Toyota Tundra Owners

[MTNDUDE]

So I am in the market for a new to me truck. I am putting my wife through school right now, so I am trying to stay below $15,000. I really want to try out a Toyota Tundra. The downside is most of the Tundra's I am seeing have between 180,000 and 230,000 miles on them in that price range. Are they really that reliable to warrant that price?

My current silverado has 190,000 miles, and is currenty inopperable with a broken transmission. I can't quite wrap my mind around paying up to $15,000 for a truck with just as many miles as mine.

I have heard the reports of guys with 350,000+ miles on their Tundra's, but how common is that really?

The cheapest thing for me to do is just replace the transmission in my chevy, which will most likely be what happens. However, I am still really wondering how many Toyotas really last in the high 300,000-400,000 miles.

 

[Ucsdryder]

What state are you in?

 

[MTNDUDE]

Utah

 

[Ucsdryder]

There’s a reason they have a cult following. I’m on my 2nd and getting ready to trade it in for another one. They’re bullet proof. The only downside is the small fuel tank and crappy MPG. I wish they had a 35 gallon tank.

 

[Amos Moses]

There’s a reason they have a cult following. I’m on my 2nd and getting ready to trade it in for another one. They’re bullet proof. The only downside is the small fuel tank and crappy MPG. I wish they had a 35 gallon tank.

I have a 36 gallon tank in my 21 and it makes a huge difference with how thirsty the truck is.

 

[Jason Snyder]

What year is your Silverado? There is no comparison between it and a Tundra. I bought mine with 84k miles on it. I now have 165k. The only thing I’ve done is do maintenance and replace wear items.

Mine is an 08 and I paid $18k for it in 2020. It’s still worth $14k for private party sale. I have all the confidence in the world I could put another 200k on this pickup.

Expand your search distance and see if you can find better prices in surrounding states.

 

[MTNDUDE]

My Silverado is a 2002.

 

[MTNDUDE]

Expand your search distance and see if you can find better prices in surrounding states.

I will have to look into that whole process of buying out of state. That's a good idea though.

 

[Firestone]

125ish on my 2015. Oil and brakes are the only thing I have ever had to do

 

[Jason Snyder]

I will have to look into that whole process of buying out of state. That's a good idea though.

I used Car Gurus and Facebook Marketplace. You can filter based on distance. I drove four hours to look at the one I bought.

 

[huntnful]

I bought a 2010 Toyota Tundra 5.7L 6 years ago used.

I bought it for $20k with a 147k miles on it.

It now has 267k miles and all I’ve done is changed the water pump and a u-joint.

I am giving this one to my oldest daughter when she turns 16 and just buying another used one.

 

[KenLee]

Put a transmission in the Silverado and don't look back. The old truck you know can be much better than the old truck you don't.

 

[Jbehredt]

I have a 36 gallon tank in my 21 and it makes a huge difference with how thirsty the truck is.

38 gallons actually. Became available SR5 and up in 2016.

 

[Jbehredt]

I’d put a trans in the Chevy and sit on the $10k for a rainy day. Coming from an unashamed Toyota fan boy. The tundra can easily go the distance but it’s a gamble with the previous owner’s maintenance. If it was ridden hard and put away wet it could very well be due for its own new transmission soon. And they’re spendy!

 

[Speaks]

My current 2017 Tundra has nearly 150k on it and I expect many more years of reliable service.

My last Tundra was an 08, I traded it in with close to 250k on it. It had a mild head gasket leak that likely would have been fine for a long time. The AC compressor blew in a way that put metal in the lines, I didnt want to pay to fix that given the head gasket issue but still got $8k in trade even with disclosing both problems.

Personally though I have no desire to run any truck much over 250k, I dont like stuff breaking. I buy low mileage used and drive them to around 250k in the case of Tundras, 170kish was how long I was willing to keep a Ford or Chevy when I drove both of them.

 

[Megalodon]

Look at any used full sized truck from the last 15 years priced under $15k and tell me what you find.

A tundra will undoubtedly be your best option.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Put a transmission in the Silverado and don't look back. The old truck you know can be much better than the old truck you don't.

And it’s still a Chevy. The last one I drove for work was a disaster.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

You should be able to get a 4l60 reman put in for $5k or so. Maybe get rebuilt for bit less if there's a decent rebuilder around you. Those things aren't overly complex or pricey to go through in comparison to the newer 6/8 spds.
Depends on what shape the rest of the truck is in but as stated above...often the devil you know is better bet than the devil you don't.
I've got 2 tundras, I love them crappy gas mileage and all. However buying anything that high in the miles is a gamble. If you personally knew who owned it and how it was maintained/used the tundra would be much less of a gamble than anything other option with that kind of miles on it. They really do hold up that well. Stuff still goes wrong: wheel bearings, water pumps, valley cover gaskets, brake calipers, starters but properly maintained they have extremely low occurrence of major powertrain issues to north of 300k miles.
That being said, you've got one of the good old chevy trucks. They are still one of the cheapest to maintain and that 4.8l or 5.3l from that era was a solid 250k+ engine if maintained and a much cheaper replacement should it need a long block than a 5.7 tundra...way easier/cheaper to work on in general too.
If the truck is solid otherwise, engine running good, not using alot of oil ,frame not rusted out in rear or just needs some minor normal wear and tear type repairs I'd put $5-7k in it and save the rest for a cushion.
If you were looking to spend $40k and a low mileage pre 2022 tundra vs a new $50k + from one from any other brand I'd say go for it...but what your talking about is outside my comfort zone for risk.
You have spare vehicle?

 

[MTNDUDE]

You should be able to get a 4l60 reman put in for $5k or so. Maybe get rebuilt for bit less if there's a decent rebuilder around you. Those things aren't overly complex or pricey to go through in comparison to the newer 6/8 spds.
Depends on what shape the rest of the truck is in but as stated above...often the devil you know is better bet than the devil you don't.
I've got 2 tundras, I love them crappy gas mileage and all. However buying anything that high in the miles is a gamble. If you personally knew who owned it and how it was maintained/used the tundra would be much less of a gamble than anything other option with that kind of miles on it. They really do hold up that well. Stuff still goes wrong: wheel bearings, water pumps, valley cover gaskets, brake calipers, starters but properly maintained they have extremely low occurrence of major powertrain issues to north of 300k miles.
That being said, you've got one of the good old chevy trucks. They are still one of the cheapest to maintain and that 4.8l or 5.3l from that era was a solid 250k+ engine if maintained and a much cheaper replacement should it need a long block than a 5.7 tundra...way easier/cheaper to work on in general too.
If the truck is solid otherwise, engine running good, not using alot of oil ,frame not rusted out in rear or just needs some minor normal wear and tear type repairs I'd put $5-7k in it and save the rest for a cushion.
If you were looking to spend $40k and a low mileage pre 2022 tundra vs a new $50k + from one from any other brand I'd say go for it...but what your talking about is outside my comfort zone for risk.
You have spare vehicle?

That does make alot of sense. I may just fix the chevy and run it until my wife finishes school, and then buy a lower mileage Tundra.

 

[IdahoElk]

Pre 2014 Tundras, make sure to replace coolant, old coolant can eat head gaskets, this is a known problem. 5.7 V8 Tundras are good trucks.