Anybody come from a Tundra (07-18)?

I've been kicking around the idea of trading in my 07 Taco on a new Tundra or maybe a Duramax.
If any of y'all traded out of a Tundra for a Tacoma, why?
I know this isn't a Tundra forum (I'm aware there's a Tundra subforum), but are there any common issues on the Tundra that I should be concerned about?

My 07 has ~83,500 miles, its in good shape for its age but has a few dings and small scratches. All the maintenance is up to date and it has never given any trouble. The rack and pinion is starting to seep slightly, but I never have to add fluid, it is just seeping enough to give the bellows a wet look around the bottom, but they are externally dry, they started doing this around 40k miles... so if I keep the fluid changed every couple of years it *could* last a long time still. It is starting to need tires and does need front pads and rotors, the rear drums and shoes are original, but I doubt it needs them yet. The A/C compressor makes a weird faint rattle noise when it engages(it's not too bad, I've pointed it out to family members and they said they didn't hear anything), its been doing so for the last 3-4 years, it blows ice cold but I suspect that the compressor and condenser(might as well while you're at it) will need to be replaced at some point in the future. I think it's starting to get an exhaust leak, but I see exhausts for these on Craigslist for pretty cheap from time to time. I also need to replace the blower motor resistor and connector, but other than that its pretty solid. It has almost no frame rust, it has been mostly garage kept, all the fluids have been changed multiple times (diffs, transfer case, transmission fluid (auto), brake fluid once,antifreeze, power steering).

In the last few years I've only been driving 5-6,000 miles a year and have a 1 mile commute to work(I need my truck most days, so I have to drive). The short trips are hard on a vehicle, so I hate to buy a new one and do that to it, but my Tacoma is still running great and I've been doing this with it for the last 8 years, I bought it from my parents with 32k on it.

I would like to have a larger truck to pull a gooseneck trailer with, which would be pushing the Tundra pretty hard, so I'm leaning towards the Duramax (or another full size 3/4 or 1 ton truck if anyone has a suggestion). I'm not dead set on a duramax, but we've had 2 6.7 fords since 2012 and both were garbage, both had to be towed to the dealership (quit in the middle of the road and wouldn't start)with under 17k miles (11k on the first one).
If I were to buy a Tundra I would probably put a gooseneck ball in it and use it for towing lighter loads and use my dads LML for the heavier stuff(we work together). There are times when we could use two big (3/4-1 ton)trucks, I don't have to have a big truck, but it would be more convenient much of the time. MPG isn't really a worry for me since I don't drive much and I already only get about 10-12 mpg in the taco due to all the idle time and short trips.

So I guess the question is, should I spend 3-4K and refresh the Tacoma, fix all the little stuff and keep driving it, or trade it in on a bigger truck?

Since I'm self employed, trading vehicles would benefit me on taxes since this is a business vehicle. I have to decide and do something before the end of the year to apply it to this years taxes.

I'm looking for advice, what would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

I have an 08.tundra. I use it for towing my 5th wheel camper. It tows 9k very well.

With that said, I have to have both. Plus the Tundra forums are boring.

 

I have an 09 Tundra, but it has the 4.7 which isn't used anymore. I tow my larger enclosed trailer with the Tundra, and use the Taco for my smaller one.

The driving experience is totally different, the V8 in the Tundra is much smoother then the Taco's V6, and the ride is smoother as well with less vibrations. The Tundra's steering is a lot 'heavier' if that makes any sense. The downside with the Tundra as with other full size trucks, is that parking in tight places can be a challenge. My only real complaint with the Tundra is that it seems to go through brakes quickly, and the rotors are bad about warping.

My Dad has a 2015 Tundra XSP with the 5.7 and it has a lot more power than mine.

 

I went from 17 Tundra to 17 Tacoma. However I’m in a completely separate situation.

If I were in your shoes and needed to tow and have a tax break, I would no doubt get a new Tundra.

 

I'd probably go with the Sierra over the Tundra,but that's just me. And it's an apples to oranges comparison between a gas and diesel truck. If it's for your livelihood, there's nothing like having the reassurance that your rig can comfortably tow the load and make you money.

Usually the case with Ford and why I will never own one. Found On Road Dead or Fixed Or Repaired Daily. That's super low mileage though, even for a Ford. What ended up being the problem?

 

Well do you need a full size or don’t you? Figure that one out first.

I would not buy a Tundra, I’d get another make for a full size. I think Tundras are over priced and have no features. Plus MPGs sucks compared to all the new full size models.

I’m a Ford guy though. I’m not spending the same money for a Tundra with 1/4 of the features (to include NO different options for powertrain) Plus I really don’t care for the look of the Tundras.

To get a diesel, unless you have money flowing out your ass, you need to justify. They cost a shit ton to maintain and repair. I think driving minimal distances doesn’t justify a diesel but thats just me.

If you hauled trailers daily over a few hundred miles per week, then go diesel.


I drove two F250s (gas V8) and they were dream trucks for me. I abused them from time to time too. Both held up great. I have not owned a Powerstroke though. My FIL does and has had minimal issues with his.

I think Cummins makes the best diesels. Too bad they put them in POS trucks.

 

For the little that you drive and the seeming anxiety over future mechanical failures, I would suggest you lease a new truck.

 

I used to haul hay, horses, and cows regularly. I loved the one ton cummins for that. Had the Taco too. The one ton was a kidney buster on rough roads.

 

The 2012 kept having emissions trouble, a heat sensor failing in the exhaust was what caused it to quit. It never ran right after they fixed it, it wouldn't build boost and they never could or never would fix it. The rear diff pinion seal was replaced 2 or I think 3 times in the 30k we owned it. It was leaking again when we traded it in. We figured it was a fluke, maybe we just got a bad one, our 08 6.4 Ford before it was a great truck. So we traded it for a new 2013 6.7 Ford.

The 2013 made it to 17k without trouble, then it started falling apart. It started with the cackling turbo (would start to build boost, cackle, lose boost and repeat), wouldn't build boost at all sometimes and the driveability was awful when it wasn't running right. One day, with an unloaded gooseneck trailer, that weighs about 5,000 empty, I couldn't exceed 40 mph on a flat road until I could get on a downhill run. Uphill it would drop down to 20-30 mph floored, not building boost. Then sometimes it would run great, we took it to the dealership under warranty I don't know how many times and they would tell us it had a vacuum leak and that they had fixed it.... it would start cackling, spitting and sputtering on the way home after getting it fixed. When it wasn't running right the transmission would jump up and down from 4-5 or 5-6 constantly on the highway. Then the turbo started pouring out oil, literally painting the underside of the truck, they fixed it under warranty, I don't know if they replaced it or what exactly they did but it wasn't leaking anymore after they fixed it, it was still useless though... 1/2 the time it wouldn't build any boost. The starter then started failing, it never actually failed, but would sometimes take a couple tries to get it to engage. At around 70k the transmission was starting to slam into each gear as it shifted when the truck was cold, its my opinion that the bucking and jumping it would do (literally) when it wasn't running right was catching up with it at this point, but we tried to resolve the boost and driveability issues with the dealership many times and they'd tell us it had a vacuum leak or that they couldn't duplicate the problem. With the warranty almost gone and trouble on the horizon we unloaded it for a new 2016 lml duramax, so far the duramax has 18k and hasn't had any issues except for the dual fuel tanks, it sometimes throws a cel and shuts down the rear tank pump and the fuel gauge stops working. If the front tank runs out of fuel you have to bleed the fuel system. If it throws a code I take it, fill both fuel tanks and clear the code with my ultragauge and it's fine for a while till it does it again. He dealership said they've had trouble with that, but didn't act like they have a cause or solution for it yet, told us to just keep clearing the code for now as long as it's running fine.

Bottom line, I don't know exactly what was wrong with the fords, I think it's mostly an issue with the DPF system, maybe it's too restrictive. Ford did change to a different turbo in 2015, so maybe it was a turbo problem all along, idk, but I don't miss the 6.7's and have lost all respect for Ford.

 

We have a dairy farm, I'm all the time hauling round bales, cattle, equipment... you name it. I could definitely use a full size pickup, I'm not a fan of the dodges though.

 

Nope, I don't keep them clean enough for all that, plus I'd lose all the accessories when I turned them in, gooseneck ball, brake controller, spray in bedliner. I like to own my trucks, If I put a dent in them, which does happen sometimes, I own them. What anxiety over mechanical failures? I'm not worried about it, vehicles are mechanical and will give trouble if kept long enough. I just want the most reliable vehicle I can get for what I'm doing.

 

Are they pretty stable on the interstate in a crosswind? My mom has had 2 5th gen 4Runners and they are a pain to drive in a crosswind. I read somewhere that the tundras were the same way?

 

I can tow more with the Tundra than I can with the Tacoma, but not tremendously more. I don't think it would hold up over time with a gooseneck behind it. I can tow anything I would ever need to with a Duramax, but I'm not sure I can justify the extra 15-20K for a diesel, I can afford it....but do I actually need it? In some ways I do, I could get by on a lesser truck and do everything I need to do, but it would be stressing it to the max. We've had several gas trucks over the years and a loaded gooseneck (weighs 7K empty) full of round bales is all they can handle. I certainly wouldn't want to try to pull it through the mountains or on the interstate with one. The Diesel is a whole different animal for towing. I can get by with gas because i'm just moving things from farm to farm usually, lower speed and short distances. The only longer distances I travel is with the cattle trailer, which a gas truck can handle fine. The hay moving is what is hard on our trucks, the diesel trucks are far superior for a heavy load.