Need help!! 2.5 gen or 3rd??

Hey all! Marcus from Arizona here. Huge toyota guy, currently running a 08 tacoma off road and a 15' corolla sport as my daily driver. In the process of getting ready to list my tacoma and looking to upgrade to a Tundra. Been doing research and trying to decide between a 21' Tundra SR5 crewmax and one of the 3rd gen although I haven't done as much research except I've heard of the engine issues and not lasting as long. It'll be a 4x4 truck to take up the mountains with the family, me, the wife, and two younger boys and a dog. Won't be a daily driver and will be hauling a little bit here and there but not much. I've been looking at the crewmax because of the extra space but I'm torn between the 2 gens. Any help or advice in the right direction would be appreciated. I know the 3rd gen will be tougher on the wallet. I did find a 21 SR5 4x4 with only 20k miles for $48k but I think they're willing to move on price. Thanks for having me!

 

Welcome from NY.

I'd go with the 2.5 gen, unless your going to buy a new 2025.

 

I'd jump on that 21. You will be amazed at the power after running a Tacoma. I have 2 Tacoma's and 2 Tundras. The mpg is not that different( they all are shit).

 

I would agree with Jim LE as the '25s seem to be pretty good. Then I saw the car care nuts teardown video of a 3rd gen motor and that carbon buildup on the back of the valves put me off. Time will tell ... so do a 2.5 gen Tundra.

 

If you're taking votes. My vote is for the 2.5

 

Tick, tock...low milage 2.5 gens are getting scarce.

 

2.5 for the win!

 

For reals! Wish I can buy another 2.5 and keep it in a ziplock bag in the freezer for the future.

 

Get the 2.5 and ride that bitch off into the sunset.

 

2025... Beautiful...

I would vote that or a 2.5 low mileage like others have said... MPG suck for them all

 

The 5.5ft on the Gen2.5 I find to be limiting when not used as a daily and more dedicated for hauling/etc. I rented a few F150 5.5ft beds while getting work done on my mine and man it made construction and dump runs noticeably harder. Went hunting with a friends Crewmax frequently and the back seat is limo awesome, you can be fully kitted out holding a shotgun and still have tons of room. But the bed was just not that usable for more than gear/etc. Great people mover and towing rig.

Obviously buy a Gen2.5 but just consider the people hauling vs stuff hauling for a non-daily driver. Im even thinking about selling and going to a single cab 8ft 2007-2014 year range.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! Go with the low mileage '21. A '19 just recently hit a million miles, demonstrating the reliability yet again.

 

Have you sat in and drove both???

Prior to purchasing my '21 Pro, I waited until the 3rd gen came out (hoping to be amazed by the new design, tech, etc.)... Keeping in mind I was coming from an '08 SR5 Crewmax...

I should also say that while retaining my '08 SR5, I had purchased a 2019 4Runner Limited w/intentions of that going to the wife and being our weekend traveler. However, the 'narrowness' of the cabin area of the 4Runner was kind of a turn off for me, and we ended up using the '08 SR5 for any trips further than the local grocery store, etc... When we were in the 4Runner, it felt like our shoulders were almost touching when seated in the front and then add a couple of dogs in the mix, and it quickly felt pretty cramped.

Fast forward to the 3rd Gen Tundra gets released, and we sneak down to the local dealership to have a look. We sat in it and immediately looked at each other, shook our heads, and both said... 'nope'!!!! My assessment was that the 3rd Gen (altough larger than the 4Runner, felt like the 4Runner in terms of cabin width, and the short, almost vertical windshield was just weird... They did try to incorporate a bunch of storage in that center console area, etc.. but the problem is that encroaches on driver and passenger space, so sitting in the driver's seat I felt like the center console was constantly pushing my right leg to the left.

At this point the reliability issues of those first couple years of the 3rd gen weren't even at the forefront, so that was not a factor. It was purely comfort in the amount of space we had... Well, that and knowing that I've put more than a 1/4 million miles on my '08 w/really nothing other than maintenance and wear items. The '08 was my daily driver and our vacation vehicle. For a few years it towed a TT as another means of recreation for us. All w/very little headache and no unexpected break downs or issues.

So, for us at least, it seemed like the ideal choice was to scramble in those last few months of 2021 and try to find a new CrewMax. I found a new '21 Pro on the other side of the country that wasn't demanding a ridiculous markup like we were seeing locally (this was late Oct 2021) and bought the truck sight unseen and paid to have it shipped to me...

I don't regret that decision in the least. It was the right choice for us.

Because you have a large family plus dogs, I think your best bet is to put butts in seats and see what feels right to you. See which one makes you feel comfortable and makes you feel like you can travel the way you want to, not the way the truck forces you to...

Sure the 3rd Gen has a bit more tech and a bit more acceleration and a tad more MPG, but what are the long term costs of those offsets?? Is the few extra MPG you might get from a 3rd Gen worth the extra upfront costs??

If you do decide on a 3rd Gen, I'd probably target a 2025 because that will give you 3 model years in for them to have worked out some of the issues. Are the 3rd Gen issues as bad as they sound??? If you got a bad one, I'm sure the answer is yes, but there's also plenty of folks that have them and love them; and like most things on the internet, people are more likely to voice complaints than they are to voice praise of something. So, I'm sure there are far more satisfied 3rd Gen owners than unhappy ones.

Good luck w/your search!!!

 

Welcome to the forum! Tough choice but my recommendation is 2.5.

Whichever you choose just be careful with this forum as you will end up spending money on modifications found here.

 

I wonder if OP will ever be back to read all of this.

Even if he doesn't, I'm glad to hear the majority is for the 2.5. This has been a lovely gathering of the fine 2.5 gen folks

 

I'd jump on that '21. Hell if I didn't have my '19 CM with only measly 65k on it I'd be trying to figure out where that truck is and snipe it.

 

A lot depends on your budget and what you value. Like others said sit in both, drive them, and decide from there. You'll know pretty quickly doing that. If you go for the '21 negotiate hard on that 48k price, there is likely a lot profit built in there to widdle down. I paid about that OTD for mine new. 2021 SR5 TRD Sport CM.

Based on your needs you described the 2.5 Gen will do just fine.

 

Only 2.5 gen owners have responded, I would expect nothing less, lol.

 

I just came from a double cab 6ft bed SR5 2022 Tacoma to a double cab 6ft bed 2.5 gen SR5 TRD OR 2020 Tundra and I'm liking it. Mine's not a Crewmax but my priority was keeping the 6ft bed and the back seat of this "small cab" Tundra actually has more head and leg room than the "big cab" Tacoma did. IMO 48K is pretty high. My 2020 had 22,000 miles and literally not a scratch or dent on it and I got it for 39K and it's got some options like the LED headlights and bigger fuel tank. I'd say test drive a double cab Tundra and see how much space is in the back before you write the smaller cab off.

 

Can't thank you all enough for the insight. Looks like sticking with the 2.5 gen is the way to go. I've driven the 2.5 gens before and my buddies love them as well. Going to test drive a 3rd gen just to see what it feels like but I think you guys have me pretty much sold on the 2.5. You guys kick ass, thank you

 

Good luck with your decision, post pictures!

 

Add a rack for plywood sheets? My Home Depot or Lowe's runs got noticeably less stressful once I installed one. Granted, my bed is 6.5, but I can do 10-12 ft lumber or pipes with no problems.

Also got a "CrewMax" for wife - a Sequoia =) Trunk is good enough for maybe two six-packs, but, man, what a space, even on a third row...

 

Have you considered a Gen 2 Sequoia? With third row folded it has enough cargo space for family vacation trips. With the second row folded it is good for Home Depot runs. With the third/fourth kid you have three real rows. Tows as good as Tundra does. Same iconic reliability. There are good hitch mounted cargo options if you need it.

 

When I bought my 2.5 gen last year, I wasn't even considering gen 3.
I wanted the 5.7 and I wanted a vehicle that was built pre covid before all the supply, quality and employment issues. Couldn't afford a gen 3 either.

Personally I think the 2.5 gen is a sharper looking truck. I don't like the front end of new gen.

 

Exactly, I mean the 3rd gen doesn't even have a rear bumper. Who would want a truck with no rear bumper? Not to mention tow hooks. WTH?

 

Had to look up some images. Didn’t realize the rear bumper is smaller and only in middle and doesn’t wrap to side. Looks a lot less functional.

 

My friend has a 2024 and the windshield is a lot smaller like you mentioned. That was the first thing I noticed when I hopped in. A lot less visibility for sure.

 

It comes down to how much it’ll bother you to (1) not have a V8 and (2) listen to perpetually online Facebook trolls. I’m being snarky with #2 obviously.

the v8 is indeed excellent and I would bet theoretically “lasts longer”, but if you’re someone who needs features like Apple Car Play and a more modern interior, then you should consider the Gen 3.

I had the same choice when I bought my 24 SR5. A few low mile 21’s were for sale near me. I like a simpler engine and vastly prefer naturally aspirated, but for what I do, I don’t need a V8 or honestly will never even use the max tow capacity of the 2024 SR5 v6. I do carry heavy things in the bed, and both do that well. End of the day, I went with the 2024. My family is happier riding in it (which in itself is a big deal!), my wife gets to podcast DJ during long road trips with the better entertainment system, and I get all the truck capability I will need for the next 150k miles (usually when I sell a truck). I also think it’s the coolest looking truck on market.

Experience in the 24 has been great - it’s amazingly comfortable IMO for long rides, tows my snowmobiles and utility trailers great, and has been a wonderful landscaping stuff-carry tool. 20k miles in the last year. Much better experience than my glitchy Silverado. You have two good options with enough difference to choose what is best for you

 

'20 and '21 2.5 Gens have Apple Car Play.