Anyone daily driving first gen tundra?

[shedfinder7]

Just got a first gen tundra and on fence if I can sell my 2022 tacoma to daily drive the tundra. It’s a 2001 with 90k miles on it in good condition but due to the age of it and my lack of mechanical skills will it leave me stranded? I rack up 20k miles per year and hate to do it on a new vehicle but like the reliability.
Tia from gen 1 4.7 owners

 

[justinspicher]

I’d drive it everyday regardless of what else I had to drive.

 

[Hunt4life]

I daily one with 220k its never let me down..only have had it for a year an ahalf tho.

 

[CorbLand]

Daily drove one until it got totaled with 197K on it.

Replace the timing belt, do the water pump and pulleys while your in there. Change the oil. Check the valve cover bolts. Replace parts as necessary and drive that thing across country with 300K on it.

 

[Steve300xcw]

90k on a 4.7 and you are worried about it? Enjoy a rig that is more reliable than your '22 rolling computer.

 

[ODB]

I guarantee you the guy who bought my 02 is still driving it because I see him occasionally. Sold it with 235k miles.

Other than a radiator and an axle seal, @CorbLand pretty much nailed all I ever did on mine for 23 years. Ridiculously good trucks. I was in Salmon last week and could NOT believe how many Gen 1s I saw and tundras in general.

 

[JPNW]

Yep. What everyone said. Do what you’re supposed to do maintenance-wise and you’ll be happy.

 

[deerlick]

230k and never a problem

 

[CorbLand]

Daily drove one until it got totaled with 197K on it.

Replace the timing belt, do the water pump and pulleys while your in there. Change the oil. Check the valve cover bolts. Replace parts as necessary and drive that thing across country with 300K on it.

Forgot to add. If you ever meet the engineer that designed the placement of the starter on the 4.7. Sack tap him…with your foot…as hard as you can for me, will ya?

 

[mostlybirch]

Drove mine from 90k to to 235k as a recreation and work truck pounding every dirt road, cattle track, jeep trail in Nevada with a pop-up camper on the back sometimes with a dirtbike on a rear rack. I broke a lower ball joint in the field, easy replacement even working in bug dust and cow crap. Sold it to another field geologist who continues to pound away on it and its still ticking. I drive a newer, lower mile GMC and I really miss that 2000 Tundra. IMO, the first gen is a truck for the ages, a reliable V8 in an almost Tacoma-sized package that rides smooth and great offroad. Had it up on three wheels a few times. Only thing that would make it absolutely perfect to me is if it had a solid front axle.


Replace the water pump when you do the timing belt thats coming up.

 

[philos]

My 1st gen 2005 has 356K -it’s been my daily driver for 20 years. Like you, I lack a mechanical aptitude and I am comfortable with driving my Tundra pretty much anywhere

 

[StuckInTheEast]

How's the frame and rear axle housing?
Got one in the shop now that looks pristine from the top with just over 100k on it....but needed a few grand in frame repairs. You gotta watch the frames on those things...even if your not in the rust belt you never know where a truck that old spent it's time. Being parked outside in a shady damp spot on the regular for 20+ years is more than enough to cause problems even out of the rust belt.
Other than that, do what others have said...timing belt/water pump/pulleys (Oem or Aisin parts only-no aftermarket) and new cam/crank seals while in there at that age.
Change trans fluid with oem spec fluid and do so every 50 k
Make sure transfer case shifts properly and cycle it through the ranges once a month...transfer case actuators are expensive repair.
If your not mechanically inclined I'd strongly suggest paying a reputable shop for a thorough inspection abd check over before making your decision.
The engine in those trucks is hard to kill, but age more than mileage does cause some other moderate to large problems.
If its a 90k cream puff that was garaged and not in the rust belt, it's likely a solid contender for the 300k+ club...but its still a used 90k mile 24 year old truck...anything can happen.
Not sure what you gave for it or your finances, but having a spare vehicle around is great peace of mind. You can keep miles/wear off the newer taco and use it for trips and what not and daily the tundra and use it for more abusive truck duties

 

[handwerk]

I'm at 178,xxx on my 2005 DC 4X4 and it's still going strong.

 

[conhawa]

Forgot to add. If you ever meet the engineer that designed the placement of the starter on the 4.7. Sack tap him…with your foot…as hard as you can for me, will ya?

Amen. I replaced the starter on my son's 2000 Tundra. If you have to do it, you might as well replace the knock sensors and wires while you have the intake manifold off.

 

[Poser]

2001 with 90K on it. Assuming there is no frame rust, You could sell that in the mountain West for $30,000.
But, why would you? That's a more reliable vehicle than literally anything manufactured in the last 10-15 years.
Take it in for maintenance, change the fluids out, replace your components on schedule and you're unlikely to run into any issues.

 

[jsmac]

My timing belt has been done twice. 100k and 170k. They found a mouse wedged in the wheels the second time though so that’s probably why it was a little premature
Mine is a rust bucket from MN so it doesn’t look pretty but it runs great. It’s the “hunting truck” cheaper than a side by side.

Also exhaust manifold gaskets (or bolts, I forget) go bad similar to the HEMIs. I did the one side and then immediately started hearing the tick from the other side…so I’ve had an exhaust leak for a while. Not a very stealthy hunting truck.

 

[Hunt eat repeat]

It will run for ever but my problem with mine was the mpg. It sucks lol imho
My 1ton ram does a lot better of fuel.

 

[jsmac]

Drove mine from 90k to to 235k as a recreation and work truck pounding every dirt road, cattle track, jeep trail in Nevada with a pop-up camper on the back sometimes with a dirtbike on a rear rack. I broke a lower ball joint in the field, easy replacement even working in bug dust and cow crap. Sold it to another field geologist who continues to pound away on it and its still ticking. I drive a newer, lower mile GMC and I really miss that 2000 Tundra. IMO, the first gen is a truck for the ages, a reliable V8 in an almost Tacoma-sized package that rides smooth and great offroad. Had it up on three wheels a few times. Only thing that would make it absolutely perfect to me is if it had a solid front axle.


Replace the water pump when you do the timing belt thats coming up.

Oh yeah forgot my lower ball joint crapped out on me too. Replace those. Saw another first gen crumpled like that at the local mechanic just last week.

 

[shedfinder7]

Thanks guys, my decision is a lot easier!

 

[PNWGATOR]

Had 355k on mine when I lost a head gasket and decided I’d gotten my moneys worth.