Welcome, Toyota Tundra - II

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Comments

  • tp4unctp4unc Member Posts: 437
    I'm sorry but I can't offer too much help with the toppers. I have not purchased one yet. I came close to putting an A.R.E. cab high top on my previous truck but never got around to it. I'm still debating whether or not I really NEED one for the Tundra. Plus, I'd like to SEE a Tundra with that new Z top before I take the plunge. I heard the Z-series costs around $1200(I like the locking mechanism on this cap). The regular line A.R.E. sells is around $900(I think).
    I have helped friends remove their caps in the past and they are not too terribly difficult to remove...just loosen a few clamps and take it off. It is a job that requires two people, though. I hope others will provide you with a little more info..I really don't have alot of experience with caps. You picked the right truck...I'm sure you'll pick the right cap!! Good Luck.
  • evcvevcv Member Posts: 16
    I have experienced the same vibration phenomena: vibration started at 65mph and wouldn't go a way until I slowed down to 45mph. Any answers?
  • barlitzbarlitz Member Posts: 752
    I saw my first tundra in Boston today it was parked at a meter,Took a good look at it, the inside looked nice and the overall truck looked nice, it was an xtra cab 4x4 V8 SR5.But I'm not quite sure it is a fullsize truck it didn't look as big as a comparable ford,dodge or chevy. maybe the size of a dakota,does any one know the truck weight and overall size compared to one of the big 3.
  • lissliss Member Posts: 4
    I just test drove the Tundra SR5 4x4 Access Cab.I love the way it looks,even if everything seemed like it was just bolted on like a "Kit Car".My biggest complaint though, is the shaking or shuttering of the chassis.I don't think the vibration that most folks are complainting about has anything to do with tire balancing.I felt the shaking when the truck was idling.As I came up to speed,20 mph,it really shook.After that it drove like a truck should.I'm thinking maybe the engine is a solid mount or has very little rubber on the mounts.Hopefully Toyota can get this problem taken care of.Their is something that keeps me WANTING that truck.
  • lissliss Member Posts: 4
    About that shaking at Idle.What I did was place the Truck in park and raise the RPM up and down and then I felt the shaking.I know this is present in all vehicles to some degree but the Trundra's was more pronounced.Maybe the body is flexing and is not stiff enough.Bye the way this truck just made delivery, so Toyota has not done anything yet, maybe in 2001.
  • bsagarabsagara Member Posts: 3
    I also just returned from a test drive and found the exact same shake as a few other people on this board. I took it up to 70, and that's when it started, and it didn't stop until under 20. Is the frame so stiff that it starts ocsillating @ speed? Does weight in the bed stop the shake? Those that have the problem, what does Toyota have to say...by the way mine arrives next week. Appreciate any responses. Thanks
  • mikemillermikemiller Member Posts: 71
    I've driven my Tundra 2992 miles since I got it a month ago. I've driven on Interstates over 100mph (after the break in period) and all speeds in between, and taken in on several weekend trips. It is as smooth as silk. There are no inherent vibration problems in the Tundra design.
    It sounds like these vehicles don't have balanced tires. Either from the port or from the dealer. I have first hand experience with tire places that are not used to Toyota wheels. Maybe your dealers are farming out the tire mounting? I took my 4Runner in for a new set of wheels to a tire dealer that had done a good job before and they came out awful. The deal was that a new guy from a ford dealer had done my tires. When I took it back the manger realized the problem and explained it to me. The deal is that ALL Toyota factory wheels REQUIRE a special boot to go on the tire balancing machine. With out the special boot it is not possible to balance the tire. Toyota tires are the ONLY tires that EVER need a special boot for the balance machine. Many places don't know this. With the Tundra's rack and pinion steering, you will absolutely feel any tire that is not balanced.

    I recommend you tell the dealer to get the tires balanced.
  • kimexpokimexpo Member Posts: 17
    This is not new. Tundra owners had posted these before. Do we really want to buy a truck that requires special boot to balance their tires? Toyota is quiet about this and does not admit that these trucks have design defect. They will be back fired if do not honestly correct this. The 3.4 engine head gasket is a good example.
  • cwirthcwirth Member Posts: 169
    I have had my Tundra since June 3rd and have had no vibrations at all. I do have the factory alloys. I don't think that tires/wheels that are out of balance are a design defect. That seems like it is a problem with an installer. Using a special boot also in my opinion is not a defect, an pain to the tire balancing shop but not a defect.
  • kimexpokimexpo Member Posts: 17
    This is not new. Tundra owners had posted these before. Do we really want to buy a truck that requires special boot to balance their tires? Toyota is quiet about this and does not admit that these trucks have design defect. They will be back fired if do not honestly correct this. The 3.4 engine head gasket is a good example.
  • mmarcummmarcum Member Posts: 16
    I have a 4x4 limited with 900 miles. I have just noticed a noise in the front end which occurs briefly when the truck is started and put in drive and it begins to move. This is like a shifting of a metal valve or baffle under the hood. It only occurs when initially starting the engine and engaging drive, not when shifting to park and then to drive again. Any else experience this and any ideas as the source? Also I am having a bleedthru of an orange pigment thru the vinyl of the all weather strip on the wheelflares on the rear wheels. I have contacted the dealer who is going to get the truck in the first of the week and probably change the rear flares. He is checking with service MGR first. I have not experienced any vibrations.
  • z71billz71bill Member Posts: 1,986
    Obviously the shake at idle can not ne caused by tire / wheel balance. You should expect more minor problems with the Tundras that are coming out now, Toyota is trying to increase production. When you first start a new production line you are extra careful, but at some point you need to reach the standard number of units produced per day. I have worked in manufacturing for 15 years and I know the most difficult (as far a quality) time of a new product is 2-3 months after start up.

    As to needing a special boot to balance the tires, who cares, as long as dealer knows about it and can get the job done. I would be more concerned that they are not coming out of the factory with proper balanced wheels. This sounds like the same problem GM is having with its 2 wheel drive trucks. I never did understand why Toyota uses "port installed" options to finish off its trucks. Why not just do it at the factory? My only guess is this is a carry over from when all Toyota were built in Japan and they did not want to slow down the line to produce variations in cars & trucks. Easier to just ship the cookie cutter model to the USA and finish it off the way customers wanted them.
  • scottj198scottj198 Member Posts: 7
    Has Toyota at least recognised that a vibration can occur on the Tundra. I test drove a Tundra 4x4 TRD about a month ago and I had no prior knowledge about any vibration and during my test drive while exiting the interstate, I felt the truck shake on the off ramp. I gave the Tundra the benefit of the dought and returned one the same off ramp with my 93 T100, no vibration. This bothered me enough to not purchase a Tundra until Toyota recognises that a vibration can occur, possibly not on all Tundras, but I don't want to be one of the owners who does have it. Because of this situation I have actually been looking a Ford F250's, I am now hanging my head low. Comme on Toyota give us a little info here.

    Scott
  • cymancyman Member Posts: 8
    Just a quick note: you may want to lock your spare tire to the frame somehow, Ive used a synthetic lined cable (to keep the ride silent) with keyed lock. Word has it (here in So. Cal.) that the spares have become targets of gyppos. Think about it.
  • z71billz71bill Member Posts: 1,986
    From what I have read both the Tundra and the Ford F-250 are good trucks, but to me they are not in the same class. The F-250 (I am thinking the super duty) is much larger and tows / hauls twice what the Tundra does. Why not look at the F-150 if you don't need the extra capacity?
  • apghunterapghunter Member Posts: 6
    I bought my tundra limited 4x4 w/trd 3 weeks ago and it is perfect in respect to the vibration problem. I do believe there is a problem, I test drove 10 different tundras in my search and about half had vibration problems above 55 mph. I also noticed these were older prodution units because the frieght charge was $420 and models after august were $480. I talked to a friend who is a service manager at a local Toyota dealer and they have contacted Toyota about the problems. Toyota amits it had problems with tire balance in certain patrs of the country. Hope this helps. My truck now has 1200 miles and is vibration free from 0 - 85 mph the only complaints I have are the interior noises. Ther is a noise in the back which appears to be the rear seat belts banging the plastic panels and the 6 disc in dash cd player rattles on bumpy roads. But I really like the truck and I only wish they were making them in japan because I feel quality has slipped a bit. My last toyota was a 92 sr5 v6 xtracab with 160,000 miles on it and absolutelly no squeaks or rattles on any road surface, dirt or paved.
  • powercatpowercat Member Posts: 96
    Z-bull spewed, "why not look at the F-150 if you don't need the extra capacity"
    Z, here's an idea. why not go to another topic if you don't want or don't own a Tundra.
    Tundra II is the title of this topic, what part don't you understand?
  • eusasceusasc Member Posts: 91
    I doubt it's the body flexing or engine mounts causing the vibration. I would think all the trucks would suffer if that were the case. It actually stands to reason that most of the vibration problems people are experiencing IS a balance problem, since this would explain the randomness of the problem. That, and the fact that some people have solved their problem by getting their tires re-balanced or replaced.
  • daren1daren1 Member Posts: 8
    Just wanted to let everybody know that the New Consumer Reports is out and that they did full size truck comparisons between the Tundra,
    F-150, Ram, and Z71. Tundra was the winner!
    "Overall the best pickup we've driven" they said. In fact, Tundra was the only pickup rated
    excellent.
    I own a SR5 access cab with 1000 miles on it.
    My only complaint being the squeak between the drivers side doors. I have found out from an earlier post that all it takes is a little adjustment to the door latch too cure the problem.
    Sorry to butt in guys, but, just wanted everyone to know that per Consumer Reports the Tundra is the right choice.
  • z71brentz71brent Member Posts: 24
    Even when cosumer reports gives a test to my choice of truck make, I still take it with a grain of salt. None of the testers of this magazine have a clue about trucks or what should make a truck win in a given area. The testers have admitted to never owning or driving trucks for any length of time. I guess thats why they chose a yuppie truck as winning in their tests.

    Lets compare a Tindra to the Z71 in cargo space and capacity, ext cab seating room, tow capacity, offroad capability, interior comforts like lumbar or placement of accessories. Lets compare these things in a fashion that a "real" truck is utilized and your "Tindra" will be about timid as the women who own and drive them. Option for option and capability to capability, ANY of the big three trucks offer more truck for the money and value.

    "Oh what a feeling" to want more truck....Toyota!
  • lvstanglvstang Member Posts: 149
    Rubes other grandson, another z71 variant. Let the insults fly.
  • tp4unctp4unc Member Posts: 437
    I wonder if you'd be taking any salt and bashing CR if Chevy would have won?
  • michaelb3michaelb3 Member Posts: 10
    I think the blinders have been passed down. You can do all the statistical comparisons you want. You can agree or disagree with any written road test or consumer report you read. Doesn't make a bit of difference until you drive the truck
    Drive the Truck.
    Might be slightly smaller. Who cares? Might not have all the bells and whistles(lumbar support, was it?). Who cares? It's still the best all around truck made today. Maybe not if you work construction 7 days a week, but I'm willing to guess that most of the people on this page don't.
    Just a hunch.
  • david6david6 Member Posts: 75
    I dropped my current car off for service last night and drove past the Toyota lot on my way out. I was disappointed to see no new Tundras available . . . looked like they'd sold everything they had when I was there a month ago. I was amazed to find a used Tundra right up front though! Someone may not have been able to make payments, or maybe the shimmy-shake never went away on this one. Unfortunately, there was no price on it, so I have no idea if it is holding it's resale value or if it has dropped so much in price that I should buy now. Tempting, but I'm waiting for a little more cash in the bank account, since for now I have a 1-ton dump to use when I need a truck.
  • rwellbaum2rwellbaum2 Member Posts: 1,006
    Some of the vibration may be from the way the cab is mounted, i. e. on rubber bushings. This helps isolate the cab from bumps and noise. My 93 4x4 extra cab had this design. If you stomp your foot on the floor you feel a slight, muted shudder instead of a hollow banging sound like on other trucks.
  • rwellbaum2rwellbaum2 Member Posts: 1,006
    Hey Dave I'll sell you mine. It's a jade green sr5 and I now I want a black LTD. God, I'm greedy! Just got back from 3000 mile round trip to Colorado Springs. My 78 2wd Toy is still going strong with @380,000 miles. Now, that's a great feeeling Z71 bill!
  • jyarnoldjyarnold Member Posts: 50
    Up to 1600 miles on my LTD with TRD and no perceptible vibrations on-road or off. I also test drove two Tundras prior to buying, one with TRD and one without. The one without had a spongier ride but, again, no vibrations. Perhaps the stories of vibrations are just stories but I sure can’t confirm from my experience.

    Just sold my friends, who were dead set on the Silverado with the F150 a close second, on a Tundra. All they had to do was test drive it. They drove it a little harder than I would have someone else’s new truck but they needed to know. With 4 adults in the Tundra I had them do HW and off-road and, needless to say, they ordered a Tundra the next day. “Absolutely no comparison in terms of handling, power and feel of ride” they said, and these are long time big 3 owners who never had the gumption to wander into a Toyota dealer. I like what they did about the Tundra: built solid, no crappy styling and does what it claims to, not to mention famous Toyota resale. We all had to lament at how sad it is that American cars have been junk for 25 years. What’s it going to take to get competitive again? One thing for sure; the Tundra raises the standard of how a PU should ride, sound, look and feel. Maybe the big three will take notice or maybe they’ll just keep makein `em bigger.
  • pchengpcheng Member Posts: 162
    I have a 4WD LTD Access Cab w/ 2500 miles. I also do NOT have any vibration problems (I also do not have any rattle, or squeeking problems noted in several posts: knock on wood).

    I did have a similar vibration problem on my old PU that sounds awful familiar to the vibration problems noted here.

    I owned a 91 Toyota 2WD X-tra Cab that I bought new. Shortly after I picked up the truck from the dealer, I noticed a really SLIGHT vibration at 55 mph. It wasn't bad enough to be annoying, and it only happened around 55 and went away when I drove 60 mph.

    After 65K miles, I bought new tires, and went one tire size up. Instantly the vibration was back, and A LOT worse. I took it back to the shop and had them re-balance the right rear tire 4 times (each time getting better, but never solved). Each time the tire was re-balanced, the the speed at which the vibration happened changed. Eventually I lived with a slight vibration at 55 that went away at 58mph (I just drove 60 or faster).

    One day I picked up a nail on my right rear tire, and had to put my spare on (it was the original spare that had the original tire dimensions). All of a sudden the vibration was gone. If felt like it had when it was new. This got me thinking that the vibration is magnified with the width of the tire, and it was NOT a BALANCING problem. Balancing only covered up the problem.

    My theory: maybe the combination of tire width and wheel offset is the true source of the vibration. My 4WD Tundra does not vibrate at all, and it seems like the vibration problem is isolated to 2WD models (like my old PU). I'm not sure how to solve this other than try to balance the vibration out of the wheel.

    When I was in High School (MANY years ago), we had a contraption in my Auto Mechanics class that balanced the wheel on the car. It attached to the wheel and you spun the tire with a little motor. You adjusted two knobs while the tire was spinning and it balanced the whole wheel assembly. A couple of years ago I found one of these contraptions at a friends brother's shop. I used it to balance the right rear tire on my old pickup and balanced the vibration completely out of the truck.

    I can't remember what that thing was called, but it was used before computer balancing was around.
  • barlitzbarlitz Member Posts: 752
    I don't understand you Toyota owners you say consumer reports says the tundra is the best fullsize and you're all jumping for joy,but when the same magazine says the ranger,s10 and sonoma are better than the tacoma they're wrong,typical hypocrites, now I must go my work release is over for today.
  • david6david6 Member Posts: 75
    Of course, the question is: How much do you want for your truck, with how many miles? You should let us all know how much you get, since this will be an early indicator of the resale value.
    As I said, I'm waiting until I have more cash to put down on it, or until I get VERY sick of driving my stick-shift vehicle from job site to job site in stop and go traffic. It's too much of a luxury right now, since I have no payments on it.
  • pchengpcheng Member Posts: 162
    Actually I haven't heard any comments about the Tacoma, Ranger, S10 or Sonoma on this board. What are you talking about?

    Whether or not magazine writers like my truck or not does not concern me. I don't really care that you or anybody else drives a truck like mine or not. I'm sure you made your decision on buying a GM or what ever based on whatever works best with our individual criterias. So who is to say what truck is better or not.

    I don't judge you, or anybody else, on what you drive. Anybody who does is a LOSER!!!
  • rwellbaum2rwellbaum2 Member Posts: 1,006
    I was just kidding, Dave. Unless your willing to give me $28,500. I haven't had any vibration problems either. I had to align the bed ( did this myself), it was 1/4" off center. Also had the spiral cassette cable replaced. It's in the steering column and is part of the air bag system. It was making a noise when the wheel was turned. I took it to the dealer and they had a very competent mechanic who found the cause of the noise right away and fixed it. Now if I could just get my wife out of the truck and back into her saturn.
  • barlitzbarlitz Member Posts: 752
    The comment I made was not made for tundra owners but some Toyota owners in general who praise Toyota trucks and degrade American products,I drive a 99 F250 XLT 4x4 4 door supercab which serves its purpose fine for me.
  • cg5cg5 Member Posts: 3
    Consumer reports did test the trucks off road,and said all the trucks did well except the Chevy,Which lacked traction on the rock hill and off-road course.
    They also said the Chevy had several defects, and lots of squeaks and rattles
  • artpartp Member Posts: 156
    I took my Tundra V8 off-road today, 50 miles worth. It did a superb job! Great traction, the good ground clearance really helped. A few spots would have "high centered" some other stock 4x4 trucks.

    Over 6000 miles:

    Absolutely no vibration problems.

    I have the slight rattle where the two doors come together on the drivers side.
  • 1taxman1taxman Member Posts: 27
    From what I have read, that rattle could be taken care of by having the dealer adjust the upper latch.
  • rphronrphron Member Posts: 21
    I guess a real truck magazine that rates the Tundra as number one, is not really a truck magazine after all.
  • david6david6 Member Posts: 75
    As it turns out, the used Tundra that I saw was the dealer's demo model, and had been licensed, so they had to sell it as used. This makes more sense to me, 'cause unless someone was convinced by RUBLU2 to switch to Chevy in a moment of weakness, I would not expect any of the early-adopter Tundra owners so far to be selling their trucks already!
    Just a bit over 2,000 miles on it, and they hadn't figured out a price for it yet. I think I'd go for a new one before I bought this used demo model, even though it's spec'd close to what I want.
  • dockinsmdockinsm Member Posts: 15
    It's obviously some kind of communist plot. They've taken over all the magazine companies in an effort to undermine the big three, ultimately causing their downfall and thus causing our economy to collapse. We're doomed!
  • tp4unctp4unc Member Posts: 437
    Tundra owners(especially 4x4 V8 people):

    Please let me know what kind of gas mileage you guys are getting. I do mostly stop & go/city driving during the week and usually get in the 14.5 to 16 mpg range. My best to date was 18.5. I have close to 4900 miles on the Tundra at this time and have been using 87 octane gas. I have been getting the mpg that I expected but would like to know if others are seeing different results. Thanks in advance.
  • pchengpcheng Member Posts: 162
    My comment is directed to owners of all makes (including Toyota owners). Face it, a vehicle comes and goes in your life. You buy one, then you buy another. Not too many people keep a car/truck from brand new to the junk yard. Most people either sell it, trade it in, or wreck it. You wouldn't do this to your kids. Thus, a vehicle is just a material possession that comes and goes.

    Cars/trucks are not you children (something that you should take pride in). I don't go and say my son is better than your son because he was born in Seattle; that would sound as stupid as saying my truck is better than your truck because it's built by Toyota. Think about it, people cheer with pride over something so stupid as a good review of a material possession in a magazine, and don't cheer with the same enthusiasm when their kid comes home with good grades.

    Just my opinion.
  • pchengpcheng Member Posts: 162
    LTD V8 4X4; 2000 miles, 87 octane: City: 14.5mpg Hwy: 17 mpg
  • mikemillermikemiller Member Posts: 71
    Hello tp4unc, good to talk to you again. I've got 3128 miles on my Limited 4x4 Access cab with TRD package. I'm hovering around 14.5 to 16 myself. The best so far was 16.46. While in the break in period I was real easy on the engine and was getting 16 to 16.5 mpg. I live in the mountains so it is a lot of slow down and speed up driving. After the break in period, I've had a very heavy foot (basically racing at stop lights) and my mpg has fallen into the 14 to 15 mpg range. After a month I'm still having a great deal of fun with the Truck. I love it. I'm constantly getting stares and people roll down their windows at stop lights to say they like my truck. Every time I pull up to our local general store I get, "Is that one of those new Toyota trucks? ", then I give them the whole truck tour. You gotta love it.
  • jyarnoldjyarnold Member Posts: 50
    Well stated Pete! I find too many people allow themselves to be owned by their car vs. owning their car. It's a transportation device. However, it's usually second in scale of purchase only to their house and most folks do take pride in their homes, not to mention the long lived love affair with the car in this country. I think American automakers have too long capitalized on this love affair by constantly changing body styles in hopes it will fuel sales. How much would we all be spending on our cars if they came in only 3 sizes; S, M and L. How many parts for different models are out there by now? How much waste has occurred with each new body style making obsolete the predecessors? It's complicated and perhaps a little crazy but we're a crazy lot.

    I'm looking forward to the electric car as my concern for air quality goes beyond my love affair with cars. American carmakers have had this technology for years yet Toyota will be the first to introduce its RavEV in 2000. As consumers who drive this industry we need to send a message to the Big 3 and buying a foreign maker is a powerful one. Toyota has never lost site of its mission: to build the best for less. The big 3 seem to have a different mission: sell, sell, sell. Who do you want to support?
  • daren1daren1 Member Posts: 8
    Maybe I should spell this out for everyone. I posted the Consumer Reports information as just that...INFORMATION! I thought that this is what this sight is for? I have only posted 4 times prior to this post. the first two were questions, the third being the Consumer reports info, and the last to z71brent for his chevy sided comments.
    So the point is that I, as well as several others I'm sure, have tuned in to this topic to get information from people who own or who are about to own a Tundra. I enjoy the comments and chuckle at some of the replies. But, the reason that I tune in is to learn about the troubles that other people are having with their Tundras so that I can troubleshoot my own Tundra for the problem.
    When I posted the info from Consumer Reports,it was so that everyone out there would know of another resource to look up information on the Tundra. Remember, we purchased the Tundra because we felt that it was a better pickup based on our research of pickup trucks. So the purchase alone tells people that we think our pickup is better than the others. We have already determined that the Tundra is the best pickup for personal use and not for hualing 7000lbs every day. If bigger is better, then why don't we sell all of our pickups and purchase the F350 crew cab?
    Sorry for the babbling, but use this sight for what it was designed for.
  • capt2capt2 Member Posts: 57
    Mileage about the same, best so far 18mpg on a trip, usually around 16.
  • eusasceusasc Member Posts: 91
    Actually, I'm not intrested in "supporting" any manufacturer. I just want a truck to carry my motorcycle, and sometimes my friends motorcycles. I bought a Toyota, because based on my own personal experiences and my own research, I've come to believe that Toyota, currently is the most reliable, trouble free truck I can get. That's what's most important to me.
  • rphronrphron Member Posts: 21
    Using 88 Octane, 4x4 V8 TRD package. Only have 1200 miles on it so far, but have seen 16.5 MPG to 14 MPG with the average being about 15.5. I would say 60/40 highway/city. I average 75-80MPH on the freeway (when traffic allows).

    I am hoping that as time wears on that the gas mileage will improve to 16+ all the time when I stop "leadfooting" it around and the first oil change, break in period come about...I also live in high altitude, does that have anything to do with gas mileage?
  • pchengpcheng Member Posts: 162
    Don't get me wrong. I wasn't harping on you. I didn't see the zeal in your post that Barlitz was talking about. Your post was a simple stated fact. Barlitz was talking about how Toyota owners cheer at these articles. My previous post pointed out that there were no cheers that I saw.
  • tp4unctp4unc Member Posts: 437
    Thanks to all who responded regarding the MPG. Looks like we all are experiencing about the same
    results. I'm satisfied with my mpg. I just wanted to make sure my truck is "normal".

    Mike Miller,
    How are the leaves up there in your neck of the woods? Are there any left or are they all on the ground? This is off subject but have you noticed how many acorns there are this year. I have to park in the garage at all times to keep from getting pelted. There are more than I can ever remember. I can only imagine what it must be like in the mountains.
    Also,
    I've been afflicted with the lead-foot disease much like you. I hope they don't find a cure anytime soon! Looking forward to the first snow here in NC. I'm sure you'll get to see it before me. Let me know how the Tundra handles it.
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