Pick my next 1/2 ton pickup

[270quest]

LZ0 was a 2023 model change

 

[Thinkingman]

A 2020 or 2021 Tundra is about as bullet proof a truck as you can get.

Its also more american than fords or chevy’s apparently

4500lb boat would be at the extreme end of Tundra capability.
I would(and have been) focused on GMC 3.0 (I'm not a fan of the styling but GMC is miles better than Chevy) or a 3.5 Ecoboost F150.
As previously stated, an XLT with the 302A package is the sweet spot for styling and content.
I have a 2015 F150, 302A Sport with 173k miles and I would buy another in a minute.

 

[270quest]

4500lb boat would be at the extreme end of Tundra capability.
I would(and have been) focused on GMC 3.0 (I'm not a fan of the styling but GMC is miles better than Chevy) or a 3.5 Ecoboost F150.
As previously stated, an XLT with the 302A package is the sweet spot for styling and content.
I have a 2015 F150, 302A Sport with 173k miles and I would buy another in a minute.

The V8 tundras with 4:30 gears are rated to 9500-10k towing....a 4500 pound boat would be nothing for one of those trucks...

 

[Thinkingman]

The V8 tundras with 4:30 gears are rated to 9500-10k towing....a 4500 pound boat would be nothing for one of those trucks...

I know what they're rated for...And I know what kind of suspension is under them.
Unless you're spending $$ on suspension upgrades, you should look elsewhere.

 

[Bama67]

The 2.7 Ecoboost is the most reliable Ford half ton engine and gets fantastic mpg while very powerful and fun to drive.
I would only have a half ton diesel if someone gave it to me.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

4500lb boat would be at the extreme end of Tundra capability.
I would(and have been) focused on GMC 3.0 (I'm not a fan of the styling but GMC is miles better than Chevy) or a 3.5 Ecoboost F150.
As previously stated, an XLT with the 302A package is the sweet spot for styling and content.
I have a 2015 F150, 302A Sport with 173k miles and I would buy another in a minute.

What??? The 5.7l V8 can barely tow 4500lbs . Keep thinking man…

I have a 2020 1794 and tow way more than that on a regular basis.

 

[Bama67]

The previous gen Tundras are let down mainly by their poor payload, poor mpg, and mediocre ride.
I owned two of them and like F150's much better.

Seriously, the rated payload of them is a joke, my 2007 Limited was 1100 lbs LOL.

 

[Thinkingman]

What??? The 5.7l V8 can barely tow 4500lbs . Keep thinking man…

I have a 2020 1794 and tow way more than that on a regular basis.

People that know trucks will tell you the engine is only a small part of the towing equation.
Do you have the stock suspension?

 

[PredatorSlayer]

People that know trucks will tell you the engine is only a small part of the towing equation.
Do you have the stock suspension?

Yes - it is all stock. And legally they have to take all of that into consideration when they release max tow numbers - suspension, brakes etc. People that know trucks understand that.

 

[Thinkingman]

Yes - it is all stock. And legally they have to take all of that into consideration when they release max tow numbers - suspension, brakes etc. People that know trucks understand that.

I know my Tacoma was rated for 6500/650 and was completely overwhelmed with half that.

 

[Luked]

Mine isnt up there.
But I will say that if I could go back and buy a different one when i bought my 19 Ram I would 100% go with the 3.0L Chevy Diesel.
There was one at the dealer when I bought my truck and i wish now I would have bought it just due to the towing capacity and fuel milage.
My lifted Ram truck tows ok but man its a gas hog. and buying 35" tires sucks

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I know my Tacoma was rated for 6500/650 and was completely overwhelmed with half that.

I have a 2015 tacoma as well. Comparing a 6cyl to an 8 cyl is funny. You have obviously never owned a tundra, so you speak about something you know nothing about. Typical keyboard ninja

 

[mtbraun]

I've had 3-6.2's. One was ok, one was great, the other absolute junk. Good power and towing. They drive by everything but a gas station. The third grenaded at 80mph on the interstate at 28,000 miles. Until GMC figures out their silly variable valve train, I would always consider that a risk in the platform.

 

[Moccasin]

Until GMC figures out their silly variable valve train, I would always consider that a risk in the platform.

I agree and think the cylinder deactivation tech in all incarnations is a lot of unnecessary complexity with no real upside. When I recently needed a HD truck, I went GMC due to the 6.6 gasser not having that among other reasons. Pair it with the 10 speed and it gets better gas mileage, rides better, and has twice the payload and towing of my Tundra (which I loved.)

If going with a 1500 these days, I’d look hard at the 3.0L diesel. And if I’m spending the OP’s money, I might wrap it in a GMC ZR2 Bison. Ha!

 

[jimh406]

If you are driving mountains regularly at elevation, I'd buy something with a turbo.

 

[Afhunter1]

I have a 2024 Sierra max tow 3.0 Duramax (12,500 tow rating). Love it and would buy it over and over again! I tow up to 10K often. The max tow package comes with some upgrades I would get it even if you don’t need it. Makes truck more “sporty” unloaded actually. Lose some mpg but mine have been ok I guess! Lol

 

[Svivian]

I have a 2024 Sierra max tow 3.0 Duramax (12,500 tow rating). Love it and would buy it over and over again! I tow up to 10K often. The max tow package comes with some upgrades I would get it even if you don’t need it. Makes truck more “sporty” unloaded actually. Lose some mpg but mine have been ok I guess! Lol

View attachment 814657

whats the biggest tank they equip on one of those?

Also how’s the mpg towing?

 

[TSAMP]

whats the biggest tank they equip on one of those?

I think its 23-26 gal

 

[HuntHarder]

I get right at or over 500 miles a tank on my 3.0 with 34" tires. A bigger tank would be even better tho.

 

[aftriathlete]

On the diesel vs gas debate, I live in Hawaii where driving a diesel truck is generally the most ludicrous thing someone could drive. The cons of ownership and the actual use case are, on average, at the extreme for it not being justifiable. No one owns trailers here on Oahu. You don’t see boat trailers even, I think I can count on one hand the number of boat trailers that I’ve seen in 2 and a half years here because if anyone needs to move a boat from one part of the island to the other they just drive it over there. And parking for a boat trailer is an absolute premium here. The only trailers you see here behind passenger trucks (so excluding big rigs on the H-1) are lawn care, and this is not what I’m talking about. There are SO many desert rat kinds of diesel trucks here, I’m talking 10” plus lifts on 37-40” tires. This, while there is no actual use for that here (almost no off roading on this island, and these trucks are not used for those limited off-road trails anyway because the actual couple places one can off-road are real 4wd trails where you can expect jungle pinstriping), no one tows anything, and the price of diesel is 30% higher than regular unleaded ($5.09 for diesel currently compared to $3.89 for regular).

Every time I see someone driving a 3/4-ton+ diesel here I just laugh to myself because I know it’s a pavement princess, they don’t tow, and the reality is, they paid a massive premium on the purchase price due to location while paying an extra 30% for a gallon of fuel.

They all complain about the “high cost of living” here though…