Sell Me On A 2020 Tundra

I switched from Ford for the same reasons as others, reliability! I also feel Toyota is much better at quality control than Ford so you won't have to deal with the many minor annoying issues that arise. Just look at how many lemon law/buy back threads exist in the F150 forum. If you do your own maintenance the Tundra is much easier to work on than the Fords I had. At least the differentials have drain and fill bolts, you don't have to take the case apart and apply a liquid gasket just to change fluid!

 

Unless you're talking about the alternator. LOL But then again, it wasn't really that much easier on the F150 either.

 

Most, if not all of the 2020 models have key-less entry with push button start. I can't see any reason for a keypad with this feature...just walk up, grab the handle and the truck unlocks. Interior lights even illuminate as you walk up. Like others have mentioned, most 2020's have apple carplay and android auto.

 

You can't lock your truck and not carry your keys on you in a Tundra. I've always liked the keypad on the Fords for the same reasons OP said, a day at the beach without worrying where your keys are. The HitchSafe is a not-as-cool way to do it but just as effective, but I think you'd have to disable keyless entry because your key would be too close to lock the car right? Not sure exactly how that works

 

I just purchased a White 2020 Tundra Limited and it has Apple/Android Play. It also has a key pad entry that is on the bottom right part of the drivers side windshield. I had a 2016 Tacoma and wanted a bigger truck. I love it and it rides like a dream.

 

Good point on locking keys in truck at the beach or some place like that...never thought about it like that!

 

If you don't have keyless entry, there's always my friend's redneck method of hiding your key in the front bumper.

 

Got a magnetic key cubby that's mounted in the underfluffies of all of my vehicles.. Works like a charm when my dumb ass locks my keys in the truck or runs out to grab something and it's locked and i'm too lazy to run back into the house.

 

I'm on my second one, the neighbor next door just traded in his 07 for a 20 and a friend up the street traded in his 11 for a 20, that says something to me

 

The SR5 TRD Offroad package gets you a great starting platform.

Do not get the premium sound package. It still is anemic, and the premium package requires more complicated work arounds to upgrade.

I haven’t seen anyone reply, but sadly there is no locking diff for the Tundra unless you Frankenstein it in.

 

Though I've heard the auto LSD actually works pretty well. There's a really good thread somewhere here on how it works.

 

I went with a 2020 Limited CrewMax... proximity key so just touch the door handle and it’s locked/unlocked... remote start with 3 pushes of the lock button... Apple car play, heated fronts, powered fronts both sides...

 

LSD is better than a locker for everyday use IMO .

 

My last Tundra was the TRD Offroad, I went with the TRD Sport this time around and saved a bundle because the Sport package deletes all the major chrome pieces and comes with the TRD front and rear sway bars.

Don't forget the Toyota Connected services and the remote start from your smartphone

 

the toyota connected services are nice but the pricing is a lot to be desired. i think the remote start feature is a 3/6 month trial and then like $90 a year. the other services are additional costs. look at entune 3 website for more details.

edit....

 

Didn't Chevy stop making the Avalanche a decade ago? Kudos to Ram for it's 1500 making it to number 8 on the list above the F150 and Silverado 1500. Ram still needs to work on their electrical gremlins in there Luxury trims though. EDIT: sorry for going off topic. OP I think the Tundra is a solid truck with a nice V8 that will have you happy for years to come.

 

According to one article I read, the 2007 Avalanche is the most reliable used truck you can buy. And yet guys who have owned those trucks from that era (though maybe different years) had a lot of problems with AFM/DOD and with the seals on the bed cover leaking.

 

I guess they figure that’s all been looked after now. lol

 

I've scoured the ram and ford forums. If you want a reliable truck, Tundra hands down. If you care anything about deprectistion, Tundra wins again. Just be prepared for some mpg hit and less modern options.

 

Guess I'll chime in as well. On my second Tundra. Got 195,000+ miles on my first Tundra and it never went to the dealer for anything except normal maintenance. Have a new 2020 Limited with the TRD off road package. Didn't need a new truck as the old one was running strong and continued to be completely trouble free but decided to get a new one because 1) android auto/apple car play 2) keyless entry and lock, push button start 3) I wanted the rear drop down window of the Crewmax and 4) I don't want to spend any of my free time taking my truck in to fix stuff that should work as advertised on a new $50k+ truck.

As for your wants:

a keypad entry (so I can go to the beach without worrying about getting my keys wet), and an engine that doesn’t drink motor oil.

I had the 5.7 L motor in my 2007. It was tight as a barrel and never drank any oil even after nearly 200k miles, most of it towing a boat to different lakes. The key fob for the 2020 Tundra is 2" x 1.25" and can fit in a small zip lock bag if you are worried about it getting wet or as others have suggested, it can be hidden on the vehicle somewhere.

upgraded suspension (I believe they’re Bilstein shocks), skid plates, an electronic rear locker, and hill descent control
Do I need further package add-on's to get a bigger gas tank (a must if I’m taking the V8)? What about Apple CarPlay (I love being able to use my iPhone’s maps on the F-150’s screen)?

I believe the closest to what you have listed is the TRD off road package. Mine came with upgraded Bilstein shocks (4600 series I think), skid plates from the engine back to the gas tank. No locking diff but LSD. Standard 38 gallon tank

Comments about "dated" interior are opinions. I personally like the interior of the Tundra and feel its clean, and simple, requires little to no time to figure where everything is located and how it works. It even reads my texts to me while I'm driving. For me it basically boils down to rock like reliability, minimal cost of ownership, bullet proof motor with plenty of power to do everything I need and if you use the cruise control and stay off the Tow/Haul..ass button the gas mileage is not unreasonable for a 6,000 truck.

Just my 2 cents. (BTW I also had a F150 back in the '90's, traded it for a Sequoia and its been Toyota ever since)

 

I've always thought that was a cool feature, but hiding the keys on the truck somewhere has yet to fail me.

 

Do you bring your phone with you to the beach? If so, you could use your phone to unlock the car https://www.toyota.com/connected-services/toyotaapp/

 

You can't lock your key fob in the truck or this would actually be a great solution. I was hoping that I could lock mine in my truck when I go mountain biking and just use my apple watch to unlock it, no such luck.

 

If you don't have anything in the hitch receiver, maybe something like this works?

$60 HitchSafe HS7000 Key Vault | Hidden Trailer Hitch Safe for Secure Key Storage | CarShare Turo | Weather Resistant and Durable with 4-Digit Combination Lock for Cars, Trucks, and SUVs

https://www.amazon.com/HitchSafe-HS7000T-HS7000-Key-Vault/dp/B000I66JEM

 

I've had two 3rd gen tundras and two F-150's (5.0 and 3.5 eco boost). The main thing I like is the 5.7L powertrain with the 4.30 rear gear ratio. The Tundra's powertrain makes the F-150 (any engine) feel sluggish in comparison. The F-150 is quieter, has a smoother ride, is generally more updated with technology, and gets better fuel economy. Overall, I definitely prefer the Tundra, just my opinion after driving both for several years each.

 

Thanks again for your insights. I finally got to test drive a couple of Tundras yesterday. One with the TRD Sport package, one with the TRD Off Road Plus package.

First was the TRD Off-Road. I definitely felt a lot more body roll, and a softer spring, than my F-150. I know that part of it is the trail-tuning of the suspension, and another part of it is 18” vs 20” wheels. Another note was the steering feels looser, more sluggish. It’s like driving a limo.

Next was the TRD Sport. Steering felt tighter, on par with the F-150. Same with the body roll and spring rate. So, the anti sway bars and the 20” wheels put the ride quality as similar to the F-150.

Both of them feel a bit sluggish off the line, compared to the 5.0 F-150. I didn’t really get to test this, though, with the dealer rep in the passenger seat.

So now the question becomes - how much more capable is the Off Road vs. the Sport? They have the same ground clearance. I’d be buying this truck as sort of a daily driver and getting off road occasionally.

Would I be better off getting a Sport and add the skid plates of the Off Road, or would I be better getting an Off-Road and adding the anti-sway bars of the Sport?

 

If you're worried about the sluggishness off the line, hit the Tow/ Haul button.

As to your question, I'm not entirely sure what's in each package but I think either of those options would essentially give you the same truck other than the external appearance (chrome vs colour matching).

 

Well, both of them are evidently 6.5 from 0 to 60 MPH. Press the Tow/Haul button....completely different feel. I had a 2013 F150 with the 5.0L, and it was no contest.

 

The engine and transmission in the Tundra might not be the most advanced or have the best fuel mileage, but it is PROVEN to be solid. All those turbos and nice to have features don't add up to dependability or longevity if you ask me. My son has an F150.. its a rocket with the EcoBoost, but I wouldn't consider one if I was looking for long term ownership.

 

As to the "sluggish" feel, I wonder if that was a sense from the 5.0 maybe revving higher/faster to generate the power? I don't know the Ford product that well, but I recall both my Ram 5.7 and the GM 5.3 spun up a little quicker (seems their hp/tq came higher in the rpm band?) My Tundra 5.7 doesn't seem to need to spin up as high/fast to keep up with traffic stoplight to stoplight.

As to OR or Sport, which tires do you prefer? Street or AT? That may help make up your mind. If you want street tires, you'd have to add those and sway bars to the OR (or just skids to Sport). If you want AT tires, then you'd have to add those and skids to the Sport (or just sway bars to the OR).

As for selling you on the Tundra, all I've got to say is this; All the cool kids are driving Tundras!

If THAT doesn't sell it, nothing will!