Traded in 17 Platinum5.7 for 23 F150 Tremor 3.5

Just a follow up for OP since I went the opposite from a newer Ford back to an older (2018) Tundra for simplicity sake. Plus I have a company provided 2020 Silverado, 4 cylinder 2.7L turbo I driver for business.

Spending more time driving the Tundra this weekend and I can see what he might be feeling on the driving dynamics. There is nothing wrong with the Tundra. It is just old school with a hydraulic steering pump versus steer by wire (inputs and electric) with the Fords I have had and the Silverado company Truck. Drive by wire is "tighter" steering wise. There is a little "play" in the Tundra in comparison.

Also going back to a naturally aspirated v-8 vs the smaller displacement turbo motors, I have to remind myself the torque comes in at higher RPMs and the Tundra will down shift more.

Both the Fords and Chevy Turbo motor/transmissions have the torque come in lower in the RPM range. I was doing between 75 and 80 (with cruise control) on the highway with the Tundra and it downshifted a gear when I went up a hill. The turbo setups don't in the same place. I just had to remind myself of the torque curve with the NA V-8.

I plan on keeping the Tundra quite awhile and don't mind the "old school" feel and performance. I chose to do this for long term reliability due to less complicated systems.

I just thought I'd share my experience since I drive both.

 

Extremely well put. The trucks could not drive differently and I am realizing my taste lies in how the Ford behaves all the way around. Issues arising with the Ford are to be seen but overall I am happier and that is the point I am trying to make. Like i mentioned, no one walks around saying how much they hate a truck but then praise its reliability to not break down. At the same time, I get some people have REALLY bad experiences that the trucks give them nothing but issues and I can see how that is a brand killer for them.

 

Other than issues with alignment / wheel balancing - what other repair/mechanical issues did you have with the Tundra?

 

My company uses Ford for the majority of their fleet with very few issues. The complications on the Ford I traded in have nothing to do with the drivetrain. They are quite good as long as you stick with the maintenance. Even then Ford's factory warranty extension is not too expensive since there are some dealers that compete online.

I wanted a 10 year vehicle. All the 360 cameras, lane centering by moving the steering wheel, parallel park itself and systems that allow people to drive distracted, I feel won't last 10 or more years without failing. Maybe they will but I have had this nagging feeling that I'd better grab a 4runner before the change to more complicated but used 4runners are running higher than the Tundras. When I came across this one with 32,000 miles and impeccable maintenance history plus at the Ford Dealer I bought mine, it was just perfect to get the last "simple" Generation that I can hang onto for a long time without the actuator, sensors and wires that moves your steering wheel for lane centering or parallel parking go bad. The thing is I never used them. I tried the lane centering but found it irritating as it moves the steering wheel against my input. Basically if you pay attention driving the nannies will be irritating. They really are there for those that don't.

I never lift a truck because I won't be rock crawling them, so no worries on the tallest truck, biggest tires, game potentially affecting the steering, alignment and driveline. I am willing to pay the mpg price for longevity. The only thing I would have liked is blind spot monitoring. I added a couple of insert mirrors that I glance at as I look back forward from looking over my shoulder. The Chevy doesn't have them either. Too many years of riding motorcycle and old cars have forever given me the habit of looking back over the shoulder both ways before changing lanes. That seems to be a lost on younger drivers.\

Now where do I put my cane in the truck and get off my lawn!

 

the only EB issues I think folks are having are short drives, I was amazed that the new F450 just got 18mpg empty, that was with the HO motor.

 

I agree with you the days of low tech vehicles is over. We bought work trucks completely stripped Ford Mavericks and they came with blind spot, carplay and back up cameras. Pretty crazy to think that those are AUTOMATIC features on the lowest trim truck. Everyone who complains over the price of vehicles these days I tell them all the same thing. No matter the brand or trim level you buy, auto makers are cramming tech automatically into every car and that alone is going to drive the prices up and up and up.

 

Back up camera was something that got mandated by the government when some kid got ran over.

 

I agree with you that most people could not tell the difference strictly through ride quality. My Tundra was lifted on 35" tires which I'm certain was adding to why I was complaining. That is actually the reason I got the Tremor. I like a truck that doesnt look COMPLETELY stock but a little more exotic thus why I have always lifted my trucks. I got the Tremor primarily cause i love the way they look off the lot with the 33" tires, the wheels, the lift and the accents. Only complaint is the MASSIVE Rake they come with. I will be either dropping the rear or raising the front a little bit but for the most part keeping it stock. I definitely am trying to avoid doing anything that will affect how it rides right now. Having been in Toyota trucks my whole life I am starting to notice more and more the little differences between the brands but I pay attention to everything! It is a curse! I can get a muffler and be a wacko driving home thinking the ride changed somehow haha. The Ford as I said is smooth and quiet in every way and when I traded my Tundra in it definitely was close to what this Tremor is in those categories.

 

That is tech that is reliable and easily fixed if it goes bad and also very useful. That is one I don't mind.

How long will the actuator (s) that moves the steering wheel for lane centering last, especially if you fight against it while driving? The system that parallel parks for you? The self driving back up system to line up a trailer?

I sincerely hope they last 20 years but after seeing the failures of these systems on BMWs, Mercedes and Land Rovers, I doubt they will. I would bet Toyota and Honda would be the 2 that could engineer them to last.

On a used 2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid I had, the automatic rear window shade motor went bad. To replace it was over $2,500! The part was high but the labor to replace it was higher due to how hard to get to it was. Luckily I had an extended warranty on that one. Paid for itself on that one repair, otherwise I would have never fixed it.

 

I will admit these are areas that the failures could come in the mass loads. Pray that doesnt happen but it might be inevitable.