Going from 3rd Gen Tacoma to 1st Gen Tundra, who's done it?

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2020-landcruiser-comes-with-trans-cooler-why-not-tundra.85272/

 

I think the closer I get to this Camel Toe, the more it looks like it leans left.

 

The pair I saw on the curb had a rightward bias

 

Did you pick it up for later use?

 

No, I left them for someone less fortunate. That could be a 2 for 1 score for the right person.

 

Yes. I like how you think.

 

There's just no escaping that thing, is there?

 

Just when I thought it was gone it came back.

 

Are you pointing out we have multiple threads where people won't let issues go and repeat themselves over and over?

 

Not straight from gen3 Tacoma, but close. My first Toyota was a gen2 Tacoma 2wd. I liked it but really should have gotten 4wd. Eventually traded it for a gen3 Tundra. Nice truck, but sold it when I was concerned about expenses (kids in college, job stability...). In 2019 I decided to purchase a 2020 Tacoma. Well actually was looking at a 2016 at the dealer and the price difference for new wasn't that much so went for it. I got rid of it after only about 7 months for a number of reasons. First, I hated the seating position when on longer trips--too low, legs to straight. I didn't like the way it drove in that it was pretty busy to drive, wandered a lot, tramlined in ruts... I also hated banging it up doing property maintenance--dented the tailgate and had to get if fixed... The straw that broke the camel's back was that my son needed a car so we gave him a good deal on my wife's car and she got a new one. At that point I decided to trade the Tacoma in on it. I will say this, it held its value well and the trade-in price wasn't much less than I paid. Apparently a covid shortage reduced the new Tacomas on lots to an all time low.

At that point, I decided to get an older truck that wouldn't experience much depreciation and, if I dinged it up, so what. I ended up with a 1999 Tacoma 4wd, manual with high miles nearing 300K. Overall it was in good shape but it did need a few things. I think I've got about $7K into it at this point. Last December I came across a good deal on a 2006 Tundra so snapped it up. Currently I have both and will be selling the 1999 Tacoma. I have to say, the 2006 Tundra seems perfect for my needs. It isn't perfect, so if I get a ding it won't bother me much. It is comfortable on longer trips. It drives well and seems like the prefect size. The V8 isn't a powerhouse, but is more than adequate for most things I'd use if for. I think this one is a keeper for the long haul.

 

A friend had his full size ford F350 in for some work, they gave him a Tacoma for a rental. When asked how he liked it, he said, "I had to pull over on the way home and look under the hood to make sure there was a motor in it'!!!

 

I’ve had newer Tacoma’s as well as my last truck, a 16 crewmax tundra. Currently drive a unicorn 05 Tundra DC with 78k miles. Love the first gen look, always have. The thing I miss most is just the newer truck feel. But that is just preference. I love my first gen. It’s reliable. Works great. After putting in a new head unit with car play and a camera out back it really feels newer than it is. It drives solid. I’d say do it if you can find one. That being said, the premium you’ll pay for a low mileage first gen in good shape may not make it worth it. I have seen clean lower mileage DC first gens around me go for almost 25. There is a serious following. So, a second gen with low miles may be easier to find and still a great truck. If you are obsessed with the look of the first gen like I was stick it out. They are out there.

 

I need to update the stereo in mine. What head unit and camera did you put in?

 

I went with a pioneer head unit that allows for wireless CarPlay. DMH-W4660NEX.
And for a camera I am using a master tailgaters. It’s integrated into the tailgate handle. Looks factory. Works well.

 

I bought an 03 Tundra ACSB stepside (got an amazing deal) in 2004. I loved that truck. Drove it for 14 yrs - 250k miles.
Traded it to get my daughter a car. I bought a 2018 Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport 4x4. I liked it at first but the more I drove it the more I realized I didn't like it as much as my 1Gen Tundra.
I work from home too so I don't need to drive too THAT much.
About a year ago I traded the Tacoma for an 06 Tundra DC Limited 2wd in great shape with only 103k miles. (pic in avatar).
I'm a big guy and it just drives so much better to me than the Tacoma.
I love being back in a 1st gen Tundra.

 

Had a 2020 Tacoma DC 4WD TRD as a rental this week in LA. Not the best environment for that truck I know, but some observations compared to my 20 year older FGT:
1. The Tacoma truly does a poor job of delivering power. The ECT PWR switch helps, but it feels like it needs 4.56 gears from the factory or something. Very little low end torque feeling. Does a poor job of efficiently shifting with the powerband of the motor. Missed the V8 for sure.
2. The Tacoma is smaller. Feels a lot smaller actually. The back seat didn't seem to have any more room than my AC. The seating position and tilt steering adjustment do not allow for a comfortable seating position for me. 5'10", so not a giant or anything. The wheel had minimal tilt available. The steering wheel was akward to use in tight turning situations due to the straight up and down spokes at the bottom. Always felt in the way.
3. The ride is poor. Not sure if this is weight or wheelbase or what. My old Tundra rides smoother, and this despite 5100's on the front above the recommended lift setting.
4. The Tacoma had a check engine light come on during the trip. In dash info called it a computer error with the engine / trans controller. Did not disable the vehicle, but made it feel a little herky-jerky at times.
5. The tech in the Tacoma was nice. Had the crawl control, locking rear diff, traction control, Multi-terrain control, Carplay radio with large screen etc.

When I got back home and got in the old Tundy, I smiled again. Given the option between the two, I say FGT all the way.

 

I work an area of construction where a mid-size truck suits me better than a full size. I happen to own both. I have a 17' double cab Tacoma that I hate. I'm seriously wondering what the draw is to these trucks. Its drives like it weighs more than it does, the V6 is gutless, the cab is cramped and the seats are rock hard. BUT it gets 21 mpg and its nice having a newer, reliable vehicle as a backup... so I keep it.

As for the Tundra... Last year I happened to stumble upon an 05 access cab 4.7 4wd the owner had kept parked in a barn during winter. Its now my work truck and I regularly beat the crap out of it.


How many of you just spit whatever you were drinking all over your screen? Relax... it wasn't perfect... 115K, the clear coat is faded and the bed was beat up cause he used it as a farm truck in the summer. The interior also smelled like whatever lived in the barn took it out joyriding when he wasn't looking, but it was immaculate underneath so I was grinning ear to ear when he said he wanted it gone. I absolutely love driving it every day... with the windows down, that is.

Anyways... its about the same size at the Taco, so I can maneuver it around cramped job sites better than any full size rig, but it drives way better, both in the handling department and the power: the delivery is smoother, and the transmission isn't as indecisive as the Taco's. The mileage is worse at 17 avg, but it hauls more and tows things way more confidently. The seats are also from a time when car manufactures gave a damn about comfort. 1st gen Tundras are just nicer trucks.

The only negatives are what you've mentioned... I got lucky with rust as this guy was never on the roads in the winter. I use woolwax on the frame now and carry on the tradition of keeping it parked when the roads are salty so the truck looks great underneath. But being 16 years old and having been parked 6 months at a time, I'm changing seals left and right. The steering rack just starting weeping this past month so that's next on the list. Also may have a bad CV joint up front and everyone is recommending I go with an OEM one if I want it to last more than a year. They're $430 a piece. seriously?!?

Honestly, though, I'll fix this truck till the frame finally does break in half. I like it that much. I say go for it!

 

for the axle you can run remans. i would avoid new aftermarket. but something like a napa reman should be fine.


but yea, OEM is ideal. IF your stock one isnt destroyed and its just a boot, toyota sells the boot kits for a decent price to reboot and regrease the originals

 

Not the boot, sadly. I've got a weird rumbling noise and vibration that comes and goes and after ruling other things out, its looking like the CV axle is the culprit. Its actually why i joined the forum as I wanted to get some opinions before I dropped $500 on one.

I was looking at NAPA but again... up popped horror stories about fitment issues and longevity issues. I know they're lifetime warranties, but I'd rather not be swapping axles every year.

 

That sounds like a bad needle bearing. If it goes away in 4x4 that would likely confirm it. You can replace with ECGS bushing.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bad-needle-bearing.580979/

 

That actually sounds like a diff needle bearing, ECGS makes a bushing to fix that

 

Yep, 3rd gen Taco to 06’ Double Cab, now with 270k on the clock.

The Low end torque of the 4.7 is awesome. The Taco was much quieter and smoother though.

 

Since getting my 3rd gen Tacoma about this time last year, I've found myself dreaming about getting my 1st gen Tundra back. I keep pinging my buddy (who I sold it to) to make sure he still has it and isn't going to sell it to some schmo. I miss that 8' bed. I packed every cubic inch of my 3rd gen short bed Tacoma for a recent road trip and I've got a shell on order but even then it's just not the right vehicle for hauling stuff. And it's not ideal for hauling people either, but we have a nice solution for that with the minivan.

I mostly need to somehow prepare my wife for the possibility of owning both. Trying to figure out how I'm going to sell that one...

 

Why can’t they just put a small v8 (i.e. 4.6L) in the Tacoma? They did it for 4-runner which is really comparable in size.

It would satisfy a lot of people’s needs.

 

Because it would kill a lot of tundra sales.

 

I bet going from an 8’ bed to a 5’ bed would be quite the adjustment. We’re the beds in the Tundras a proper 4’ wide as well?

 

I still think a 4.6 swap into a 6sp 3rd gen Taco sounds fun...

 

Yeah, a full sheet of plywood would lay flat. Also the bed rails on 1st gens are on the shallow side compared to modern F150's do loading and unloading is pretty easy. Granted if I were doing legit hauling I might like a deep bed, but for larger, lighter items you can walk over and place them within the bed easily. Doing the same in a 3rd gen Tundra takes a bit more of stretch for a medium sized dude like me.

The downside to RCLB 1st gen is such limited people hauling with just the one bench seat. I think if I had that as my only vehicle my wife would take it as a giant F-U to the family and I'd be paying for it dearly.

A v8 swap to 3rd gen Tacoma would be cool. I also wish Toyota offered an Access cab on their LB frame with a 7+' bed, that seems like it'd be an interesting truck, much like the old T100...

 

That is kind of one thing I don’t like about some of the new trucks is the deep bed. They seem to take it just a little too far. I guess it’s nice if you have a tonneau cover, because you fit so much under it, or if you have a topper it wouldn’t matter so much. But if you have neither, it seems like you need to be 7’ tall to reach into the bed.

Are the Tundras that much more roomy inside? I kind of like the small feeling (came from driving sorts cars, my truck is actually the first thing I’ve ever owned myself with 4 doors). I know I’m a minority, but I wish Tacoma’s were a little smaller.