Better for towing.. 2nd gen taco or 1st gen tundra?

Hi everyone! i currently own a 03 tacoma and would like to upgrade to something with a higher tow capacity and I wanted your opinion on the research i have found..

I would like to start off by saying my truck will also be my daily commuter so i am hesitant in purchasing a v8 and obviously a tacoma would be better. But does the tacoma have the power i want for towing? If i purchase a tundra i would like a 1st gen for its smaller size and price range (i could prob afford a early 2nd gen if someone recommends these more)

Here's the info i have gathered so far... (a 2009 tacoma is around my price range so i am using this for comparison) i am looking at towing a trailer with dry weight of 3,000

09 tacoma v6 4wd tow capacity 6,500
05 tundra v8 4wd tow capacity 7,100 difference between them is only 300lbs..

ok here is where i get confused...

09 tacoma v6 4wd GCWR 8,100
curb weight 4,100
dry trailer weight 3,000
if you subtract the curb and trailer weight from the GCWR you get 1,000 (that's not much)

05 tundra v8 4wd Ltd GCWR 11,800
curb weight 5,000
dry trailer weight 3,000
remaining weight is 3,800 (thats a huge difference than the tacoma)


I don't understand how the tow capacities can be so similar but the GCWR in the tundra is 2,800 more than the tacoma... I'm assuming it as something to do with the payload of the truck..

if the tundra has a tow capacity of 7100 and my trailer weight dry is 3,000 then i have 4,100 lbs weight remaining. Then if i add my tongue/hitch weight plus tanks and cargo for truck and trailer.. My guess is i'll be sitting somewhere around 10,000 combined weight.. If i were towing with the tacoma i would be pass my GCWR...

Is my info correct????

 

If you're worried about mpg for a daily driver. Don't shay away from the V8. Itll do just as good or better than the Tacoma. Id recommend the Tundra for sure.

 

That's good to know! although i've never heard anyone say the mpg in v8 is just as good as the v6.. even all the specs say there is a significant difference.. I'm assuming you know this from first hand experience?

 

Yup. I had 2 tacos, the 3.4 and the 4.0
The best average mpg I ever got was on a 600 mile highway drive and I got 20 with the 4.0. I would average 14 in winter and 17 in summer. My buddy had a 1st gen tundra at the same time and got 16-18. Even if you get lower than the taco, the difference will be negligible and the perks of the bigger truck and v8 will make up for 1mpg difference

 

A 2005 Tundra has a payload between 1500lbs & 2000lbs.(give or take). A 3000lbs trailer will have a tongue weight of between 300-450lbs. Take the high side of 450 to be safe and a 1500lbs payload.

1500lbs
-450lbs
= 950lbs left for you, passengers and any other gear you bring in the truck.

Towing capacity means squat but you will enjoy the v8 power and get the same mpg’s towing with the Tundra vs the Tacoma. Tacoma will only get negligible more mpg’s as a DD. I traded in my ‘18 Tacoma and my mpg’s are literally 1 worse with the Tundra.

 

I think we are saying that the Taco is almost as bad as a Tundra,so its the other way around!

Trust me you will be happier towing with the Tundra I bet.
For a variety of reasons really.

 

This i great info thanks.. same mpg while towing makes sense!!! what about daily driving with the tundra? you think it relatively similar to the tacoma?

 

Ok thanks! i appreciate it! Do you know anything in regards to the GCWR of the tundra exceeding the tacoma but their tow weight is basically the same? im sure if i knew more about engines this would be a silly question... have to learn somewhere i guess lol.

 

I averaged about 17 mpg’s with my Tacoma(3.5L though, not the 4.0) and get about 15 with the tundra. I don’t baby it but I also don’t floor it from every stop.

 

I think it has more to do with the frame and suspension than the motor really.

I had a Taco with the 3 liter V6 and a Tundra with the 3.5liter V6 and the Tundra was literally just a Beast compared to the Taco when towing a smallish but heavy trailer around.

Everything about the Tundra is just bigger and more solid and the way they tow you can easily feel it too,now you might be just fine with the Taco for smaller and lighter loads but of you are looking at maybe going bigger than what you already know the Tundra just makes more sense to me and the level of space and comfort while driving was also a night and day difference for me!

I ALWAYS feel crammed into a Taco no matter the size and I am not a huge guy!
I am tall though and have long legs and arms and can never get right in a Taco at all,its like you are almost laying down all the time which drives me crazy.

 

Either truck will pull that trailer weight. A V8 obviously will handle it better, especially if it's a cargo style trailer with more wind drag.

An unmodified 2nd gen tundra with a 5.7 gets 14-15mpg. Not sure what a 1st gen tundra would get, but they weigh less, smaller v8, and higher gearing.

 

makes sense and this helps a lot!! thank you

 

good to know!! whats the advantage of a smaller v8 and higher gearing? just more power and overdrive?

 

Better fuel mileage empty, but it wont tow as well as a 2nd gen with the 5.7 and lower gearing.

I dont know what a 1st gen tundra gets. I suppose you could reference fuelly.com to see what other people are claiming to get.

I'd get a nice 1st gen tundra if it was me.

 

I see!! i read your post wrong and thought you were saying the 2nd gen had smaller v8 and higher gearing.. but its the 1st gen... makes sense now thanks!