra

    CavBluTundra CavBluisdabomb

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    Howard
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    Bought it new in 2018. Daily driver, to and from work every day 38 miles round trip. Was a Chevy guy for all years before this Tundra. Gas mileage sucks comparing it to the Z71 I traded in, but the "smiles per gallon" far exceed the trade off in miles per gallon. I use this truck for everything. Hell, wife has a 2012 Mercedes C250 that is fun to drive because of the turbo. She only has 44k on the clock. My tundra is 6 years newer and already has 34k on the clock. We take it everywhere especially on vacation because of the room and towing capability for my boat. We are more comfortable in my truck than her car. Love my Tundra.
     
    Sunnier likes this.
  9. Sep 17, 2020 at 10:28 AM
    #9
    CourtJester

    CourtJester New Member

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    Alabama
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    Mine is a weekend queen and road tripper for the most part. I have a 2013 Tacoma that is 100% no frills (4 cyl, 5 speed, regular cab, hand crank windows, etc) that I drive back and forth to work and gets pretty decent gas mileage. My 2019 Tundra has almost 15,000 miles and should be good to give to my grand kids when the time comes if I ever get any.
     
  10. Sep 17, 2020 at 10:47 AM
    #10
    sotex

    sotex Sic 'em Bears!

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    San Antonio, TX
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    We have a '14 Audi Q5 TDI for roadtrips with the family or just me and my wife (it gets 35-40 mpg and 600+ miles on a full tank). If I need to haul a lot (moving our daughter to college, for example) or if it's just me because my wife needs her car, then the truck makes the road trip. Otherwise, it's a daily driver.
     
  11. Sep 17, 2020 at 11:58 AM
    #11
    CMB

    CMB New Member

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    Cecil County MD.
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    Not nearly enough room here!
    My 2010 is a garage queen that's seen duty towing our boat every year for vacation. No vacation this year, so there's another 1200 miles saved. We have 2 Pilots for everyday vehicles. The truck sits quite a bit.
     
  12. Sep 17, 2020 at 12:39 PM
    #12
    Catmann1972

    Catmann1972 New Member

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    Greg
    Rhode Island
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    Just purchased my 2020 TRD Sport. We only use it for camping trips 4-5 times a year, usually week long trips and at least 1500 to 2000 miles a trip. I have a company service van that I use as my daily driver. My wife has a 13 Altima that she rarely drives due to the covid thing and now she works from home. So, her car gets driven maybe once a week to go to the grocery store. I just stare out in the driveway and ogle at my truck. I look forward to our camping trips, just to drive the truck. Got a trip coming up in a few weeks, headed up to Maine for some fall camping. I have owned the truck for about 2 months and i just now need to put fuel in it.
     
  13. Sep 17, 2020 at 12:59 PM
    #13
    Navi

    Navi New Member

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    Mine is daily driver but I’ve also been thinking I should get a beater, just like you described OP.

    I had a 1st Gen (2001) that I drove until I got my current 3rd Gen. After having the 3rd Gen, I’m totally convinced the 1st Gen was the perfect size truck for around town, parking lots and all the short trips. We have a growing family so my DC would not cut-it any longer. Agree with others that CM is perfect for family and longer trips, it’s awesome for that.

    I’d like to get a hybrid Camry or anything that gets 30+ mpg.

    But if i buy another car, then we’ll have 3 cars, more insurance and gas, etc. Still not sure it’s really worth it.. but would be way better for all the driving around town and short trips, which is 90% of what we do these days, esp with the little kids
     
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  14. Sep 17, 2020 at 1:06 PM
    #14
    GreatBigAbyss

    GreatBigAbyss [OP] New Member

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    Another advantage I forgot to mention: Parking Lots. I hate parking my Tundra in parking lots. It's not for my sake, I have no problems maneuvering my truck into small spaces, especially with the back-up camera and sensors. But what I"m actually terrified of is other people. I'm scared of other people scraping the truck when they're pulling into/out of spots, and also opening doors into my truck. I would always park as far away from the store as possible, surrounded by as many open spots as possible, but sometimes that's not possible, and you HAVE to park near other people. I hated it. I was always so paranoid.

    Now, with the beater, I just don't care where I park it. It's already scuffed up, with peeling paint and plenty of existing dents. Honestly, somebody could back their car into it, and I wouldn't care. Not one bit. It has taken a good deal of stress off me when running daily errands for my wife.
     
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  15. Sep 17, 2020 at 1:06 PM
    #15
    Boerseun

    Boerseun MGM XP-Series

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    Ferdie
    Sarasota Florida
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    I use the Tundra to commute to work, during the day use it for work going to construction sites and meetings, after work do grocery runs and other errands, weekends as a family vehicle wherever we go, Sunday to church, family vacations on road trips, etc..... I put about 30,000 miles per year on it, and enjoy every mile.
     
    sillydadztrksR4momz likes this.
  16. Sep 17, 2020 at 2:00 PM
    #16
    Jernik

    Jernik New Member

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    Jeremy
    Texas
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    Both. Also have a 14 4Runner, so I split it and the Tundra on the daily commute just so both get regular exercise. Road trips, depends where we're going what we take. If we're going to be more in-town where parking/maneuverablility might be tight, we take the 4R. If not, we take the Tundra. Or, if we just feel like one or the other for whatever reason...
     
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  17. Sep 17, 2020 at 2:51 PM
    #17
    ezdog

    ezdog New Member

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    Gateway To The West
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    I have 4 Cars and use them all for everything really!

    The Sprinter is mainly a work truck around town and it gets the best MPG by far of all of my vehicles and is the biggest and heaviest too!
    It tows a decent amount and feels just as solid whether towing or not.
    Overall one of the best cars I have ever had but then each of the ones in the stable now are in that group really!

    I use an Element for around town and road trip where I dont need to tow or the space of a truck for tools and materials and it feels like a sports car compared to the others.
    Another outstanding ride with an almost Cult Like Following and for good reasons.

    The 2 Tundras get to duke it out for heavier duty and road trips and towing or hauling and while I would prefer to put the miles on the 2001 really I am a lot more comfortable these days in the 2015 it seems.

    Just did a 4000 mile 3 city trip to S Florida and back in the 2015 and it was a beast,towing a trailer down and loaded like crazy on the way back.

    Do I need 4 cars?
    No really,do I????
     
  18. Sep 17, 2020 at 5:52 PM
    #18
    BigdaddyII

    BigdaddyII New Member

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    Both. Daily driven to work 75 miles one way.....almost a road trip in itself. My fiance drives a Camry, therefore we take my truck on trips for comfort. I'm trying to rectify that and talk her into a 4Runner though so that way I can try to keep even more miles off of the already 40,000 miles a year it does.
     
  19. Sep 17, 2020 at 6:00 PM
    #19
    Lake.Life24

    Lake.Life24 New Member

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    Shawn
    Upstate, NY
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    Both! Daily drive 80miles and all trips are done in the truck. Can’t beat the space
     
  20. Sep 17, 2020 at 9:23 PM
    #20
    Muleycrazy13

    Muleycrazy13 New Member

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    Toyota spray in bed liner/ 30" LED Lightbar/ Pro Comp Pro Runner SS @ 2.5"/ Husky Xact fronts/ Weathertech rear/ NFAB steps/ 275/70R18 BFG KO2's/ LED interior from GTR lighting/ Tekonsha Prodigy Trailer brake Controller
    Daily drive mine 50 miles round trip per day, mon-fri. I love my truck but it kind of sucks as a daily driver. It doesn’t help that I’m driving in city traffic here in phx. I’ve considered trading it for a Tacoma but I think I would regret that choice. We use our Telluride for all the family trips etc.
     
  21. Sep 18, 2020 at 4:10 AM
    #21
    Stig

    Stig New Member

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    If driving a beater some of the time ends up breaking even financially, why not drive what you want to drive? Putting miles on a Tundra or any Toyota doesn't hurt anything. Always good to have at least one backup vehicle though.

    I'd almost always rather be up high in a spacious tundra than a small beater, whether stuck in traffic or on a long trip
     
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  22. Sep 18, 2020 at 4:24 AM
    #22
    jeremyd

    jeremyd 2014 Crewmax SR5

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    Used for everything! Which is exactly why I want better gas mileage, Lol
    IMG_6710.jpg
     
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  23. Sep 18, 2020 at 4:33 AM
    #23
    10TundraSR5

    10TundraSR5 Happy Tundra owner

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    Curse you Perry the Platypus!
    Daily driver for me. Work is a 50 mile round trip and that's about it. I'm toying with the idea of buying a 4 cylinder Tacoma down the road and driving it daily but who knows. I love the Tundra and since most of my driving is freeway, the gas mileage isn't all that bad.
     
  24. Sep 18, 2020 at 4:46 AM
    #24
    GreatBigAbyss

    GreatBigAbyss [OP] New Member

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    It's the nature of the trips that I hated putting on the Tundra. Most of our daily trips are short little errands of less than 5 minutes. Trips like that are HELL on a vehicle, no matter whether it's a Tundra or not. I'd much rather do it to a car that's near the end of its life, rather than my nice truck that I'd like to keep for a good long while.
     
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  25. Sep 18, 2020 at 7:19 AM
    #25
    C.I.

    C.I. Surf, off road, sleep, repeat

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    Mods: Ongoing... probably never ending
    Daily drive mine.

    While you're not wrong about the drawbacks of 5-10 minute trips on your nice truck, there's a bit of misinformation. Buildup on an engine when driven in short trips is a common thing, even more common on synthetics. It can be caused by a temperature difference, hot oil and cold-ish component. Fresh oil doesn't have this issue, so keep your changes within 5K miles and the engine should be just fine.

    Daily drove a '15 Taco for 5 years on short trips, oil changes every 4000 miles or 6 months, got the internals checked with a camera by the dealer then an independent mechanic, no oil buildup, normal carbon deposits and normal wear.

    Granted! Baja is hot and winter isn't that cold, so engines get to operating temperature pretty quickly so that helps. A decent secondary car that gets nothing but regular maintenance is a great idea, you can stay mobile while you mod your truck :p
     
  26. Sep 18, 2020 at 8:14 AM
    #26
    GreatBigAbyss

    GreatBigAbyss [OP] New Member

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    Yeah, our winters in Winnipeg regularly get down to -35C (-31F). Average temps in the winter hover around -20C (-4F). It can take 20 minutes for my Tundra engine to get to operating temperature. The truck could go a whole month without reaching normal operating temperature if all I'm doing are short trips to work and back, grocery store, etc. I dunno, but that just seems like abuse. Like I said, I'd rather not abuse my $50 000CAD truck like that, I'd rather abuse the $2400 Civic with 322 000kms on the odometer.

    Plus, there is the added benefit that whenever I climb into the truck, start it up and drive it, it remains a special experience for me. Driving my truck has turned from just another daily vehicle, to an event that I can look forward to. And honestly, driving the Civic is no chore. While it doesn't have the power of the truck, it's a whole heck of a lot more nimble, and quite frankly, just better suited for city driving.
     
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  27. Sep 18, 2020 at 8:31 AM
    #27
    C.I.

    C.I. Surf, off road, sleep, repeat

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    It's all about temps! You are doing the right thing by saving your truck for when it's needed.
     
  28. Sep 18, 2020 at 9:06 AM
    #28
    Northwoods22

    Northwoods22 New Member

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    Daily driver. Use it for everything. 70 mile round trip at least everyday to work. Then wherever else I need to go. Hunting, camping, whatever. Ha I gotta keep telling myself this is why you bought a tundra, to drive the shit out of it
     
  29. Sep 18, 2020 at 9:19 AM
    #29
    TNTundra16

    TNTundra16 YOU BIG DUMMY!

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    Cam
    Amish Country, TN
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    20200825_054105.jpg 20200906_132121.jpg
    My Tundra goes where I go. I'm in the boat that if I'm making payments it's gotta pull its own weight and be utilized as much as possible for every task. I work 1 mile from home currently and I've put over 20k miles in a little over a year. It's my do all vehicle. I have two kids in school and active in sports. I just bought a second house so it's hauling something or pulling a trailer almost daily.
     
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  30. Sep 18, 2020 at 8:19 PM
    #30
    Olson

    Olson New Member

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    Eric
    Queen Creek,AZ
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    what kind of travel trailer do you pull and do you have a lift on your tundra? Im curious bc my wife and I are looking to buy a TT and idk if I don't a 2-2.5 inch lift and do a 33" tire if it will kill my towing or give me that ugly crash squat.
     

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