Toyota 3/4 Ton with Big Block V-8

bamatundra · April 2002

I think that you must admit, the Chev pack is loyal to their Yugos. The problem is - the Chev pack is used to paying hundreds(or thousands) of dollars for repairs. They are happy with their 3 yr. warranty = after all - the repair technicians have to eat.

I own a Toyota. I would be horribly disappointed if i bought a GM truck that was a piece of junk. The Chev pack keeps posting that if you buy enough GM trucks, you MIGHT get a good one.

I did not want to play LOTTO with my $30K. I bought a Tundra.

losangelesemt · April 2002

Guys of all people I hate to say this, but after reading through the Rado consumer complaints in NHTSA, I am now convinced that GMs ripest lemon may very well be the Rado/Sierras. I love and have always loved working on GM autos, especially Chevy. While in the back of my mind I'd like to give Chev trucks a chance again, the posted problems are just too much sometimes.

Furthermore, I am totally shocked that any Rado/Sierra owner would even DARE come in a Toy thread and babble on about the Tundra's problems lol. I'll take the rotors/cold knock etc anyday over the Rado's probs. . Too bad cause I've always liked the design of Rado.

losangelesemt · April 2002

These are just a few comments I came across which were funny as heck. Certainly not trying to make fun out of ones misfortunes, and these would be equally funny if they involved Tundra, but I couldnt find many posted problems there. Way too funny stuff here ...

99-00 Rado Consumer Complaints

* WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED.
* FRONT END WHEELS WOBBLE TERRIBLY AND FEEL LIKE THEY WILL FALL OFF.
* WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT DROPPED DOWN WITH A STARTLING UNEXPECTED SHOCK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SWERVE
* THE 1999 CHEV. SILVERADO WITH RACK AND PINION HAS MANY PROBLEMS AND G-M IS TRYING TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG
* THE LEFT REAR WING GLASS/EXTENDED CAB BLEW OUT -WINDOW WAS CLOSED /DID NOT STRIKE ANYTHING, BUT WENT ACROSS THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND LANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
* TRUCK LESS THAN A MONTH OLD, BEEN IN SHOP OVER 9 DAYS. DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT NO HOW TO FIX PROBLEM
* DRIVER LUMBAR SUPPORT INFLATES BY ITSELF,
* DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF. NO WARNING OF PROBLEM. BOLTS REMAINED IN AND THE SHAFT JUST FELL OUT. TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS
* CONSUMER HAS TO GO UNDER VEHICLE TO DISENGAGE ENGINE FROM RUNNING UPON TURNING VEHICLE OFF
* THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE DID NOT INSTALL FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS
* I WENT TO EXIT MY VEHICLE, IN PARK, WHEN I BUMPED THE #2 MEMORY SEAT SETTING ON DOOR. THE SEAT WENT ALL THE WAY FORWARD. I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT GETTING IT TO STOP OR GO IN REVERSE WHILE IT WAS MOVING FORWARD. IT WAS HARD TO GET OUT OF THE SEAT. MY RIBS WERE SORE FOR 1 DAY

losangelesemt · April 2002

"THE HUB CAPS HAVE FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER LOST TWO HUB CAPS IN ONE WEEK"

Who knows

ryanbab · April 2002

I think they mean center cap?

I heard of some problems when people were over tightening the plastic screws on them.

ndahi12 · April 2002

I have seen two Rados so far with loose center caps while driving next to them on the freeway. I have no idea why chevy uses screws to mount the center caps.

losangelesemt · April 2002

The thought was kinna funny. Brings me back to some of the old lemons I've had, which donated a few hubcaps to L.A. freeways. But hey, God bless you guys that have good GM trucks.

ryanbab · April 2002

ill be darned but my truck turned 2 last week.

It didnt fall apart i must have a good one eh?

ndahi12 · April 2002

you are lucky. but I refuse to play Russian roullette with my 25K investment.

ryanbab · April 2002

$25K?

I paid after taxes $29691

Plus all the accessories probably at least $34K+

All well worth it

twowheeler · April 2002

Yeah, RK is a pretty messed up guy. He had the opportunity to clean himself up (in my opinion) but didn't. LA is getting old. I wanna move to Colorado. Hey, maybe Quad will rent us out a room or something? That's a good incentive to sell my Tundra...and get a Chevy!

plutonious · April 2002

"The ultimate example of a toy loyalist. Since you drive a truck that's rated a one star on side impact AND you still state that one should avoid a GM? Now that has to be the biggest joke to date. Your hypocrisy is duly noted."

obyone, do you need a hug? Does your Lemonado got you down?

All trucks have pros and cons. A con for my truck is the low side impact rating, yet OVERALL my Tacoma fares better than the S-10 (which you conveniently never mention!).

BUT ALAS, being a certified lemon isn't one of my truck's cons!!!

You really need to get over this side impact rating thing you're so hung up on. You sound like a broken record, and it's about as annoying as those whining Chevy transmissions...

bamatundra · April 2002

"There is an aura around a certain Toyota owner's posts"

I'm sensing a patina of anger and resentment surrounding a certain Ford owner's last post. The last Ford owner seems level headed, but confused. And there is a corona of inadequacy. I think there are some sun spots and aurora borealis that say he/she needs a hug.

LMFAO!

Oh!, he/she is supposedly a newbie. He/she is going to have to look it up!

Uh, Oh! Here comes another post from the sensitive one about anger! Geez - I shore didn't want to hurt his/her delicate feelings! Now I am going to get another lecture from him/her! Maybe if I apologize to him/her? NAAAAAHHHH!

I think that there is a certain cowardice about talking about another person in the third tense. (I am not talking about any particular person, of course).

URfeelingWEE - Welcome!

obyone · April 2002

Ever notice you're the only one on here with that one star problem? Ever wonder why? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

PF_Flyer · April 2002

As someone pointed out, it's time to get away from mispelling user names to mock each other. Maybe YOU don't really mean anything by it, and perhaps you take some pleasure in the back and forth, but other people reading this stuff might not get the joke. And that can give the impression to people that this kind of stuff is OK when it's not.

So let's stick to the trucks please

PF Flyer

Host

Pickups & News & Views Message Boards

plutonious · April 2002

For what seems like an eternity you've been a broken record with your "one star impact rating." Really, that's the best you can do?

SOUNDS LIKE AN ENDORSEMENT TO ME!!!!

sc0rpi0 · April 2002

I think thats the only thing he can find thats wrong, and it hurts when we keep on driving, and he keeps on driving to the mechanic.

plutonious · April 2002

However, I am a little jealous of his truck's 6' "lift" when it's on the dealer's rack 4 months at a time! If only it ran...

losangelesemt · April 2002

I'm afraid if we start using posters actual usernames, no one will know who the heck we're talking about lol. In all seriousness though, point well taken.

losangelesemt · April 2002

Ya I've been looking through fire depts. in Colorado lately. Maybe Quad has a spare barn out back. I'm sure thats all he wants to hear, 2 Toyota guys, from L.A. no less, coming to town lol. Shoot though, I turn on news last night just for a second and they were talking about lady that was murdered and decapitated in South Central. Place is out of control, getting old actually. Nice place to visit, we'll keep it at that.

Hey if we could just pick Bama up, maybe the 3 of us can take Quad over to John Elway Toyota and get the big guy all set up lol. Who knows though, if the 3 of us end up in Co., we might just find ourselves all converted to Chevs somehow. = )

ryanbab · April 2002

swing by indiana and ill take you down to larry bird chevy

obyone · April 2002

didn't care for my comment on the lackluster safety rating of your Toyota. Believe me, I'm sympathetic to your situation. During the week you have to drive those crappy GM's. The rest of the time you're in a one star side impact NHTSA rated truck. Oh what a feeeeeellling!!!!

Hey, maybe Home Depot has rebars on sale this week. I'll help ya weld them onto your doors.

sc0rpi0 · April 2002

How much do you want to bet that my Tacoma does NOT have a 1-star rating by neither NHTSA nor IIHS.

losangelesemt · April 2002

but can I bring Bamm with ??

kg11 · April 2002

Just what IS a 3/4 ton Toyota with a Big Block?
I've heard talk of a 5.4 and Ford sells lots of F250's with thier SOHC 5.4 but that's the SMALLEST engine available.Toyota's DOHC should have an advantage over Ford's smallest offering but it's still not a B.B.

Don't get me wrong,people will certianly buy them,but not those of us that want 450+ pounds of torque.

So far this topic is just fantasy but when Toy DOES bring a 3/4 ton to the table it seems likely it'll be in the same fashion as the Tundra,UNDERSIZED and UNDERPOWERED for a majority of those in the market.

It should make a GREAT 1/2 ton though.

kip

losangelesemt · April 2002

of a 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, full ton ??? I've run across some different views.

KG - Most certainly I agree with you. The 4.7 is on the lighter side of the 1/2 tons, and theres definitely reason to think that any future 5.4 would be on small side of 3/4 ton. If anything, I'm sure the 5.4 would be a very strong, solid 1/2 ton for Toyota if nothing else. Even if they up the engine size, I still think theres issues about just how structurally able the truck is/will be.

I somehow get the impression sometimes that the suspension and other related components of Tundra, aren't as rigid or strong as they need to be. I did see a guy the other day though at a construction site, with his Tundra loaded to brim and then some with concrete, ladders, heavy machinery, and the suspension on truck looked quite steady still.

saddaddy · April 2002

I think I agree with you. Although, it might be a great truck (if and when) but it still won't be a real 3/4. And this is coming from one of the biggest Yota truck fans out there.

obyone · April 2002

to its one ton rated mini pickup.

3/4 ton = 1500#

Toyota is famous for designing their own definition and specs. A good example is their posted ground clearance for the Tundra....

obyone · April 2002

NCAP does the actual testing. However, the results are published on the NHTSA site which lends more credibility to the NCAP testing AND the NHTSA does select the specific vehicles being tested.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap/Info.html

and here's the one star link:

http://www.nhtsa.com/NCAP/Cars/1997Pkup.html

Please note on the links that it IS from the NHTSA site. BTW, was it you that had or is having the problem with only having one tow hook?

And since I have your attention, what would you do if your current truck had a one star side impact rating? Would you still be driving it or trade it or seek some resolution from Toyota like the sludged owners are? I'm just curious cause I know for myself, I'd be on the phone to Toyota as soon as I had seen the results and if I wasn't satisfied with their answer the truck would've been gone in a flash with me buying exactly "0" Toyota products forever. I had noticed some of those sludged Toyota owners felt the same.

plutonious · April 2002

Your never-ending "side-impact rating argument" is kind of asinine considering the industry professionals rated the Tacoma safer than the S-10. Do you really believe people value your opinion as a biased Chevy-endorsing Lemonado owner more than the industry professionals who rate the trucks?

While you might take yourself that seriously, the rest of us think you're a joke. With all due respect, you have illusions of grandeur!

obyone · April 2002

The Tacoma also earned a one star frontal impact rating to go along with a one star side impact rating. Awwwww...this isn't good at all.

http://www.nhtsa.com/NCAP/Cars/1997Pkup.html

http://www.nhtsa.com/NCAP/Cars/1999Pkup.html

sc0rpi0 · April 2002

The same site shows that 2001 and 2002 are definitely not 1-star anywhere.
As for the tow hook: I don't have a problem. It's just that everyone thinks that "Oh, he almost rolled over because he didn't have 2 real towhooks that stick out from under the bumper". I could have used 2, but got out just the same with 1 (2 winches on 1 tow hook...if thats weak, I'm Queen Elizabeth).
If I found out: I'd keep looking. Because I don't trust NHTSA results too much and think IIHS results are more realistic, and because NHTSA keeps changing the results from year to year even though no structural changes were made.

plutonious · April 2002

http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/summary_smpickup.htm

And you can flush your links on 1997 and 1999 trucks. Mine's a 1998. Good try, though. Really!

plutonious · April 2002

I hate to inform you that of the 4 full-size trucks on the market, your Lemonado placed an impressive 3d in the front crash test while the Tundra placed 1st.

http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/summary_lgpickup.htm

Just look at those pictures of your poor truck being crushed like styrofoam. How awful. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Take comfort in the fact that lemon deathtrap of yours is only operational 8 months a year!

obyone · April 2002

That's exactly my point AND that's why I asked you the question if you had one of those one star rated trucks, what would you do? That's besides adding another tow hook of course. One of the regular posters to the Tacoma board had replied when I had asked regarding the one star rating that Toyota had added additional reinforcement in the doors starting in the model year 2000. Allknowing keeps coming to mind, not sure if it was him or another regular.

The test for side impact wasn't done for 1998 and only detected in 1999 and corrected in 2000. If looking at the logic behind Toyota. In the model year 1998 they were busy fixing the one star front impact for 1997 and not realizing that the side impact testing in 1999 would reveal other design imperfections for the previous model year 1998 and prior.

plutonious · April 2002

obyone, do you really think you're in the position to be lecturing on the merits of safety - being that you drive a poorly rated (3d place out of 4) truck yourself?

oldharry · April 2002

If Toyota brings out a 3/4 ton, I don't know about "big block", but they will most likely target a different market than they did with the Tundra. The Tundra's short wheel base puts the rear axel a little far forward for a work truck that carries heavy loads and tows a lot, but improves traction when empty. It is a well thought out commuter truck, giving the suburban home owner light duty pickup capabilities with outstanding ride and good (empty) handling. They lost a bit of economy, however, with the 3.92 final drive, but as they do not have a specific 'truck' automatic trans with lower gear, it is a fair compromise.

I am sure a 3/4 will have a longer wheel base, and a transmission designed for heavy use. The much acclaimed (by bama) auxilary trans cooler is necessary for a car trans in a truck.

Harry

bamatundra · April 2002

While the Tundra does have a shorter wheelbase, that is considered an advantage when maneuvering a trailer. The turning radius is shorter. A shorter wheelbase also means a shorter, stronger frame. Trailer Life towed a 6500lb trailer through the Sierra Nevadas in mid summer and proclaimed the the Tundra did as well as "Any of its big3 1/2 ton counterparts."

Truck Trend actually preferred the Tundra for towing a 5000lb trailer. They liked the maneuverability as well as the larger mirrors. One man's meat is a Chev owner's poison.

The Tundra is obviously the best 1/2 ton available, when they come out with a 3/4 ton, it will certainly be the most capable 3/4 ton.

obyone · April 2002

I agree with oldharry. The Tundra is a well thought out commuter truck. On the other hand I still can't figure out why they didn't take the time for retrofit the '97-'99 Tacomas, then again, I guess if no one complains why should they?

kg11 · April 2002

He sure knows the workin' of them trucks now.

kip

BTW does Toy even have a truck trans?
Good luck on this one now !

xman1035 · April 2002

I just wanted to let you know that my department purchased about 100 Chevy Tahoes to be used as patrol vehicles about two years ago and will not be buying them again.

The Chevy Tahoes could not hold up to the rigors of patrol duty. They constantly broke dowm, were slow and had major brake problems.

These Tahoes had the heavy duty parts installed for police work and still failed.

I do have say that the Ford Crown Victoria is the standard police vehicle, takes a lot of abuse and does an excellent job for police/patrol work.

losangelesemt · April 2002

Chevys are some of GMs ripest lemons. On the flipside, all of our ambulances are Ford's. I don't have a problem with Ford trucks at all, but our ambulances break down on average of 2-3 times a week, every week. Usually have one come in on a tow truck every other day. The ambulance company where I live is switching to Mercedes rigs next year, should be interesting.

oldharry · April 2002

What works for your department is what they should buy. I put a LOT of upper ball joints in police Crown Vic's, and I do alignments for the State of Illinois garage here in Dixon Illinois, and they put a lot of lower control arm assemblies in too.

Good luck on this one now. :<)

Harry

oldharry · April 2002

What happened to the military man who hauled his hang gliders around in his Tundra. It was good to see info from someone that actually worked his Tundra albeit lightly. There is one that only seems to post what he read in magazines, and no personal experiences. Does he have a Tundra, or is he 13 years old and praising the truck his mother's boy friend drives?

Harry

oldharry · April 2002

I know a short truck and a long trailer are easier to manuver around a lot, especially backing up. A long truck, and a short trailer. . . Well I've backed up a "water buffalo" with a 5 Ton 6x6 in 'Nam, and will admit it took several tries to get it in the right spot. On the road, however, a long wheel base on the truck makes towing much more pleasant. I pulled a trailer belonging to a friend with his Ford Bronco, and the same trailer with the same friend's ext cab long bed F-250 that he traded the Bronco in on, and there is a difference.

Harry

bamatundra · April 2002

Have you ever towed anything with a Tundra? Have you ever towed anything with a Shakerado 1/2 ton. If not, aren't you just wasting bandwidth and flapping your gums?

oldharry · April 2002

I've only SEEN 4 Tundras on the road, ever. One was towing a rental box trailer about ten feet long, and had out of state plates (Wisconsin). I have no idea how much weight. And, Yes I have towed with several GM trucks including my own. As I work on vehicles for a living, I sometimes have to test customer's vehicle as they use them to find a problem. The four Tundras I've seen were all driven by young men dressed for white collar work. I had one in the shop for vibration problems. Re-balancing the wheels, and properly torquing the lugs in stages cured that. Tacos also shake if you tighten one lug on aluminum wheels all the way before snugging up the rest.

Here in the rural mid-west, there aren't many that bought the Tundra.

I work on over a thousand vehicles a year, and before I was self employed, I worked on and drove about 1400 a year. Considering repeat customers, in the four decades I've worked on vehicles, I have driven over 25,000, including bull dozers, and two engine scrapers. I was in the SeaBees in Viet Nam working on construction equipment in the sixties. After my regular job, I worked for farmers hauling grain, and field work while I was in my twenties and early thirties. Whats your experience?

Harry

bamatundra · April 2002

You have admitted that you have never towed AMYTHING with a Tundra. Does't this mean that you really don't know what the heck you are talking about? Jost curious.

oldharry · April 2002

I've towed with big trucks and small, so I know what size means when towing. Again what's your experience? Towing with larger trucks than a Tundra, and smaller trucks tells how changing trucks changes the results. A Bronco (not Bronco II), mentioned in an earlier post, is larger and heavier than a Tundra but short wheel base. I've driven literally thousands of trucks, and towed with about forty, I don't have to tow with a Tundra to know it is not as good as a Peterbuilt for towing. Bring yours over, and I'll hitch my friend Bob's 6000 # trailer to it and pull it on the Terrapin Ridge road to Galena and back then tell you what I think with experience you accept. Incidentally my C-1500 handles it quite well.

Harry

hillhound · April 2002

He's never used his pavement queen Tundra's hitch for anything except his bike rack! He does have alot of experience with magazine articles and he only tells half the story when he quotes those!

Based on his extensive experience he was able to come into the "Best Powertrain for Towing" thrad and declare the best tow rig for the original poster's question was a "blown Tacoma"! That silly guy who started the thread was interested in a 3/4 ton with a GM 8.1 or a Ford or Dodge v10. Luckily Bama showed up and set him straight before he made a mistake and bought a real truck!!

I've pulled light trailers all over the place with a few different 1/2 ton pickups and my current GM1500 Ext Cab 5.3L is the best 1/2 ton truck I've used as far as handling, stability and acceleration.

Never towed with a Tundra and judging by the way it squats so bad under light loads I don't want to. Maybe a Toyota 3/4 ton will be different but until then, I'll just stick to reading the magazine articles.

Toyota 3/4 Ton with Big Block V-8

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