Would you trust the new iMax hybrid engine on a remote island without services?

I’d do the ‘17. 54k miles is NOTHING on that truck. I’d go ahead and do the 60k maintenance per the manual before sending it to the island.

I was reading about the Aleutian Islands. Unalaska Island looks beautiful.

 

Fully mechanical injection system 1 wire to the glow plugs and 1 wire to the injection pump. Not a Tundra but damn reliable

 

Dealer on the 2017 hemming and hawing about an out of state buyer. Found a 2021 TRD Pro Tundra with 4,500 miles on it 350 miles away. But the seller wont budge on 64k...

 

Tacoma

 

Buy it and be done.

 

I wouldn’t ship a hybrid anything to a remote island with no mechanics and expect it to last 20yrs. Any engineer will tell you that more complexity means more Failure points. In addition you’re talking about a newly designed
Vehicle.

For your use case I would say less failure points the better. Skip the turbos, skip the hybrid.

 

This isn’t as big a deal as you think it
Is. One, it’s only a few hundred bucks to
Ship and it’s quick, to get it to Oahu or Maui. Two, you can get mechanics and parts on molokai. That said cars there take a lot of abuse going on due to absolute lack of infrastructure and clapped out roads.

 

Write the check.

 

Simpler is better in a remote environment. Maybe go with a tacoma or 4runner. I like my iforce max but its too soon to know if its reliable or not. If I have problems with mine, I can send it to the shop to get fixed while I drive my work vehicle.

 

That's good to know. Last I heard the one mechanic capable of doing warranty work had retired and no one stepped up to the plate. The Honda dealer on Oahu quoted $600 each way. It never occurred to me they were adding their cut to the price. We spent a month there in 2014 and the roads were decent at least if you stayed on the pavement.

 

Until right to repair gets codified into law, if it ever does. SIMPLER is better when lack of services is a concern. I'm an OK wrench, can rebuild a dirt bike 4-stroke engine, and do most things to a car but there's so many damn sensors on these new trucks. I sound old and curmudgeonly but I was trying to back the 2023 up with the door open and it wouldn't let me and deployed the parking brake until I closed the door. Like what the fuck?

I don't think the Hybrid would be that big of a deal but it's the lack of reparability inherent in the need for a computer to diagnose and fix issues in all the latest modern cars is what would give me pause. The 2.5 gen tundra is at it's heart a 2007ish design well before the integration of technology REALLY took off in cars and would be what I go with.

And honestly I'd go with a 2.5 gen Tacoma being more reliable then even the 2.5 gen Tundra.

 

Ah, there’s a difference in mentality here. I’m unconcerned with warranty work. Generally I like to do repairs myself. If I’m out of commission for whatever reason I’m fine with having a third party do the work.

Certainly shipping the car back and forth is more trouble than it’s worth from Molokai. The best way to ship cars in Hawaii is to use one of the big auction houses. They have better rates and less BS with young brothers inter island and Matson to and from the mainland. I wouldn’t pay rack rates for shipping if I didn’t have to.

 

Have you checked to see what everyone else is driving? Maybe the vehicles that have been there the longest time wise would be the most reliable?

 

I can't say I appreciate the over-production aspect the channel has taken in the last five-or-so years, but I don't think you can argue against the way they use the vehicles. I don't think the aftermarket choices they make are the greatest, but I don't pay their bills, and I understand you gotta do what you gotta do.

Expedition Overland is prepping a Sequoia, which is more or less the same drivetrain as the TRD Pro hybrid, for "overlanding" stuff. If they take it on one of their big trips, that will be a good test of the system's ability away from dealer support.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pD0kW9v-K4

 

I find it quite amusing that the whippersnappers on here think a vehicle post-2017 is complicated, if you ask me anything built this century has had far too many electric gizmos for remote usage peace of mind. If the OP is fairly handy and has a degree in electro-mechanical engineering then he should be OK buying newer.
Can I ask OP what is your other vehicle, what are your requirements from a new one and I presume you can swing a wrench but just how well?

 

While I advocated for a 2017 I agree with you. Seeing as the OP was clearly shopping for a brand new truck though I thought it wouldn’t exactly be helpful to instead recommend a 1990 Toyota pick with the 22re, as he currently was considering a 23’ TRD Pro hybrid. Just trying to be realistic for the OPs expectations for how new a vehicle he is looking for.

 

get a keyed 2018 if you want the higher trims, 2019 if you want the lower trims.

current 4runner is a good choice, the 4.0L is epitome of durability

old 22re tacoma's will outlast the frame/body

also 2012 tacoma's are another good choice

 

Given those two options......I personally would go with the 5.0 F-150.

If possible I would go with a 2.5 Tundra over either given your situation though.

 

I lived on Kodiak Island in Alaska a few times and drove a Landcruiser but he salt environment on the islands there rusted that thing out. I personally would find a very simple vehicle like a Dodge with the mechanical Cummins engine 91-98. They run forever and no electronics to worry about but if you are looking for something newer and time proven, I'd go with a 2.5 generation Tundra as well. They are bulletproof and great build quality. You may get a 3rd gen Tundra like mine and not have any issues but the new truck has a lot of electronics and the hybrid adds even more. With no support, I'd steer clear of either new model truck.

 

What is a 2.5 gen Tacoma?

 

.5 gen are usually the refresh during the life cycle of a generation.

2014 4runner the .5 was refresh on the 5th gen (the current 5th gen started production in aug-2009 as a 2010 model year

usually a refresh is during the middle of a life cycle for a generation and typical life cycle is 7yrs for a generation (which toyota has not adhered to for the tacoma, 4runner, tundra lately).

right now the 4runner is the current old dog on the longest gen cycle. passing the tundra since they came out with the 3rd gen (2nd gen was at 14yrs from 2007-2021 with a mid cycle refresh in 2014 ).

the tacoma 2nd gen was from 2005-2015 model years and the minor facelift in 2009 and a refresh in 2012.

funny part was the 3rd gen got a refresh in 2020 and 4th gen is expected in 2024 model year (fall of 2023 maybe or fall of 2024 as a 2025 model year)

the 4runner is expected to switch to the 6th gen in fall of 2024 release as a MY 2025 (and the current 5th with production years 2009 to current)

 

Yeah I get all that. Just didn’t know there was a mid gen refresh on the Taco back in ‘09. Not super familiar with the older Tacos.

With that said, I would still recommend a recent Tundra over a 2009-2012 Tacoma as far as basic maintenance and not needing attention on bigger items are concerned.

 

Agreed here don't go with a Tacoma in this, you may find the build quality doesn't keep up with the Tundras. My 2017 Taco was rife with problems. Speaking with other 2-2.5 gen Taco owners sounded like it was par for the course, just accept it. Uh no thanks.

Any Tundra pre-2022 sounds good, to my limited understanding of 2.5 gen Tundras the 2020-2021 gens have more electronic doohickeys than 2019-back.
Surprised nobody has mentioned the 1st gen Tundra yet, but of course that would require a bit more maintenance work beforehand just due to age (ball joint, drive belt, water pump, etc). But you'd still be able to have a double cab, a 2UZ, and talk about lack of complicated electronics...

 

I would look for an 79 K5 Blazer with an LS swap and new everything!! and never worry about anything for a very long time. HA HA!!

unless you need creature comforts I would seriously look into something older with a complete resto. I did not know there were even roads out that far??

 

One man’s pothole ridden dirt road is another man’s pristine highway.

 

80K on my 2017. No dealer visits since the 'free' oil changes and a new shifter knob that the seat heater guys broke. Looks, runs, drives like new.

 

Thinking back I realised that my post may have come across as somewhat rude, which wasn't my intention.

I also realised that we are all trying to find the OP an ideal vehicle when all he wanted to know was if we'd recommend the Imax (that used to mean a fancy movie theater back in my day. ).
So, it would appear to be a resounding no.

I have never fancied a brand spanking new vehicle, I'd rather some other person did the first 12-18 months running to and from the dealer ironing out small niggles and as for a fresh off the line new model, I'd rather a few years passed to give some time to resolve teething issues and for that model to prove itself. I certainly wouldn't want to try proving a new model in the far flung reaches of the country, which might go some way towards understanding why a forum full of Tundra lovers is loathe to put their name behind recommending the new model for an extreme environment.

I also think that the heyday of simple rugged working vehicles is past, manufacturers have worked out that there is better money to be had from hyped-up, mall crawling, corporate parking lot bling that breaks down if it goes off road than from building bombproof, easily maintained trucks.

I were to ever go off the grid and not have a series Landrover then I'd better end up with a Bedford 3 tonner or I else I won't be a happy bunny.

 

I’d say you’re very much on the same wavelength as most who responded to this thread trying to give helpful responses. No rudeness perceived! It’s tough to find the balance point of a modern vehicle with some amenities while not sacrificing dependability. 2nd gen tundra seems to be a good compromise.

 

All BS aside I would not take a new vehicle out there where there is salt water and a good sea breeze!! Best of luck to ya


How much is a gallon of gas out there???