new guy - looking

Similar position as the OP. Pure potential buyer. Currently own a Tacoma (3rd one). The taco fits my needs as a truck, save for the interior space. Growing kids and dog count increases are making travels tight when we don’t drive the wife’s 4runner.

If I sell my 3rd gen Tacoma I kind fell like
I’ll be taking a step back tech wise on a 2-2.5 gen tundra in the cabin, which I’m ok with. I’m still somewhat leary of the 3rd gen tundra drivetrain durability, but a 3rd isn’t completely off the table.

Suffice to say I’m probably looking at a 2020/2021 if I go 2.5 gen tundra simply because I want as much tech updates as I can get and I won’t be towing enough to be concerned by the lack of trans cooler. Still odd to learn Toyota drop that from a half ton truck.

 

Mine cost me $750 in parts in late 2020. Crazy.

Not sure what all you would be missing. Limited and up have BSM and RCTA. Platinum and 1794 have ventilated leather. Even my lowly SR5 has CarPlay, radar cruise, lane departure alert, LED headlights with auto-dimming high beams, and dual climate control.

 

Fair point. I’ll acknowledge I’m not nearly as versed in all things tundra as I am with the taco. Tech was probably the wrong term. I was trying to say that to me the overall interior of the 3rd gen tacos has a more updated feel/look than the 2-2.5 tundras. That’s what I was referring to as a step back, but that view point is subjective as is purely my opinion.

Im glad to learn some of what you’ve stated. I’d be mostly looking at SR5 models, but I’d really like retain push start, BSM and RCTA if possible. Getting LED headlights would be preferable if I do go to a Tundra. I don’t really care for the 1794 or Limited trims. I hate leather

 

Man, I’m the same way. Our LX has leather, and I don’t really care. I just know that when I get in the LX in the winter, that dang seat heater better be on.

The cloth in my SR5 Tundra is never too hot nor too cold.

To clarify a couple of things: it’s the TRD Off Road package that gives my SR5 the LED headlights and dual climate (and I think the push button start with smart door handles).

The Toyota safety sense package is standard across all trims and gives you the radar cruise, lane departure alert, and general safety nannies.

I don’t think you can find BSM and RCTA in a truck with cloth seats, but I could be mistaken.

 

You are mistaken. It's in the SR5 Upgrade package (or it was on my 2019).

 

I have the SR5 upgrade package (big tank, bucket seats, etc) but chrome bumper caps and no BSM or RCTA.

 

Not sure which package it was then, but I had it in my cloth seat SR5.

 

Just adding to this thread. My 2018 has a Trans cooler. With the TRD offroad pkg mine came with a 38 gallon tank and the upgrade LED headlight/fogs. My A/C could be better, but I'll echo the complaints from largely all 2.5 gen owners, it could use some improvement. Dont think it's a specific 2018 problem.
I kinda feel like 2018 is the sweet spot personally. It's got the the safety sense, but no worries as I'm not gonna change my grille to anything pre '18.
The later model 2.5s had some audio upgrades (carplay and whatnot) but if your an audiophile then switch out the headunit.
I bought mine 2 y/o, 25k miles and paid 34k. Best decision ive ever made.

 

I found a grille I liked and made the swap. ‘21 was the only year you could get a 2nd gen in army green without the goofy Pro hood scoop. I dig the older Pro grille with the older Pro hood…

 

GCS is 1299 now I believe. Saw some activity on here of folks piecing it together was a bit cheaper I got lucky and snagged a kit for $900. Install took a good chunk of a Saturday.

 

Autotrader.com

 

I actually bought a color matched bulge and surround that came with a pro style grille like yours. I considered swapping it over but didn't care for the TSS sensor options and reviews with the older style. I agree tho it looks sharp!

 

If I could find a clone of your rig it’d be an easy decision. Looks great

 

How did you mount your TSS sensor with that grille?

 

OP, CarMax may be worth checking out. Check your local inventory online. You can test drive one for a full day. They will even deliver one for free from another CarMax within a certain range from your nearest one.

I bought my 2018 just this past November from them and everything turned out great. I reserved my truck and had it delivered for free from another store about 30 or 40 mi away, I think. Had the intentions of test driving it for one day but ended up just buying it right there on the spot. FYI, You'll need to have full liability on your insurance in order to take it home for one day.

Not knowing anything about all the Tundra packages, I am totally satisfied with my purchase and luckily I ended up maybe one of the better years IMO. I've found out after being a part of this community.. Anybody correct me if I'm wrong, but as one member stated earlier 2018 is when they introduced TSS, and also the last year that they included the trans cooler. Also not sure but isn't it also the first year they introduced factory LEDs? So I ended up with a great truck, plus mine is already color matched since it is a Sport.

Anyways, there are lots of filters that you can use on CarMax to find exactly what you're looking for. Good luck

In addition I had no idea about the different gas tank sizes and ended up with the larger one. Definitely a must have!

 

Thanks! It’s just a ‘21 SR5 with some different OEM parts. I knew I wanted the Pro suspension because it’s the easiest way to fit skinny 35s with all OEM parts, but I really didn’t want to pay $10k extra for a Pro, especially because suspension aside, it’s largely an expensive appearance package, and I really didn’t want that hood scoop.

This is no cosmetic changes at all, just the Pro suspension and a transmission cooler added at around 3k miles. I drove it like this for a long time:


Then, I found an army green grille surround on eBay for fairly cheap; it was like $300 at the time. Truck stayed like this for a while:


Then, color matched bumper caps and the forged BBS wheels sort of fell into my lap when a guy with a 2020 AG Pro gave me his takeoffs for a pretty decent deal.

I epoxied it inside the bottom of the grille surround

I tried the AGT relocation bracket. That worked as well as flushing $50 down the toilet. I’ve had no problems at all with this mount location.

 

I had heard mixed reviews on that AJT bracket. If I hadn't sold that older Pro grille I had, I might give the epoxy route a try. Luckily it left me with the honeycomb option like you had and I like that option too.

 

nice / shocked it's working. I wish there was an easy way for you to share a photo of that placement. This older OE pro grille is not a bad $.

 

I have had a 2015, the entire AC system was replace when the AC compressor went out. A 2018, I traded in at 80,000 miles for my current that that is a 2021and not much difference between and the 2021. I tow with the 2021 a decent amount, mainly east coast and never notice any issues without the tranny cooler. First weekend i had it towed a square body C10 from South Carolina to VA at 70 mph, never had issue. I i tow a utility trailer all the time with there cubic yards of dirt in it and never have any issues with temps.

 

It’s just dead center of the bottom of the grille surround, pointed straight forward. I just went for it. I read on the forum that it worked for someone else. Figured I could always cut it out and sand off the gunk if it gave me any problems. Here are the best pics I could get through the grille:

 

How are you monitoring transmission temps and what are they typically?

 

What problem have you experienced with a 2018 AC?

 

Yep, I already replied to that thread. I have the dual climate control and bought my 2018 Platinum in 2017. I have to turn the AC down when the wife is in the truck with me. It has been 6 years living in what you refer to as Hell in Phoenix and still going strong

 

Thanks for the pics and glad it worked out. Slightly expensive mixed with a PITA if it didn't lol, has me hesitant. Wished the relocated just worked as designed.

 

https://youtu.be/rDTXe9eNAFg?feature=shared

 

@TacomaTRD4x402 good video! thanks

 

NP

Not mine but that guy is on the forums here. I was considering the same Pro grille after seeing the price tag for the TSS cover for the 19+ Pro grille but have seen enough people say the cheap knock off works fairly well especially after modifying it a little so I'm back on track with getting a '19+ Pro grille

 

The grille insert was $150, and the epoxy was $8. Cutting it back out and reinstalling your old grille is $0. Get your money back (or close to it) for the insert on FB marketplace. I just wish I hadn’t tried the AJT relocation bracket at all.

I tried the new Pro grille with an eBay sensor cover. It worked most of the time but I would randomly get error messages that would go away after a while. I ended up dremeling the inside of the back of the eBay sensor cover, and it seemed fine for the couple days I had it on my truck before switching to the old style grille.

 

@TacomaTRD4x402 , @Terndrerrr between you two haha, I just dropped $332 (shipped) for a new TRD pro grille (pre-2018) from sparks https://www.sparksparts.com/p-trd-pro-grille-531000c260. I wanted a new surround, I destroyed my clips before so it's a fresh start.

 

Niiice! Be sure to post up pics when install is complete