Why aren't Tundras more common as work trucks?

To be fair on the diesel argument, tundra is still based on the F-150, a gasoline vehicle, and the qualities which make the tundra better often cater to off-road, which most fleets don’t need or consider. I see Toyotas as PERSONAL work vehicles all the time, especially tacomas essentially used interchangeably with the ranger, which is not a fleet vehicle I often see on the Ford front.

A Toyota is a vehicle you care about, and fleet vehicles aren’t. Add in Ford has options up to the 750 (and beyond, fire trucks etc) and you see why they are in use for any municipality. If they’re already in use with the city… chances are you can pick old ones up cheaper. So all the large businesses with needs beyond light duty will go with the “American” brand to appeal to customers and their pocket books. Even if that savings is temporary, maintenance expense is budgeted and comes out of the larger company coffers, and so again the shortsighted business chooses ford even if a tundra would suit their half ton needs.

FWIW the 02 Tundra is my work truck, and I never want another half ton. No one can argue with the cummins or 7.3 for heavy duty, but that’s not what fleets run anymore, it’s all gas. Our other work trucks are a defunct 98 Tacoma with “bad transmission” and over 330k mi, an 01 Chevy 2500 duramax which succumbed to a bad Allison and the common injector issue for the LBZ, and an 80s GMC 1500 a previous employee left years ago (no idea what’s wrong with it).

 

My tundra is the shit! Love this thing. Carpet delete, no BS, tows the trailer, bikes and little off-road camper. They should have made way more of these RCSB trucks. Makes my taco feel like a joke.

 

This is the first one I have ever seen. Nice looking truck.

 

Befre I got my 2020 Tacoma I had a 2020 f150 with the 3.5 xlt supercrew and 6.5 bed. Daily driving to and from work I averaged about 25-27mpg. So I think it could be accurate.

 

You got a unicorn and it looks amazing.

 

I agree with you about seeing Tundras as personal work vehicles all the time. It seems like a lot of independent contractors or small business owners have them. It makes sense because of the long term reliability of the 1st and 2nd gens so it keeps costs low. The only fleet Toyota vehicles I ever notice are the tacos with the 2.7 for pest control, etc.

 

Fleet trucks is what they are missing, but fleet trucks means shitty interior even on the higher trims.