I'm considering getting back into a 1st gen.

Just over 2 years ago I wrecked and totaled my '02 Tundra AC TRD 4x4. It was a sad day but no one was seriously hurt so all was ok. I had owned it for over 10 years and it was a great truck. Got it with 58,000 miles and wrecked it with 171,00. I replaced it with a beautiful '16 Tundra DC TRD 4x4. I like it but I just keep wishing for my old truck. I'm getting pretty serious now about selling my '16 and buying another 1st gen. I like the look of the '00 through '02 better than the later years but I am also pretty interested in that VVTi and 5 speed auto. Is it that much better? And the big question is can I swap the front end components(bumper, grill etc.) from an '05, '06 to the '00 to '02 front look? Oh and I like the fender flares as well. Is it hard to add those if I find a truck without them? Just trying to get some questions answered so I know what exact truck to look for.

 

Thanks @5NOW808. Does the 06 have the advertised much better power for towing and hauling?

 

My uncles 04 isn’t a slouch. But the extra gear and more power is noticeable in my 05.


I would recommend the 05-06 purely for the added power, and more reliable transmission. The 00-02 front end can be swapped over as well

 

That's a huge help knowing I can swap the older front end parts. Not sure if it's nostalgia cause that's what I had for so long but I like that early bumper and grill much better.

 

The bumper will need different fender liners, bumper brackets, and well the bumper. Reg cab work spec trucks had the old bumper till 06. The grille and headlight fillers are needed up top for the full 00-02 look. I don’t think there was anything else crazy needed

 

Thanks everyone. What about fender flares? Are those difficult to add?

 

Nice looking truck @empty_lord I really like that bumper in black.

 

Amazon special. It’s holding up good after 3 years. My original was mangled… and chrome

love this truck. Waiting to go to the body shop to fix the uh.. most recent incident

 

The aftermarket ones are not. Factory ones require square holes in the sheet metal of the fenders and bed sides.

 

Just make sure you get a DC and not fool around looking for an AC or reg cab...

 

but those are just fancy ridgelines!

 

more like extremely RARE ridgelines...

 

A ridgeline?? C’mon man! 05 has the best advertised hp, 06 was de rated for some reason. I love my 05 with 4.10s and the 5 spd automatic.

 

'00-'02 have the tricolore taillights, and a little nubbin of trim on the bed.

real trucks dont need airpumps or dancing cams. Or 2 first gears.

 

05-06 are the same power the SAE rating standards changed.

 

For answers to some questions, see this thread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

I'm biased. I love my '06. I do prefer the earlier front-ends but I also like the modern vibe of my foglight setup. It's a tough call, but I'd never ditch my '06.

Yup ^^

And to that point, Greenlee makes a square knockout punch that can do the job cleanly, but you'll need to etch-prime and paint the exposed metal edges after. Getting the exact position right would be a bitch, I hear it's already a pain in the ass to get the flares aligned and mounted with the stock units. I'd run with aftermarket. Someone else can probably link the ones other members are using.

 

Thanks for that link. Read the whole thread last night. Lots of good info.

 

I'd really like to get the AC but my wife's says we should consider the DC for when I need to bring the kids. Any special considerations to be aware of with a DC. Are they wider as well as longer? I know there are more differences than just length.

 

DC is longer, around 8" longer I think? I'd need to look. Main reason I don't have one is because it wouldn't fit in my garage. In hindsight, I love the way my AC looks way more, the DC bed looks so damn tiny, I think it's because the bedsides are so tall.

The DC is basically a Sequoia with a bed in most respects, but rear drum brakes. Totally different beast than AC and RC. For family purposes, DC makes more sense. I love to make my kids suffer, so the taller one just sits behind my wife on the passenger side to get more legroom.

 

What’s a back seat?

 

"I love to make my kids suffer, so the taller one just sits behind my wife on the passenger side to get more legroom."

LOL

Ya. Kids have it so easy today. They need something in their lives to build character. My brother and I always tell our kids about the experience of riding in the back seat of my dad's '79 Ford F250 when they complain about backseat comfort.

 

I own an 02 AC but I test drove an 05 double cab in 2020 and I agree the difference in acceleration and power is noticable. Hard to explain but it also felt like it accelerated smoother as well. Maybe that's the VVTI?

They do have issue with the air pumps failing but you can bypass that. If your cam seals leak it's a bitch to fix on 05-06 models.

I have no issue with my 4 speed automatic and prefer having a transmission dipstick.

Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with either option. If you have to haul kids I would get a double cab. The roll down rear window would be sweet.

You could always split the difference and get an 04 double cab without VVTI.

 

I’ve seen a family of 8 fit into a 80s F150 supercab pickup. Mostly all small kids but that couldn’t have been too comfortable and that was passing through Alabama back in 1994.

 

Last truck was a 2003 AC 2WD
Now I'm in a 2006 DC 2WD. . .
I'll give my negatives first.
Turning radius is helmet. The secondary air pump thing is lame, but fixable with a Hewitt bypass. Brakes are 'meh'. Gas mileage is a bit worse than my AC. Towing capacity / hauling is IMO on the lower end of 1/2 tons, especially newer ones. Seats aren't the most comfortable (minimal foam) but fine for Me.

Now the positives. Rides really nice, back seats are legit, the bed with a shell is a lot bigger than you'd think, (deeper top to bottom than an AC), rear slider is money, I really like the 5 speed transmission.

Thing I miss most about the AC . . . turning radius.
If I had it to do over, I'd still pick the DC (and I don't have kids).

 

Turning radius was a big reason I got rid of my last long-wheelbase extra cab.

That same problem caused me a lot of issues with my '03 Sierra when I had to relocate to Atlanta for work. So many parking decks, such a bullshit radius, I ended up damaging that truck twice before I got frustrated and got rid of it, ultimately in favor of a truck 40 years older.

As someone who's had a hell of a lot of trucks and other vehicles for that matter, the turning radius on the AC is remarkably good.

 

Ya turning radius/getting in and out of parking spots is one of the things I really hate about my '16. It's huge and it feels like it. Nice for space but terrible in the garage and terrible to park. All the power is nice but in 2 years of ownership I've tapped into twice while towing. The 4.7 would have done the job both times. Just would have taken me a few more minutes to climb the hill.

 

Would agree about the turning radius. First gen sounds like a happy medium with a smaller foot print but a beefy powertrain.

I was thinking about picking up a project 1st gen and going long travel with it.

 

I love my 2014 DC, but I miss my 2005 DC.
With a bench front seat, it easily fits 6 adults when needed.

If the 2005 wouldn't have been in an accident, I would probably still have it..

 

DO IT!!!

(You have all of our permission and encouragement, but we're a bunch of crazy SOBs over here in the 1st Gen forum )

Try in the bed of the truck. Cross-country. I've already told my kids about the three cross-country CA <=> FL adventures we took back in the 80s in the bed of my dad's F150. Don't get me wrong, he had a cap on it, and we had plenty of blankets and sleeping bags for times when it was cold. And at least once along the way we'd get a hotel room so we could all get showers. But it was basically just hours of listening to cassette tapes and reading books, comics, counting mile markers, all in the bed of a single-cab pickup... Hammering on the camper window and hoping they heard us whenever it was time to take a piss was ... exhilarating.