Prospective buyer. Tell me what you love about your Gen1 Tundra

I have been going around and around on trying to maximize my budget to get a low mileage powerful Toyota pickup, preferably nimble enough for off road but capable for hauling and towing.

I have a 4.7L V8 4Runner. I was initially looking to get the 5.7L Tundra. Then I started looking at the 4.7L Tundras.

Seems like a similar condition and mileage 5.7L Tundra is about twice the price (e.g. a 150,000 miles Gen1 is about $8-12k whereas a Gen2 vintage with this mileage is about $16-24k). Or maybe 2-3 or even 4x as much for a newer Gen. I could probably save a little money and get a Gen2 with the 4.6L V8 which seems to have roughly the same or maybe a little higher output than the 4.7L V8. But I'm not sure if or how the added weight of the Gen2 may play a role in that. Or towing and payload capacities off hand.

It almost seems that the Gen1 Tundras with the 4.7L are the perfect truck and a great value right now.

First, I see a LOT of 300,000 mile Gen1 Tundras for sale and in pretty good condition. The truck seems bombproof.

Seems the average for sale Gen1 with about 150k miles is about $8-12,000. I could easily swing that, and with the expected 300,000 miles or more lifespan, seems would be a good investment.

I guess I'm looking for is feedback from Gen1 owners or especially those with significant feedback of both to share. I'm torn between spending about $10k on a Gen1 or maybe double that on a Gen2, plus or minus with condition and options.

(My goal is to have a competent rugged reliable pickup for medium duty hauling, towing, home improvements, moving furniture and appliances, light/medium towing chores, etc.).

Thanks for your feedback and share of enthusiasm for these great trucks.

{Also, I was looking at the newer Tacomas but with only a 4L V6, it seems that the better truck would be a Gen1 Tundra with the 4.7L V8 in roughly the same size truck. Is my thinking on point or skewed?}

 

In 12 hard years only one thing has broke, and that was arguably my fault.

 

I paid $2900 for my gen1 4x4 limited with 171k. Not to say those deals are out there all the time but if you look hard enough and are patient, they can be had.

 

Mines got 194k on the ODO and has survived a 70MPH rollover. i'd say theyre tough trucks. Not as massive as the 2nd gens either. (which i find nice) interior quality is great. other than the severely dated design. the drive train is solid (05-06 have better transmissions and a bit more power)


most importantly the trucks are comfortable and reliable. not much more you can ask more. just watch therust

 

I'm finding my 2003 1st gen to be the perfect size vehicle. I've yet to run out of engine, but I don't pull trailers full of boulders up the rocky mountains either. I also think the visibility is better from a 1st gen. Big inside, just right outside.

I would say to give any a very good look underneath. I've replaced all the hard lines - brakes, gas, power steering underneath from rust. Toyota replaced the frame. So you just really need to know what's up under it's skirts before making an offer. I'm still okay on it with all that work because I took the time to give it a good look under.

All that said, it's turned into my favorite daily driver, they're just a great vehicle.

 

I prefer my 2nd gen over my 1st

I acquired my 07 CrewMAX 5.7 for $9,500 with 125,000 miles

Deals can be had. If you think you’d be happier with the 2nd gen then maybe take some time and don’t rush.

 

It sounds like you are hunting for a Unicorn... it's doable.

Find yourself a nice 4.7L 1st gen regular cab long bed with 4WD or 2WD, or find yourself a nice 5.7L 2nd gen regular cab short bed with 4WD or 2WD. The 2nd gen RCSB is more nimble & powerful, but both models I listed will do the job as you have described it.

 

Yes

Loved my 2001 SR5 and hated to sell it but had too (growing family..)

 

Nimble = first gen
Towing/Hauling = Depends on how much you're trying to do. I think the first-gen is plenty capable. If you're pushing the limits, go for 05-06 VVTi/5spd. At a minimum, I'd go for 03+.

Interior room - If you have kids that need to ride, I would go DC which takes further away from the nimbleness but if you plan to drive by yourself RC or AC would fit perfectly.

I originally just went looking for a Supercharger for my LX470 and ended up buying a first-gen S/C Tundra instead. During my search, I looked at the 2/3rd gen Tundra's but my intent was an off-road rig for just me. I have the LX470 when the family is going.

With that said, my priorities were:

• Reliability
• Durability
• 4x4
  
• Overall size
• Interior room
• Power

The first-gen is definitely reliable and durable (rust pending of course). There are a few weak spots but these can be prevented with correctly maintaining the vehicle (timing belt/LBJ's). The size, for me, was the smallest "full-size" truck out there and only a smidge larger than a Taco but with MUCH better interior room, payload & towing capacity. The power isn't anything to write home about but it's plenty sufficient for my goals.

It really is a great all-around truck that THANKFULLY has been overlooked so the pricing is nowhere near Tacos. The only bad, imo, is lack of aftermarket support. There's enough to do "anything" but there are not many options within each category if that makes sense.

Either way, I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

1) Its paid off.

2) No ‘new truck’ payment and the ensuing high crushing PP Taxes with ‘owning’ something.

3) Truck has never left me stranded since owning it new from 2002.

4) Solid size. Not too big or small.

5) Engine is bullet proof.

6) Parts are readily available.

7) Easy to work on and restore.

8) Tows/hauls nicely up to about 4k lbs.

9) Floats like butterfly and stings like bee.

 

Well like Rex I have both and have had several of both as well as a V8 4Runner and a 100 series Cruiser so I think I can offer personal experience for all of them.

The one thing not clear is why you are looking to get rid of the 4Runner?

I will assume it is for the space in the bed of the truck for the things you want to haul and that is an obvious win for the truck for sure as the 4Runner is just not a big truck inside.
For me it was also about comfort on longer trips where I simply can not get and stay comfortable in a 4Runner and could not live with that.
The Cruiser upped the ante in every direction and is the Grail Truck for many including me or so I thought but I still can not get Comfy in one for long trips!
So I traded my Cruiser towards the new bigger Tundra as the 1st Gen Tundra is the only vehicle in a long time that I can live in for a few weeks on the road,there is enough room to spread out in the seat to not get cramped and stiff on long drives and mine are also just Regular Cabs too!
The 3rd Gen hes more space inside and even more room i the seat and much more behind the seat than the 1st Gen does yet it is not as comfortable to sit in for long periods somehow? I think it is that the seats are too hard? I don't know how they screwed this up but I go numb in the 3rd gen in a few hours in the seat.

So the 3rd Gen Tundra is way too honkin huge for no real good reason from what I can tell so far?
Sure it is more powerful,has no timing belt and is more modern I guess in most ways.
The thing that surprises me is that it really is not bigger in the bed except for being taller and in fact is almost too tall to reach over the rails to get into the bed when needed,not a problem that I have with the 1st gen ever.
Both beds are the same length and width it is just the height and sheer massiveness of the body panels that leave to 3rd gen almost too huge to be useful to me in real life?!

I also think the finish materials are better in the older truck as is often mentioned here and the drive is crazy firm and bouncy in the newer truck too the 1st gen ride is pretty amazing really and does not beat me up in the same way in an all day drive.

I mainly use the trucks for long unplanned job road trips around 3k miles long and often towing a 3 to 5k trailer and either are real workhorses for that load and there is no problem at all for either for this or even bigger loads all day long and I go through the Rockies about half the time.
They even get about the same MPG while towing which right now at least is not a big deal but I am sure the costs will be going back up soon.
I feel like I have more power headroom in the 5.7 maybe but not as much as you might imagine either and over XMas I drove a brand new 5.7l Sequoia across the country with a tiny trailer but through bad weather most of the way and I got the worst MPG I have ever seen and felt underpowered much of the time too so my take is that there are a lot more factors that go into the power feel than just the engine size at work for sure!

My Off Roading is mostly on Construction Sites with no roads and often a lot of mud and I think they are about equal here probably too although again the 1st Gen is smaller ad more "Handy" there too though not as much as the AWD 4Runner or Cruiser were either but that is trade off that I knew going in I was will to make for the cargo space and towing manners too.

I think other than losing a coil pack last year I have not had a single break down in the 1st Gen truck in 150K on the road.

So While my plan was to sell the 1st Gen when I found a 3rd Gen that I liked I am not so sure now that this is what will happen?

Hope this helps.

 

Great feedback! I do differ on the comfort from the 100 series. I don't think there's a difference in the seating of the 100 series but my LX470 is SOOO comfortable for long road trips. We do a few annually and usually 1500-1800 miles and I don't get the fatigue or any pains when driving it. My Tundra on the other hand, which is the Limited, after a few hours my lower back feels it. Thanks to a member here, I did adjust the lumbar support that I didn't realize I had and it helped significantly but nowhere near as comfy as my 100 series. I think that's been my only complaint about my Tundra. I want to replace with 100 series seats but the leather won't match the backset/door panels so I'm a little hesitant.

 

@ezdog, I'm not parting with the 4Runner.

Thanks everyone so far for the feedback.

 

I'm one of those with 300k+ miles. It's been great while I've had it the past few years, and most of the maintenance needed isn't anything stopping me from driving it. Still absolutely reliable.

If you do go 2nd gen, i wouldn't get the 4.7/4.6. The added heft of those would make it feel under powered. Ever drive a domestic with the smaller v8? Same thing.

 

The one thing I like about the 2nd Gen Tundra is the strong 5.7; but it ends there. I mean that's it...

To me the 1st Gen Tundra is a no nonsense straight up truck. Nothing flashy or fancy just a comfortable reliable truck. Throw a couple of upgrades like Bluetooth and a backup camera and you'll have all of the "modern" items you'll ever need (total around $300).

I drive an '06 DBL Cab and was just talking to the wife about how many I see on the road. I went on to tell her that they only made them for 3 years, no way I should see this many. I couldn't have been more proud when she said "well, they just won't die". Seems she does listen...who knew.

I'm not sure you can go wrong with either (only because they're both Toyota trucks) but agree if you go 2nd Gen get the 5.7.

Good luck!

 

I notice this as well. I see them all the time. I think the only thing that kills them is rust and wrecks.

 

Its a legroom thing for me thats all and we are all built differently so what is OK for you is not for me maybe.
If not for that I would NEVER have sold the Cruiser!