Toyota 00-06 Tundras

[Caleb]

07+ Tundras are huge, may as well drive your Ford. Plus they are still spendy. Not sure what your price range is, and it was mentioned previously, but have you considered a quad cab 06+ Tacoma (2nd gen)? You can get it with a long bed if you desire. Throw a shell on and you have a comfortable (for all occupants) vehicle that has a bed, is smaller than your Ford (only a little smaller than the 1st gen Tundra/T100s), is reliable as you'll get, and gets decent mileage. In my 03 double cab Tacoma the best I could get was around 15mpg, in my 07 Double Cab Tundra the best I could squeeze was around 15mpg, but was more realistically 13-14mpg. In my 13 quad cab Tacoma I see 19-21mpg. That's a pretty good mix of city and highway. I've never done a full tank of gas only on the freeway, closest was down to St. George and I got 23mpg but still had about 1/8th tank left. The 4.0 in them is pretty perky as well. It doesn't compare to my 5.7L I had in my Tundra, but it gets up a moves if I need it to.

I went through a similar time when I sold my Tundra. I had my GTI and my wife had her LR3. I couldn't throw a stinky gas can in the back of her LR3, I felt naked without a truck. So I got my Tacoma and have been super happy with it.

 

[spencevans]

I feel for you Andrew. I too have hit these crossroads over the past few years and have had very similar vehicles that I had to part with. Last year I had to part with my 2005 GMC Crew Cab Duramax with a 6speed manual because it was just too big. I would get 24-25mpg on the freeway but I could not take it anywhere because it was a PITA to park. I also had an LX450 but it did not meet my needs. While it was limited to about 220 miles in offroad conditions, it did not bother me. We parted ways mainly over lack of power and fuel consumption.

I have tried many combinations of vehicles and I have not found the secret combination yet. I doubt I ever will. I have my Gwagon that seats 9, has good range, is very capable offroad, has power, but it is expensive, like to drink fuel and I am limited for space when I take the whole family. Currently my only solution is keep the Gwagon and build an offroad trailer. That way I have the comfort of an SUV but the added benefit of having a bed for all my crap for me and my 6 kids.

 

[TRD270]

First- Dibs on the F*rd

Second have you thought about the I believe they are 04-09 F150's? Not that much bigger than the first gen Tundra's, and the 4 doors with short bed actually have a shorter wheel base than the extended cabs. Much more comfortable interior, and large back seat for the kids to grow into. Coil overs, 5.4 motor that will get about the same MPG as the 4.7 in the Tundra, and a bed that is still large enough to haul the desired items in, with plenty of interior room if the back seat is vacant on a trip

Edit they are actually a little smaller

Taken from the most accurate web site in the world

Tundra

Width
75.2 in
Double Cab & Limited: 79.3 in
Limited Double Cab: 79.7 in

Length

Double Cab: 230.1 in
Extended Cab: 218.3 in

Wheelbase

128.3 in
Double Cab: 140.5 in

F150

Width

78.9 in

Length

217.8 in Extended Cab
223.8 in SuperCrew

Wheelbase

133 in (SuperCab
139 in (SuperCrew


Also IMO a much better looking truck inside and out, and probably a hell of a lot cheaper. Pick one up cheap with a nice easy to clean leather interior

 

[Rot Box]

you're like a brother from another mother. I would be exactly where you are now if I were in your shoes.

haha. It's crazy things are great right now I don't know why I keep thinking I need to make it 'better'.

07+ Tundras are huge, may as well drive your Ford.

have you considered a quad cab 06+ Tacoma (2nd gen)?

True while they're a great rig I'm just not in to the new Tundras. Definitely considered a 2nd gen Tacoma a time or two. Little out of my price range (especially modified) but with the money I've spent and lost swapping vehicles around over the last few years I'd probably have been just fine buying one from the beginning lol.

I have tried many combinations of vehicles and I have not found the secret combination yet. I doubt I ever will. I have my Gwagon that seats 9, has good range, is very capable offroad, has power, but it is expensive, like to drink fuel and I am limited for space when I take the whole family. Currently my only solution is keep the Gwagon and build an offroad trailer. That way I have the comfort of an SUV but the added benefit of having a bed for all my crap for me and my 6 kids.

I love the G wagon. Very cool and functional rig.

First- Dibs on the F*rd

Second have you thought about the I believe they are 04-09 F150's?

You're about 5th in line so far I didn't realize the newer F150's were so close size wise. They seem pretty popular.. The older F150's and the other domestic 1/2 ton trucks haven't gotten along with me much in the past but I think they (the Ford anyway) have come a long way since those days. An option to consider.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Troop92]

I really do want to simplify things. After a long talk with the wife (she remains neutral in these situations--smart lady ) I think one needs to go which got me thinking maybe they both need to go? If I could combine the XXX with the XXX I think I would end up with a XXX.

I have a bad habit of talking myself into things during this time of year. This has sounded pretty good for the last few weeks but I don't want to make a big mistake. What are your thoughts?

I think we all wonder about this. We're currently a 3 car family (wifey's Murano, my commuter car, and Trooper) and I often daydream about what I would end up with if I combined commuter/Trooper into one. You're always going to be giving something up in the process - gas mileage, capability, durability... Wouldn't it be fun to have 'screw you' money and get one of each...

 

[Marsh99]

Parked next to a 2006 Tundra double cab and snapped some pictures to compare it size wise to my Tacoma double cab.

 

[Rot Box]

Parked next to a 2006 Tundra double cab and snapped some pictures to compare it size wise to my Tacoma double cab.

Hey thanks for doing that It looks huge compared to the Tacoma. A friend at work told me he'd consider selling me his 06 double cab Tundra. Very nice truck but given the year and options it bumps up the price tag quite a bit. My Ford doesn't look huge parked next to it. If you look at it from the front.. From the side the Ford is about 3 miles longer haha.

At this point I think I'm going to re-light the fire with my F350 or at least drive it more often and not neglect it so much. I ordered up a new set of selectable hubs (never buy Mile Marker-----) and plan to do the 38 gallon rear tank swap for even more range.

Not sure what the future will bring. I still love the 100.

 

[sixstringsteve]

your ford is too cool to get rid of.

 

[cackalak]

I've thought about consolidating the SUV and commuter, and moving onto a new double cab Tacoma, but I am a believer in having 2 vehicles that perform well within their usage vs a one do-it-all vehicle. Tacoma is great (had a couple in the past), but has some compromises that negates the advantages. For me, the 100 does great at family outings without giving up a whole lot. Roof rack is a must with 2 kids, as ours is packed to the hilt. Plus it's much more comfortable on long trips, especially for the wife and kids. I have at times wondered if I should sell the 100 (only gets driven 3-5k miles per year), but everytime I get in it, all of that goes away.

 

[johngottfredson]

X2 on never buying mile marker hubs. Had them on my last powerstroke and they were junk. Warn all the way.

Dude, I am your doppelgänger. 80 series cruiser, big ol F-350 that's awesome, love them both, but long for the one truck to rule them all. I wish I wasn't so invested in my current truck. If I were to start from scratch I think I would do a gen 2 tacoma, TRD, and be done. They are the same size, about, as the gen 1 tundras, all the support for off road, great mileage, etc.

As it is...I long for the one vehicle solution...but I love the cruiser for the trails, and love the ford for the sheer brute work output. Hard to envision compromising on both those fronts in the name of simplifying my life. Pretty sure I would start bleeding money trying to make the tacoma live up to the cruiser off road, and the ford for utility, and ultimately be unsatisfied. So I just go with it...

 

[spencevans]

X2 on never buying mile marker hubs. Had them on my last powerstroke and they were junk. Warn all the way.

Dude, I am your doppelgänger. 80 series cruiser, big ol F-350 that's awesome, love them both, but long for the one truck to rule them all. I wish I wasn't so invested in my current truck. If I were to start from scratch I think I would do a gen 2 tacoma, TRD, and be done. They are the same size, about, as the gen 1 tundras, all the support for off road, great mileage, etc.

As it is...I long for the one vehicle solution...but I love the cruiser for the trails, and love the ford for the sheer brute work output. Hard to envision compromising on both those fronts in the name of simplifying my life. Pretty sure I would start bleeding money trying to make the tacoma live up to the cruiser off road, and the ford for utility, and ultimately be unsatisfied. So I just go with it...

I would suggest a Raptor, but they can be pricey. Sometimes you just have to build your dream ride. I long for a no frills, compact, turbo diesel pickup with 4wd and a manual transmission. After auto manufactures offered 17 different compact turbo diesel pickups from 1980-87, not one has been offered over the past 27 years. Where did all the compact turbo diesels go? Sometimes you just need to take matters into your own hands.

 

[Marsh99]

I would suggest a Raptor, but they can be pricey. Sometimes you just have to build your dream ride. I long for a no frills, compact, turbo diesel pickup with 4wd and a manual transmission. After auto manufactures offered 17 different compact turbo diesel pickups from 1980-87, not one has been offered over the past 27 years. Where did all the compact turbo diesels go? Sometimes you just need to take matters into your own hands.

Next year you can have one. Chevy Colorado 4cy Duramax

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/2015-chevrolet-colorado-revealed-diesel-la/

 

[spencevans]

Next year you can have one. Chevy Colorado 4cy Duramax

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/2015-chevrolet-colorado-revealed-diesel-la/

That thing is far from a no frills, compact pickup. It's so bloated it's as big as fullsize trucks from the 80's.

 

[notajeep]

I think a full size truck is a great camping and wheeling platform. ..
I get mine to go all the places I want it to.
And I have a 6.5' bed that never had to be made.