Considering a 2025, have a few questions

Hello everyone,
I am considering purchasing my first full size truck for future towing capabilities, a 2025 Tundra SR5 or TRD Off Road, and I wanted to ask the forum members for some advice.

Currently I drive a 2011 Honda Ridgeline which is getting expensive to keep up with the maintenance due to its age.
I live in Northern Ontario where we have 5-6 months of winter with plenty of snow. The Ridgeline with Hakka's is great in the winter so I would also purchase winter tires for Tundra.

Would you recommend that I go with the TRD Off Road with the locking rear differential and MTS for winter driving specifically? I do not off road per say but I don't have to drive very far to be off road around here. I have watched plenty of videos of the Tundra, but very few review the SR5 in winter.

What about the Toyota Dual Step Running Boards? Would they be helpful for my 5'6" wife to get in and out of it? Do they keep snow and slush from building up along the sides of the truck?

Finally, any recommendations on a tonneau cover? Toyota Soft Tri Fold or Hard Tri Fold, or other?

 

Any 4wd Tundra will do great in the snow. The locker needs to be driven in 4lo and I bet most owners never needed 4 lo unless rock crawling or serious off road situations. The dual step boards definitely help and I love my Toyota hard tri fold cover. Especially if you get lots of snow. The TRD Off Road has better shocks for dirt roads and I would think that would be your biggest concern. Great trucks!!!

 

I can strongly recommend the electric folding steps for a short wife/females in my life that Toyota offers as an option.

I also bought a Lomax trifold tonneau cover Professional series, I love it.

I'll give you the same advice I give others who see my truck and ask about buying a Tundra. Get the highest trim package you can afford and are comfortable with buying, you won't be disappointed!

 

how much weight are you towing?

get the auto leveling rear air system if your towing, much more important than anything else IMO

 

I'm in northern Vermont. '23 1794 goes well in winter, I'm running studded snows on 18" take-offs. AWD would be nice, at least I don't have to manually lock the hubs. I tow 3500# in tow and 7K# in tow+ without any concerns. Auto-deploy running boards work well. I recommend visiting dealer with wife and testing board height.
Running with diamondback trifold for the cover. Watertight and you can walk on it, I've loaded/strapped stuff on top - it's nice option to have.

Bottom line is, I'm pleased with my purchase(s) and recommend.

 

Thanks. I was thinking heavy, deep snow such as an unplowed roads, or when stuck in snow.

I am not presently towing, but looking to get a tool/utility trailer in the future and don't want to be limited in the size of trailer or load.

Thanks for the tonneau cover suggestions everyone, I will look into them. Sounds like a hard cover would be worth it.

75tranzam: Yeah maybe the TRD Off Road would be wise, as it's not much more expensive than the SR5.
Plus, plenty of dirt roads around here.

 

Remember, on new tundras(3rd gen), engines are blowing up and seats are cracking, and tailgates get stuck, and transmissions going wonky. If the engine blows after warranty is done which happens pretty often, then you may look at gar higher costs of ownership than your current Ridgeline!

 

dude, stop shitposting like this all the time. You're not helping anyone.

 

You will be limited in the size of the trailer and load with any 1/2 ton pick-up truck, payloads run out quick.

I would HIGHLY recommend to figure out the trailer, load, and most importantly tongue weight of what you want and/or need and then make sure it's within 1/2 duties. You don't want to buy a 1/2 ton and then go to get the trailer and realize damn, I need more truck.

as far as 1/2 ton duties, the tundra is an awesome towing machine, get the air rear auto level, its so worth it

 

OP, all the 4WD Tundras will be equipped with ATRAC, which will use brake biasing (via ABS) to simulate a limited slip differential (both front and rear in 4WD). This will do far more than a rear mechanical locker for you in deep snow and ice. Paired with a set of dedicated winter tires, you'll be just fine.

So I'd pay more attention to the other boxes you want to check off: future towing needs, side steps, creature comforts, etc., when picking out a new truck.

 

Great advice, thanks. I am looking to move rural and see myself hauling building material, firewood, and water during dry spells, etc.

Agreed, based on my experience with my wife's Tacoma.

 

You may want to venture over the the GMC, RAM, or Ford Forums for a taste of what happens with those trucks and not nearly the dealer/manufacturer response that Toyota has done. Toyota is replacing entire motors in thousands of trucks. Yeah they should not have to have done it in the first place, but they are standing behind them now.

Go ask the GMC guys about their transmissions or the Ford guys about the electronics.

Nearly every truck manufacturer has issues. Some are just better at fixing them. I just bought a 8yr 100K mile extended warranty for $1500 for peace of mind. (which I would do with any brand)

Back to OP. Your Ridgeline is a much much smaller truck so you will have to get used to the much BIGGER Tundra. Parking and parking lots took me a bit to get used to. Lol

I crossed shopped the Tundra TRD OR with the Ram 1500 Rebel and Ford Tremor. Here is my two cents:

• Ram - Much better interior and electronics. Drove great. I was looking at the 5.7L Hemi and it felt way underpowered for the size of the motor.
• Ford - Every option is nickel and dimed. Hard when looking used to find all the right configurations. The Eco Boost is a nice motor though. They styling looked dated to me.
• Tundra - While the interior is not as nice as the Ram, the motor is much better for power. I have 2023 Limited TRD OR and just bought a second one a 2024 Platinum TRD OR with Factory 3" lift. To me the Tundra looks sportier than the Ford (although I do like the Rebel look of the Ram) and better acceleration than the Ram 5.7L

I did not cross shop Chevy or GMC and I would not own a GM vehicle these days.

Good luck OP and keep us posted!

 

My wife is short and she definitely needs the boards. They work great for her. I have a Platinum because my wife said I could only buy a pickup that had the automatic running boards (not that I needed convincing). I had plenty of slush on them last winter, and don't recall any buildup beyond the boards. I do know they always deployed regardless of temp or buildup, which was 0 degree F or below at times.

For a bed cover you really have to decide what you're going to use it most for. I regret my tri-fold because it doesn't handle highway speeds unless it's closed. I like it fine in town, but I've had a lot of stressful trips to the in-laws. All types have a pros and cons of course.

 

The Ridgeline is actually quite wide and the Tundra is only about 2 inches wider so I am already used to that, but the length is obviously much greater. The back up camera will really help with that.

 

Good to know, thanks. My wife said I can only pick up a full size truck with a Toyota emblem on it.

 

Get the hybrid

 

Son sold his Ridgeline for an F-150 mainly for towing his TT as the Ridgeline had a tiny tank and he likes the 132l (36g) tank on his F-150. We live in the Alberta Foothills so like you have plenty of snow. He says the Ridgeline with it's AWD was much better in snow / slippery conditions than his F-150 Lariat with Auto 4WD. But we both make do easily all winter long, we have a long 800m steep driveway and have never had trouble getting up it. My F-150 is manual so I have to switch between 2WD or 4WD as needed, never been a problem. As you already know, a good set of winter tires goes a long way to getting you to your destination. I drove 2WD trucks and minivans for over 20 years in northern AB and never got stuck, always carried chains but never used them, mainly because I always had good winter tires.

As for powered running boards, I'd skip them in your climate. I don't have them but my son does on his Lariat and they are basically useless in the winter, plus you cannot lock them in the up position. He's taking his off before this winter.

Hard folding tonneau for sure. I had a soft roll up on my truck for a few years and was a royal PITA in any kind of wind. As mentioned you can load things onto the cover if needed. My BakFlip can support 300lbs and I'm sold on the hard folding.

Good luck on your search.

 

I would say the only real drawback to the Tundra (all years) for snow use compared to your ridge line is the lack of a AWD or 4WD auto mode. If your drive is a mix of dry pavement and snowy or slick surfaces, you’ll have to switch in and out of 4WD to accommodate. The weight distribution may also be better in the Ridgeline, giving it more weight over the rear axle. You can always carry some weight in the bed to compensate with the Tundra.

 

OP stated Hakka's for snows - no better snow tire. Tundra in the winter is not be a problem.

Go for the hybrid drivetrain.

The retracting running boards can be run manually, kept retracted. No issues in Northern Vermont winter.

 

Don’t get the hybrid

 

Why not?

 

I’ve got 85k problem free miles on my sr5. If you get that trim add the convenience package for the larger gas tank, very useful upgrade.

 

Too heavy. Too expensive. Barely a benefit.

 

Thanks. Yes the Ridgeline is amazing in the snow so I am spoiled, but as I approach retirement I will no longer be forced to drive on the worst snow days in the Tundra. Yes, snow tires make a big difference.
I will not be getting the powered running boards. The less exterior moving parts the better for winter.
I understand that all trims of Tundra have a locking tailgate, am I correct? It's not spelled out in the specifications. If so, then a hard tonneau cover is a must to make up for the lack of lockable trunk like in the Ridgeline.

Agree completely. Very little benefit in fuel economy and I likely won't need the extra torque and horsepower. Not worth the extra $14K.

 

Just wanted to clarify that you can lock the Toyota power running boards in either the extended or retracted position.

Having owned the hybrid and non-hybrid 1794 I can tell you I like the hybrid version better.

 

I can imagine I would “like” it better as well. I drove the hybrid Sequoia and was impressed.

I just didn’t see the value proposition for it. The non hybrid has plenty of power. I rarely tow. I couldn’t justify the difference in cost for the little extra “like”.

 

My model also only came in hybrid so my decision to spend for it was already decided. You are correct that the extra charge for the hybrid system is pretty steep, I understand why people don't spend the extra for it.

 

No hybrid also frees up the space under the rear seats for storage. On hybrid trims that’s where the batteries are at.