Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Toyota Extend Cabs, Tundras, T100 for kids?

Sooo Flinch,

are you trying to say my American Dodge with Cummins diesel (built in Mexico with US, Japanese & German parts <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) won't last as long as your 'Yota? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

badger

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> And my beloved Z-71 is about half Canadian, some Mexican and (hopefully) a little American. Gad, I don't think any of our rigs are truly of a single nationality. Maybe the "Bowtie" in the middle of my Chevy's grille is made in the good ol' US of A. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Steve

My Tacoma was built in Fremont, Ca.

valad,
Shop around before you buy. I was planning on buying a Tacoma, especially when I saw the prices on the Tundra! WOW! I owned a 1989 Tacoma ext. cab 4x4 until it got so rusty I was ashamed to be seen in it. There were huge holes in the fenders. I had to replace the back bumper before it became a road hazard. Then I found out what the oxygen sensors cost (x2). Then the vacuum booster rusted out and I found out what that cost, (again wow) . I decided to let someone else enjoy it and bought a 95 Ford which I liked better. After deciding I needed an extended cab I shopped around and looked at the Toyotas and noticed they are smaller and cost more, I shopped around and picked up a 2003 F-150 extended cab with a 5 speed trans. (made in Japan) 4x4 for the same money that a dinky little Tacoma 2x4 would have cost . By the way I have gone out west Prairie dog hunting already with the Ford and it got 19.6 miles per gallon on the highway. A Toyota might get 22 tops.
I can also haul camping stuff and shooting stuff that the Toyota could never fit in the dinky little box they have.
If you want to buy something made by the same people who brought you PEARL HARBOR thats OK with me. But look at the price you will pay to repair it and then test drive a new American full size. With the new Ford you can get 18 MPG even with the big engine and automatic transmission. They ride better and if you really want to know mine was assembled in Canada.
BTW It was the 788 Remington that would loose the bolt handle if you really pounded on a stuck bolt. I guess if all you want to do is drive it to work a Toyota would be easier to park in a crowded lot but try and fit hunting and camping stuff for 4 adults in a Tacoma???? I don't think so.
GWN

As you said, all you can do is evaluate personal experience. Here is some of mine. We've used Dodge and Ford diesels, and now a GMC v8 on the farm. Each one of those vehicles have cost more in maintenance in ONE YEAR than my Tacoma has in the 7 years I have had it. The GMC needed a complete front end rebuild this year at 100,000. Last year, it was the clutch. It's always something, and the bill is always over $1,000. We put three trannies in the Ford. We replaced the manual tranny in the Dodge, among other things. Over the life time of the Ford, the maintenance per mile was higher than our International class 8 OTR rigs that run down the road at 65,000 lbs....

They may be better than they used to be, but they are still not up to snuff, most especially if you use them at the upper ends of their specifications. JMO, Dutch.

Well, after all has been said I guess I�ll throw my opinion in the ring.

I had a 2002 Tundra Extended Cab 4WD V8 for about a year. Bought it after owning a Ford F-150 for 13 years and loved it � would still have it but a move to the city required a more urban runabout so I very reluctantly traded it off. The Ford was great but only had a front bench seat, and I needed someplace for a wife, a thirteen year old girl and 2-3 of her friends to sit.

My overall take � if you need more of a suburban or rural type of pickup as opposed to a real hard workin� ranch or farm truck, the Tundra is great. The size is big enough for all I ever needed but being a leetle smaller than the full size Chevy/Ford/Dodge it parks a little easier as well. The ride and handling is excellent, far and away better than my Ford.

If I had to haul bricks for a living, I would not get the Tundra. If I had to haul bricks on severely washed out roads or across roadless rough ground I wouldn�t get the Tundra. If you want to haul 5 people on long trips lasting more than an hour or so, get a true 4 door pickup with a full size rear seat. But for daily commuting from suburbs to city or country to city, driving in snow country, hauling Home Depot or garden type supplies home, helping friends move furniture, taking the wife and kids and friends to the movies or shopping, hunting trips on forest service roads and all but the worst 4WD roads and everything but true day in/day out heavy duty hauling, the Tundra is an excellent choice.

Mtn Hunter,

The only flame I see here is coming from you. DZ didn't bash the Jap trucks (at least I didn't read it that way). Just stating his preferences.

Jap Revenge were his mechanics words .. not his.

Guys need to lighten up <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (its not like he was bad mouthing Remington or something) I own an older (96) Nissan and it has served me well, I would consider a titan but they are but ugly. When it comes time for me to buy a new truck it will be amongst the Top 4 and the best value for my money will win.

AV,

Go back and re-read it. The label "Japs" is in itself considered a racist slur in which I'm sure is a suprise to many. He should have wrote "Japanese" instead. The other term posted was "slant-eye rig", which needs no further explanation. How would a native Alaskan guide feel being refered to as "slant eye"? These kind of slurs I would expect coming from others but not from a gunwriter on a public forum. And those kind of slurs would get one in deep $hit in the workplace nowadays.

MtnHtr

The United States of the Offinded

In regards to Japs ... if he is refering to the truck I wouldn't call it racist, if he was refering to a person if it isn't racist, it is rude. Slant-eye on the other hand (which I did miss), ain't too many ways to take that one.

My appologies.

And the definition of "racist" is?

Personally, I'll let my 9.5 years military service speak for my patriotism. I don't need to let my truck do it for me. Those of you that think you do, should stop by your nearest military installation, look at the number of Japanese versus American vehicles, then go on a little "you drive a Jap rig, you're unamerican" name calling spree. I'll save you the trouble and call 911 for you now......



And until American workers and companies can get their crap together and put together a vehicle that won't fall apart and require constant repair, or that won't sound like a bucket of freakin' spare screws when I'm bouncing over dirt roads, I'll spend my hard earned money on something that won't aggravate the crap out of me, when I'm supposed to be enjoying myself!



There is no doubt in my mind that America can do it if they want to. They do it every day with made in America Toyotas. The American manufactuers however find less profit aparently in doing things that way. They only upped the quality on their vehicles when consumers were leaving to buy quality Japanes products in droves. They can do it I think, they just don't want to.



And I don't care if a computer for my truck costs $2k, or if an oxygen sensor costs $500 bucks. You know what, I'll spend that $500 or $2k ONCE first, before I spend $50, or $200 or $300 bucks here and there every time I turn around.



Where I go in the woods, there is no Pep Boys, Auto Zone, or local dealership. I don't care if what's broke only costs me $10 to fix, when there is no place to fix the damn thing.



And those of you that think backcountry inbred Jed working at the local gas station will be able to figure out one of the newer American rigs any darn easier than he can figure out a Toyota, you're fooling yourselves. The only similarity between these vehicles and our favorite 1969 Blazer with the 350 ci V8, is the ci of the engine, if that.



But, as for the cost of parts, I need dependability, not cheap parts. Cheap parts is why they are allways breaking down, NOT something to necessarily be viewed as an asset, in my opinion.

Mtn Hunter,

Somehow, I imagined that the 24 Hour Campfire was similar to a bunch of guys sitting around a campfire. Guys just joshing, talking and trying to help each other. This would assume that we were just being guys, not the culturally correct beings that we have to be in the business community.

When guys talk, most guys at least, it is fairly free. Speech is "first draft," and it is the way one would talk around the campfire. I've always treasured being able to talk to guys man-to-man, without having to be totally culturally-correct and perfect in every possible way.

I guess others don't see it that way and they want our conversations to be as dry as the average published manuscript.

Anyway, you've got it. I will participate in a much more measured fashion at the Campfire. No personal insights into the world of gun writers, no personal handloads (heck, they might be near max) and surely no opinions gleaned from a lifetime of experience with firearms, handloading, hunting and trucks.

I'll participate in the Campfire, but it will be as if the words were being published.

If I offended you personally by the post, I apologize. As I said, it was first draft and was not intended to be hurtful. I will say that it has been wonderful being to communicate with the Campfire guys on a personal level; those days are now over.

Steve Timm

It sucks when people force others to speak or write through the filter of Political Correctness.

I much prefer people speak their minds, regardless of how others feel.

Steve's right, this is a campfire...not your office.

At least, in my view...

dave

DZ,

IIRC, I personally welcomed you to the campfire when you first joined. Its still a public forum and after reading your opening post on this thread I can't but help think your intent was more than just "stirring the pot." I would not have been offended in the least by your use of the label "Jap", but it was used in conjunction with the "slant eye rig" that led me (and others) to believe you were using it in a racial tone. I worked for over 20yrs as a mechanic in a large shop along the side of 60+ mechanics. I know a little bit about how vehicles work and how people work also.

Nobody is asking you to be "dry" or "culturally correct" around the campfire, just the same respect you would show an Indian guide or your friend's wife from another country would be appreciated.

MtnHtr

Friend Steve,

Heck I sure hope the campfire stuff is not over. As a slant eye from Downunder myself & a Toyota lover as well (Landcruiser) I certainly do not take offence to anything you say.

Now if you criticised one of my rifles - heck now that would be serious! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think we as shooters have all suffered because the world view is now to be "politically correct". No offense Mtn Hunter but this is a public forum & Steve was just relating his own experience. I think amongst friends one is entitled to be a little colourful. And Steve you are certainly amongst friends here.

In my limited dealings with Steve he has always been superhelpful and has never held back any info as being "proprietary". In fact quite the opposite he goes overboard to make sure you have the "good oil". Everytime I log in to this forum the first thing I do is search what "MD" & "DZ" have posted. Heck I've learnt so much and am very grateful to these guys for taking the time to share their insights & experiences on a no holds barred basis.

Steve, come home please. All is forgiven!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Regards
JohnT

PS. Steve, the 45ACP cardide dies trick works a treat. Got maybe the last one. Damned Government banned the calibre so all the gunshops sold their stocks to the govt in a buyback. Another victim of "political correctness" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

Friend John T,

Believe it or not, Karen and my Best Man was a fella named Glenn Wong. Glenn's dad owned the local Chinese resturaunt and we used to hang out in the the kitchen until the cooks threatened to slice us up with their cleavers. Glenn's Best Mannery (is that a word?) must have worked because we've been married for forty years. Still one of my best friends and a brother. We've worked together, sweat together, bled together and cried together.

Bigoted or racist? Nope, not me. But it really pisses me off when I cannot just be one one of the guys and have our modern society with its wonderful self-rightousness rear its ugly head.

You are so right when you say that political correctness has made us suffer. For many years, when we owned out store, I employed lots of local ladies. They were just great, laughing and having fun as we all make our living. If there was sexual harrassment, it was me as the offended party. Today, we'd ALL be put in jail. Somehow we've lost something, when EVERYBODY is so friggin' sensitive.

John, you and I are buddies. You can call me an insensitive name (grandparents came from Germany, so we think of something really AWFUL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) and I certainly won't be offended. Hey, most of us are just plain folks and this trash doesn't mean a damned thing.

I am SO glad that the .45 ACP sizer thing is in your bag of tricks. It works and probably will never be in any article. And you have my condolences that your government is in the throes of "political correctness." Hopefully, it won't happen here, but from the signs, I'm holding my breath.

Please, friend John, always feel free to PM me or e-mail me (www.dogzappermsn.com). I'm happy to help any time. Hey man, you're my Downunder Buddy.

Your friend Steve

Terrific Steve, Great that you are back!

Hey we are all different but at the end of the day we all Laugh, we Cry & we Bleed. So we are not so different after all.

Anyway how the F___ (sorry!) did we end up talking about this subject on a question about

Lets get back to "Guns & Shooting" - A lot safer a topic. Was going to say "Gun & Ammo" which used to be my favourite mag in the 70's till they stuffed it up.

Steve, I've read your article at VHA site on load development. Now tell me about those two times you nearly blew yourself up! That I wanna know.

Regards
JohnT

Hey John Tan,

Story about how I darned near blew myself up twice is in a lengthy PM to you. I think you'll get a kick out of it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Your friend Steve

Steve,

I've read it & its a bit scary the things that can go wrong. Guess the Boss upstairs decided you had not sufferred enough. Well that is a good thing cause we can all learn from you.

But not about Toyotas! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Regards
JohnT