What Tundra to buy

[thefirstzukman]

Looking to get a different truck, I am thinking Tundra but possibly Ecoboost. Are there years to say away from? looking at 2010 or newer double cabs, 4X4 is a must and would prefer leather seats. I want to stay under $25k if possible. Truck prices these days are stupid!

 

[johngottfredson]

2014 got styling refresh. Other than that tundras are basically all the same. I tried to find some point where there was a drop off in value, but tundra holds resale values too well, so I ended up with a new 2018 crew cab sr5 4x4 for $35k before tax. Came over from my 2016 Ecoboost. The ecoboost will be a way more exciting truck to drive, and it's not even close. Plus for $750 you can get the FX4 package with rear locker, and big fuel tank available with any package. But I love my no frills tundra, fits my personality better. Guess I just drink the kool-aid.

 

[Caleb]

Build quality of the Tundra is (even the no frills base model) light years beyond the Ford. I've been so disappointed int he build quality of my truck. The engine is peppier in the Ford, but the Tundra has more power. Ford has more tech in their trucks (even the fully loaded Tundras are comparatively no frills) but it only works half the time.

John touched on the years already. There isn't much of a drop off in value on the Tundras. They're not quite as good as the Tacomas, but I've made money (sold it for more than I bought it for after driving it for two years) on one Tundra and paid ~$4k on my 2016 that I bought brand new to drive it for a couple years. I'll take that on a new vehicle any day. Drive the Ford off the lot and you just paid $10K and it continues to drop after that.

 

[Cody]

This is interesting. I'm deciding between these two trucks and have more or less decided on the f150. I don't really like the look of the new tundras, but I do appreciate the reliability of simpler vehicles.

 

[Caleb]

To be fair, they're both good trucks, but I've bought a Tundra, sold it, bought something else, went back to the Tundra, sold it, bought something else, and now my next truck will likely be another Tundra.

I see the ecoboost like the cummins. There are many fanboys that some how their truck is magic and can tow 15000lbs and still get 28mpg. The reality is my truck gets ~1mpg better than my Tundra did, my Tundra had 37" tires, my Raptor has 35" tires. The ford doesn't feel quite as large when driving but still has lots of room inside, not nearly as much as the Tundra, but adults can comfortably sit in the back seat.

 

[Gravy]

To be fair- that Raptor is a pretty significantly different truck than a standard f150. It's geared different, different aerodynamics.

Stock for stock I don't think Dyno charts lie and the tundra is WAY down in power and torque especially below 3500 rpm (you know where most people actually drive) than the Ecoboost.

And there is no way I'd buy an early Tundra with that teeny tiny gas tank we couldn't even make it to Beaver towing without refilling the tank.


Having driven both I certainly wouldn't say the Tundra has the power the Ecoboost has. It's maybe more on par with the 5.0.

I think they're both great trucks and would own either one, but the trans is much less refined in the Toy too.

Having a rear elocker is heaven-sent for me too.
While I don't have an f150 (f250), my wife (the interior designer) came home from work last year with a huge smile after pulling out some other contractor's lifted nonsense truck on big bling offset wheels out if the mud at a new building construction site. "I just turned on the rear locker."

 

[Caleb]

The gas tank is is absolutely the biggest negative for the Tundra. Get a little head wind and you're screwed if you're towing. Having driven both for several years (even the tuned Raptor) I can absolutely say the 5.7L Tundra has way more grunt than the ecoboost. I'll tow with a Tundra over an ecoboost F150 any day.

The 10 speed in the new F150s (at least in the Raptors) is a hot pile of garbage. I've had my truck in several times and they can't figure out why it sucks at shifting. I've taken it to three different dealers and none of them have been able to figure it out. They all acknowledge there's an issue, but can't figure it out and won't do anything until they can pinpoint the issue. I'm taking it in (to another dealer), yet again, this coming week. Maybe results will be different this time, I'm not hopeful. The best part is this issue isn't uncommon...at least in the Raptors. Almost every time I meet another Raptor owner the first thing that they say is something along the lines of "does your truck suck at shifting too?". Definitely a conversation starter. I have heard that if you do an aftermarket reprogram, it gets infinitely better so that's likely in my future.

 

[Gravy]

Meh. That may be your opinion- but Dyno numbers from literally hundreds of Independent dynos don't lie. The 5.7 in the Tundra makes less power and torque at almost all rpm ranges. I wouldn't call it a slouch for sure and the newer ones certainly "feel" more torquey than the pre 2014s.

"The Truck Guys" YouTube channel does a pretty fair independent tow test over a mountain pass comparing all the new half tons and it's no contest according to them.

Perhaps you're right- that new 10 speed in yours has got some issues and that's throwing off the "seat of your pants" Dyno, I've heard great things about 5star tuning for the Ford transmissions.

But even the Ecoboost Transit van I drove to Preston a few months back (with a lower hp tune than the f150) makes more power than the Tundra. I was getting rubber shifting into 2nd with an extra tall van.

I will conceed I've not owned both. But I've driven both and towed with both on back to back weekend trips.

As long as you get a big tank and don't buy new: IMO I don't think you can go wrong with with either truck. I really don't think any of the big 3 makes a bad half ton right now. (Although that new 4cyl turbo Chev might break that trend )

 

[Cody]

I've been looking at the 15+ f150s with the 3.5 and either the fx4 with an upgraded tank option or the max tow.. Or I guess both. I want the rear locker, bigger tank, and leather. I'm so tired of spilling water on my tacoma seats and having them look like toxic waste stained them ten minutes later. Now with kids, I need more room than the tacoma and more kid proof materials.

My tacoma has been nothing but outstanding for me and has held its value. I know the tundras are the similar in that regard and I know the 5.7 has plenty of power. They're just so bulbous looking

 

[TRD270]

The gas tank is is absolutely the biggest negative for the Tundra.

The 10 speed in the new F150s (at least in the Raptors) is a hot pile of garbage.

2016+ Tundra if you get the SR5 upgrade package you get the 38 gallon tank in the Tundra

110% agree. My 2019 Expedition's 10speed is hot garbage

 

[johngottfredson]

My f150 was a 2016 with a 6 speed trans. Smooth shifting and strong driving. This business about the tundra towing better was not my experience at all. I towed a small 3k lb cargo trailer every day for 6 months with the ecoboost and never felt it. Tons of passing power up canyon roads. Then I towed it down to St George with the tundra and was never so disappointed in my truck. Struggled to keep speeds above 75, I kept looking down to make sure I wasn't stuck in a lower gear, it was revving up and working so hard. Fuel economy was through the floor. That's the only time I regretted owning the tundra. I still have my ecoboost transit which I will tow with next time.
But I don't tow much, so day to day driving I love the truck. I just drove to Buffalo Wyoming and kept the truck pinned at 100 mph for hours like it was nothing. I have an enormous level of confidence in the longevity of this truck. I hate the small tank, but for $1,500 I am going to bolt in the bigger Toyota tank (thank you internet people for figuring that one out.)
As much as I loved the f-150, I just never fully trusted it to last, and I hate all the tech and gizmos that are crammed into trucks these days. My SR5, non-power bench seat truck is just perfect in that regard. The only tech I wish it had was that e-locker...but I guess I'll wait until I actually get stuck where my Max trax can't help me out before I consider an ARB solution.

 

[MOODY]

My 2014 doesn’t have the 35 gallon tank. I think that started 15-16?

 

[moab_cj5]

You couldn't get the big tank in a Tundra until 2016.

I've had both an F150 and a Tundra. I personally would buy either, but I'd prefer a 15+ F150 though. I really liked both, but prefer the creature comforts and drivability of the F150. That's my personal preference.

 

[TRD270]

You couldn't get the big tank in a Tundra until 2016.

My bad it was 2016

The 2016 model change. A large 38.0 gallon fuel tank option (standard is 26.4 gallons) on 5.7L V8 SR5 models as part of the SR5 Upgrade Package, while it is standard on Limited, Platinum, 1794 Edition, and TRD Pro

 

[johngottfredson]

SR5 upgrade package = no bench seat. So those of us who actually need 6 seat belts had no big tank option. HATE that about toyota.

 

[Caleb]

As long as you get a big tank and don't buy new: IMO I don't think you can go wrong with with either truck.

Totally agree. I think most of my gripe with my truck is I expected a lot more from both Ford and the dealers when you buy an $80K truck. I get taken much better care of when I take my wife's 4Runner in for service than I do when I've taken my Raptor in for service. I can't even get them to call me back when they have my truck and it's been that way at every dealer. I've also had seven recalls, several service bulletins, and other issues not covered by those (right now my driver seat has come lose so it shifts whenever I turn, my tailgate mechanism broke so I couldn't open my tailgate, the shifting issue, the doors won't unlock using the touch "feature" quite often, or you have to stand there and grab the handle...grab again...and again and finally it works, the friendly wifi notifier pops up offering to show you what wifi services are available at random times even though I've completely turned off the wifi in the truck, etc) and my truck is barely a year old. Like I said, I expected more, the quality is subpar.

I really liked both, but prefer the creature comforts and drivability of the F150. That's my personal preference.

Completely agree, the Ford has better/more tech and when it works it's nice. It's also easier to drive around town, on a long trip (other than the small tank of the Tundra) I think it's sixes on drivability.

2016+ Tundra if you get the SR5 upgrade package you get the 38 gallon tank in the Tundra

110% agree. My 2019 Expedition's 10speed is hot garbage

Yeah, unless your 2016+ is a Canadian model...then you get the crappy small tank. I made that mistake with my TRD Pro. It was a 2016, TRD Pros are basically the SR5 with lots of extras. In the US they all come with the larger tank, I thought I was covered. Then I went to my first fill-up and was like WTF! Did a little research and found out the Canadian models don't include the larger tank, that was probably my #1 feature I wanted and I didn't get it.

 

[Tonkaman]

I’m so happy this thread popped up. I’ve at the realization that my 2016 Tacoma is too small for us now, and I need to upsize a little. I’ve rented an F-150 twice this month, and

I’m currently in love with this eco-boost 10 speed combo! I love that the inside of the cab feels huge with a completely floor and huge windows. I haven’t driven a Tundra, but only because nobody rents them.

I’ll be staying tuned for more good info

 

[Gravy]

More info. I think they probably need to nail down the tuning on the 10 speed in the trucks. I just rented a Mustang today for a trip I'm on (they didn't have the car I rented so they upgraded me for free, sweet!) and having drove it for some hours: the 10 speed in it is superb.


Also the BEST option Ford offers, that I absolutely love AND actually saves you money (up to $500) is called "carpet delete" and you can order it on even the Platinum package. Rubber floors and kids or muddy motorcycle gear is devine!!!

Seriously the first thing I do on any vehicle is order rubber floor mats, right? So why pay for them when you can save money choosing them on purpose? I love that in my F250.

 

[Deleted member 12904]

I haven’t driven a Tundra, but only because nobody rents them.

I’ll be staying tuned for more good info

Alamo rents them at several locations I trave to. I’ve never rented a car her in SLC but if you haven’t call them and ask.

 

[Tonkaman]

Alamo rents them at several locations I trave to. I’ve never rented a car her in SLC but if you haven’t call them and ask.

Good to know, thanks!

Renting a truck in SLC is kinda frustrating. Many of the locations don’t actually have trucks on site. This time I had to drive to the airport to rent.