Tacoma vs Tundra

[Deleted member 89202]

Hey all, I am a new member and this is my first post. I see it is a very friendly community as I have browsed this site for a few months now and decided to officially join. Briefly, I have been an adventurer my entire life and live for the thrill of things. First off, I am deciding between a Toyota Tacoma (1999-2004) or a Toyota Tundra (2000-2004) and not sure of which platform I would like to have for my expedition rig. This rig will be used primarily as a fishing, canoeing, camping truck (it will be my second vehicle) but also want to plan bi-yearly trips to wherever I feel like going. I am stuck between the Tacoma and Tundra and each offer many benefits. Thank you all for your expertise in advance. I have a budget of about 10k after buying the vehicle if that helps.

 

[Clutch]

Can't go wrong with either, Tundra you'll get a little more power and capacity.

Go drive both and see which one you like better. If the 1st gen V8 Tundras had a manual trans, I would have one over my Tacoma...but since it doesn't. I am sticking with the Tacoma.

 

[jkron]

I have both, a 2002 tacoma reg cab 5sp 4x4 and a 2001 tundra access cab 4x4. the tacoma is great and maneuverable, but the tundra has more room and power. i also had an 1997 tacoma ext cab, and it still lacked on storage space. i have a cap on the tundra and built a really nice storage and sleeping platform that me and my wife use. it would be a little tighter in the tacoma. i prefer the tundra for longer trips and the tacoma for shorter day trips. also keep in mind though, the tacoma has WAY more after-market support. the tundra's selection is good, but not nearly as good as the tacomas. just something to consider.

 

[Deleted member 89202]

My first purchase would be a nice storage platform with the shell on the back. I've been looking for various set ups but haven't had much luck. I would like to have storage racks, places to store stuff, place for guns/ammo if possible, etc etc.

 

[Deleted member 89202]

A more permanent set up is what i'm trying to stay. I've seen some nice set up's in the FJ cruiser but I just don't like them and they are over-priced.

 

[seanpistol]

I was in the same boat when I bought my Tundra. I had my heart set on a Taco at first, but quickly found reasons why the Tundra would fit my needs better. The Tundra is obviously bigger, and being 6'3" it felt a lot more comfortable. Bigger backseat, bigger bed to sleep in. I tow snowmobiles occasionally, which a Tacoma is capable of doing- but a V8 makes it easier. Also, I was surprised to see that the Tacomas hold their value almost too well... I bought my Tundra for the same price as a Tacoma with slightly more mileage. This was surprising to me because of the V8, more room, etc.- but in my area there is real high demand for used Tacomas and everyone knows it. I think of the Tundra as basically a Tacoma (as far as axles and suspension go), with a V8 and larger body. The first gen Tundras are an awesome size in my opinion... not massive like the new ones, but slightly larger than the Taco. Like said above, there is a lot more aftermarket support for the Tacoma but there is still plenty available for the Tundra. If you are set on a manual, the Tundra only pairs the manual with a V6. The difference in MPGs is not going to be massive... I average 18mpg hwy, sometimes more sometimes less. I bought my Tundra with 80k on it, but if I were to buy another one I wouldn't hesitate to buy one with more miles on it. They get pretty cheap with about 150k and if you snag one from a rust free area they should be good to go for a longgggg time. And you should have some money left over for mods... All that being said, I'd love to have a brand new 4 door Taco- but I love my 1st gen Tundra. I'll drive it till it dies! (just saw on another forum someone just passed 700k on their original engine and tranny!)

 

[karlmagnum]

I test drove a Tundra and it has plenty of power, but I decided to get a Tacoma simply because I don't need a big rig.

 

[Mrknowitall]

Myself, I'm trying to decide between an 05-06 Crew cab Tundra or long bed crew Tacoma. Same price, same length, very close fuel economy.
It is really a matter of space vs maneuverability. Are you by yourself? With the wife? Dogs? Kids??? A platform is pretty easy to build- just remember to not go crazy with heavy lumber.
4cyl Tacos are pretty good on fuel, but V6 Autos are almost as thirsty as a Tundra.
The Tacoma will fit in a garage with more lift/tires/racks than a Tundra.
The back seat in a Crew Taco is a little more comfy than an Access Tundra, but an Access Taco isn't much good for anything but dogs and a cooler/fridge.
While there is a full selection of suspensions for the Taco- from spacers and blocks to reservoir coil-overs, the Tundra has little available between the Bilsteins and high-dollar coilovers.
TRD Tacos have a rear locker. You can put an ARB in either, or use a Truetrack in the rear (preload it with the parking brake. works awesome)
All trucks that vintage in the rust belt will be subject to frame inspection/replacement, but at 8 years old, my MI kept 03 Tundra had very little rust.

 

[xjaugie]

I've been driving a '95 X-cab tacoma as a hunting, fishing, exploring rig for over two years now and it has served me very well. I don't tow much and like the smaller truck for fitting on the tight forested trails of the east. I had the truck fully loaded including kayak for a drive across the country from Maryland to Alaska last year and the tacoma with 180,000 miles worked perfectly. If you are not planning to tow a trailer and need something that can fit on the Jeep trails, my vote would be for the Tacoma. You cna check out the build on the link below. I've not done too much to the truck, just enough to make it the perfect hunting, fishing truck for me.

 

[austintaco]

Having an 03 Tacoma, and loving it, I think the value is probably going to be in the Tundra. The 1st gen Tundra is very close in size to the current gen Tacoma. In that regard, you are able to get V8 power in a close to current Tacoma sized rig. Somewhere on here, there is a comparison in vehicles dimensions and interior space between the 1st gen Tundra and current Tacomas, but I could not find it. The 01-04 Tacoma double cabs are an awesome vehicle, but they command a very high price. Good luck with your search.

 

[surlydiesel]

I would say I need more info. Reg Cab, Extended Cab or 4 doors? Kids? Dogs? Yourself, 2 or 3 people. Towing? Cargo? MPG?

I've owned a 99 Extra Cab Tacoma, 08 Extra Cab Tacoma, 02 Extra Cab Tundra and now an 01 Reg Cab Tacoma. All of these trucks have been 5 spds and I went from the 08 Tacoma back to the 02 Tundra because they are the same size but the Tacoma can't do half of what the Tundra can do.

This is all opinion:
If you need to fit more than 2 adults, you need a 4 door Tundra.
If you need only 2 adults but want to tow often, an extended cab or reg cab tundra.
You want to carry home 5 cords of firewood a season, Tundra.
Need to park in a parking garage for work or something, prob a Tacoma.
You want lots of MPG, 4 banger Tacoma. I would stick with 2001-04 personally. I also agree that the V6 Tacoma and V8 Tundra get similar gas milage on the highway.
You want to fit down tight trails, Tacoma.
If you like driving a 5spd, you're stuck with a V6 in the Tundra and I dislike timing belts so I stick with the inline 4's in the Tacos. I did own a V6 Tundra and sold it with 178,000 on it to pick up my Taco with 72,000. 4mpg increase in daily driving.
The V6 would be peppier for towing in a tacoma but that might give me a false sense that I could safely town more than 3500 pounds with a tiny truck. I don't tow heavy with a minitruck.
Driving both of those gen trucks to me felt very similar. The Tundra has more pep but handles very similarly to the Tacoma. No extra body sway or anything in regards to the larger size and weight carrying capacity. It is a bit bigger but nothing like an american fullsize truck. I felt like I could fit the Tundra almost anywhere I could fit the Tacoma.

I drive the truck I do now for MPG. Seriously, I get 22mpg running around town. You'll never see anything like that in a Tundra. If I needed to replace the truck tomorrow, I would get something bigger. Either another 01-04 Tundra V6 4X4 5spd(rare) or possibly a full size oil burner. Love the fuel efficiency but hate that I can't tow much anymore and find it cramped with 2 people in the cab of my truck. I'm a big guy, 6' 215, so you put someone else my size in there and it's small. An extended cab would help greatly but I'm ready to go back to a "big" truck again. On the other end, all the fuel I save and lack of need for upkeep, just change the oil and lube the systems and it just goes and goes. This means I can't justify selling the truck just because I want a bigger one. It runs too good and is cheap to run.

Not sure if this helps much but that's some feedback from someone who's owned each of the trucks you're talking about.

Best,
Jorge

 

[Martinjmpr]

I owned a 1st gen extra cab Tacoma and I have to say if I had to do it over again I'd probably look at a 1st gen Tundra instead. IMO the 1st gen Tundra was a perfect sized vehicle. My only gripe would be the lack of a manual tranny and the column shift automatic. Also I don't know if the 1st gen Tundras ever got the 5 speed A740 auto or if they all had the 4 speed A340 - the 5 speed is a better transmission in my experience.

I don't care for the 2nd gen Tundras - too big and bulky looking. I hate the "mine is bigger than yours" trend in full size trucks today but that's a rant for another time and place.

 

[Stone_Blue]

Yes, the '05-'06 Tundies all got the A750...Try to stay away from the '00-'02 Tundras with the A340 auto, unless the vehicle condition is excellent, with low miles, good price, and you dont plan on towing. The '00-'02 A340s are known for having weaker planetaries, IIRC, due to a parts supplier design. Toyota switched suppliers for the parts for the '03-'04 years, and it seems to have fixed the failures. If you DO get an '00-'02 and the tranny does go, just replace it with one known to come from an '03 or '04...They are total plug-n-play, bolt in swap.
Also, inspect the cooling system (especially inside the coolant reservoir) for an thick, orange-pinkish sherbet looking goo floating in the coolant or stuck to the inside walls of the reservoir. Early 1st Gen Tundies have been known to have issues with the transmission cooling line fittings corroding in the bottom tank of the radiator. If they go, it ends up mixing coolant with ATF...Not good for the tranny, especially.

If you are in a cold weather state, inspect the Tundra frame VERY well...Especially the rear crossmember that the spare hangs from...There was a big TSB/Service Campaign for frame replacement or frame coating/crossmember replacement for rust issues.

I came from a '99 reg cab 3RZ 5spd 4wd Taco to a '00 Tundra access cab V8 auto, and the difference in economy was a large shock. Handling, not too much different, though the Taco was a bit quicker in manuevering...Not surprising since IIRC, the Tundra has a good 5'-6' longer length than my old Taco. Also, the tundra feels more planted, and doesnt get loose in the rear like my Taco did. I was always spinning/chirping tires without even trying, or getting on it, from stop lights especially on wet roads. I HATE automatics, and the Tundra is only the 2nd I've ever owned. (I've owned around 20 vehicles, and all but 4 were Toyotas)...i REALLY miss having at least a 5spd manual in the Tundra.

Oh, and if you're not already, sign up on Toyota.com as an owner. Then you can enter the VIN of ANY Toyota you're considering purchasing, and see service records for anything ever done at any Toyota dealership....A nice little addition to supplement a Carfax, or to verify any service/maintenance, recalls, TSBs the seller says they have had done by a dealer.

 

[Mrknowitall]

... I dislike timing belts ....

Not that big a deal- I diid the one in my Tundra in about 5 hours with hand tools and $80 in parts. PLenty of room, too. The Tacoma is the same job (I used a Tacoma FSM), but less room. Only hard part was getting the crank bolt out- that took some immense cheater bars. Is there a trick to that BTW?

 

[Butcher54]

Tundra, I ran with a group of FJs in Moab and at the Summit. not a problem.