Farewell to my 2nd Gen, and to Tundra

I know I am a relatively unknown poster. But I wanted to say thanks to everyone for their help, advice, and suggestions in the short time I was here.

Long story short, my Tundra was starting to draw way too much money from me. In the four years or so I owned it, I put in about $10k just for repairs.It was getting much. I did get it done right, and every part that was needing repaired was fixed and I had no issues with those parts. But, looking over it, in the course of time I had it, I put around $700/mo, if I spread it out. That is the payment on a brand new truck!

Cutting my losses, I sold it, after fixing up what needed to be fixed, AND fixing a couple things that was looking like it was coming up on the horizon. I used that money and put it toward my new truck.

I now own a Ram 2500. It is a 2020 Tradesman with 86K miles on it. Clean, no rust, and I paid a little under $20K for it. Had it looked at by a mechanic and it came up solid. From what I was told it was a lease vehicle from TX, and it looks like it. A few little rust spots and dings, but I am going to be putting some dings in it myself using it as a truck.

All this to say, thank you all. I do appreciate the input and advice on my Tundra. If by owning a Ram I am now invited to leave, I do understand. I would be happy to hang around, not that I do a lot of posting anyway, but I want to help where I can, as I can.

Anywho, hope you all have had a great start to the New Year, and if I am invited to leave, then thank you all for the laughs, and the help.

 

What year and mileage was your Tundra, that it had so many problems?

 

Good luck with the ram! All trucks have issues. Often we jump out of the fire and into lava. Hopefully you get many years of trouble free service from the ram. Engine valve train issues and transmission issues are common in those. Good call on the extended warranty. One of the best interiors in the business though!

 

When I bought it, it had 165K and was a 2010. My wife thinks I am crazy, but I was very much on top of all maintenance. Even to the point of OCD.

 

Thank you. I am hoping and praying for long life with it. Yes. I am looking at Mopar, so if there are some engine issues, I will have that covered for sure! As for the interior, it seems very sound. More solid than what my Tundra was, but that is not to say that I think the Tundra was bad. I loved my Tundra. One of the recommendations was to go to the 2019 or higher Ram because it had the 8 speed Transmission. From what I understand they upgraded it. My local mechanic also has warned about the Valve, but he said there is a delete option for that and they can do the work. If my engine goes into issues, that is covered by warranty as well . Trying to cover myself.

As for my budget, I am looking at getting the Mopar Added Care Plus. Would love the Max care, but I cannot swing the price per month on that one.

 

What engine and transmission is in the Ram ?

 

If you got the 8 speed, you should be good. That's the ZF designed transmission, buttery smooth and very reliable.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...d-gen-tundra-today.153146/page-5#post-3824784
Stick around.... Let's see the ram.

 

It has the 6.4L with the ZF Powerline 8 speed transmission.

I was told by those on the HD Ram Forum to go with the 2019 or up because of that transmission as it was better than the one before it.

 

I didn't want to taint Tundras with a Ram .

Let me snag a pic of it when I can, and I will post it up. It is kind of filthy right now with mud, dirt, and snow.

 

It's a beast, just avoid prolonged idling, the hemi starves for oil at idle

 

That link is everything but tundras, and we like mud, dirt and stuff, that's what trucks are for.

 

Yes. Very! It has taken me a little bit to get used to the higher RPM at the lower gear (my Tundra was running a little under 1200 at 45, and this one runs higher but that is because of the higher transmission, from what I gather.

It is smooth and clean.

 

Yes. That is the ONLY negative I have with it thus far. It did a lot of idling in TX to the tune of almost 40%ish. Since I have had it, I do very little idling except when warming it up in the morning.

So that will hopefully even out as I drive.

I have a major trip coming up this year (as I do every year and a post on it), but this year we are covering 7 states in a giant circle. So it will be put to the test.

And I love the extra payload and towing capabilities. Whoever had it before had it built with the fifth wheel set up already installed. Totally loaded with all my gear I carry and our camper, I may be around 4-5K lbs on everything (that is what is in the truck and pulling the camper), so I am absolutely not even stretching this thing out.

 

Yes indeed. I have done my fair share of getting trucks dirty hauling wood, trash, and towing. Going camping, hunting, fishing, etc.

So I know it will be used and used well . I just got the spray in bed liner done and it is a Rhino liner. Recommended by our local LineX guy who is no longer doing it.

 

@Lovetrucks

Just saw your avatar. I had seen the Rebels, but was also looking at the Power Wagon. This one came in on budget so I grabbed it!

 

Sorry you had so many problems with your tundra, mine is also a 2010 with almost 140k but I'm the original owner and (knock on wood) haven't had any issues thus far. Hope your RAM does you better..

 

Thanks. Me too. So far I am happy with it. I am still learning the noises and sounds so I can detect what is and is not normal.

 

One nice thing about the 6.4L is it doesn’t have the cylinder deactivation.

 

Oh really? I thought they all had that! Interesting and that makes me feel good!

 

Just the 5.7

 

Ok. That is good to know. I skipped the 5.7, because in the Tundra it was a great engine. I felt it would have been a little under powered in the 2500. I may be wrong though, so please do not go by what I say, LOL.

I was about to pull the trigger on a 2018 2500, but then was told about the upgraded transmission.

 

What repairs were required that cost $10k?

 

Sometimes I have wandering eyes for a Power Wagon, if I'm being honest, haha.

 

Several. I will try to remember:

Radiator, radiator hoses, tensioner pullies, brake lines, transmission, Heating/AC actuator, Exhaust system, a couple of belts, leaf springs, and there was one or two other things, but I cannot remember them all. I also know there is the basic stuff that needed replaced (rotors, brakes, calapers, etc.), but I am not counting those.

Sorry I could not remember everything. All of those were done and done well, so I had no issues afterward, but I think it just got to the point of financial tiredness. That coupled with my wife asking, what else is going to go out? It was just time. I do miss it, because I also owned a first gen as well, but we needed the bigger truck to pull the camper, so I sold that one as well.

 

They look really good. I sat in one, but that had a lot of issues and the dealer flat out said they would not sell it. Then I found out it had the 5.7L. But it does look really good, and if things go well with this Ram, possibly in the future.

 

Sounds like it was a rusty one.
What was the transmission issue if you remember?

 

There was some rust on the truck, and I believe there are some pictures on this site of the rust on the exhaust (which was fixed using Dirty Deeds). The other parts of the rust was surface on the frame itself and a few parts and I went through it with a wire brush and took out the rust and then coated it with Por 15 (I think is what it is called). The thread is here and it is on page two or three: https://www.tundras.com/threads/upd...s-really-bad-smell-and-hard-to-breath.144489/

The pics are on page 4 and you can see the frame and the work I did with it coating it to protect it.

I also remember there was also U joints, a couple other things that needed fixed and was done.

The biggest thing on the transmission was a solinoid, solynoid (sp?). When the radiator blew, the truck went into limp mode. I had it towed and it dropped the transmission fluid to very low levels. One of the solinoids blew because of it so they had to drop the transmission or something to change that out. That was a little over $1K but cheaper than a whole new transmission.

 

Just a quick note. I have not forgotten the picture. Just have not had a chance yet.

 

I was asked about pics of the new Ram. Here ya go!


I am really enjoying the heavier payload and size. Plus I am getting almost the same amount of MPG as my Tundra.