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Growing Family.... Outgrown the Tundra and may have to part ways =(

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by Devildawg712, Feb 20, 2021.

  1. Feb 21, 2021 at 9:17 AM
    #31
    Black

    Black Raised Hands Surround Us. 3 Nails To Protect Us

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    Absolutely getting kids in and out of a van opposed to a little 4Runner is far easier but I was not comping it to a small SUV. I was making the comparison to a full size SUV.
    Having to climb all the way in the back to buckle the kids up or when they drop something is a pain.
    I even completely removed the passenger side middle seat to make it easier to climb in and out.
    The sliding doors are great till your kid gets tangled up in one. I ended up shutting ours off.

    I’ll gladly take a full size SUV over the van any day.
     
  2. Feb 21, 2021 at 9:27 AM
    #32
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    Those sequoias with captains chairs are legit. And since nobody has asked I guess I’ll be the first. If/when you sell the tundra will you be parting out or selling as-is? That light bar looks mighty appealing haha.

    also, are your fogs the sae rigid yellows? Or the white ones with yellow film over them? They look great!
     
    Rex Kramer likes this.
  3. Feb 21, 2021 at 9:33 AM
    #33
    SC_TRD

    SC_TRD Big BASTRD 4x4 Enthusiast

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    We have 3 kids (6,4,2), and a lab and our cars are a Sequoia and a Tundra. Honestly we have been using the Tundra more than the Sequoia.. only advantage the sequoia has is the 3rd row, which isn’t needed for our own family, only when we have friends with us. Otherwise the bed of the crewmax is easier to put all of the bikes in or gear when going on trips. And agreed with above, trunk space is abysmal when 3rd row is up..

    Anywho, just saying I don’t think getting a sequoia will really solve your issues over the Tundra. Put a tonneau cover on the tundra or a camper and it will provide way more room for your family than the Sequoia would.

    Best of luck on your search!

    EDIT: all set for the beach this morning..No sandy paws inside the car. And kids have tons of room in the backseat.
    540383D5-57F7-46D7-8F85-177382212E42.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2021
  4. Feb 21, 2021 at 10:02 AM
    #34
    MaxMB

    MaxMB New Member

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    Does that ever bring up fond memories! I had a 2001 Pontiac Montana even before any kids and it was fantastic. My friends were pitching tents while I just layed out an air mattress on camping trips. It moved tons of people and gear on hiking trips both inside it and with an Escargo rooftop carrier. And those unattractive plastic side panels on the exterior meant I didn't care at all about door dings, shopping carts, etc. Let the slobs do whatever they want in the parking lots, it was all good with ol' plastic-sides. I did 2 complete renos and a new garage with it - once had it packed literally front-to back side to side with insulation for the garage, was an eerily quiet ride, haha. My only gripe with that vehicle was that it was a bit of a bear to remove the seats, since none of them folded down flat, so I often left the rear seats out. The stowaway rear row seats feature came later in the 2009 Sienna we bought new. I sold the Montana at around 320k km and all it needed it was a bit of rocker work to pass inspection. I still have a longbox truck with a canopy, but if I had to pick a single vehicle for pure utility, it'd be a minivan, no question. My sister is very anti-minivan, but she also seems to hate money, so more power to them!

    The only reason the 2009 Sienna likely won't be replaced with another minivan is the increasing tendancy towards features that reduce utility. For instance, in the older minivans the center console could fold out of the way for moving long cargo - not so with the newer Siennas. If it's less flexible, I might as well get an EV crossover (Polestar is looking very interesting) as the DD. Many years ago I had a GMC Safari and thought it was the bee knees at the time, but a FWD minivan with snow tires just chews through winter here.
     
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  5. Feb 21, 2021 at 10:15 AM
    #35
    Solace_In_My_Tundra

    Solace_In_My_Tundra New Member

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    Out there somewhere
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    Except you don’t have to climb to the back to buckle in the kids with the odyssey. You simply place them inside to the third row while almost half your body is still outside of the vehicle instead of crawling all the way to the back of a full size suv to buckle them in third row.
     
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  6. Feb 21, 2021 at 10:25 AM
    #36
    akmerle

    akmerle New Member

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    I know I said get a topper earlier, but oh man those new Yukon AT4’s with the 6.2L sure are sweet!
     
  7. Feb 21, 2021 at 10:42 AM
    #37
    BobsYourUncle

    BobsYourUncle New Member

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    OP, you mention dad duties... just curious, are you a full time dad? Or are dad duties more like running kids around after work / weekends? If the latter, then the Sequoia will probably be fine (minus the lack of storage mentioned). If the former...

    As an owner of a Tundra, a previous owner of a Suburban (traded it in on mini-van), and also an owner of a Pacifica mini-van with 3 kids (2 in boosters, one in full car seat that likes to be carried still), I'd have to say for my daily dad duties where it's just me and no wife (involving frequent in/out, drop offs, pick ups, shopping, etc...), the Pacifica wins hands down.

    As everyone mentioned above, the sliding / automatic doors are a game changer. Need to drop someone off? Assuming they can unfasten their own seat belt, just park, press the button, let them hop out, press the button, and be gone. Same for pick up. Also being able to let your little kiddos out of booster or car seat for a bit while waiting to pick a sibling up and wander the mini-van a bit (while parked, of course), makes things a bit less stressful.

    Just for fun, maybe rent a nice mini-van some weekend from a rental company. Try it out, see what you think. Take a road trip someplace. Park in a super-narrow spot and be amazed that the side doors only need about 7" to operate. I wasn't a mini-van guy until we rented one when we went on vacation with just 2 kids... Told my wife if we ever had a 3rd, I could see why folks would want one. And when the 3rd came, we did, and traded in the Suburban on it. LOL

    As to why Pacifica...? Just seemed like a nice overall package when we were looking, and we aren't planing on keeping it for 15 years. Sure, it's not a Toyota, but man, with those stow and go seats, you can get a TON of stuff in the back when you need or want to (like, helping a friend pick up an 80" TV still in the box when it's raining). I've been lucky in the 23K miles so far... only oil changes so far, but that may be the exception rather than the norm.
     
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  8. Feb 21, 2021 at 6:42 PM
    #38
    Devildawg712

    Devildawg712 [OP] New Member

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    Appreciate all the feedback, and even the side convos that came about. All good things to consider. However the main reason why I want the Sequoia is because I have to get rid of the Tundra as that is my personal car and I have to subtract one from the fleet. AND.... I'm for DAMN SURE not gonna get a minivan to replace the Tundra. The only options, for me, are the 2021 Denali and a late model Platinum Sequoia.
     
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  9. Feb 22, 2021 at 7:11 AM
    #39
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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    Irrelevant. My friend used to sleep on an air mattress in his Ford Escort and he was still cooler than anyone driving a minivan.

    My parents raised me and my two brothers in a 1993 Mazda MPV, which had only one rear door and it didn't slide and yet we somehow turned out fine. If that worked for us, a Sequoia would work for you if you really don't think the Tundra would, @Devildawg712
     
    Devildawg712[OP] likes this.
  10. Feb 22, 2021 at 7:14 AM
    #40
    trucksareforgirls2

    trucksareforgirls2 New Member

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    I know it's not as cool as a sequoia, but I highly recommend the Highlander! Nicest SUV I have ever owned, and if I didn't have my house I would still have one.

    -T
     
    tundraatx likes this.
  11. Feb 22, 2021 at 7:15 AM
    #41
    MaxMB

    MaxMB New Member

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    Yeah I didn't think he'd be sleeping on an air mattress in his vehicle, so...?
     
  12. Feb 22, 2021 at 1:49 PM
    #42
    gtoninn

    gtoninn New Member

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    Currently trying to keep the kid number at 3 in order to keep my Tundra!

    But do you have any more pictures of the Back To The Future spec pickup?!?! Thing looks sweet! "Check out that 4x4!"
     
    Devildawg712[OP] likes this.
  13. Feb 22, 2021 at 7:58 PM
    #43
    Devildawg712

    Devildawg712 [OP] New Member

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    gtoninn[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Feb 23, 2021 at 1:27 PM
    #44
    GT87

    GT87 New Member

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    Bro, go with a minivan. I was like you and was DEADSET on NEVER getting one. However, I lost that battle with the power and we ended up getting a 2018 Honda 3 years ago and just traded it in for a new 2021 Sienna. With 3 kids and 2 dogs I wont even entertain the thought of not having a minivan in the fleet. At least while the kids are still young (10,8, and 8). The versatility is unmatched compared to an SUV.
     
  15. Feb 23, 2021 at 2:26 PM
    #45
    maxdriver

    maxdriver New Member

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    Alot of good options have been suggested in this thread, but how about the redesigned 2021 Armada? New front and rear lighting and new infotainment makes for a nice upgrade over the previous generation IMHO...
     
  16. Feb 23, 2021 at 2:28 PM
    #46
    Cpl_Punishment

    Cpl_Punishment Young men never die.

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  17. Feb 23, 2021 at 2:37 PM
    #47
    maxdriver

    maxdriver New Member

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    Haha....since 2016 it's been built in Japan...AKA the Patrol...

    No concern for Canadian banishment for dissing your countrymen?:)
     
  18. Feb 23, 2021 at 2:44 PM
    #48
    Breathing Borla

    Breathing Borla I'd rather be fishing

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    this^

    yup, my wife has a 2015 Sienna and I have 16 tundra, its not even close for ease of use with kids and also comfort on trips is not even close, minivan hands down.
     
  19. Feb 23, 2021 at 2:49 PM
    #49
    wandering_boy

    wandering_boy Junior Tech Wizard

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    Don't let a kid out smart you.
    No way! I saw this ad on craigslist today! If I had the money I would buy it because that thing is so sweet! but I also don't want to part with the ol' 05 soooo....




    :spending:
     
  20. Feb 23, 2021 at 2:59 PM
    #50
    bmc02

    bmc02 New Member

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    Rented a Yukon XL for a road trip with extended family back in May and as much as I don't want to admit it, it was really nice. Fuel economy with 3 adults, and 3 kids and a weeks worth of luggage was 20+. Range on a tank was over 600. minivan wouldn't have cut it... Can't speak to their reliability, never owned anything besides Toyota. For a big family it would be near top of my list.
     
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  21. Feb 23, 2021 at 3:06 PM
    #51
    Devildawg712

    Devildawg712 [OP] New Member

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    Kudos to y’all with the minivans. You are all better men than me. .... allegedly.

    Still, at this point in my life. The answer is Hell to the NO on a plain jane minivan when it comes to replacing the TRD Pro.

    I’d definitely explore those beefed up a Mercedes sprinter Adventure vehicles but those are $$$.

    Who knows tho, my vehicle purchases and projects I take on sometimes have a mind of their own. My buddy owns a Japanese import car service and has been dying to get me into a DELICA. while the RHD is cool imma need waaay more than that to fill in the void of losing the Tundra. When I was building my BTTF pickup I ran across a picture of the 4x4 OG minivan and that actually caught my eye. I’m sure it’s tiny in there but it looked bad ass. So there you go, I’m not totally against the minivan, just the quintessential soccer mom one

    3C092D9C-F2A5-413C-8474-9D89E607DD01.jpg
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    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
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  22. Feb 23, 2021 at 3:09 PM
    #52
    Trek

    Trek New Member

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    This is funny to me . I had fun poked at me for driving My wife’s mini van when we were raising our three boys. They are all grown now and I drive a Tundra. Sold the van about 10 years ago After we put 250,000 miles on it and I still see it on the road sometimes. It drove great and was perfect for family.
    1997 Dodge mini van.
     
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  23. Feb 23, 2021 at 6:36 PM
    #53
    grandmabetty

    grandmabetty New Member

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    The wife and I bit the bullet and purchased 2 new vehicles this year. We have 3 boys and a dog. I've been dreaming of a tundra for the better part of 5 years so I got a 21 crewmax. We wanted a 3rd row for the other vehicle. We test drove a highlander, sienna, pilot and odyssey. Odyssey was easily our favorite. They are so dang practical and nice for hauling people and things. Although I hate the 10 speed transmission I love everything else about it. It's a lame vehicle but I'm a utilitarian through and through. Also as mentioned it'll cost you about half the price of a new yukon Denali

    Oh and my last vehicle was a yukon XL. Nice vehicle and great that it can tow my boat and seat 7 but for the price I'll take the van
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
  24. Feb 23, 2021 at 6:37 PM
    #54
    JackwagonJim

    JackwagonJim New Member

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    What wheels are on your tundra? Those are sweet.

    Good luck on the new purchase btw.
     
  25. Feb 24, 2021 at 7:46 PM
    #55
    Tundra_Enthused

    Tundra_Enthused New Member

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    Sounds like momma needs a minivan!!
     
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  26. Feb 24, 2021 at 8:03 PM
    #56
    Tundra_Enthused

    Tundra_Enthused New Member

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    Mannnn id definitely drive that last toyota lifted van
     
  27. Feb 24, 2021 at 8:41 PM
    #57
    Kn4x2

    Kn4x2 Common sense is not so common!

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    I like those wheels as well.......Black Rhino Armory?
     
  28. Feb 24, 2021 at 9:31 PM
    #58
    realtorblake

    realtorblake Tundra Thunda

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  29. Feb 24, 2021 at 9:55 PM
    #59
    ACDC2ZZTop

    ACDC2ZZTop Rock n Roll!

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    Lincoln continental is on my list of rebuild cars I’d like to tackle. Love the suicide doors
     
  30. Feb 24, 2021 at 10:05 PM
    #60
    Devildawg712

    Devildawg712 [OP] New Member

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