Help this Noob with selection

Hey Guys little background, Im new to the Tundra Forum but a Veteran to the Tacoma Forums (member since 2010). I currently have a 2011 Taco pics are below. Im looking at getting a Tundra, here is what Im looking for;
2018-present
crewmax
Cement color
4X4 (obviously)
color matched bumpers (hate chrome)
tow mirrors
spray in bed liner
LED lights
small lift
wheels and tires
exhaust
intake

Now I know im not going to get all of this in one truck but since you guys have been in the Tundra business longer then me I would like some input from the veterans. What package should I be looking for when I buy a Tundra, options, best place to look and buy... ETC...

Any help would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to joining this group very soon. Thank you in Advance, Im located in Maryland

 

SR5 TRD Sport gets you colour matched bumpers and LED headlights. Add everything else yourself.

 

Nice looking Taco. Welcome to the Tundra fam.

 

Also, if you're going to tow that Airstream with it, be aware that 2018 was the last year to get an external transmission cooler. I'm not saying you do or don't need one if you're towing but some folks are definitely more comfortable with one. Lots of threads here on this so I hope this one doesn't delve into another cooler argument.

 

SO 2018 and newer Tundras dont have an external trans cooler? Are people having problems towing with the newer Tundras because of this?

 

Thank you and glad to be here. I always wanted a Tundra and planned on getting one back in 2010 when I bought my Taco but the salesrep talked me out of it due to gas mileage...... SMH

 

Gotta tell people where you’re located for help with “where to buy”.

Sounds like your desired attributes are going to be met by getting an SR5 with the TRD Offroad package and then doing what most of us do- modify.

Here’s MY answer, which is heavily tinted with my opinions:

Aim for a used 2018 SR5 with the TRD Offroad package. Why?

-2018 was the final year for a dedicated transmission cooler, which was eliminated in 2019.

Why the TRD Offroad package?

- This package adds important features that you want, like 38 gal tank, LED headlights, some extra skid plates, and it upgrades the shocks all around to Bilstein 4600’s and puts you on 18” TRD alloys, which look great blacked out. To me, this is the ideal starting point.

From there, I am super happy with the following mods that you listed as desires:

Exhaust: Dirty Deeds 10” BAM muffler with resonator. Adds ponies and sounds awesome.

Suspension: lots of options. Consider Bilstein 5100’s or 6112’s on the front. These are adjustable, and on the middle setting they level your truck, no messing with the back. If you mildly upgrade to 33” tires (stockers are 32”) with these shocks, the front will be almost 4” higher, and level with the back, no “bro-lean”. You maintain all of the factory suspension with the exception of adjustable front shocks. If you need more clearance, you’ll need to specify and get opinions.

CAI- research. Guys on here have done it. With the 5.7 liter engine, drive it and see if you still want this. These trucks are fast without.

Bed liner, tow mirrors, color match bumpers:

Line X seems to be the darling.

Your choice on tow mirrors- you’ll have to research aftermarket. I’ll wink and tell you to look into VLED puddle lights at the time of upgrade.

Bumpers- several options. A pricier option is color matched bumper covers, search on this site. Or, have them painted. Or, buy them painted from Toyota.

Or, folks have plasti dipped, bed-lined, or just replaced the stock bumper with a custom solid bumper.

@Roman
@dirtydeeds
@EC1

Good luck in the search. Probably will be toughest to find the Cement... maybe have a top 3 color choices?

Transmission cooler (food for thought):
https://www.tundras.com/threads/2019-5-7-trans-cooler-location.33216/

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! Although a couple of folks have seen higher temps at times, I don't know of any tranny failures. Lots of people towing on this site, with and without the cooler. My personal opinion is, if you're towing a lot or heavy loads or in the mountains, it's probably worth it to add a cooler yourself - kits are available on this site, as well as detailed installation instructions and videos. I don't tow heavy loads currently but if my wife wants to start RV'ing, I'll be adding the cooler.

 

Thank you for your input. So the TRD Sport will not come with the 38 gal tank, LED headlights and others like the offroad does?

Yeah I listened to a few videos of the Dirty Deeds exhaust.... Sounds GOOOD!

 

Do all the Tundra models up to 2018 have the external trans cooler? like sr5, trd offroad, sport etc? Or do only certain ones have it?

 

I’m not sure. The Sport was a pricier package and had add ons that weren’t on my non-negotiables list.

I assume (check to be sure) they did come with the upgraded lights and bigger tank.

 

Yes- all had it that came with the “tow package” that I am aware of.

Be careful of the sneaky language on 2019-up manufacturer description. And do read; there have yet to be widespread issues related to trans temps, and these are Toyota’s FTLOG... but the temps do run high, without a doubt.

 

How bad is the 26gal tank from the 38 gal?

 

I have zero issues towing with my 2020, and I tow a 27' TT weighing in at 6k loaded on a trip.

 

my 2020 TRD Sport did come with LED head lights, 38 gallon fuel tank, BSM, side steps, spray in bed liner, tow package, 20" wheels, NO Chrome, all color match, more goodies than i can remember

 

The 38 was a non negotiable must-have for me.
Range on the 38 gal is about 200 miles greater.

With the 38, your fuel light/alarm happens at about 30 gallons consumed, 8 gal reserve.

In the 26, that happens at 20 gallons consumed, 6 gal reserve.

I’ve read some people griping, and others don’t seem to care. You can pull the 26 and replace it with, I think, a 46 gallon flow master tank.

I have to get gas about once a week, and I commute about 50-60 mi a day for work if I had to go twice a week, I’d be pretty grumpy about it.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

The TRD Sport does come with LED headlights , fog lights and the 38 gallon fuel tank. There is also no chrome, everything is color matched.

 

I wonder how bad that replacement is. I found a really nice 2019 TRD Sport, low miles and not to far from me. He did say its the 26 gal tank, thats why I was asking. This isnt going to be my daily driver, but I will tow and take trips in it. My Tacoma had a 23gal tank and I got roughly 15mpg, I would have to fill up every 220ish miles. I never complained about that, So I guess its not a deal breaker but it would definitely be nice to have a larger tank.

 

Don’t even think about the 26 gallon if you tow. Don’t even think about it even if you don’t tow.

 

That bad?

 

Well the majority of Tundras after 2016 had the 38 gallon tank. Hopefully you won’t even have to make the decision. I bought my first Tundra in late ‘15 and didn’t want to wait for the 16’s to come out. Was my biggest regret with that truck. What makes it worse is the reserve in the 26 gallons is like 4 gallons. You’ll only get about 22 gallons before it’ll read 0 miles left. I don’t tow but I go deep into the desert and always had to worry about gas. I don’t even think about it anymore.

 

I had a 13 Tacoma before my 20 Tundra, i do tow a camper and I am SOOOOOO glad I went with the 38 gallon tank. I can now make it all the way to any campground without stopping for fuel. I have gotten 400 miles to a tank of fuel towing my TT before the light even came on.

 

Sorry, meant TransferFlow, here’s a thread:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/tra...issues-not-the-usual-ones.69497/#post-1797078

another, about swapping to a 38:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/07-14-38-gallon-tank-swap-install-thread.27144/

 

It's bad, real bad when you're towing. Save yourself future headaches.
This was a must on my '17 after owning a '15 Tundra with the 26gal.

 

Is there a way I can look up and find out what size fuel tank a truck im looking at has? Maybe by VIN number or something. This guy says it has a 26 gal, but there is a chance he doesnt know for sure.

 

Quick check would be to look at the pictures to see if it has front bucket seats and centre console with console shifter. Those are bundled in the Upgrade Package with the 38 gallon tank. If it has a bench seat and column shifter, it has the 26 gallon tank.

 

I’ve seen more than a few even recent TSS packages with 26-gal tanks and bucket seats. To OP, you can use the VIN on this website to see exactly how it was built and what port-installed options it had:
https://www.toyota.com/owners/my-vehicle/vehicle-specification

as for how important the 38-gal tank is? I had a 2008 for just shy of 300k miles (daily driver plus all family road trips). It had the 26 gallon tank. When they announced the 38-gallon in the 2016, I did everything I could think of to justify trading or selling my ‘08 and buying the ‘16. Ultimately, prices on used Tundra trucks weren’t what they are now, and I had a reliable truck that was 100% paid off, so I kept it and lived with the ~280-mile range. But when I decided it was finally time to get something new, that bigger tank was a non-negotiable.

 

Was 38 gal tank an option in 07? I looked up vin for mine, and it doesn t say anything about gas tank. I do have buckets and console shifter though.

 

Nope... not until 2016