Tundra for a work truck?

Ok so here's the deal I currently own a 2014 Silverado regular cab w/t with the 4.3l and its been a great truck no complaints. I average 21mpg when not towing and about 15-16mpg when towing. I am at the point that I need to upgrade to double cab so I can have my daughters car seat in the truck. Last week I had a deal all set to purchase a 2016 Silverado w/t double cab 5.3, drove 3hrs away to get it and well it would vibrate at 65-70 on the highway. I couldn't believe it and had to walk away from the deal and drive 3hrs home, wasted trip. Google the issue and apparently the k2xx platform has what's known as the "Chevy shake" so now that has me second guessing another Chevy even though mine doesn't do it.

The wife has always been the yota girl and currently we have a 2012 taco we bought new. Its been a pretty decent truck with the exception of secondary air injection valves failing at 53k and Toyota not doing anything about it, cost me $500 in parts and my time to fix. Other then that the truck is as solid as the day I bought it. My question is can these Tundra's hold up to being used as a work truck? I own my business and tow a trailer about 4days a week and consistently have tools, gear, materials in the truck. I stopped by the dealer today and looked at a dounle cab sr5 and I really liked it, was actually cheaper then the chevy I was looking at. Rear seat had more room for my daughters car seat as well. The 5.7 sounded amazing at startup and it drove well. I'm just worried as I never see these trucks used by many businesses and when I told my friends in the trades I'm thinking of buying a Tundra al I got was "that's no work truck" and "its going to fall apart."

So can these trucks handle work duty? The way I'm looking at it is good power, more comfort because it will double as a family travel truck and better resale for me and my business when I trade up. I know mpg is lower then the 5.3l at 16/22 and tundra is 13/17 but if you put the math to it my yearly difference really isn't much more and I would pick that back up in resale I would think.

 

There is absolutely no reason why you couldn't/shouldn't use the Tundra as a work truck. They are on average the most reliable trucks around, and are in fact "over-engineered" in terms of hauling/towing.

The only downside, as compared to your 4.3 chevy, is you can't expect to get the same gas mileage. Of course what would you expect? The 5.9 is a beast.

I should also note, that the Tundra re-sale value is second to none. (good when you are selling, not so much when you are buying)

 

I work in construction and it sounds like you'll be hauling around the same stuff I do. My truck is 10 years old and it has held up better than my new F150 ever did. And it performs better past 100k miles than my F150 did when it was new.

I also have 3 kids and 3 cars seats. Let me tell you now, unless you HAVE TO HAVE the bed space, you should get the crewmax.

 

Interior pics at 10 years of age.

 

My open trailer is 1800lbs unloaded and enclosed is 2200lbs unloaded, I also haul a car trailer twice a year to shows and that comes in at around 6,00olbs.

Bed space is a must for me, right now I have an 8ft bed and I'm already going down 2ft upgrading to a double cab Tundra or Silverado.

 

This thing is clean for a truck that's been used as a work truck, heck my Silverado is 2yrs old and my seat doesn't look that good.

 

Here is the tundra I looked at today.

 

I hear you on the cylinder deactivation, my 4.3l has it although its not near as noticeable as the 5.3l I have test driven. Makes for a very clunky driving experience. The Tundra seemed pretty seamless while driving. I saw they offer a 8ft bed but I just upgraded to the enclosed trailer so that will make up for me loosing some bed space and get more tools out of the truck. Since this truck doubles as a personal vehicle to its nice to now just unhook the trailer and take the truck out without worrying about my equipment. I looked at gm 2500's but I think its just to much truck for my needs and then I'm down at 10-11mpg with the 6.0. Dmax is awesome but to much $ for me.

 

And to remove any doubt as to Tundra's capabilities, I give you: Tundra vs. Duramax

 

That's what I'm after! The mpg isn't a huge deal to me as I need a truck for work, its expected. Heck my Tacoma only returns 16/21mpg for us, we have only had trucks so its not a huge deal in our family. Plus once my wife and me calculated mileage per year for the tundra vs the Silverado it really isn't a huge difference.

 

Looks to me like it proves a Tundra can pull a Duramax around like a stuck pig.

 

I had the same thought, once he started to spin it was over. Plus holy cow that Tundra has some sag, wonder how much weight they have in that thing.

 

Hey, they can't put anything on the internet if its not true.

So by law of associations, a Tundra should be able to output a semi... maybe two.

 

Got two semi's? Loser buys lunch.

 

Any time. I just first gotta figure out what that guy had in his bed.

 

For the past 16 yrs. I've used Tundras as my work truck. I've never had a problem and never been let down or stranded.

 

Sounding pretty promising on the Tundra, I stayed up till 1am last night researching them. Only questions I have now are is the AIP problem fixed? I went though that with my 2012 Taco and don't want to deal with that again. How well do these trucks handle weight in the bed? Payload is 1630, I loose a little bit there coming from the Chevy. Just hoping these things don't sag like a Ram or Ford. Lastly trans temps, tow package cooler do a good job at keeping things cool? My Tacoma has the tow pkg and the cooler keeps it at 170-180 when towing and 160 normal temps in summer months.

 

I would definitely not think twice about having a Tundra as a work truck. Especially if you've already got your eye on one. I would only suggest you at least look at the Crewmax, unless you need that extra bed space as someone already mentioned. Go for it!