Considering a Gen2; what do you love about it?

I posted a similar question in the Gen1 folder, but wanted a different viewpoint from the Gen2 crowd.

I have been going around and around on trying to maximize my budget to get a low mileage powerful Toyota pickup, preferably nimble enough for off road but capable for hauling and towing.

I have a 4.7L V8 4Runner, which has been my all-time favorite vehicle and I'm keeping it 4ever. I was initially looking to get the 5.7L Tundra. Then I started looking at the 4.7L Gen1 Tundras.

Seems like a similar condition and mileage 5.7L Tundra is about twice the price (e.g. a 150,000 miles Gen1 is about $8-12k whereas a Gen2 vintage with this mileage is about $16-24k). Or maybe 2-3 or even 4x as much for a newer Gen. I could probably save a little money and get a Gen2 with the 4.6L V8 which seems to have roughly the same or maybe a little higher output than the 4.7L V8. But I'm not sure if or how the added weight of the Gen2 may play a role in that. Or towing and payload capacities off hand.

It almost seems that the Gen1 Tundras with the 4.7L are the perfect truck and a great value right now. I really like the exterior Gen1 styling but I do not like the interior bubbly looking console (too similar to that horrible Ford era). I really like the entire vehicle styling of the Gen2.

First, I see a LOT of 300,000 mile Gen1 Tundras for sale and in pretty good condition. The truck seems bombproof. Due to their newer protege, I haven't seen many at 300k, but I have seen a lot at 200k miles and no reason to believe they won't last similar lifespans.

Seems the average for sale Gen1 with about 150k miles is about $8-12,000. I could easily swing that, and with the expected 300,000 miles or more lifespan, seems would be a good investment. So is the double price tag "worth it" for the Gen2?

I guess I'm looking for is feedback from Gen2 owners or especially those with significant feedback of both to share. I'm torn between spending about $10k on a Gen1 or maybe double that on a Gen2, plus or minus with condition and options.

(My goal is to have a competent rugged reliable pickup for medium duty hauling, towing, home improvements, moving furniture and appliances, light/medium towing chores, etc.).

Thanks for your feedback and share of enthusiasm for these great trucks.

{Also, I was looking at the newer Tacomas but with only a 4L V6, it seems that the better truck would be a Gen1 Tundra with the 4.7L V8 in roughly the same size truck. Is my thinking on point or skewed?}

 

I purchased / rescued my well used 2007 5.7L RWD Tundra a little over two years ago when it had 270,000 miles... it has 292,000 now. I bought it cheap with plans to enhance the suspension & it's street performance, so I have put a little money into it. The only unexpected expense thus far was when the fuel pump and immobilizer chip in the key went out together, other than that it's been a great truck that I am having fun fixing up & driving.

If you are going to get a 2nd gen truck, make sure it has the 5.7L.

 

i have a 2012 4.6l with the 3rd and tow package. does fine for all the things you requested. i bought it for 23,000 with 60,000 miles on it last year. i've only changed brakes on front so far. getting ready to do an oil change. i've already moved furniture a few times. off loaded a little bit. nothing extreme. hauled the family around. i think it's worth the 4.6l engine if it's a double cab. but make sure to get one with the tow package and trd package on it. grass will be good for towing and suspension should be good to go too. good luck. i like the look of the 2nd gen more out of all three generations. good luck.

 

My first Tundra was an 2007 I bought with 170K for about $20K. It wasn't perfect, but definitely worth it. You could tell it was a ranch truck from all the dust inside in recesses you can't get with a Ford dealership detail. I loved that truck, it was a beast with a CAI. The 5.7 in just tow haul mode, will put a smile on your face! I have heard that the nannies off is even more fun. I had the double cab short bed and it had plenty of room in the cab for my family of 5, and the bed was big enough to haul things. I think the only other time I have had a car/truck put a smile on my face like that was my 2000 Tacoma V6 with Super Charger and manual transmission, now that was fun to drive.

I test drove a 4.6 and it just felt under powered in the heavy Gen2 chassis. If you do consider a gen2 I would look at 2007-2009 with the 5.7, since you will probably find some in the 200-300K mile range.

The bad about the 5.7 is obviously the MPG, I never got above 18, but I don't think the 4.6 gets much better since it seems to be under powered for that heavy weight. The biggest item I had to replace, and never got around to, was the shocks. They were starting to show their age, and I expect, the abuse as a ranch truck. Because of that, the ride quality on cement freeways could be unbearable until you found the right speed for the section, but on black top wasn't bad.

Now for the biggest PRO of them all, the crash, I lost my '07 to a drunk/high driver, yes both. My family and I walked away after she hit us head on at 60+ MPH, I was doing about 10MPH because I saw her drift across the line and was preparing to stop or avoid, so I believe that's like hitting a wall at 70MPH. I had nowhere to go without causing a larger accident. The truck merely jumped up as she hit and she spun out to the side. My wife ended up with a herniated disk, and it didn't help my already bad back, but we all walked away. Lawyers are still fighting the medical part with her insurance.

I bought another Tundra as soon as they paid me for my truck. This time a Gen3 CrewMax, 2014 with 90,000 miles and the 5.7, it was at the same Ford dealership and it was well priced. The previous owner grabbed a 1794 they had taken in on trade, so I lucked out with an SR5 with leather and tow package, and great maintenance record.

If you want a reliable engine, the 4.6 has been documented at 1 million miles. Look up "Million Mile Tundra" in Google and you'll find a couple. The 5.7 isn't as famous for 1 million miles, but is very reliable too. I believe there are a couple forum posts about 300,000+ mile trucks.

Things to look for on the 4.6/4.7, water pump and timing belt replacement. They need to be replaced every 90K miles as regular maintenance, but otherwise the engines are solid. The 5.7 is a timing chain so doesn't need to be replaced as often. Good luck, and welcome.

 

I forgot to answer your question: "Gen2; what do you love about it?"


Comparing my 4x4 4.7 2002 RCLB with my 2007 5.7 RCSB, I love the following things about my Gen 2

1. the 5.7 engine
2. the size of the door handles, levers & control knobs
3. the turning circle
4. the aftermarket support
5. the interior space
6. the timing chain
7. the additional air bags, anti-lock brakes and other safety features

 

I already replied in your first thread about this comparing the 1st and 3rd gen but I also had a 2nd Gen DC Medium Bed for a while while still driving the 1st gen as needed.
My 2nd gen had a lid on it and wouldn't carry as much as the 1st gen Long Bed with contractor shell and the 2nd gen was 2wd so I knew it was not a long time keeper for me probably but I also got it pretty cheap and immediately took to the no.1 feature obviously in its favor.
The Beast Mode 5.7!

The 1st Gen tows pretty effortlessly the things that I need to tow but the 5.7 just tows more effortlessly!

I have also had a 1st Gen though with the 3.5l V6 and it also did just fine towing just not as fine as the 4.7!

And this is with all trucks towing the same trailers to keep it all fair too.

Otherwise my previous comments all apply and I even yanked the DC back seat out and built a flat plywood platform there so I could load it with bins with tools and parts for my out of town work trips and I really liked the truck but have to have 4wd too so I traded it but always thought about it until my recent purchase of the 3rd G3n!

You can not go wrong with any of these trucks at all.

 

I love how small everything in my rearview mirror looks when I really put my foot down. I love how in almost 4 years if ownership I’ve spent a month’s truck payment on repairs on a truck averaging 10 years old. Most of all, I love going places. And knowing I’ll get back.

 

I love that underneath the sheet metal, it's the same truck since 07. My 08 is paid off.