Thinking about going Tacoma to Tundra...thoughts?

Hey, all-

I've got an '04 Tacoma 4x4 TRD coming up on 200k...it's been a great truck (for what it is), but I'm starting to think down the road a bit, and would like the additional space and power of a Tundra. I'd love to hear your thoughts on a few things....

First, what I'd be looking for in a Tundra: 4x4, manual transmission, TRD, full size bed, extra cab (NOT crew cab), minimal miles. Does such a thing exist, in the newer generations?

Thoughts re: v6 vs. v8? (Power and mileage?)

I'm not a fan of the newer body style- the '04 was the last year that truly appealed before the big revision. But to get minimal miles, I'd obviously have to go for it. Which newer generation Tundras are problematic?

I'm sure these questions have been asked in the past- apologies for redundancy, and thank you for your thoughts (and patience)!

 

All I can say is DO ITTTTTTTTT. That being said, there is no manual transmission in the newer generation which is very disheartening, the automatic is a helluva lot of fun though with the 5.7.

 

The 04-06 extended cabs were great great trucks. A nice compromise size, not quite a fullsize, but not a compact truck. The 4.7 v8 is solid. No manual, but the 5spd auto in the 05-06 models was very good.

I would say finding a low miles one is going to be tough. Those things are getting old by now

 

Don’t sell your Tacoma but do buy a new Tundra. I love my 02 Tundra and my 2016 Pro each for different reasons.

 

In 2012, I spent several months looking for an 05-06 4x4 with low miles, I found a few but the prices were almost the same as a 2010 4x4. In the end, I bought my current 2010 4x4 and haven't looked back since. Glad I chose to go with a 2nd gen overall. The only issue you may experience is the size difference between your current Taco and a 2nd gen. It took a few months to acclimate, especially in technical offroad trails. Now it feels like I'm driving a go cart

 

No manuals? Man, that is really, really disheartening. I've never owned *any* automatic...and it feels critical to be more in direct control, esp. with a 4x4. Sigh.

Share some thoughts on the differences between 1st & 2nd Gen Tundras.

 

These are my experiences based on 3 different buddies that made mistakes after falling in love with my sweet 2002 4wd Access Cab.

1) All 3 liked how much room was inside the cab and the quiet drive and solid feel for having a smaller truck exterior. The off road sand performance impressed as well as towing/hauling. The backseat can handle extra cargo or passengers in a pinch.

2) 2 buddies bought used Tacomas for way higher $ at the time compared to my Tundra. Both sold within a year complaining about everything from weak engines and transmissions to cramped quarters. I never liked driving in their trucks either. We always took mine.

3) One of these buddies bought a 2012 Rock Warrior and didn’t like it because of ‘all the squeaks’. I didn’t like it because of the size and bulkiness. Felt stiff driving. Back seat was huge.

4) A separate buddy bought a 2009 Tundra. It felt like it had tight headspace. Like my head was hitting the cap. Not sure if it was his wetsuit seat covers, but for that reason I did not like it. It also felt stiff driving.

5) One of the other buddies finally bought a 2018 Tundra and really likes it. Last road trip he sounded like this forum complaining about simple items like the ‘antenna is too tall’ or ‘lack of technology’ or ‘I got a scwatch on my twuck yesterday’.

The 2nd Gen 5.7 engine is sweet. The body too big IMO.

The 1st Gen has great torque, but the 5.7 has more.

1st Gen also has more payload capability. The 2nd Gen more towing capability. Both reliable. I’d give the nod to the 1st Gen.

 

For me its just math. For the price of a Tacoma, you can buy an old tundra and fix it up like new and end up with a bigger, stronger, more capable truck in the end, with less technological crap on it than a new one.

Also wish manual was an option but I've come to like the automatic.

 

Same here.

I came from an '05 Tacoma crewcab 4x4 that I loved except when towing.

Looked for a 1st Gen Tundra that was well cared for and found that the asking price was always not much less than 2nd gens with similar miles.

I ended up in an '08 Crewmax TRD 4x4 and it only cost me about $2k more than the best 1st Gen I looked at during my search.

If you're set on the 1st Gen though make sure you get an '05 or '06 since the earlier models had some problems with lower ball joints letting go. I think they changed the ball joint design for the '05 model since that's a dangerous failure even if it only rarely ever happens.

 

The 2000-2003 had factory recalls and the ball joints were replaced for free by dealer. The 05-06 models have about 1’ of extra interior length and 4 full doors. Its a larger truck with slightly more power with its own problems (air bypass/brake master cylinder). The Access Cabs are the sweet spot of nimble size and off road/tow/haul performance. Plenty of cheap parts available too. Easy to work on and not much ever breaks. I’ve not been stranded ever in 17 years. Basic maintenance until recent front end suspension overhaul.

 

My 07 is my first automatic. Prefer manual too but I drive in "S" mode all the time. Similar to a manual but no clutch. Easy to get used to. Tow/Haul mode even better.

 

I've owned a 2004 Tacoma 4X4 manual transmission, as well as a 2016 Gen 3 Tacoma, and now a 2018 Tundra. Buy the Tundra. The gas mileage isn't that much worse than what you're used to with that 2004, and the 5.7's power is orders of magnitude better than the 3.4 you're used to or that of the dreadful 3.5 that's in the current Tacoma. And don't even get me started on the new Taco's transmission. No, you won't find a manual transmission in the Tundra, but you won't even be thinking about it when you're behind the wheel.

 

Just this year, I went from a 2015 4.0 v6Tacoma 4x4 trd dcsb to 2010 sc 5.7 v8 4x4 tundra double cab.

Gained lots of room, towing, speed, and power.
Lost abundance aftermarket parts, mpg, turning radius & parking ease.

I prefer the tundra though. It feels like a real truck, with its bigger size and motor.

 

"If you're set on the 1st Gen though make sure you get an '05 or '06 since the earlier models had some problems with lower ball joints letting go."

Funny you should say that. The lower ball joint on the left completely separated on my Tacoma a few weeks ago- fortunately, I was driving slow on a dirt road not far from home. If that thing had released while I was driving at speed, it would've been disastrous.

 

I couldn’t imagine driving stick/manual anymore. Stop and go traffic and crazy drivers, plus not having to think about shifting make an automatic an automatic go to.

You can still downshift into lower gears with an automatic when needed for off road.

 

I love my 2002 4.7L 4WD SR5, I purchased it in '03 and it just keeps going with few problems. I believe transitioning from a Taco to a 1st Gen Tundra will be easier, because 2nd Gen trucks are much larger than you are accustomed to.

 

I went from an '03 Tacoma to a '14 Tundra and haven't looked back once. It took me about a month to get confident driving and parking, since it felt like driving a yacht compared to the taco, but now I can't imagine going back to a small truck.

 

I also went from a Tacoma to Tundra. I loved the Tacoma and it was a little easier to park, but the Tundra wins hands-down overall.
While OP is looking for a 1st gen, due to possible hard time finding a low mileage truck, I would recommend 2nd or 3rd gen - the extra size is always nice to have once you get used to it. My truck, apart from being my daily driver, also became our family vehicle over weekends and road trips.

 

I'm on my 3rd Tundra.
I had an 05 crew 4x4 it had the 4.6 great truck.
It saved my life when I got rear ended by a Nissan Frontier do 80 mph.
I went into a 10 Dualcab 4x4 with extended bed ,it had a 3 inch lift on 35's Borla dual exhaust 5.7 this time.Great truck !
I'm in a 17 Off Road 4x4 with the 5.7 now lots of accessories.
I'm hoping for a TRD PRO one day.
Think I'll go to my final reward in a Tundra.

 

The thoughts are much appreciated!

 

I've had several Tacomas over the years, great truck but once I went Tundra the Tacoma just didn't cut it. I even tried it once. Went back to Tundra.

 

I'm 48. I've had toyota trucks and a 4runner since I was a teenager. From 76 up. In may, I traded in my 16' Tacoma for a 16' Tundra. Zero regrets. The tundra is my first full sized truck. The MPG is poor but not relative to the driving experience. The tank is big enough to make it a strictly financial burden, not a practical issue at all and I'm perfectly willing to pay for the better driving experience on long trips. Incredibly pleased after about 3000 miles. I drove 750 miles last Saturday to take my dad to look at some cars. I would have been in rough shape had I tried that in Tacoma, fine with the Tundra.

EDIT: And just so I don't give you the wrong idea, I loved my smaller trucks and I wasn't one of the folks that had a lot of problems with the Gen 3 Tacos.

 

I currently have a 2018 Tacoma sr5 and it's a great truck. It's good on gas ( not a 4x4 ) 24 mpg and a just great all around daily drive, in fact I highly recommend it for tooling around. BUT my 2019 Tundra is mother FN DOUBLE BADASS. It is awesome it's my 3rd tundra and for pulling, traveling, offroading and just kicking it there's no better Toyota period!!! Unlike my trd pro 4runner or the Tacoma it gets up and goes when I hit the gas, also when I'm pulling my jeep (6000 pound rock krawler) it has no problems. I say get what fits your budget they both are good trucks you just need to ask yourself what your needs and wants are. Good luck!!!