Gen 1(05/06)tundra vs 2012 Tacoma

so my suburban just blew its transmission again. I’m 18 and don’t have a lot of money. I’ve honestly loved my suburban great in the snow perfect for camping good all around rig but I’ve put a lot of money into it already and I’ve decided that I want to spend more money and get something that’s going to be reliable.
I drive to Montana 5 to 10 times a year my grandparents have a cabin out there and I would be towing a 2 place single axle snowmobile trailer with sleds or quads every time.
My dad has a 2012 taco quad cab that he would sell me but I’ve been looking at the 05 06 tundra quad cabs. So my question is would these trucks be any better at towing? I’ve towed with my dads taco and it gets the job done but you can really feel it back there especially going up the passes. I know it’s not going to be night and day but is the new v6 better than the old v8 or does the 4.7 have the low end the taco seems to lack? Also the interior feels so much more comfortable but this is more luxury to me. So my question is is the tundra any more truck or is it pretty even? Thank you to anyone that replies

 

I have owned several tacomas, if towing was the deciding factor, I would pick a tundra v8 everytime. In my opinion it is a night and day difference when hooked to a trailer.

 

Awesome thank you that’s what I was hoping to hear

 

A 15 year old half ton won't have the trailer weight capacity of v8 3/4 ton. but it will pull a grade nicely. Don't expect it to stop nicely at the upper limits of its capacity. n The engine would be capable in a 1 ton truck, the brakes are undersized for a 1/2 ton.

 

The HP numbers are similar between the newer V6 and the older V8, but torque is what matters for towing. The V8 puts out much more torque and at a lower RPM.

 

2012 Tacoma (6 cylinder) - 236hp @ 5400 RPM; 266# torque @ 4000 RPM
2006 Tundra (8 cylinder) - 271hp @ 5400 RPM; 313 # torque @ 3400 RPM

Not till later years did the Tacoma raise the HP to 278 and # torque to 265 @ 4600 RPM so no real comparison for what the OP is considering...

 

I was thinking early 4.7 which I believe was rated at 245 hp. But the torque was about the same as the later (‘05 -‘06) 4.7... IIRC.

 

The Motor choices are hardly the only significant differences here either though.

The Tundra is a heavier longer wheelbase truck and this makes for a much better overall Tow as well.
Add to that the overwhelming extra space and comfort in the Tundra and this one is a no brainer for me.

I have had both the 3.5L Tundy and the 4.7L version which I still have and hands down the V8 makes everything about the towing better and less stressful on long drives especially.

I also just do not fit well in a Taco so it ends for me right there but obviously this is different for each of us too.

I would also urge you to get a decent Trailer Brake Control if your trailer has brakes and get easier drives from that as well,not a small difference either.

Also a Suburban is hardly a small marginal powered truck and neither is the Tundra 4.7!

So add the better handling and much better power together and then throw in the extra space and comfort and you end up on this site where we are obviously going to suggest that a Tundra is the right truck!

 

We should have a dedicated thread to the Tundra or Taco questions.

Personally, before joining this site, I had two separate friends who loved my 2002 4.7 go into Tacos only to regret them and sell them within a years time. One went into a 2012 Rock Warrior and another went into 2018 Turd Gen. They RW squeaks and rattles. The Turd Gen ‘lacks tech’. The 5.7 is sweet, though. In the end, they really wanted 1st Gen.

Lets have a dedicated sticky for this one, as everyone asks the same questions trying to wrap their heads around the answers over the internet.

Maybe titled ‘Why Tundra over Taco?’

 

"The more things change the more they remain the same"....If I only knew then what I know now 50 years later

 

Your age is showing sir

 

Hell, I dont even tow and I'd pick the tundra. Cant make a v6 sound good. That and they're slow as hell. I test drove one with the v6 and a stick thinking it'd have some giddy up. Nope.

 

Tundra all the way. My buddy has a 14 Tacoma DC long bed and the only reason I would trade him for my 05 DC would be to sell the Tacoma to make money and by a 1st Gen DC again. The 1st Gen DC is a little bit bigger than the Tacoma in every way and the 4.7L will pull that trailer with ease.