Considering replacing Expedition with reliable 5.7L tow-capable option for trips

Hello there. New to this forum and Tundras, but after some rather bad experiences lately (including probably a blown transmission on my 2015 Ford Expedition 4 hours from home, at night, towing a travel trailer) I'm seriously considering adding a Tundra to the stable.

Some background:

I live in central Florida. I commute 5 miles one way to work 5 days a week. Wife works from home. We have a 2014 Prius that I use for commuting and shopping, and the 2015 Expedition. It has 73,000 miles on it and we've had it for 8 years. We got it with 32,000 miles on it so that equates to about 5000 miles a year. I have used it to tow a lot - first a 8500 pound boat but usually only about 5-30 miles. Sold the boat, now have a 3500 pound tri-toon I tow, but again not very far at all but had plans to do a lot more in the future, maybe intra-state trips of about 4 hours. We also have a 5000 pound travel trailer we just bought and were planning on doing similar trips of about 4 hours throughout the state.

My thoughts were to get a good model year Tundra with the 5.7 engine and tow package. I'd sell the Prius and that way I'd have two tow vehicles, but also the Expedition with a new transmission and warranty would still be a capable travel vehicle with the better MPG and comfort, but also would allow for us to perhaps take both the boat and the travel trailer on trips.

I have read many articles about the years to avoid (2005-2008, 2012, 2014) and the recommended ones (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019)

What are your thoughts?

Do all of the 5.7L engine models before 2019 come with a transmission cooler?

 

Welcome from TX! AFAIK, yes.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

A 17 or 18 is your best bet.

 

Thanks for the welcome. Would a 17 or 18 with the 5.7L have a transmission cooler?

 

Personally I would not be spending the money to fix a truck that blew a transmission at just 73,000 miles. And I can't imagine you'll get more than a 1 year warranty on a replacement.

 

Yes, the cooler was dropped for 2019MY.

 

Got a 2 year unlimited. I'm going to keep the Expy but sell my Prius and get a Tundra so I'll have two decent tow vehicles.

 

Yep. Sure do. See my avatar.

And servicing the transmission fluid is super easy.

 

Or a Sequoia Platinum and add a trans cooler, lol

 

Is that from Ford? or somewhere else?

 

What does your avatar have to do with a transmission cooler?

 

Just my opinion with my history of Fords. Dump the Expedition. Keep the Prius.

Grab a 17-21 Tundra or 17-22 Sequoia if you like the big SUV.

I know many here are big on the cooler but it is an easy add later on and if you change the fluid regularly, you probably won't need it no more then you are driving/towing.

 

I have an '18, so it has the cooler, and I tow a tritoon back and forth to the lake, and a 6000 lbs Travel Trailer on trips across the country. I would also consider a '19-'21. It's been 6 years now since the '19 hit the market and we haven't seen a string of transmission failures. Also, if you stay in S4 when you tow, you'll never see temps above 215F in pancake flat FL, even in the middle of Summer. '20 and '21 models can be had with Carplay, Keyless Entry, push button start, and remote start if that matters to you.

 

From Ford direct

 

That's the big question - towing 5000 pounds, mostly flat surfaces in Florida, do I really NEED a transmission cooler? Is it easy to change the fluid? I like what I'm reading about the 2020 Tundra especially, as it seems the most reliable with fewest complaints/issues but I'd be willing to entertain other years.

 

You'll hear arguments from both sides. Its a hot topic around here similar to the 3rd gen vs 2nd gen fights that take place lol

Regardless of which year you get, Trans cooler or not, your gonna have a substantially more reliable rig than the expedition that has already left you on the side of the road hours from home. If you tow a lot and you get a later model year, you can always add a transmission cooler if you would like to. There are a few great options.

Welcome to the forums!

 

Thank you

 

A lot of complaints about the seats on the 2.5s.

 

What years are the 2.5s?

Comfort issues?

 

The refresh year was 2014. Distinction around here being 2.0 vs 2.5. I've only owned 2.0s, so can't speak personally, but there are quite a few threads of guys complaining about low back pain and the seats being uncomfortable for longer drives. We had a T4R which I absolutely despised the seats. If the 2.5s are similar, I'd place seat comfort on the list of considerations when buying a vehicle for longer towing distances.

 

Gotcha - we used to have Hondas, and holy crap those were uncomfortable seats! Loved the reliability and MPG, but DAAAAAAAMN uncomfortable on long trips.

 

14-21 are 2.5 gens.

For Trans fluid change, slightly more involved than an oil change.

Drain fluid (3.5-4qt)
Add fluid
Start and heat up fluid
Open check bolt and close when trickling out.
Done

And as far as the seats, my 2017 is the most comfortable seat I have ever been in (cloth seats). I can easily run 21+ hours from TX to MN with no pain where other vehicles I have used have me aching by 10 hours.

 

I have both gen 2 (in form of 22 Sequoia) and gen 2.5 (19 Tundra). Seats in 2.5 are OK, I can drive for as long as bladder permits. Faux leather seats in Sequoia I can't stand, honestly.

Both came without a cooler, I installed it in both.

Tundra is the most boring vehicle I've ever had. In 5 years and 56k miles had to replace only wear items or what I broke while offroading.

 

21' CM, cloth seats are nothing to wow about, they do the job.
But, lately at 46000+ miles, driver seat sides has been slacking some, not sure if the fillings are moving or I am "sliding" into the seats more due to my left knee surgery, but it still works good.

If you are the type that is concerned about seat comfort, that might be an issue to tackle but different one.
I had Honda Pilot and Tundra, leather in Pilot and cloth in Tundra, Pilot def stiffer when compared, but some like it harder some like it softer, just like ice cream.

 

Thanks, guys - keep the opinions and advice coming.

Yesterday decided it - I'm replacing my 2014 Prius with a Tundra. Why, you ask?

1 minute from work I got rear-ended. Dented my rear hatchback (still opens and closes, though) and shattered the rear window glass. I'm sore but OK so far. I was at a stoplight and the truck behind me got rear ended and then pushed into me. Thank God I wasn't the first to get hit. Of course, the person responsible for the accident has no insurance. My luck lately has been abysmal. Wife said, "We need a tank instead of a little tin can to drive around."

 

BTW - thoughts on this one? Seems a decent price and low miles.

https://www.edmunds.com/toyota/tund...dmunds_insider&utm_targetid=&utm_adgroup=4004

 

What are your thoughts on a new one? I realize they had the engine issues, but I assume all the new ones on the lots now (or even the 2024 models) have been taken care of. I know towing is around 6000 pounds for the hybrid and 6500 for the non-hybrid, but I can live with that. Toyotathon appears to be pretty nice with regards to financing, lease (doubt I'd go that route), etc.

 

I believe the towing capacity as going to be a lot higher than 6,500# although that would be about what I would want to tow. The engine issues are a big question for the 24 MY.

 

Get some Seat Jackers; took care of the issue for me.