Future Tundra owner from northern Minnesota

The new car industry priced me out of the market many years ago: I could never afford a new pickup truck of any kind. I've had used F150's, an F450 and several GM 1500's and 2500's and a couple Dakota's. For me, used trucks have been a veritable circus of maintenance costs: never quite worth the price of a new one and always enough of a difference to grudgingly make it worthwhile to buy used. I'm a slow learner. It's time to try something different. There is a Tundra in my future.

I've driven Toyota cars since 2007. My '02 Corolla went most of 200K before I replaced it with a Matrix. 30-38 mpg makes me smile. And, given the low maintenance and good performance from those vehicles I can't help but believe a used Toyota truck might be a good idea.

I'm hoping to find an SR5 Tundra (2000-2007) sometime in the next year or two that's worthy of a snow plow. Scoring a regular cab SR5 automatic 4x4 would be preferable but winning the lottery would likely be easier.

Thanks for the forum. I'll be lurking at TundraTalk.net as well.

 

Can't go wrong with a first gen man. I love mine. Just go into it knowing it will need some work... most do. But if u take care of it, it'll last just like your other toyota cars did.

 

...and, thanks for the encouragement!

I'm mostly concerned with those belt-driven interference engines. Word is that Toyota re-designed them in 2009 or so and replaced the belt with a chain. Good move!

 

Snow plows can be a bit heavy as you already know. No doubt a good use for one in MN. Whatever first gen you may find you will definitely want to beef up the front suspension.

 

I heard that. If my GMC Sierra 2500 HD squats with a plow, there's no doubt a half-ton's gonna' need some help.

I'll be looking at about everything in my price point. First generation Tundra's are an interesting project. But, I'm not a mechanic. That means I'll have to find a reputable somebody to do most of the mods. And, that can turn into into a lot of bucks sometimes.

 

You will get a lot of "help" here. 1st gen Tundras are a great truck.