Tacoma vs. Tundra? Reliability, performance, etc.

I'm thinking of buying a newer truck, and I've been happy enough with my '95
Land Cruiser that a Toyota is first on the list. I have yet to drive either
a Tacomo or a Tundra, so I'm starting from scratch.

The truck will be to replace the '86 Nissan that I bought just out of
college and which recently died hard with 170K+ miles on 'er. I live in the
woods in Oregon and heat my house with wood, and I cut and haul my own on my
land and public land, in addition to hauling no end of crap (gravel, hay,
sand, sheetrock, etc) regularly. In other words, in will be used as a
truck. Right now my Jeep and a trailer are my truck and it's a PITA. And
my wife won't drive a vehicle with a trailer so it all falls on me <G>! So,
while I won't be abusing the truck, it will get used as a truck very
regularly. And it will be on dirt roads a LOT.

The vehicle will need to tow a small trailer or boat occasionally, though
heavy towing is not in the cards as far as I can tell. So I think I want
either the V6 or, in a Tundra, a V8. Gas mileage is not a major concern;
they all ****. OTOH, I am not a power freak; I don't need EXCESS power. I
commute in a 4-cyl Volvo, then I have the Land Cruiser for major family
adventures (BAJA for three weeks this winter!), so the truck needs to be
able to do it's job first, and gas mileage is a secondary consideration. If
it matched the vehicle it'd be replacing, a Jeep that gets 15-17 MPG, that'd
be fine.

4wd is a must. I would probably limit my search to TRD-package vehicles,
mainly for the locking rear differential.

The vehicle will have to occasionally transport my family of four, so an
extended cab is a must. I don't want a double cab because I need the bed
space.

This vehicle will probably see about 5K- 7K miles a year, and I'd like to
buy a truck with 50-75K miles on it and get at least 15 years of use out of
it. I'd like it to make it to 175, 200K miles without major driveline or
engine problems. i'll find a truck with maintenance records and/or have it
checked out thouroughly.

I know there's no promises on this stuff. but does a Tacomo or Tundra give
me a better chance to fulfill these goals?

Thank you so much for your time. I'll check back here, and it's also fine
to email me.

-jeff

I have a 2000 Tacoma TRD double cab with V6. Driving sensibly on the
highway, 55-70 mph, I get 20-22 mpg depending on terrain. Barely changes
while towing a 14' boat that weighs about 1300 lbs including trailer and all
the other crap that gets thrown in the boat.

Other things to consider:

1) Because I put things in the bed that would be a delight to a thief
(fishing tackle, luggage), I installed a hard cover. Soft covers can
obviously be sliced open with a knife. If you're considering the same idea,
be aware that some hard covers extend slightly below the rails because of
their bracing. This limits what you can store there.

2) I regularly have back seat passengers who are 6' tall. They're
comfortable in the back seat. You said you're considering the extended cab,
not the double cab. Be sure you "test" the seating before you end up hating
the truck.

3) If the truck comes with some sort of BF Goodrich off road tires, tell the
salesman to stick them up his pooper, if you intend to drive in snow.
They're awful tires. I replaced mine with Nokian WR tires and they've worked
beautifully in all weather. I'm sure there are others that would be
satisfactory.

You said you need to seat 4 but did not want a DC. Before I bought mine
I measured the bed on both the DC and access cab and they were both the
same size. I also needed the bed space but thought the DC was smaller
than the access cab but was not. There is quite a difference if you set
in the back of the DC verses the access cab. I had a 2000 access before
the 05 DC and my kids like the extra leg room. However, the gas mileage
****s big time on the V8. I am lucky to get 14 with the bed empty and
around 11 with any load at all, I was disappointed in this big time.
Good luck in your search. Also if you have to take your kids in it very
often you will grow to dislike the access real fast! I did not make that
mistake twice.

The Tundra can carry about 1000-1200# before it is overloaded. It
never came standard with a locking rear diff, and didn't even have
an LSD available until 2002. The LSD does not necessarily relate to
the TRD package...moderately stiff shocks, progressively wound front
springs, big decals. Some of the 2000-2002 Tundras had the
overdrive gear cluster fail. I don't know how to check if one
running well today may fail tomorrow--maybe an ****ysis of the ATF.
Overdrive should never be used when towing or hauling heavy with
these trucks. I get about 17-18 mpg @ 60 mph in my truck.

Ken

The extended cab rides on a 128" wheelbase and the DC rides on a 140"
whellbase. The extra 12" of room in the DC is adjusted for by the
change in whellbase length. They certainly do not turn in the same
circles.

--
Sleep well tonight.........RD (The Sandman)

http://home.comcast.net/~rdsandman

School - Four walls with tomorrow inside.

A real man should have the conviction to hold strong beliefs....
Hmmm, I believe I should have another beer.

Hey Jeff,
I have owned both, a 2000 Tundra and now a 2005 Tacoma. The Tundra I had
for 6 years and a 116.000 mi. was a delightful vehicle to live with. I
found the TRD package totally unnecessary as I had my 4wd off road,
through brooks and streams and over moutains where some people wouldn't
walk. I do construction and usually had building debris in my 8' bed.
(with a rhino liner) The truck was tough as nails I loved it and miss it.
Although I love the new Tacoma it is by no means a small Tundra. The
drive train is bullet proof but the rest of the truck is delicate. I sold
out for the gas mileage, a mistake. Go with the Tundra you'll be glad you
did.
Frank

=>The vehicle will have to occasionally transport my family of four, so an
=>extended cab is a must. I don't want a double cab because I need the bed
=>space.

There are Tacoma Ext Cab 4x4, Double Cab 4x4 short bed and Double Cab
4x4 Long bed, Tundra Access Cab 4x4, Tundra Double Cab 4x4.
Also there are Sports, Xt?, Limited...

Tacoma ext backseat is a joke, make sure you sit on it before you buy
it.
The taco double short bed is not what you want.
The bed of the rest are similar in length. Taco has shorter width and
Tundra double has the widest width.

Tundra access cab back seat is ok for short distance. It has
uncomfortable seat back angle.

So you best choices will be either Tundra Double cab 4x4 or Taco
Double cab 4x4 long bed.

Check edmunds "auto comparison" pages and carsdirect's price quote(for reference).
=>
=>This vehicle will probably see about 5K- 7K miles a year, and I'd like to
=>buy a truck with 50-75K miles on it and get at least 15 years of use out of
=>it. I'd like it to make it to 175, 200K miles without major driveline or
=>engine problems. i'll find a truck with maintenance records and/or have it
=>checked out thouroughly.
=>
=>I know there's no promises on this stuff. but does a Tacomo or Tundra give
=>me a better chance to fulfill these goals?

According to my research, Taco has better track record for decades.
Tundra is a new truck model from Toyota and they probably has not weed
out all the bugs yet. This does not mean Tundra is bad. Comparing it
to other auto makers' trucks it is a far superior product. You do have
better chance to get a bad Tundra than Taco though.

=>
=>Thank you so much for your time. I'll check back here, and it's
also fine
=>to email me.
=>
=>-jeff

goodfriend

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