Thinking about purchasing a Tundra but need advice

Long time reader but first post so please bear with me.

Long story short, I currently own a 2019 F-250 Lariat with all the bells and whistles. It is a crew cab long box, 4x4, FX4 but it likely the biggest POS I have ever owned. Coming from a high mileage Duramax which was problem free for 150K, I opted to try another Ford this go around but this time a gasser due to the sheer amount of emissions issues on the newer diesels. Hands down, my current truck was either built on a late Friday afternoon or Ford just doesn't care anymore about build quality. I am now up to 5 recalls and half a dozen warranty claims that I am being fought on every step of the away. This truck has spent so much time in the shop, I borderline qualify to pursue my states lemon law as the issues keep popping up with a whopping 13K miles. At this point, I am done with it even if I take a bath on trade in.


This brings me to shopping for a new truck and the Tundra caught my eye just due to the sheer reliability they are known for (hopefully I am right on this). I am sure I will have a little disappointment as I would be losing several feet in bed space, towing/load capacity and not enjoying my current 48-gallon tank if headed to the Tundra. However, I am not towing anything heavy at the moment and I will learn to pack a little lighter.


What I struggle with are the trim level packages for the Toyota. The truck will be used for commuting a few miles each day and for hunting/camping up in the Colorado mountains. I would also prefer to run a 35” (prefer 285/75r18’s) which means a lift if running a Tundra. Like anyone else, I enjoy creature comforts but do not need a 4x4 Cadillac either. I have been eyeballing the Limited as it seems to be a nice balance of options compared to the others. I love the looks of the TRD Pro as I hate chrome and enjoy the paint matching on the bumpers and such. However, I do not see the need to chase after a Pro if I plan on modifying the suspension with a lift. My must have items include LED headlights as well. Thoughts?

 

I have a lot of buddies with Fords. F150-f350’s. The tundra by far lacks in interior features and technology. It also lacks in towing capabilities.

if you’re not towing anything that’s a cakewalk for your current truck, I think you’d be happy with a limited. Chrome is easy to fix.

 

I think your thinking is spot on. A limited with custom suspension should fit your bill.

 

Are you going to be ok with payload capacity of tundra coming from a 3/4 ton. I have 2018 Limited CM 4x4 and my payload is just shy of 1200lbs. Something to think about before you downsize from running heavier rigs.

 

Not going to lie, the thought of going to a 1/2 from a 3/4 is a little painful. Having said that, I am not even close to towing anything over 6K lbs at the moment nor getting close to the maxing out the load capacity. The max at the moment is an ATV trailer with two quads and some gear. I am guessing the Tundras 4:30's and maybe some additional airbags would take care of my current needs.

I will say that the Tundra's do not have all of the gadgets and technology that my current truck has and that is something I need to make a decision on. I can also run a 35" tire with my factory suspension which to my knowledge is not possible on the Toyota. However, most of this technology I enjoy now has been proven problematic. One of my current warranty issues is the drivers heated seat went out and the sync 3 is no longer updating and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

 

I hopped in my buddies fairly new f250 the other day. whole damn dash was lighting up with errors Hahahaha

If you desire to wait, I think Toyota is talking about doing a v6 turbo that will have better towing capacity and most likely all the bells and whistles the other Toyota’s have (other than the tundra)

 

I have heard that as well but curious as to when they will actually do a reconfigure of the Tundra. Last I heard it was now 2021

 

I would suggest listing the "creature comforts" you want to keep. Is there a comparable aftermarket upgrade you can do in the Tundra? For example there are many upgrades to the Tundra entertainment system that can surpass the Ford Sync. Another example upgrade would be the LED headlights, Morimoto has released their LED's for the 14+ Tundra, and Headlight Revolution has compared them to the OEM. The Tundra has been around since 2007, with a facelift in 2014, the upgrade possibilities are numerous. Bells and Whistles can be added.

Also, with the bed length, maybe look at a Double Cab Long Bed, if bed length is critical, instead of a crewmax. You may have to compromise on some of the limited features, but you might be able to get a dealership to install some of them. You can keep the 4 door cab, and the long bed.

I am on my second Tundra, first was a '07, and now a '14.

 

I think you'll be happy with the Tundra, from a reliability standpoint. I had a 2012 as a company truck for one of my superintendents. He put 240,000 miles on it in 6 years. I now have a 2020. I bought the SR5 with the TRD Off Road package, and then put Katzkin leather seats in it to make it more luxurious. Like others mentioned above, there are plenty of aftermarket upgrades you can do. I've done a fair amount to mine as upgrades, but am not going to lift it. I deleted all of the chrome on mine, which was easy to do.

The upper trim levels (SR5 included) should all come with LEDs now, as far as headlights and fog lights. The rest of the lights are still incandescent, though. As far as technology goes, the 2020 is an improvement, as they enlarged the center screen a bit and now include Apple CarPlay, plus keyless entry and start. And every SR5 and up that I've seen for 2020 has the automatic dual zone temp. control. I agree that the Tundra is lacking in technology and gadgets compared to the competition, but the reliability wins hands down, in my opinion.

I'm not really a Ford fan. I really like the looks of the new HD GMC trucks, but the high end GM and Ford trucks are crazy expensive, compared to Toyota.

Let us know what you decide to get.

 

If you like the look of the PRO don’t be worried about adding a lift to run a 35” tire to a PRO. I added a 4” Readylift for a PRO on my 2020 to run 35” tires and the Readylift retained the stock Fox Shocks. It rides smoother than my last 3 Raptors.

 

Welcome OP. Try to find a DC looooooooooooooooong bed, lift it and add the things that matter. Don't pay extra for TRD stickers.

 

The limited would probably fit the bill, but like others said there is a plethora of upgrades and mods to be had. If you like the TRD look, hit up Roman or eBay (china parts are pretty cheap) to make any model look like a TRD. If I was you, I would look at the various trim packages and see what you want regardless about how the exterior looks (besides color). You can add LED headlights, grill, bumpers, lift, suspension, etc to your liking. Here is an example of my 2008 Sequoia. I get compliments all the time about my NEW Sequoia. Just a warning though, membership on this site is free but the money you WILL spend on the must haves that you learn from other members will add up quick. Welcome and post pics!

 

If you could afford the platinum that’s what I would get. It has more color matched parts and has heated cooled seats and power fold mirrors. Those were the big reasons I went platinum. If you want to spend less get a trd sport. That is pretty much no chrome but with less creature comfort.

you can lift either model with bike trim 6112/5160 for relatively cheap and fit the size tire you want with that. Like you stated air bags could help also added to that setup.

good luck on your decision.

 

That thing is badass

 

Looks Like the truck is just jumping into warp speed and the ass is going to catch up in a second.

 

Sometimes basic is better just my opinion. my 08 has never failed me yet. I pull a 30' camper during the summer 7k lbs loaded no problem. Im on a 6" rough country lift on 35s. Go for a trim that fits your needs but if you like to make a truck your own you might as well build from a sr5. Again just my opinion. here is my truck.

Soon hopefully going to some 22x12 wheels -44 offset. This pic is of course photo shopped Haha

 

Having owned 5 Toyota vehicles, I’m clearly a fan, but here is my input.

First of all, the Limited vs Platinum. We had a 2012 Limited Sequoia and upgraded to a 2019 Platinum last year. To be honest, the differences are minimal. The seats are slightly more comfortable in the Platinum, but not by a huge margin. Other than ventilated seats, there really isn’t a lot of difference. To be honest, the ventilated seats don’t make a ton of difference either way. Other than that, there’s a different suspension, and a couple of tvs in it. I’m ignorant to suspension stuff, so someone else will have to explain it. The TVs haven’t even been turned on since we got it.

We were a Chevy family for a really long time. We owned over the years a 1989 Silverado, a 1999 Tahoe, a 2003 Tahoe, and a 2003 Silverado. The 1989 Silverado is the only one of those I’d consider reliable. The others were constantly having issues, both minor and major. We switched to Toyota in 2011.

Of the Toyotas:

1974 Celica: It was what my wife had when we got married in 1994. I don’t remember how many miles it had on it, but it was still running when we got rid of it in 1999.

2011 Tundra: My daughter is still driving this one. It’s got about 125k on it. Only problem it ever had was the alternator going bad at around 90k. I’d had a battery going bad in it, and let it go too long. If not for that, the alternator probably wouldn’t have gone out, so that’s my fault.

2102 Sequoia: My in laws have it now. Over 200k on it, and not one single mechanical failure in that time. Never did anything but maintenance, tires, brakes, etc. Still runs perfectly, and everything in it is still working like new.

2017 Tundra: Approaching 50k. No issues.

2019 Sequoia: About 15k? No issues.

The last two aren’t great examples, since they’re still low mileage, but the others definitely show the Toyota reliability. Other than the alternator that was my fault, I’ve not had to spend a dime on repairs. No recalls on any of them that I remember.

They don’t have the gadgets or creature comforts that other brands do, but I don’t feel they’re necessary, not to mention those new gadgets tend to go out quite a bit.

 

I work in Software Engineering, so I deal with modern technology all the time, and I will say that the Tundra's lack of technology was appealing to me. A lot of the bells and whistles being marketed are just superfluous. Just look at smart phones for instance: they add features like the ability to pause a video by holding your palm toward the camera, slow-motion selfies, and enhanced emoji packs. I didn't want the vehicle equivalents. I valued things such reliability, longevity, resale/trade-in, and more accurate MSRP pricing (ex: not a "$55k" truck with $15k off).

However, there are a few technology upgrades over my 2013 Tacoma that I greatly appreciate. Apple CarPlay and adaptive cruise controls have been welcomed additions.

This. If you prefer luxury and color-matched I would opt for the Platinum over the Limited. This might even be a more affordable overall price than to purchase the Limited and upgrade to color-matched grill and bumpers.

 

Love your truck

Tragically, I like your current rims, though

 

Love those wheels what model Oz wheel is that??

 

I thought the limited was a nice balance as well for "features" happy with my decision.

 

I currently own a 2017 F150. It has the numeric keypad (never once used it) the adjustable pedals (never once used them) memory seat/mirrors (never once used them since I am the only driver) the 110 outlet (never used it).The gas tank on the Limited is actually bigger than the F150 (38 vs 36) and you want to talk about a joke sit in the back seat of an F150 Supercab. I have never thought I needed an old man step and you can actually get a locking tailgate option. The only thing that might be nice is ventilated seats tho I have never had them so don't miss them. I have had nothing but recalls and issues w/ this Ford and can't wait to get out of it and into my 2020 Limited Tundra.The ONLY things I like about the Ford is the gas mileage and I think the Ford is the best looking truck out there. I will gladly trade a few comfort features and tech for the reliability and resale value of the Tundra.Ford trucks are soooo way over priced that is why you can get $12000-$14000 off all day long. My Ford has lost $22000 value in 3 short years. Not quite sure why you own a Tundra sounds like you should be on a Ford forum knocking Toyota instead of here lol. Anyway to each his own everybody has there own opinion and I respect yours. Have a great day sir.

 

I just started using the ‘Ignore’ feature on this forum, and it works great.

 

Op- first welcome to the site. I was in a similar circumstance as you when.i bought my tundra. Here are my thoughts. First this is my first Toyota l have ever owned. I have owned 2 gm fullsizes new ('02 and a '15) and 6 fords (01,03,05 and 96 f150 along with a 95 f250) I also drove an 06 powerstroke and 2013 powerstroke for work when in construction. Aside from those vehicles I have owned about 18 total in my lifetime, all domestic vehicles with the exception of a Kawasaki motorcycle and a 2003 350z. In my opinion the tundra is a superior built truck from feel and build quality from anything the domestic automakers put out. Compared to all my previous vehicles it feels much more solid. I have a limited DC . It has everything I want on a truck. I find all the fancy stuff that ford has now on the higher end models gimmicky and prone to failure. The limited tundra is comparable to a mid 2000s lariat. Everything you need nothing you don't. I wouldn't worry about a "TRD" package unless it's a pro. Really I couldnt tell the difference in shocks and the aftermarket skid plates are better than what comes on a trd anyway. A pro can probably fit the tires you want without suspension mods or at the very least get real close. The regular trd package wasnt worth it imo (which is why I got the limited). I don't find the backseat in the DC a problem at all , in fact i stick both my high school age kids back there regularly. I do not notice the lack of features, but to me, i would never use half the features anyway on the newer trucks ( I do love using the doppler radar in my limited though as I live in the mountains so it's nice to see where the snow is). I find the 4x4 system without a locker on the tundra to be more capable than the work trucks I had with a factory locker. I used to love my 2015 Sierra when I had it but had multiple engine limp mode codes in the first 20k. After I got my tundra I remember I rented a 2018 Sierra and thought how cheap the sierra now felt. It was largely the same as my 2015 but did not feel as high quality as my tundra. Looking back, I would without a doubt buy my tundra again and honestly after doing so wondered why i didnt make the switch sooner. For me it feels higher quality and more solid than any previous truck i have owned. I am not a Toyota fan boy but this truck has sold me on the product. When replacing my wife's truck when it dies, i will be buying her a lexus as toyota/lexus now has a loyal customer.

Edited for typos

 

Hard to tell if you are talking Tundra in General or you just have a hatred for the Limited trim The back seat works just fine for my family of 4, wife is 5'11, Daughter is 6' Son is 6'4 and I'm 6'1 and shrinking The problem with this kinda of review is it is a mash of facts and opinion crossing over several trim packages.

Of course I'm bias, as I think the crew max bed looks like a joke my 2 copper.

 

Well it's still in the air but I will need tires before to long . And my argument with the wife has been if I get tires I would like to get bigger wheels because I personally never off road. So I guess its would just be for looks. Not a big fan that the 22" wheels only come in big negative offsets but I guess thays what is in right now. Anyway my wheels may be up for grabs in the summer.

 

Thanks for the welcome. I am looking forward to the new Limited Crewmax. I am done w/Ford. I don't really need the xtra bed space and love the huge backseat and vertical down back window.

 

I came from a fully loaded 2012 F-150 Lariat and spent a lot of time at the dealer fighting about warranty claims just like you. Tried to go the Ford Corporate route and got no farther and the dealer was a dud.

I chose a base SR double cab simply because of the lack of technology and creature comforts...its a truck. I really don't miss all the cushy flair. I bought the Tundra for reliability and resale. If you want flashy, fancy interior, probably an F-150 or a Ram. I upgraded the HU with a CarPlay unit, and am slowly turning it into a "Poor Mans" TRD Pro!

 

Everything I've read you simply can't compare Apples to Oranges... Of course the highest trim level Toyota is going to be closest, but thats not even close.
Vented seats wife's lexus has them I don't miss them in the Truck, the only thing the Plat offered that I wanted was the folding mirrors, I bought a set of used Plat for $350 bucks and installed them.