If you were to buy a half ton today what would you buy?

Although it is sort of a different topic, I would unfortunately feel the same about the Frontier and the current Tacoma... I love my current Toyota's and the ones I've had in the past, but I am having a hard time getting on board with what is going on currently. When they unveiled the new Tacoma, I liked it so much on paper that I considered trading my Tundra for one, but I didn't due to certain concerns. So, if I absolutely had to get a midsize and consider all the things I stated on the Tundra side, I'd probably be looking at the Frontier.

 

My THOUGHTS exactly.

 

2017 a little sweeter
( tranny cooler, colder AC, no nanny stuff)

 

The 2024+ F150 SuperCrew 6.5 bed Platinum is my default pickup preference. The 2025+ Expedition Max Limited is my default half ton based SUV preference.

However, I am interested in the 2026+ Sierra 1500 SLT with 6.5 bed with Max Tow and 2025+ Yukon XL SLT both with the LZ0 are options that I'm considering at the moment. I need to do more research about the LZ0. If the Sierra 1500 were offered with a 35+ gallon fuel tank, I would opt for the 6.2 despite the possibility of a lifter failure. A 24 gallon gas tank is just not sufficient for my application.

If Toyota changed their sales model and allowed custom retail orders, the 2025+ 1794 Tundra CrewCab with 6.5 foot bed would be near the top of my list.

Not allowing customers to custom order and forcing them to search for a dealer that has an allocation for a specific build alienates a lot of higher end consumers.

 

Toyota will fix the problems with the Tundra. I went with the new Tacoma because I don’t need a 1/2 ton. But I received a list from Jim R (Broker) 10K off loaded limited’s! With discounts like that and Toyota with egg on its face now would be the time?

https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/jun-...dra-upto-12k-off-best-pricing-usa/106422/8130

 

If I were doing it today, I'd do the same thing I did a year and a half ago... Find a clean late 2.5 Gen with low miles and never look back.

 

My father in law drove my tundra last night. He traded in his GMC Sierra for a tundra today. They are the best half ton trucks made. Toyota just needs to get the issues sorted out.

 

Have now put about 1,000 miles on my GMC Denali with the LZO 3.0 Duramax. Just filled the tank today. Took 21.3 gallons after driving 622 miles for 29.2 mpg. DTE showed 99 miles on the dash. Driving included about half highway and then a mix of back road stop signs and also pulling the boat and/or UTV. Very impressed with the ride, comfort, engine and tranny pairing, and overall quality of the materials in and out. It is certainly not as quick as my tundra was but it does move pretty well. I’d compare the acceleration feel to my old ‘18 Silverado with the 5.3.

 

What's your DEF usage like? I think a common complaint about the LM2 and LZ0 is very high DEF usage - moreso than what people are used to on the L5P.

Also, with the 2025 full size SUVs receiving an update and the LZ0, I'm inclined to buy an SUV and wait another year or two until the 1500s are updated/refreshed.

Also, with the GM 1500s, there's this option to extend your towing range:
https://titanfueltanks.com/products/xxl-replacement-tanks/gmc-1500-3500-crew-cab-7010519

 

On the gauge it dropped 1 bar so that would be about 1/8 if 5 gallons, approx.

I am blown away by the mpg. I reset the mpg gauge for a 40 mile stretch of 60mph cruise, and pulled off 37.5mpg.

 

Test drove one… Impressive for sure! But a bare bones Custom Trail Boss was 58K..! No deals for the LZO 3.0 they said, it’s still there. 58k is fine but not for a base model?

 

Around MN you can get an LT Trailboss for about $59. I bought a ‘23 Denali with premium package loaded to the max, low miles, under $59. That’s a $79k truck new.

 

I think this whole Tundra engine thing may be causing me to lose my mind. I’m not sure if I’m serious about this or not yet, but I’m considering swapping my 2023 Tundra with 9k miles and a 8yr/100k mi warranty for a 2023 Land Rover Defender. lol

If my justification is the motor may blow up on my Tundra, I’m not sure how I wound up on the Reliability super power that is Land Rover.

 

I would stay away from Stellantis they are a mess

 

I've had my '24 Limited for about 7 months. So, I don't feel like I'm that far away from all the research I already did. I'd probably still get the same vehicle.

I wanted good towing for my boat ~5,000. I wanted good tech that isn't annoying. Ventilated seat option. Good looks last.

I was looking between the F-150, GMC 1500 and the Tundra. I like the looks of the GMC and Tundra the most. I really don't like the experience of the infotainment systems in the Ford or GMC. I drove a RAM for a while and the Infotainments wasn't horrible, but little things like turning on/off the backup assist mirrors was annoying. I really like that my Tundra lets me change that easily. I like that the Tundra has buttons and switches. Toyota's tech has a fair bit left to be desired and the fit and finish is a touch below the others in the price point I'm was shopping in, but for that $60K amount, I ticked the boxes with the Tundra. If I could get a Denali for the same price... and everything worked, that would influence a decision.

I've heard horror stories on all three that I was looking hard at. I have a 2008 Toyota 4Runner that works great, but is noisy, horrible tech and not comfortable. I like it for what it is, but that is part of why I was going back and forth between my Ford and GMC dealers and leaving out the Toyota dealer for a while. Then I saw a 3rd Gen Tundra up close and did more research. I'm saying this is not a Toyota fan-boy or hope of 20-year reliability for me. So, I think I'd still get the Limited Lunar Rock (Army Green if they had it in 2024).

 

https://www.laurabuickgmc.com/Vehic...ard Box 4-Wheel Drive Denali&displacement=3.0

Laura GMC and Robideaux GMC are the ones I go by for pricing.

 

2021 limited TRD hands down

(That's what I bought. Some might call it bias)

 

https://youtu.be/HMKYlldkA0g?si=yRrCXlWJjx0MWhxJ

I watched this video and thought... nope. There's just too much BS involved for a diesel powertrain just for a half ton.

 

Exactly my point.

 

I drive a Ford Powerboost and am very happy with the feature. But if I were buying today, it would be very hard to resist the Toyota lot I drive by every day that is up to 70 plus Gen 3 Tundras in inventory and growing with 8-12 K mark downs. With everybody scared of the engine recall I'd be swooping on one of them and trying to get an extended warranty thrown in.

 

It’s odd to me that so many other regions have tundras piling up on the dealership lots. The two dealerships near me here in phx have very low inventory on almost all of the Toyota models. Their websites show large numbers but when you actually drive by the dealership themselves they might have 5-10 tundras max.

 

2.5 Gen Tundra in Voodoo Blue. If I'm going back to a truck, then she has to be Voodoo Blue. Been waiting for what feels like forever to prices to drop on used Tundra's.

***Edit***
Also want to add that I don't want to deal with all of the features of TSS 3.0. They don't fit my driving habits.

 

Plenty of trucks in inventory around Tucson. Over 80 Tundras available at our two dealerships.

 

As opposed to the BS involved with the current problematic 3.4TT from Toyota? I wouldn't buy a 1/2 ton in today's market. For the same price or close to it, you can get a 3/4 ton. Might not need it, but a much stouter truck without a turbo gasoline engine.

 

Ooooh that looks like a really fun time.

 

A couple of dealers here have overflow lots for excess inventory. You might see 20 trucks on the lot but there may be another 30 in the overflow lot plus several in transit at a given time. Your dealer may have some stored off site.

 

This guy messes with his 3.0 way too much. Watch standard 3.0 lz0 engine reviews and there are literally no emissions system issues anecdotally reported.

 

100%

Another friend of mine in town... 24 tundra platinum hybrid.... will be at the dealership for 7-9 weeks per Toyota for main bearing failure. The time bomb is coming.

 

I've heard rumors but not seen confirmation.

If documented engine failures start to happen on 2024s it would support my theory Toyota isn't really that sure of what's causing this yet and tossed something out there to save sales by making people feel like they have it figured.

 

It tips the scales closer to a 'design flaw'.