2003 Sidestep Tundra help!

First off HOLY SHIT I HAVE BEEN WANTING A TOYOTA FOREVER I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. This being said - I don’t own a Toyota yet.

I am getting serious on a ‘03 Tundra V8 Stepside @ 130k.

Cons:
‘03 with 130k ~6k per year - would you count that as not breaking in/too low of milage?

There’s not a ton mentioning the stepside here and seems they are less common. I know wiring harness are different for diff builds and I want to be able to work on this thing.

Some rust - no pitting and hammer

Timing belt/water pump done at 100k milage however that was 12 years ago and LBJ recall preformed in ‘03 (will have a jack to test and bail if theres much movement any insight to how much is too much would be great)… 2.5 hour drive home on highway? Scary..

Crankshaft seal done 12 years ago. (Maybe a pro does not seem to be leaking).

We don’t gotta talk about the ass. Built different..

However, my trans is failing in my non-yota (plz never buy a ram) so I need to make a move.

This ‘03 Stepside has 1 owner, Toyota Service records/recalls done (frame recall not there), timing belt/waterpump done at milage. Dealership even fixed the tailgate latch at 100k.


Concerns? Comments? Questions?

Help! I have been paying off a lemon for years and dreaming of a toyota. Help make my dreams of a reliable yota real!

 

Welcome! You’re in luck, we have a sticky thread that was created just for you! https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

 

Buy it, join the weird flareside revolution!

 

Read over the link in mambas comment.
Double check no rust.
Risk the drive home take it slow.
Once home do all the maintenance and fluids and parts replace.
I don't hear any red flags with the info you provided.

Step side is actually the best side, you gain 20hp built in, and the ass end taunts all other 1st-gens as you leave them in the dust

 

I watched a step side making googly eyes at me as it pulled away, flexing its cool-factor performance upgrade. The driver did not even acknowledge that I was also a 1st gen owner when we pulled up to that red light, and he never seemed to notice through the entire interaction. Infuriating because I noticed, I couldn't help but notice. All who lay eyes on a steppy cannot help but notice. The narrower bed for sleek aerodynamic drag elimination. The step on the side, akin to its name, for stepping from the side to do truck things. The grotesquely bulging rear light housings, mocking me as I was mutely left behind...and then the stepside was gone. Gone, like a momentary breeze, disappeared into a dot in the distance, my double-cab pathetically unable to keep up. I never saw it again, but sometimes I dream of the stepside. Its bulbous ass haunting me, telling me my inferiority without speaking a word. And with every dream...I increasingly hate it, and want it, forevermore.

 

Good news again...
2003 Tundra EWD - EWD491U

• Includes all sections in the original book
• 315 pages

 

This scares me.

Everyone's definition of "some rust" differs. When it comes to this generation of Tundra, any rust beyond "surface rust" is potentially extremely problematic.

We need pictures before you buy. The more, the merrier. We deal with a dozen or two victims per year on here, and I'd say a handful of them thought they did a good job of checking for rust.

This thread covers the hotspots Toyota deemed "unacceptable" or "problematic".

But a couple of other bad spots have come up, like we keep seeing people who failed to notice the frame was completely cracking at the upturn below the brake master cylinder/booster on the driver's side (see pic below for that location, driver's side, behind the "LL" splash apron), this is one of the worst examples I've ever seen, the frame wasn't even clearly rusty from the outside, but the poor sucker only looked superficially at the outside of the frame.

Sometimes it happens on the passenger side upturn also, behind the "RR" splash apron. Sometimes also at the swaybar mount, and another example of that, and another example.

One example of a frame that passed but was a little bit rusty is this one, reading it may help understand good vs. bad. Even that frame needed some TLC/work to clean stuff up, but shows the extent of which I'd think things are "OK". I wouldn't have personally bought it, but a motivated person could make lemonade from that level of lemons.

Note that the frame can look clean as shit outside, but is rotten from the inside like this guy. And this guy.

You also want to watch out for sections of the frame, mostly on the inside sections, that look like they're wavy and/or peeling apart like THIS and THIS.

Lastly, you really need to drop the spare tire, and carefully look at the X-shaped frame crossmember. Especially where all four legs of the "X" meet the frame.

​

 

Thank you SO MUCH! I read allll of the new buyer thread but there is no mention of the sidestep! That rust comment is incredible thank you. I will definitely look.

 

Stepsides are considered by some to be the "ugly stepchild" edition. They were only sold in Access Cab variety, later years, and they're generally most-alike to other access cabs. Same general options, same general specs, same general wiring/config.

Only real issues with them: It's difficult to find camper shells, tonnea covers, bed mats, and you'll have a tough time with replacement parts like rear lights, tailgates, etc. But if you're so inclined and can find a matching-color donor, and the stepside bed is driving you nuts, you can swap over a standard bed, no major issues I've seen reported on here. I'd get new bed bolts and stuff if the truck is from the rust belt.