On The Fence With New Tundra

Hey everyone, I used to own a 2007 Tundra DC SR5 6.5 4x2, Put a grip of miles over the span of 10 Years. Excellent vehicle, had to sell, and now I'm here.

I know this has been discussed a ton of times, but I still wonder.
I will be in the market in the near future, and figured best bet was to let Toyota work out their issues the first couple of years. But since these features are almost standard across the board with GM/Ford/Ram. What are the odds they'll at least become options in the near future?

-Auto 4WD option (this is a major miss for toyota)

-Auto start that does NOT shut off (Not sure how big of a deal this is to everyone, but it would drive me crazy)

-Standard front tow hooks

-Auto Up/Down Tailgate (great feature believe it or not)

I'm sure some will say "Its a pickup truck, it doesn't need that". But its 2024, if you step into the modern era of things these are typically standard across the board.
Hoping some changes will happen for 2025

 

Welcome to the forum from OKC! Sorry, old fashioned here, so can't play along.

 

-Auto 4WD option (this is a major miss for toyota) - not going to happen

-Auto start that does NOT shut off (Not sure how big of a deal this is to everyone, but it would drive me crazy) - not going to happen

-Standard front tow hooks - not going to happen, if they did change it in a mid cycle "facelift" you'd have the huge ass air damn that the Tacoma,4runner have.

-Auto Up/Down Tailgate (great feature believe it or not) - not going to happen unless a mid cycle refresh and then only on the top trims.

 

Auto 4WD would be sweet but I don’t see Toyota adding it any time soon.

Auto start/stop can be turned off on the non hybrid. On the hybrid you can put it in tow/haul mode and the motor won’t shut off. Honestly I was like you and thought I would hate it, but with the hybrid system, I don’t even notice it turning off unless I look at the gauge cluster. I hated it on my wife’s Volkswagen when she had it but the tundra it really doesn’t bother me.

front tow hooks can be added aftermarket, so this is a nonissue.

Auto up/down tailgate I could see them adding this as it was out onto the Tacoma. Will it be soon, who knows. The button on the taillight is super helpful and my toddler loves to open it with that button. But the tailgate is really light so auto up, I don’t really see the point.

who knows what Toyota will add in the future. But I’m happy with my 3rd gen and it does what I need it to do and does it well

 

Best chance is probably in 2036 on the 4th gen.

 

Go drive one you'll be amazed by the power, tech, size, and efficiency

 

Everybody seems so sure this will never happen. I'm not so sure. One of the drivetrain options on the new 2025 4Runner is "full-time 4WD". I could see it possibly coming to the Tundra.

Queue the discussions of the intricacies of AWD vs. Full-Time 4WD vs. Auto-4WD........

 

The limited 4Runners had full time 4WD in the 5th Gen as well. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities as Toyota has already been doing it. But restricts it to certain trims.

 

Well, when it comes to what will Toyota surprise us next with, is a crapshoot. Seems they are all over the place with features and options across the whole line up. A while back I was looking into the GX 460 and the same crap was happening to the incoming GX. They don't know weather their coming or going.

 

Throw in geopolitical and supply chain issues of the future and all things can go sideways quick.

 

Yes sir. Some 4th Gen 4Runners also had full time 4WD/AWD. I had a 2005 Sport with the 4.7L V8 that was AWD. Best vehicle I've ever owned.

 

Don't count on it........go find a truck that has all that and buy it. Problem solved

 

Don't count on a forum to provide product direction.
Go buy the truck that has the features you want.
Maybe in another 20 years they'll have what you want.

 

All I can say is I absolutely love my 22 Platinum. I guess it was a late build and a good day for the workers because I got a great one. I do a ton of driving and I have 73K on the clock and I’ve had zero mechanical issues. Don’t get me wrong I’ve had some of the typical quality issues like a wind noise that was fixed, a second cracked seat trim that was replaced today for free way out of warranty during my oil change, and the TSB’s and recalls that I’m glad Toyota figured out before it effected me. It has been a blast to drive, I love the features, love the unique looks, and it’s been a great truck for me. If Toyota put everything that could be missing from other trucks, it would be even more expensive. I live in New England and snow is second nature so AWD is not necessary for me. If it’s more than I can control, I’ll slap it in 4wd. I would only want AWD if my wife or kids were the driver. I love the tailgate/light button and use it more than I thought. Way more than the actual handle and my kids use it too. Auto up tailgate is really no big deal to me. In fact I like knowing the tailgate is actually closed for piece of mind. I would like a drop down button for the tailgate in the cab. I also like the auto wind spoiler and if my truck had to have one, I’m glad it folds up when not in use. I’ll take the tow hook sacrifice if that’s the real reason why. Not my first Tundra so I’m used to the stupid auto off with remote start, but I’m sure Toyota will be addressing that soon. Tundra sales are so much better than they’ve ever been and it’s not prior Tundra owners buying them. Its the people that never even considered a Tundra that drove the big 3. You can tell by half of the questions on this forum…Ha! I think for the money it’s the best new truck on the market. I swear every other day I get some sort of compliment on my truck. I’ve had people pull up at lights, stop me at drive thru’s, or just saying things when I pull up. I only say that because I was never really used to that with my other trucks other than from other Tundra owners. You should really try to drive them all and see what makes you the happiest. It’s a lot of money these days. Even the mid sized trucks cost as much as my prior 2020 Platinum.

 

What was your solution for the wind noise?

 

whats your build date? My 22 Platinum has been great too, but I'm only at 26k miles with an 11/21 build date

 

I had two noises, one was an annoying noise coming from the passenger door at the top of the window. It was constant and was more like a rubbing noise rather than wind. So bad that a field rep sat in the seat to figure it out as I was driving. They adjusted the door striker so the door sat in a little tighter and the noise was gone. The other was a low speed whistle that I narrowed down by tapeing the pivot points of the mirror where it folds in and out. That solved that problem

 

June 22’

 

Thanks. Mine is plain old wind noise that seems to be getting worse over time.

 

Toyota will rectify none of those issues until the mid 2030’s if there is even 4th Gen at all.

 

Yup, Toyota is gonna do the same as the previous gen. Keep it the same for 15 years. Give it a few years to see all the "this truck is so dated" comments.

 

Well said. I would buy another tomorrow.

 

I'm sorry, i meant to say
Auto start that does not shut off when opening the door *

not the one that shuts off at a stop light

 

Full time 4 Wheel Drive via a Torsen center differential with a locking function and low range is the answer. Toyota already offers it on a variety of SUV’s and even the new Tacoma Limited.

All other options are distinctly inferior and it is to bad Toyota has their head up their ass about offering it more broadly. The lack of available full time 4 wheel drive is a big reason I am probably not buying a 3rd Gen Tundra.

 

The 4th Gen 4Runner is the best 4Runner Toyota ever offered. The 5th Gen and now 6th Gen are econo-box dog shit in comparison.

 

4Runner is also not a Pickup and Toyota doesn't believe there is market demand for AWD in a pickup and we should be glad we have a simpler more efficient 2wd/4wd system. Tundra sales volume is a fraction of Ford GM and Ram so simplified options packages and not offering low demand options streamlines lower volume build changes that increase production cost. The big 3 can accommodate more customized builds due to sheer production scale helping keep cost per unit down. 4Runner is also built in Japan so...as a proud American I kinda hate to say it but...superior quality control

 

Wife had 2, 20+ years never turned a wrench other than regular maintenance. Only reason we moved away was she was sick of driving them. In saying that it was a Venza and then a Lexus....so stayed JDM

 

Show me a better half ton on the market today.

 

A guy in the Mud forum put a Sequoia transfer case and wiring in his 2nd gen Tundra to get FT-4WD.

The LX600 and new GX platform may have the same case if someone wants to get adventurous.