Newb question about 2023 Tundra Rough Country Vertex Suspension

Hello, I'm a long time (25 years) Land Rover guy looking to get into a Toyota. Considering a lightly-used (6,000 mile) 2023 lifted Tundra Platinum that the local dealer has on the lot. They said it was an employee's truck that he traded in for a Camry (marriage, child, new mortgage). Asking price is $97K which is insane. I'd have to get them to chop a good $10-15K off to be a serious consideration. The sales guy said they aimed really high with the asking price. I've already gone back & forth with this dealership while shopping other Tundras and they've come down $15k already on others.

This particular truck is the Platinum trim, Crewmax, 5.5' bed, i-Force MAX hybrid 4WD.

I'd appreciate any feedback you could offer on this truck's setup (see pics). It's obviously a Rough Country Vertex lift, I'm thinking a 6" lift for the 37X12.5 tires on 20" Black Rhino wheels.

Is this a good setup, or is it shit? I actually use my vehicles off road so if it's just for show and street cred then f*ck that.

I never heard of Rough Country and I'm completely clueless when it comes to Tundra lifts but I'm trying to learn. If I end up buying a new Tundra, I was planning on going with the Limited trim plus the TRD Off Road Package to get the rear locker (all my Rovers have had rear lockers). But then I'd redo the suspension to get up to 35s or 37s. Or I'd go all in on a TRD Pro Tundra but I'd still want to get up to 35s or 37s. So I'd probably end up changing out a lot of expensive brand new suspension components, wheels, tires, etc. This used 2023 on the lot is already set up the way I'd want it (except the Platinum can't get the TRD off road package so no rear locker). But I do like the Platinum's stock upgrades compared to the Limited so maybe the lack of a rear locker is an acceptable compromise.

My off roading is in Arizona, lots of long mile trips, sharp rocks, gravel, sand, high-speed washboards, crawling, loose climbs, washed-out trails, ruts, etc. Is the Tundra's "4WDemand part-time 4WD with electronically controlled transfer case and Automatic Limited-Slip Differential" a good 4WD system? My two previous Land Rovers were old school with solid axles, simple Old Man Emu 2-3" lifts, mechanical 4-high and 4-low locking center differentials and ARB rear air lockers. My current Rover is a 2013 LR4 with selectable 4-high or 4-low and the computer controlled (but fully lockable) center differential and rear locker. They have all been great off road but my LR4 is limited by it's stupid wheel wells which can barely accommodate a 31.5" tire. I rub with my 275/65/18 (32") Nitto Ridge Grapplers. I have 9 skid plates on the bottom and I end up dragging this heavy pig over everything. It needs 35s and the 5.0L V8 could certainly drive them but there's no sensible way to make that happen.

With this (or any) Tundra, I'd put a front bumper and winch on it and a Smart Cap on the bed for security and shelter while camping, although the 5.5' bed will be a bit of a compromise as I'm more than 5.5' tall. Who's bright idea was a 5.5' bed?

Thank you for your time and advice.

 

97k. That’s Raptor / TrX money lol

 

Yeah, it's an idiot price. But this is Scottsdale so a lot of idiots may just walk in and pay that price. The Limiteds and TRD Pros I looked at all had a $7.5K to $15K "market adjustment" premium that was immediately scratched out when I laughed at them. I'm waiting to receive the spec sheet on this particular truck from the dealer but a basic 2023 Platinum with the hybrid engine and powered running boards runs about $70K. This truck has another $1600 in wheels and $2000 in tires. I want to get some suspension details so I can put a value on that as well. It's probably only about a $3K suspension setup unless I'm totally off base. Then the negotiations can begin on this "used truck".

 

Gonna be tough getting warranty work done on that suspension set up.

 

A very good point. Maybe I'd get lucky and this lift was installed by the dealer and it is warrantied. I know that the dealer uses a local off road shop to install lifts on new vehicles that they then warranty.

 

Drove the Tundra this morning. Very nice ride, felt better than the stock TRD Pro. That hybrid engine has no problem whatsoever turning those massive 37s. The lift was installed prior to sale and it is warrantied. The truck is also a CPO vehicle so it has the remaining 2.5 years & 30,000 miles of the regular new car warranty and then an additional 12 months and/or 12,000 miles after that. That's all good news but the price is ridiculous. The GM recognized that and said he'd come down quite a bit so make him an offer but it has to be over $80K. What I see here is a $70,000 Platinum Tundra with about $10,000 in extras (wheels, tires, suspension) which equals $80K but it's used so it's worth less than $80K. I also think it's a bit more truck than I need or want and I think I'll wait for the Land Cruiser/Lexus GX550 to come out.