Team Chevelle banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Anyone here own a Toyota Tundra?

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
Y

YenkoChevelle69

· Registered
Joined
·
2,183 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm in the market for a new, used truck. Any tundra owners in the house? I'll use it for light truck type duties, and pull my Chevelle around with it. My folks are building a new home, so I am sure that I will be hauling around things like paint, wood, and moving furniture etc. I'm coming out of a 98 Z71. I rolled it over, and the insurance company totalled, so if it weren't for that, I wouldn't be in the market. I don't know that I want to get back into another american truck. The only one I am considering is a ford lightning. I drive about 60 miles a day, to work, and see the girlfriend etc... Mostly interstate driving, so some fuel economy is necessary. Lemme know what ya thing. I'm open to all comments, pro and con.

Thanks!

Yenko.
 
#2 ·
you do realize the toyata gets worse gas milage than the chvey, and ford(full size). toyata also has less hp/tq, and the waranty is alot less on the drive train.the toyata is called a sport truck, and the chevy/fords are a truck for a reason. if you want to tow somthing behind you, the car/ truck you tow with better be heavier than what you are towing. not to be mean, but if you rolled a z-71 you should never tow anthing.i am sorry if you rolled a z-71 you will roll a tundra. i guess all i am saying is how many chevelles have you rolled over? we have to get a honda civic(sorry a toyata celica). all i am saying is when you make a stupid mistake do not blame it on someone else. not to be mean a hona civic, or a toyayta carola could pull a chevelle, and i wish you the beast of luck to not roll them over, or blow them up(mostly roll them over)
and yes same as always thank you
jamie
 
#3 ·
I had the occassion to drive 3 Tundras in the last year, all I can say is what piles, Toyota does build good products as a general rule but the Tundra is a joke. These trucks have C-channel frames which the big 3 tossed out in the late 80's and early 90's, this is a weaker frame, this suprises me cause the small Japanese trucks have used boxed frames since forever. The Tundras I drove all squeeked and rattled like a Fox body Mustang, I used to work at a GMC dealer and the Los Angeles County 1988 GMC trucks with lift gates I drove and made way less noise than the last Tundra (a 2002 model) I drove that had 52k miles, and you can imagine how a county worker treats a county vehicle. I don't think I would use a Ford Lightning for towing, yes I know they do rate it to do so but I think a standard truck would be better whither it be a GM, Ford, or Dodge, stay away from the Dodges are the previous series (frames not as good).
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #4 · (Edited)
I never placed any kind of blame on anyone... where did you get that? It was a freak accident. The reason I want to try a Toyota maybe is the fact that the best my truck ever got was 16 mph on the interstate doing 65 with a bed cover.
 
#5 ·
You will be very pleased with the Tundra. My dad has one & tows a camper with it & it does great. Also the Toyota will outlast the others.
flamesuit on.
 
#6 ·
I have one....almost 2 years now..Best New Vehicle I ever owned....

I don't have time now, but I plow with it, I tow my Monte with it and it gets 17 mpg, 10 towing ...It is an awesome vehicle with a few minor upgrades it can handle anything I throw at it being reasonable in that it is a 1/2 Ton Truck.

I also beat the 4x4 Hemi Trucks at the dragstrip in stock form except I have a plow frame on it and oversized 60 psi 10-ply tires...:D
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#9 ·
I sold my POS 1998 Z-71 and got a Tundra Double Cab back in 2004. Great truck, I love it. Tows my Grady White through the Texas hill country just fine.

I've had several Chevy trucks and Suburbans, but no more. My wife's 2001 GMS Yukon XL is the last one for me, unless GM fixes their quality issues.

Hope you few die hards can keep GM alive, I'm sure not going to donate my cash to them anymore.
 
#10 ·
#12 ·
YenkoChevelle69 said:
I'm in the market for a new, used truck. Any tundra owners in the house? I'll use it for light truck type duties, and pull my Chevelle around with it. My folks are building a new home, so I am sure that I will be hauling around things like paint, wood, and moving furniture etc. I'm coming out of a 98 Z71. I rolled it over, and the insurance company totalled, so if it weren't for that, I wouldn't be in the market. I don't know that I want to get back into another american truck. The only one I am considering is a ford lightning. I drive about 60 miles a day, to work, and see the girlfriend etc... Mostly interstate driving, so some fuel economy is necessary. Lemme know what ya thing. I'm open to all comments, pro and con.

Thanks!

Yenko.
Click to expand...

So it sounds like a 2WD will be Ok. In the Tundra, a 2 WD will be advantageous as the Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight limits will allow you to tow more than I can with a 4x4 and a plow frame. I also have the Access Cab model. If you use a weight distributing hitch and an open car trailer that is light you can tow the Chevelle around all you want. I Highly recommend buying a 2005 or 2006 in that they have the new 5 speed Auto with a super low gear and the VVT engine.

A couple of upgrades that are also Highly recommended are variable rate front springs and the Bilstein HD Shocks. They are available as a complete unit and literally take 1 hour to replace. Raises the front of the truck to level (2 1/2") and makes it ride a lot firmer, not soft and mushy like other 1/2 tons. I also put on 10 ply tires since the increased control when towing due to the stiff sidewall and safety factor of 10 plys is so worth it. I did both upgrades before I had 80 miles on the new truck. Sold the factory tires and the stock TRD suspension on Ebay.

If you are still serious and would like a rundown on everything on this truck you can give me a call at home. I will answer every question objectively.

As this thread is about experience with a Tundra, and not a bashing or brand loyalty argument, I hope it doesn't turn into a narrow-minded opinion fest.

Tom
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#13 ·
Marina_Blue_67_SS said:
There are like 900,000 of us "diehards" every year buying GM full size trucks to what about 120,00 brainwashed people buying Tundras
Click to expand...
Like I said above......:rolleyes:

Hey everyone, let's run over that cliff...everyone else is....:rolleyes:


There wouldn't be that many buying them if they didn't have to dump them after 3yrs or 36,000 miles
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#14 ·
A toyota outlast a Chevy or Ford truck? I get it, this is a joke/ humor thread, right? My Suburban (91) had to have the transmission cooler lines and the radiator replaced in 180,000 miles. It will still be running when the Tundra is melted down.
 
#15 ·
I have a 96 f250 with 162k on it and it starts right up every time. I bought it used and it was a work truck before it got to me. Very happy with my $1500.00 purchase !!!

I really think people follow more than lead, it is easier. The trend is to by japanese latley. Most models of cars are only seperated from best to worst by 1 mechanical issue, the best of these having one less issue than the worst rated car for reliability. Do some good homework and look at the history and numbers. I know for a fact that the tundra has had a major recall, so have other trucks gm, ford etc...

buy what fits you best,
 
#16 ·
YenkoChevelle69 said:
I never placed any kind of blame on anyone... where did you get that? It was a freak accident. The reason I want to try a Toyota maybe is the fact that the best my truck ever got was 16 mph on the interstate doing 65 with a bed cover.
Click to expand...
Only in reference to gas mileage.

3.73 gears, 4l60e, 5.3 - tuned, exhaust, etc and I stay at roughly 70-80 mph on the freeway. Average all around mileage is 19.2 at the moment. Alan (fellow TC'er) with the same truck stock is pulling down 20+

Look deeper into mileage if that is a big deciding factor. Posted vs actuals can be very different. No dodges, for certain, if you want any kind of decent mileage. Guys I know with Rams are really complaining about 10 mpg, 12 mpg average (unloaded, not towing)

What about the Nissan Titan? I dont know anybody with one or what the reviews are but I have seen a few I thought were pretty sharp looking and they sounded real good.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#17 ·
Gm has improved, but I still feel their quality is crap. A good japanese vehicle is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. I know for toyota, their camrys and their trucks (back when it was called toyota "truck", now tacoma) are running for 300k or more without trouble. My dads old lexus went for 200k and then he sold it for $4k. Toyotas have way higher resale value.
 
#18 ·
I have 3 silverados' z71's now. An 03, 05 and an 06. I personally drive the 05. It gets about 19mpg in town with the 5.3. The 1 thing that gets me is that GM never seems to fix the same little problems we have had for a few years. A example is the rear end clunk and very very slow power windows in winter. The gas cap has the hanger on the lid so when you fuel up the cap isn't hanging down against the fender. Of course the the attachment plastic cable is too short. When we need a new truck I may just look at Nissan or Toyota and see what they are like.
 
#20 ·
Bought my first Toyota Truck in 1987 to share the duty with my '85 Monte SS, Sold the 87 in '95. Bought a 4-Runner in '95 when my first kid was on the way, sold the 4-Runner in 2005, bought a 2005 Tundra. A faulty radiator replaced under warranty on the '95 Runner....has been the only repair since 1987.

I can tell you I am not a follower in anything I do.

The Tundra has a recall in that some ball joints may have been scratched when they were installed....not what you would call a component quality problem.

Just make sure you understand the limitations of the truck, if you are going to tow more than 5500 pounds..Look to a 3/4 ton truck. I can tell you that the Tundra pulls any long Interstate hill with my Monte out back and camping gear for 4 days without any problem and not killing the motor.


Good Luck with your decision
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
About this Discussion
20 Replies
16 Participants
Last post:
1970SS396&1967
Team Chevelle
posts
5.3M
members
131K
Since
1998
A forum community dedicated to Chevrolet Chevelle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restorations, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Bench Racing Performance Engine Chevelle Tech Body Shop