Ease my mind on 2021 Tundra vs F150

I just traded my 2017 F150 ecoboost for a 2015 Tundra. Left a little comfort and features behind but gained peace of mind and reliability. With only 50k miles the Ford was adding nearly 2qts of fuel to my oil every 3k miles and the burning oil was giving my wife headaches. Yea I got 21mpg before and now 15 but it’s well worth it. The drivetrain on the tundra feels and sounds solid where the Ford just felt like 100 computers between you and anything real. The turbo motor was quicker under full throttle but it’s hard to beat the 5.7 v8 for smoothness, sound and clean oil after even 7k miles. I will never go back to Ford, one big vote for Tundra!

 

Either pickup will get you where you need to go. However, it just depends on your version of fun. The Tundra will always be reliable and you will probably never visit the dealer unless you want to. The Ford will be a different experience, you will most likely get to know the dealer very well with all the recalls. I chose the Tundra even though its old and outdated according to the YouTube arm chair experts.
My 20 Platinum is worth more than what I paid a year ago, try that with the F150.

 

I've had 'em all .. Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and Nissan.

The Nissan (Titan) was total crap from the start. Of the Big Three .. my Chevy's were the best. Fords (every one of them) burned oil and I was told that "it is perfectly normal for a Ford F-150 to use a quart of oil in 8k miles". That is total crap!!

I am not driving my first Toyota Tundra. 120K miles and ZERO problems.

That speaks for itself. I will NEVER buy another Ford product ... NEVER!!

Hope this helps.

 

Now for sheets and giggles....go go to an F-150 forum and ask the exact same question.

You'll get all F-150 recommendations and telling you how outdated, unsafe, bad duel economy and no transmission cooler comments etc.

 

Umm... was it consensual?

 

The garage door guy was kissed?

That explains SO much about Ford now....

 

Yeah either pick up will get you where you gotta go, but you still have to get back.

 

you guys didn't tell him about Tundra's loosing the transmission cooler. If he going to tow everyone will tell him to install. He will own many cars over his life get whatever you want, don't like sell before warranty out.

 

Yep. I owned two F150's prior to my Tundra. My 2004 F150....honestly, I have absolutely no gripes at all over. It has 289K on it, and aside from rattling like crazy, it's had no big issues. It's the reason I purchased my 2013 F150.

I had no *major* issues with my 2013; by 'major' I mean engine/transmission. However, I did have tons of small stuff:
- POS media system (literally had to reset it every week)
- Rough running engine even after a complete tune-up, replacing spark plugs/spark plug wires, etc.
- Driver's side rear door would not stay latched in cold weather (and for a SuperCab that's a BIG deal, considering the front door latches onto the rear door)
- Ride was so rough as to be almost unbearable - I think it had to do with crappy shocks + SuperCab build
- Plenty of power, but 3.31 gears hobbled it from the get-go.

There's more stuff like that, but you get the point. None of that was huge, but the thing is that I had to *fight* to get them to address any of it, and with at least 1/2 the stuff above, the answer was always "Within normal operating characteristics "

I had enough of that last year and switched to my Tundra; and I've been ridiculously pleased. Not going back to Ford.

FYI - I've got a coworker who has a 2019 F150 5.0L. He'll get 19MPG when on the highway...I 'only' get 17.5 to 18. LOL Owning a Ford is not worth the *one* extra MPG.

 

You can look at the stickers and compare but go a lilt deeper for what matters to you. Many of my coworkers have the eco boost and we talk and tire kick all the time. I really liked the flat floor of the Ford. Perfect for kids sleeping on road trips and camping.
-The Ford had rear AC but you could not adjust the vents to actually hit you in the outboard positions.
- The build is anemic. UCA, LCA, transmission, brakes, etc. all are small. or maybe the Tundra is just overbuilt by modern lightweight fuel efficient standards.
-Ford gas mileage is not much different when towing............ or driving anywhere unless 55MPH on the freeway or downhill in a hurricane. I don't think i've seen any of there fuel economies over 18 when scrolling through their dash data.

The Fords do tow nice, but I don't have an apples to apples comparison as I haven't towed the exact setup they tow. I haven't seen them do anything my Tundra couldn't do though.

If towing is a high priority done frequently and the possibility of going bigger and heavier with your trailer/camper/toy hauler setup. I'd at least consider a Duramax or an F250. That's quite a bit of a jump in price though.

 

A local ford dealership is a client of mine, this is what I see on like half the lifts whenever I'm there.

To be fair, i've never gotten to take a walk through a Toyota service dept, so can't really compare.

 

You will like the roominess of the back sit for the kids. I have 2 young ones as well and my wife can easily hop back and forth to the rear row and sit with them while traveling. However, the one thing that gets me is the dang payload. I agree with everyone here about Tundra being stout, stable and well built but if you are going to start towing alot you need to consider your payload now and in the future when your kids get bigger and you want a bigger trailer. 2 adults and 2 kids and maybe a dog and you will have limited pin weight left to be legal (which is different than which vehicle actually performs better, tundra wins imo). I towed a 26bhs micro lite and i wouldnt be able to go any bigger and stay legal, using wdh too. However, tundra towed flawlessly and always felt safe even with wind while towing that load with wdh.

Also, you should consider adding transmission cooler, as stated earlier. My 18 has it, 19+ it was removed. If I had 19 or newer I would add it based on temps i see when towing.

I have had cam tower leak fixed and rear diff leak fixed and still feel good about my decision to go with tundra (i did purchase extended warranty after i found out about cam tower leak, piece of mind in case other side starts to leak outside of warranty since the robot that applied my gasket sealer must have been hung over that day)

 

If you plan to keep it past the warranty period go with the Tundra. And to be honest the only “new technology” that’s worth a shit is CarPlay/AndroidAuto and radar cruise control!

I hear many coworkers talking about always staying in a newer vehicle with a warranty because it’s so nice when there are ARE problems to just hand over the keys! And no worries about the repair cost! The big 3 have them well trained!

 

Hang on, now. We dont know what gear he puts the shifter in when he tows or if he plans on using the Hoe/Tall button.

Besides... there's been zero info on what tire size hes runnin' w/o rubbin' and what engine oil he will choose.

I wont even get into what mileage he will do his first oil change. I guess it'll depend on what kind of break-in procedure he used.

 

What’s the best balance between MPG and engine oil rubbing? I want a big cooler, but not too big.

 

Well it appears the choice is an easy one, at least for some...

“An F-150 is far better than a Tundra from an overall standpoint, especially if you level up to the XLT or Lariat grades.”

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...v8-against-2021-ford-f-150-hybrid-159141.html

 

If you havent, go to an F150 forum and read through all the systemic issues they have. Decision will be made for you.

 

Yup he was kissed off! I decided to leave it. Trying to be more reputable haha

 

It was all they offered when his brand new truck was burning oil.

 

I owned a 2003 7.3L non catalyst turbo diesel F350 crew cab. That was a good truck. At 160k it lost the HPOP and had finicky injector sensors. I sold it for a mint.

Ford doesn't make trucks like this anymore. It kicked the Chevy duracrap daily. Chevy reliability has also tanked. We won't even discuss Dodge/Fiat/Stalantis. The cummins is worth money but that's it.

You've run out of options. If you want a paid off truck that runs forever, it's going to be the Tundra. Congrats to the member with 400k!

 

Thank you... It only took 43 replies to mention the pathetic payload numbers of the Tundra. For example, the payload of my 2018 Platinum is around 1100 lbs. So subtract occupants, cargo, any accessories that I added, bigger (E rated) tires and there is little left over for the hitch weight of a camper. Will my truck tow a 28 foot travel trailer? Yes, but it will be over the payload rating.

 

Just get the Tundra.

 

OH ok. Wasn't sure how take that. I was thinking "Ford techs be like..."

 

That’s not even the real space shuttle . It was made out of cardboard .

 

It’s real. It’s just not really putting any tongue weight on the truck.

 

I know I was just being an ass that’s all.

 

Do NOT discount that Toyota sets the payload artificially low to be able to "comply" with the benevolent imperial federal guvmunts gas mileage requirements--------and the myriad of exceptions related thereto.

 

Yeah, I pay more attention to the axle ratings. Still, the stock rear leafs are pretty weak.

Given the chance to do it all over again, I would still pick a Tundra. I would still install a cooler. And I would still add something to beef up the rear leafs. They’ll squat with a just a few hundred pounds of softener salt in the back.

 

The Tundra isn't the only one to squat like that, pretty common for all them to be a tad soft in the back end. I'm just peeved they did a 2.25" leaf instead of the 3" in the others. At least with a 3" there would be options for those of us willing to take a stiffer ride for some added capacity. Instead the only good option is airbags.