Best build years for 2.5 and 2nd Gen Tundras?

For purely aesthetic reasons, I like the earlier Pros look a LOT more...better grille without the weird sensor cover, no fake hood scoop...

 

I've only owned a '20, so....2020!

Honestly though, I've only had one issue with it (a VERY occasional HVAC issue - it's being fixed). Everything else is good. I will say I'll be buying the transmission cooler in a few months, though.

 

I don't really get the concern people have with TSS. I would never again buy a vehicle without radar cruise. It's a total game changer on long trips.

 

Agreed on that one. Honestly, the nannies aren't that bad at all; the only one that's even made any 'difference' is the crash sensing stuff, and one can adjust the sensitivity of that; and the radar cruise is the bomb.

 

I've had a '01, '04, '07, '10 and a '16. The throttle on the '07 was much "touchier" than successive years. It made it harder to drive w/o snapping necks. In retrospect, I preferred it. Initially, the '16 cut the throttle on me several times when I pulled out to pass and stomped on the gas leaving me in a precarious situation. The '07 and '10 had some storage cubbies and grab Handle (I'm fine w/o the grab handle I think it blocks some visibility) and the rear seats slid and reclined. The '16 has worthless storage cubbies and the rear seat folds up. I absolutely love the 38 gal tank in the '16, negates carrying extra fuel off road for me. The large tank can be added to any truck '07 and up.
So, comes down to YOUR priorities. Almost anything can be changed to suit your needs except the rear seats and maybe TSS. Off road you're likely gonna want nannies like trac control off anyhow. The lack of a trans cooler on the latest models in stoopid IMO but that too can be rectified.

 

I will say my 2018 has continued to do good by me ever since I bought it with 25k miles. Tough subject to say but I like my key to start (for remote start), trans cooler, and led headlights. Little more nannies included. My year and as well as some 2019 has been the last years to carry the key to start and trans coolers.

But I think, as long as you own any Tundra and are a cool person, you can knock back a beer with all of us anytime haha!

 

I prefer the 2nd generation. Less electronics to mess up down the road and looks and just my opinion but I think modding the 2nd generation is more enjoyable.

 

I think fold up rear seats are more useful for me. Also, don't want the kids to be too comfortable in the back with sliding and reclining seats. I already feel like a cab driver when my wife sits in the back with our infant daughter.

 

My wife's 4runner has it. She likes it. We had a loaner Highlander while we were waiting delivery and there was one patch of road, a curve with an incline and it would read that slow way down. Not sure if her 4runner will do the same on that spot.

 

Lots of good information thanks. Which models are less stiff and sporty in the suspension?

 

Love this.

SPP

 

The bigger gas tank years. SR5. DIY suspension. Turn off nannies....

 

Hmm, a little difficult to say 'cause I tend to mod everything as soon as I get it but my impressions are:
Cloth seats are softer than the leather, at least initially, but they trap a TON of dust between the cloth and foam. I guess I'm a dirt bag so I need the leather.
The black OEM shocks seem softer, more plush, than the yellow TRD off road shocks. (As measured by my buttometer, opinions may vary) The 14+ Pro should ride the best but I don't have personal experience.
I like ADS, King and Fox (min 2.5) for aftermarket shocks.
Increasing tire size tends to have negative effect on ride quality and mpg. So, I'm running 37s
More sidewall generally = softer and better off road. 17" wheels/tires and are usually cheaper. Last time I checked there were more options for 17" tires than for 18" or 20"
Sway bars cause a LOT of harshness but remove a lot of body roll. I prefer no sway bars. Some might say it's dangerous, many don't. For those who feel it's dangerous, please keep 'em

 

Yes, I am a fan of smaller rims for more road isolation. Do all the models come stock with sway bars?

 

As far as I know, only the Sport does. I'll be adding the rear sway bar to my truck soon.

 

Love my 2013, got it with 34,000 on it, had all options already, I just did all mods myself with sons help.

 

I really like my 2017. I have driven a GEN 2 and really liked that as well. My son has a newer Tacoma with all the TSS stuff and I did not like any of that so I am happy I went pre TSS. Need 18+ headlights bad though and the bed bounce on concrete roads is terrible...

 

As far as I know they all have a front sway bar. With stock shocks and for street driving you might wanna leave it in. But, for off road and with stiffer coil springs on the front shocks, I prefer to remove it. It's very easy to reinstall should you change your mind.

 

I'd love to see a good test/study regarding the difference in accident avoidance ability. Stock with swaybars vs good shocks without. If you've got good shocks, particularly shocks with high digressive damping, I don't think you'd lose much... maybe nothing. Always be well acquainted with the handling characteristics of your vehicle... and slamming on the brakes is usually the first thing to do.

 

2018.

I love adaptive cruise. You can turn the nannies off.

Last year of having a transmission cooler from factory.

Big gas tank available. LED headlights available as factory upgrade.

I prefer a key to the push button start.

 

My 14 has been perfect only 85k mi not even a single recall

 

2018. Last year of the trans cooler and Also has TSS which is really nice on a truck this big. It does not have the damned push button start which I’m not a fan of.

 

Rookie question alert. Is there any issue with putting 17" wheels on something like a limited edition?

 

Nope, no problem. The only hindrance to 17s, that I know of, would be the aftermarket "big break kit"

 

I have a 2014 that I like. It pulls my 28 foot travel trailer with no problems. Tow/haul mode is nice on roads with hills.

 

Most 17s won't clear the brakes unless they are offset ~0 vs the stock +60. I think Icon 6 Speeds are +25 and clear, and there's the old Rock Warriors at +50. Don't know if there are others.

This thread would be the place to look: https://www.tundras.com/threads/anyone-running-17-rims-on-your-3rd-gen.23617/page-21

 

I have a 2018 Platinum with all that “TSS crap” and never had a recall except the blinkers where the wire was in the wrong socket for the turn signal. I had the TSS a come on twice since I bought it new at the end of 2017. I have no regrets

 

2021 IMHO, all the kinks have been worked out. It has the V8 working flawlessly.

 

What does that have to do with 17s? Those are a bit wide for stock 8" rims BTW.