My thoughts on my friends new Tundra
 

Hello my friend just bought a new tundra with the 5.7l

He had been bragging it up to me for the past week or so and i've finally been able to hang out with him.

First of all I would like to say the interior and ride quality are much much better than my f250, the tundra feels like a car. Not sure if this would be a detriment while loaded though. I'm not really a fan of the exterior and the sheet metal feels a little flimsy.

I got to test drive it and I have to say I was a little disappointed with the motor. For 381 hp and 401 lb·ft It just didn't feel powerful/fast enough. It felt a bit faster than my old 96 sefi 7.5l which is only rated at 255 hp, 405 lb·ft.

I don't understand how 126 more horsepower and about equal torque feels only slightly faster.

Overall I'd say its a pretty nice quality truck. My friend only has one problem with it, he already has a bent tailgate... from sitting on it (he does weigh 220 though lol) Supposedly he called the dealership and they informed him that "Toyota does not view the tailgate as a load bearing device". He asked the guy if he was calling him fat :-X04

Torque is twist, power is basically torque x rpm. So, you wont feel that extra 126hp unless you are running at redline pulling a load. No one does that on a casual test drive. The other thing is that torque and hp probably come in at a higher rpm on a 5.7l than a 7.5. Add that to the fact that any 2013 "half ton" weighs more empty than a 1996 "3/4 ton" without a diesel did, so its working harder with just two guys in the cab and nothing else.

Thanks for helping me understand! That does make sense I definitely wasn't redlining while pulling a load in my friends new truck. Just empty with a couple full throttle bursts.

About the weight that is definitely another thing I didn't think about. They keep making trucks heavier and heavier with every generation. My 96 3/4th is only 6300 lbs on the scales empty with me in it (175) and that's including the toolbox and rack. That's basically a cut in half modern f150 :-X04

You would think the tailgate would be able to support more than 220 lbs. Although at 240 + lbs., I've broken my share of office chairs, deck chairs, etc....oh also car seats too.

I can't get over the bed shake/wobble on the 2004-2008 F150s.

Do the newer trucks shake/wobble like the 04-08s?

Seams like the sheet metal may have been too thin and the design

May have lacked support.

I have set engines and pianos on my 2002 F150's tailgate and it still

Functions and looks good for it's age.

My truck may struggle pulling the space shuttle, at least I can put

More than 300 pounds on the tailgate.

Tundras are still ugly no matter what.

There is a recall on Tundra tailgates.

F150/Titan have fully boxed frames. Tundra boxed as far back as trans, then two different sizes of C channel to rear crossmember.*

F150/Titan available with power adjustable pedals, Tundra is not. F150 (some) and Tundra have telescoping steering wheels.

F150's assembled in Dearborn, Titan's in Corinth MS, Tundra's in San Antonio TX.

Dunno anything about Ram's except its hemi is a semi-hemi. Don't care about fugly Chevy's (front end looks like it was born on its nose) & GMC's with their 'ancient technology' "cam in block" V8's.

Chevy TV commercial with Howie Long as spokesperson road tested F150 over railroad ties to exhibit frame/bed flex.

F150 TV commercial with Mike Rowe as spokesperson road tested Chevy over railroad ties to exhibit frame/bed flex.

2007 Chevy introduction on Speed Channel: Howie said look at our innovative bed cargo management system and wide opening rear doors (on extended cabs).

Titan had both in 2004. Chevy bed management rails are thin strips of aluminum, while Titan's are heavy cast aluminum.

* Toyota at 2007 LA Auto Show had a Tundra rolling chassis mounted at a 45 degree angle. I took pics, sent them to (I think) Steve Bricks who posted them in the SoCal Chapter.

I'll have to let tim know about the recall. I'm assuming he hasn't gotten a letter yet because he has only had the truck for 2ish weeks.

Edit: Wait what? Power adjustable pedals? What is the point of that? Just seems like something extra to break when it gets clogged with mud/gunk

I'm 6-5, "She who must be obeyed" is 5-3. When I drive, have the bucket seat raised all the way up, all the way back, pedals are up.

When "She" drives, seat is all the way down, all the way forward, pedals are down.

There's no way the power adjustable pedal mechanism can get clogged up with anything, as it's located up under the dash.

I would not buy a new pickup without power adjustable pedals.

LOL well that makes sense! my wife is 5'11" and im 6'1" so we are pretty much the same.

Yeah I don't really like Toyota's so I'm going to be biased on this. I think the cars look cheap and doesn't have a really nice design. In my experience they're unreliable as well.

The market is full of direct injected engines, 8 speed transmissions, etc. I expect the Tundra will eventually catch up with the F-150 in all aspects of the half ton market.

I've said it a hundred times, I'd buy any Toyota before I'd buy any GM or Dodge.