What Do You Like the Least About Your First Gen?

The design of steering boxes is such that they wear out faster than rack and pinion because rack and pinion uses flat cut gears and have more surface area in contact at all times. My main gripe is the ratio, second gripe is I don't like having rubber boots down there on a 4x4 vehicle.

 

Pretty much every manufacturer is the same in that sense. All they have to do is look at their market. I love making up statistics so take it for what it's worth, but let's say 80% of Tundra (and really any pickup) owners are suburban errand-runners. At best weekend warriors. Who would you cater to? That's where your business is coming from.

I was sitting next to a life long, multi-generation rancher over the 4th of July, and we were complaining about the "light duty" nature of even heavy duty trucks. He regularly hauls horse trailers and cows up mountain passes. He said he was in Denver or somewhere with a bunch of people, listening to a presentation from one of the domestic truck makers. When he and others brought up the lacking strength of transmissions for towing in the mountains, the auto representative was clear with him. "Our market is suburban families. That's who's buying the vast majority of our trucks. Not only that, but if we actually built the truck people like you (people who really make their trucks work for a living) are asking for, you wouldn't be able to afford it".

 

What do I like least? Timing belt and interference engine.

 

I can't recall this ever being an issue in the 7 years I had my 1st gen, I thought the steering was pretty darn good actually.

Interstate at 80+, towing, driving around town, or gettin' squirrely and sideways in a desert wash, all were fine. (That last one is the only instance where I wouldn't feel comfortable adjusting the radio or heater.)

I'd probably suggest that something is wrong, but since it's done it on 3 different trucks for you I dunno. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

For context, I grew up driving early '70's stuff.

 

I genuinely don't get the steering radius comments. Is that a DC thing? I feel like my truck is fine. I've not owned another truck so I'm not sure how it would compare.

 

Not at all for me and my DC

 

Google claims a 2ft difference in turning radius between AC and DC. Not sure how much of a difference 2ft makes, but I can say for sure that the F350 I drive for work turns wayyyy sharper than my truck.

I don't mind it much as the visibility and mirrors on our trucks are awesome. I don't think it's that bad anyway- and I drive it into the city on a regular basis.

 

I noticed a difference when I switched from my 98 Tacoma to my AC Tundra for sure, but it's not drastic. In the Tacoma I could do a U-turn on a residential street, if I started against one curb and drove very slowly. Just barely. In the Tundra I just barely can't. I haven't driven a lot of different vehicles. I should test the work Silverado. Nothing has ever jumped out at me in terms of steering differences, but I'll be more intentional next time I drive it.

 

Does it though???

 

Seems like the common themes here are - "well, compared to what?", and "what were your expectations"?

Pretty much all I've ever driven are Toyota pickups. All older than my Tundra. Coming from a long line of pickups from a 78 to a 98, my thoughts on the Tundra: It's big. I appreciate, but don't need a truck this big. Makes a huge difference on narrow desert and forest roads. Much more pin-striping, or (possibly good) decisions to turn around earlier than I would have before with a smaller truck.

The engine has good power (for me, coming from almost all 4 cylinder engines), but the truck feels heavy. Feels sluggish. It'll get up & go if I lay on the gas, but with more gentle throttle, it lumbers. My little V6 Tacoma felt peppy. While the Tundra has more sheer power, from a stop it just feels like I'm having to get a lot of weight moving. Gear ratio might be part of it.

All the other annoyances are the same annoyances I've dealt with on all my Toyota trucks. Rust. A little lacking in power. Undersize brakes. Ball joints (later Toyotas). So none of them were a surprise.

It is far more refined. For being the same generation as a first gen Tacoma, it's really strange to me how much more Toyota focused on comfort with the Tundra. The little coat hanger hooks, the trim/moulding, the leather, the rearview mirror temperature gage. All far more refined than the same year Tacoma. Was Limited even an option on the Tacoma? I don't believe so. I'm pretty sure my SR5 TRD Tacoma was as fancy as they got.




There's no doubt it was a continuation of Toyota's historic pickup production. Really just their successful attempt at the T100. Everything the T100 should have been. But not a true full size, not a true 1/2 ton. Where the second gen Tundra was a departure from the historic Toyota pickup playbook. Completely different thing. Which is why a lot of people who loved Toyota but needed a heftier work truck only finally bought a Tundra when the second gen came out.

For someone who wants Toyota reliability, something heavier-duty than the Tacoma but doesn't need a true full size, it doesn't get any better. There's not a vehicle out there we couldn't nitpick. I'm very intrigued by the newest Ford Ranger, but really only based on size and looks. I have no idea what it's like inside or for reliability. But I'm not going to do a direct comparison between a 2002 Tundra and a brand new Ranger.

 

If the truck is JBL it should be plug-and-play. If not JBL, I would need to look at the rear of the radio to see which inputs it has. A number of Toyota's radios over the years used dual-inputs, one high level out, one low level out, so they could be used across a wide array of vehicles.

 

No manual trans, the 2uz is not a 1uz, rs3000, plastic dash, no wing-vents, kinda wished it would cruise at 70-75 at 1500rpm like my titan.

I could do without the electric seats, locks, and windows. I can upgrade the weak springs and rear axle, and eventually swap in a diesel with a manual trans. And one of these to fix the garbage ass vinyl.

 

After this weekend I really want a pair of PRP daily driver buckets. The lack of lumbar support the stock bench has wrecked me.

 

It's a short wheelbase truck. Maybe it isn't as big of a difference as I think? I'm always shocked by how tight it turns.

 

I'm gonna have to make some measurements because the tundra doesnt feel as tight as the titan.

 

What if the turning radius issues have been just in our heads this whole time? I swear I'm not crazy...

 

My turning radius would suck with fat tires and spacers. And i wouldnt have mudflaps.

 

Maybe y'all need to get new rack bushings? My turning isn't great, but there was a noticeable improvement after I got PU bushings.

and I'm sure I'll notice more when I get these sloppy AF tie rod ends out for some new ones.