Starting from square one in New England

Good afternoon,

After a long history of never spending more than 10k on any car for myself, my wife finally convinced me (got fed up with the oil stains in the driveway) to go with a new Tundra. I go back and forth between the DC vs. CM, the Limited vs. the SR5, should I wait for the 4th Generation, etc...We are going to utilize the truck as my daily driver as well as a mild overland slide-in camper rig. This site has always been a great source of info.

If anyone has done a slide-in camper and has gone through the Crewmax vs. Double Cab debate, I am curious where you landed and why. Other than that...I will make solid use of the search function for now.

 

Welcome from Western NC. I'm sure someone will chime in to help you with your question.

 

Welcome from Ohio and if it was my choice not knowing what the fourth generation will bring I would want the 5.7 that is proven.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

Welcome from the wet side of WA.

I had over 297k on the ODO* of my 2008 DC and really wanted to see what the "4th gen" would bring. But I could never convince myself to buy the first year of a new gen (even from Toyota) and after getting 297k out of the 5.7L with 6-speed transmission, it was a no-brainer for me to upgrade to the same basic power train for my next 12 years and 298k miles. This time, I went with a CM...for me, the extra legroom/cab space won out over the extra bed space because I've got "adult" kids and two dogs, and when we all load up in the truck to go somewhere, the DC was a bit tight. I can still get plenty of dirt/gravel/barkdust/wood in the bed of the CM when I need it, so it was the right compromise.

That, and the roll-down back window!

*based on actual tire size that I ran for most of the life of that truck, that number is likely about 6-7k low

 

Welcome

 

Check the payload. Door sticker, not the internet. Unless they drastically change it next year, you won’t be able to get any slide in campers except bare bone ones. And then you won’t be carrying very much gear or water.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome from Connecticut. Unless you really want the chrome grill bigger wheels and leather seats, I'd save money and go with an SR5. DC, if you are looking to put a slide in camper (assuming you can find a decent one that will match up with your load ratings. You may have to get a 3/4 or 1 ton if the slide in is a priority).

 

Welcome from Cape Cod!

 

Welcome from New Hampshire!!!

 

Welcome from Nevada

 

Welcome from ‘Bama.

Have fun...
https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-mods-tutorials.257/

 

Welcome from Pennsylvania

 

Very good point. I have to believe there will be an increase in payload, which is what I want, but I want to let the quirks work themselves out of a redesign on a model for a couple of years anyway so I will sit tight with a proven model....plus I am impatient as hell.

 

Thanks. Thanks for the links. Big help already

 

Good suggestions. There are a few builders that make lightweight slide-in campers (under 675 kg) although the doublecab vs. crewmax debate continues in my head strictly for the purposes of carrying a slide-in. The centered weight over the axle is a serious consideration. Interested in seeing peoples opinions. I have a family that I will carry in the truck with the slide-in so, its all a consideration. I owned an F250 recently and a GMC 2500 in the past and found them to be good trucks as trucks but just not compatible with daily driving, at least for me.

 

I known you said under, but 675 kg is 1488 lbs. That’s already over payload and you still have to add people, gear, luggage, water. If you seriously want a slide in camper, the tundra is not the truck for it.

 

It’ll dent the wallet.

 

Welcome!

 

I hear what you are saying. I also see a lot of Tundras carrying slide-ins. Four Wheel Camper, Bundutec, Expedition etc all make pop-ups around 500kg (1100lbs) and market their rigs to Tundra and Tacoma owners. I have to believe that waivers aside, for them to do so, knowing they would be overweight, would be reckless. I know the payload of a Tundra lacks what other in-class pickups can carry but it makes up for it in reliability. Honestly, I tossed the 3/4 ton idea (owned an F250 and a 2500 in the past) around and where the truck will be a daily driver, the size and 'heavy-dutiness' just dont seem to make sense for me.

 

Im not trying to tell you how to spend your money, but payload is my one buyers remorse with the tundra. A lot of times just because it’ll fit doesn’t mean it should. While the tundra can probably carry it, I wouldn’t put my family at risk. Lance also markets the 650 (1700 lbs dry) and 825 (1837 lbs dry) for the tundra.

https://www.lancecamper.com/truck-campers/

Here is another thread about a truck with an overweight slide in.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/just-when-you-thought-the-1st-gen-wasnt-capable.78247/

Honestly even 1100 lbs is too much for the tundra if you want to carry yourself, other people, gear, water, or anything else and stay under payload.