New here, but not to Tundra

I bought my 2000 Limited TRD Tundra NEW in 1999. It was the full package with every dealer option available then, including leather, TRD yellow Billy shocks, a good alarm system (still works), Lexus V8, running boards, bed liner, 4WD, Auto tranny, quad doors, and high end Infinity stereo. The only thing I wanted over that was the tow package, but that was not available on that model for whatever reason. I also like the later option of the electric rear window that my nephew has on his Tundra.

I was tired of fixing my '91 Range Rover GDE which was always braking down, and I had to get parts from the UK or pay through the nose here for them. I never regretted selling the Rover and buying the Tundra. I have about 225k miles on the TuRD now. That is the name that my Land Rover buddies gave it, after one guy used electrical tape to add a 'u' between the T and RD on the fender decals on an off-road trek in Southern Oregon/Northern California. The name stuck. But it can go anywhere that my Rover could. At that time I was skiing a lot at Lake Tahoe, and this thing was a dream in the snow. I never got stick in snow in this Tundra. I have a set of snow chains for it, but I have never had to use them. It also does not take that much to keep up, except for a diet of front brake rotors, a star wheel upgrade in the rear brakes (per TSB), one new coil that blew out at about 150k miles, new upgraded rear axle seals (per TSB), a rebuilt center box by Toyota under warranty after it was stuck in 2WD off-roading (per TSB), a front brake caliper upgrade to the new larger calipers (per TSB, the rotors are the exact same, BTW), and lots of tires, brake pads, several timing and fan belts, radiator hoses (I change all the belts and hoses out every new timing belt), gobs of oil, over ten thousand gallons of gas, many gallons of spendy Toyota red radiator fluid, a new water pump with the last timing belt change, oh, and a new dipstick that Toyota sent me because the original was too short. I also added a GlassTite canopy when I moved to Oregon, and I put on a SurePull class V tow bar. The 2000 Limited did not come with a tow package for some reason. I have also gone through 2 windshields and a half dozen wiper blade sets. And several changes of brake fluid, power steering fluid, auto tranny fluid and filters (pop quiz: anyone know the actual amount of tranny fluid if you drain the entire tranny and cooler in a TRD Tundra? I had to add many more quarts than the book says last time I left the tranny to drain completely overnight). My truck will take 22.8 gallons of gas when drained.

It still runs good. I had hoped to get 200k miles out of it when I bought it, and I am well past that now. Brake judder and front brake rotors are the biggest complaint, cheap ass door hinges and stays are my other complaint, as well as the damn seat belts not retracting well. The leather is holding up rather well. The CD player has crapped out on me. The door handles and rear window snaps are breaking on me now as well. And the gas hatch cover broke off, and I fixed it with JB weld. The gas cap door does not sit quite flush with the body any more. The gas mileage is not that great, but some of that has to do with the newer crappy E-10 gas, and it still gets way better mileage than my Rover did. I still think that it has plenty of power and I love the engine. I also like the 4WD on the fly, but it can be klonky around tight turns in 4WD. My nephew has more miles than I do on his '03, and his will not go into 4WD any more. My bet is that it is due to the same problem I had with mine with the center box not engaging.

Anyway, I off-road a lot, I tow a lot, I haul a lot, and I drive a lot in snow. No real issues with this truck overall... but it could have had some better design features, like larger front brake rotors, better door stays and a better seat belt return springs. I also want a 3rd gear lock on the tranny like the Rovers have. 3rd gear locked would be berter for mountain driving.

Oh, and HELLO to all y'all. I am in north Oregon, BTW. Lived in California and Oregon for most of my life.

 

Welcome!

 

Yah, photos coming sometime in the future. Been busy lately.

 

BTW: I also do and have done all my own work on this truck, except the center box was rebuilt by Toyota under warranty. Mine was the first to fail that way and led to a TSB on it. No 4WD had them all scratching their heads.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome from TN!!

 

New improved thread, and now less worthless...

 

Welcome bud

 

Bienvenidos de Tejas!!!

 

Welcome from Southern California!

 

Welcome from eastern CO!

 

Welcome, I used to have the same truck but in white.

 

Welcome from Las Vegas!!

 

Welcome from CO!

 

Great opening post, it's very interesting to see what items you've dealt with over the past 17 years with your first gen. I too am hoping to not have to replace my truck for 12-15 years, longer just means more money in my pockets.

If you guys haven't seen this, it's pretty dang cool:

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/1602-the-million-mile-2007-toyota-tundra/

Also, welcome from UT!

 

Welcome from Texas! Glad to have you here!

 

Welcome from CO.

 

Welcome from Maine!

 

Lots of interesting people here for sure! Thanks for the heaps of welcome.

 

Welcome from UT. Gotta love a strong yota. I love reading success stories about high mileage. Keeps me satisfied with the thoughts of keeping my truck.

 

Welcome!

 

I think my nephew's Tundy has 260k miles on it. Its an '03 TRD Limited, except its blue. He bought his because he liked mine. He taunts me with his electric roll down rear window that my Tundy does not have. Last time we went out off-roading and shooting, his 4WD went out on him though, and I think his has the same problem that mine did early on, stuck in 2WD.

 

Welcome from AZ

 

Ah, Arizona. I am thinking of moving there or New Mexico, as the record rain, snow and ice here is endless. I want heat!

 

The heat is just an excuse to take road trips up north where it is cooler. Lol