I Need Your Tundra Opinions

Yo, I got rear ended (pretty minor) in my 2016 Tacoma and it tweaked the frame, so they will probably total it out, which blows my mind. I have been wanting to upgrade to a Tundra for a while. The new ones are stupid expensive so I will be looking for something 2014 to 2020ish I think. I know everything there is to know about the 3rd gen Tacoma but nothing about the 2.5 gen Tundra. I will be coming from a 2016 Long Bed Off Road. I tow a 21 foot boat, use the bed a lot, haul a trailer etc. What should I look for and look out for? I'll probably have to get one with at least 60 to 100K miles to stay in my budget range.

Thank you all! Joe

 

Biggest feedback you'll find on here is regarding the transmission cooler. Toyota dropped the external cooler for 2019 IIRC. Tons of threads on here if you search.

Opt for a Tundra with the 38 gallon tank. You'll appreciate it when towing.

Just like Tacoma's, 60-100k miles is nothing for a Tundra.

 

If you use the bed a lot, look for a DC since it has a longer bed.

 

Sorry to hear about the taco

 

I agree with the above, I’m a previous DCLB owner and am super happy with my 2nd gen Tundra. It doesn’t have the tech that 2.5 gen’s do, but most of that can be added aftermarket.

Tranny cooler does seem to be a hot topic for the 2.5 gen guys, going from a DCLB Tacoma to a DC Tundra shouldn’t be much of a difference as far as backseat comfort goes. I’d just stay away from a truck that’s been lifted, some people do it right, some people take short cuts.

Check the roof for paint/sealer life as I have seen some in worse shape than others. Don’t worry about fuel economy, it’s a balance of reliability.

Sorry to hear about your Tacoma, that’s a real bummer.

 

Cam tower leaks should be on your watch list

 

I’d try and get a 15+ Doublecab with the 38 gallon tank (not available prior to 2015) and the 5.7. I like 15-17 personally since it has the factory trans cooler, 38 gallon tank available, and it’s prior to the Toyota safety sense stuff which I do not like personally. If you want the safety sense tech then you need 18+. The only thing the trucks up to 2017 lack that I wanted is the LED headlights but you can buy them and install relatively easily and affordable and it’s a huge upgrade.

 

Get under the truck and check for rust.

There have been a couple recent threads on frame rust that has gone unnoticed by the buyer or mechanic.

 

Thanks for the info. I noticed that some Tundras have the bench seat, which I kind of like. Was that eliminated after a certain year? The double cab is probably what I would go with, since I am used to the 6 foot bed in the Tacoma, going to a 5.5 would be hard. Although the double cab looks like less backseat room, I think it is still bigger than the Tacomas?

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the double cab tundra had the same or more room than the double cab tacoma back seat. I feel my tacoma back seat is small. I even took out my tacoma back seats a few months after buying it.

 

Double cab has great room in it compared to any Taco.

 

I think double cab Tundra is slightly bigger than the double cab in a Tacoma. I wouldn't say it's by a whole lot though.

OP, Do you plan on having kids back there or extra passengers? If so, even though the 5.5 bed kinda sucks, the crewmax back seat is awesome. Plus plenty of room for hauling items that you need out of the elements.

 

I do put 2 car seats in the back of my Tacoma. I had a 1500 Ram for a rental for a month and the legroom was amazing. A lot less fighting in the back seat.

 

Can’t get the bench seat and the big gas tank. I opted for CM with the short bed since I have three kids and it was the right call. We also tow a 22’ boat that’s about 6,500 lbs on the trailer. Agree with 2016-2017 being the sweet spot for value / features.

 

I went from a DCLB Tacoma to a Crew Max Tundra with the 5.5 bed. Even though the Tundra's bed is a good 6 inches shorter, it's so much wider that it hasn't been an issue and still feels bigger than the Tacoma's. If I have, for example, a 6' ladder, I can just put it in diagonally and be fine.

Best of luck in your decision.

 

I am leaning towards the 6.5 foot bed; especially since I feel I have outgrown the size of my current bed with two dogs and camping etc. I am located in NC. There seems to be a lot of crew cabs available but not a ton of double cabs. Prices are all over the place.

 

A hitch mounted cargo carrier and rear suspension upgrade can quickly solve most cargo space issues. I have a custom made 42"x 60", it's almost like having a small trailer. Money and time well spent.

 

38 gallon tank came out in 2016. Which I think is a must have. Along with keyless entry, Apple CarPlay, and the shark fin antenna which came out in 2020. Just get a 2020.

 

Problem with the bench seat is you can’t get the 38 gallon tank with it.

 

Ah yes, you’re right 2016 and a definite must have with these gas guzzlers. As for the other features I suppose it’s rather subjective. I hate that keyless fob crap, my wife’s 19’ rav4 has it and it truly annoys us over a regular key with a keyless entry remote. As for the carplay I agree that’s also a necessity. All of the factory headunits are hot garbage anyway though so I wouldn’t consider that a factor. I replaced mine with a carplay Kenwood and bypassed the factory amp and it sounds much better.

 

I will never buy another car without keyless entry. My daily driver has a remote control and I want to kick the door every time I get in and out. What don’t you like about it?

 

Our main gripes are the batteries needing frequent replacement compared to regular fobs, not being able to start the car without a foot on the brake such as from the passenger seat, and the added complexity with the addition of a previously non existent failure point. With the addition of this tech came the annoying feature of the vehicle shutting off after being remote started when you open the door. I have to assume the fobs are more expensive to replace as well but maybe not. We see it as a solution to a problem that didn’t exist. Call us old fashioned lol.

 

A not so well known secret with Toyotas with the pushbutton start...

You CAN start the car from the passenger seat, without your foot on the brake.

Without pressing the brake, press the start switch once to go into accessory mode. Once in accessory mode and still with your foot off the brake, press and hold the start switch for about 10-15 seconds and the car will start.

 

That’s cool thanks for the tip, I’ll have to try it. Still, you better believe I’ll be saying “stupid f***ing s**t” under my breath as I hold the button in for 15 seconds instead of just turning a key.

 

Hey, that’s exactly what is say! “stupid f***ing s**t” every time I have to pull my key out of my pocket.

 

Well we may have different opinions on modern technology but at least we can agree on a few choice words as preferred expletives!

 

The double cab backseat is very roomy. My son is 6'2" and very comfortable back there with plenty of room. He has commented on how comfortable it is. I have sat back there a few times, and at 6', agree. You won't really want for room in the back with a DC. Is it crew max big? No but that is just overkill. You can run laps back there but sacrifice bed space.

 

I drove a 2000 Tundra Access Cab for twenty two years. Its back seat was big enough for two car seats, then two young kids, then two teens and then two adult children. The present day Double Cab is enormous in comparison. Plenty of room for day to day stuff. Wouldn't want to go cross country back there but that isn't really valid.

I would never sacrifice bed length for a full size cab but that is me. AFAIK you can get a long bed with a Crew Max in the 2022, but then the wheelbase is longer, which is something else I have no interest in.

 

I looked at a few tundras this weekend. Not a lot of double cabs out there. The ones I did like were black and for some reason both had deep scratches on both rear fenders. Anyone had success fixing deep scratches down to primer? I think I'm being picky but my 2016 tacoma has immaculate paint.

 

I have a 2014 black double cab. At first I wished I had a crew cab, but after using the bed and making it my own, I think the double cab is just right.