Help deciding on my first tundra...

Hey everyone

New member here, and I'm gonna be the proud owner of a 1st Gen Tundra next week and I have somehow gotten lucky enough to have a choice between 1 of 2 tundras.

I somehow found a couple of decent 1st gens in my area and now I have to make a choice in a couple of days and I am not sure what would be the best route.

I thought you guys might have some insight. I know its hard to pick one since none of you have seen them in person, but I figure it would a good idea to get your opinions on my options and maybe gain some knowledge on my part.

So here they are
1: A 2005 extended TRD Cab 4.7 auto with 117k miles on it. It had multiple owners, however there is a extensive service history. The guy also has some nice aftermarket additions like new wheel/window tint/stereo and couple other cosmetic additions. This truck came from the South and when I looked at it I could not see any rust on the frame or any body damage.

The rub is he just had a new transmission put in by one of the local Toyota dealers and something isn't right. I threw my Bluetooth OBD II scanner on it threw a couple of shift solenoid codes. While I drove it, there where a couple of times the tranny dropped into neutral too. The good thing, he took it back and they are replacing the tranny again under warranty. Also, I spoke with the dealer and they said this warranty transfers to whoever buys the car. This seems awesome, but I feel like changing something out like the tranny is big deal and could cause other problems down the road. The guy selling it said he would have kept it, but wants a bigger cab

2: A 2006 Limited Crew Cab 4.7 auto with 165k miles on it. A 2 owner truck from Wyoming with a topper. A pretty nice rig, but its from a Toyota used car dealer. I didn't see any codes and it drove pretty nice. I looked under and could see some light rust, but looked pretty typical this age and for cars around here.

I drove it before they detailed it was fairly clean, but I could tell they had it on a farm or something. Dog hair was all over the cab and the bed has definitely seen some good use. I checked the carfax and it does not have as extensive service history as the 2005.

Now funny thing is, both are being sold for $13k here in Colorado and the good news is both have had the timing belt/water pump changed in the last 20k miles. Both bodies appear to be in good shape for a 15+ year old trucks.

Ultimately, trim levels and add-ons dont mean much to me. I just want the most reliable truck I can afford

If you were in my position, what you choose?

 

The latter one. Easy pick unless your into rebuilding your own tranny. Also it’s a double cab.

 

Both 4wd or not???

 

Yessir, forgot to put that down. Yea both are 4WD

 

Limited

 

If the dealer fucked up one tranny, who's to say he's not going to fuck up the second one? Detailing is cheap compared to a transmission. PLUS it's got a cap - caps start around $1700 new. Unless you really hate the thought of the CrewMax cab, I'd be going after that one.

Is the dealer giving you any kind of warranty on that one, since you're buying it from him? If it's "AS IS", invest $35-$50 and have an independent mechanic give it a once-over. I saved myself some HUGE headaches that way. Like rusted frame and replacement rack and exhaust system headaches. There's NO WAY those clowns didn't know the frame was shot. Not since they maintained it before the previous owner traded it in.

 

Sounds like the first one got a used tranny installed with unknown history. I’d run...


Mine had a used trans installed. It took 2 for them to get a “good” one and 2 years later im dealing with shift flare issues.

 

Transmission aside:
I've had an access cab and now have a double cab . . . turning radius is much larger on the DC (sucks). . . it's a lot more truck. The back seat on the AC is basically useless, and just for storage, or very small kids, that's it. Back seat is Legit on the DC if you need it. I don't off-road, but I'm pretty sure the AC is more desirable in most cases. Mileage on the DC sucks (no surprise) , a bit better on the AC. The bed on the DC is deeper (from bed rail to floor of bed). The AC rode nice, the DC is more 'comfy' on the street / highway . . . it's more 'boaty' with the long wheel base. The rear power sliding window on the DC is MONEY if you have a need for it, (like with a shell/topper).
There's things I like / dislike about both . . . kinda comes down to your needs & wants. Can't really go wrong either way.
Good Luck.

 

What happened to the first one?

 

my co worker put it in, started the truck up to Christmas tree lighting. all the shift solenoids were fucked. sent another trans and thats the one in it now. unkown mileage.. honestly i'm debating putting a factory reman in or get the trans built. new reman would be a hair cheaper.


unless i can find a sonnax HD valve body.. my issue is clearly a line pressure issue when cold caused by valve body wear

 

the original lost 4th gear completely when he was towing.

 

Heh. My sister-in-law is about 4'10" and finds the back seat of our 2000 FGT comfortable. She's gonna rattle around in the 2018 DC...

OP, the more you post about that tranny, the more I'm hearing red alert klaxons screaming in my mind. Run, do not walk, away... or get a GOOD transmission shop to rebuild/replace it. One that will give you a warranty! I mean, that rust-free frame is attractive - I live in Vermont where such things are rare! But if it were me, I'd cheerfully sacrifice it in a New York minute for a solid transmission that I knew I could count on. Even the extra 50,000 miles the Limited has on it isn't a huge deterrent IF the dealer will give you some kind of warranty, even 30 days. Just long enough to go over it with a fine-toothed comb and look for anything that a test drive and a look under it on the lot missed.

 

Yea the dealer told me that the warranty is good for 1 year (basically 10 months currently, he had it installed end of January)

Its a remaned tranny and I figured that might be pretty good to have, and might make it worth it.

However seeing how everyone is voting and talking I think Im gonna go with limited.

 

If it was a Toyota reman it would be good. But some dealers use aftermarket remans. Hard to say what he has without seeing it. The Toyota Reman would say rdot on it somewhere

 

That’s a good tid bit of knowledge to have there.

 

Myself I would pick the 2005. Just insist it is a Toyota reman. I would even pay a few hundred more if needed.
Sounds like with the service history and besides the trans problem. Good chance it will be more dependable.