Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Chevy or Tundra ?

troutfly,

I'd be ignorant to say that all GM, Ford, or Dodge trucks are bad. They do get lucky and make some that last a long time with few headaches to the owner. But its a rarity for sure. Where as with Toyotas the ones that dont go the 100K mark with little problems are the rarity for Toyotas. Neither company is perfect but Toyota is a lot closer to perfection than any of the Big 3. I have been waiting for them to make a bigger truck than the Tundra for a long time. Looked at the specs for the new one and dont see a crew cab with an 8ft bed, that really bums me out. I am also skeptical about the 5.7 L engine, its not much of a comparison to the Cummins, Power Stroke or Duramax so it aint really a big truck just a true full size half ton. They are a little late with it, but I am sure they'll get there one day. They shoulda slapped one of their diesel engines from overseas in a bigger truck, now that would rock. For now its still my old Cummins.

Gotta agree with you on lack of an 8 foot box. Darn few and far in between from any makers. I did notice a couple on a local Ford lot the other day, new even. Like most of Alberta, I am in truck country yet the trucks that the oil/gas guys are running around in are short boxes. Hunting rigs, same thing. I know a number of ranchers who would kill for a new long box. Be nice if the long box came back as standard issue. I haven't had a chance to look at the 07 Tundra yet, had heard that long box was being considered but that was a couple years ago. As you said, one day.

Your right about the short boxes they're everywhere.And quite useless for any type of hauling.One quad a jerry-can and not much more.

My hunting partner just traded his old Nissan Kingcab for 05 Chev C/C with shortbox. On the Nissan, he could load his Quad and some other toys and still close the tailgate. On the Chev, tailgate down, Quad chained in so it didn't fall out and one jerrycan. Sad state of affairs. Nice truck othewise!

Can you buy a Toyota one ton with duals? How about a 3/4 ton? I haven't seen any with snow plows on them?
Have never seen a Toyota pulling a horse trailer either come to think of it. Why Not?

Can't say as I have either. Maybe they haven't got around to it yet? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Sure blew our minds when we couldn't close the gate on his truck with quad on board. Guess thats why the gas/oil guys around here are carrying them on an elevated platform. Sad state of affairs though no matter what rig a guy has. Bring back the long box!!!!

I bought a 98 chevy blazer new only to have the tranny fail at 56K which really pissed me off when the dealer said it will be $4000.00 to fix.I traded it in on a Tundra and i'm happy ever after!

What about the tens of thousands of Americans who put bread on the table from working at the dozens of Toyota plants all over the U. S. Move Toyota plants out of U.S. and see how many families you have going hungry. Let's get real here folks. Open your eyes.

Hunter01

As nice as the Toy is it's just a glorifed half ton.

Yes, it is what is is. And it IS a 1/2 ton. And the best one out there. 90% of all pickup trucks out there are 1/2 ton. Look around you. We aren't comparing apples and oranges. Not F250/F350/2500/, etc. We are talking 1/2 tons. Apples and apples if you please. One tends to really get off the real subject here.
Peace and love,
Hunter01

I suspect that when/if Toyota decides to build 3/4 tons and duallys, there will be a large dent in F250, F350, 2500, 3500 sales. Just think if Toyota built and installed a kick ass diesel to boot.

I see that GM now has a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty on their trucks. That should cost them dearly in, oh...say 4 years from now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I did hear that Toyota was 'thinking' about the idea of a diesel. Not sure how serious they are, but that, plus a dual wheel heavy duty to compete with the F250, F350, 2500, 3500 would surely have the big three shaking in their boots, (I suspect they are already with intro of the new Tundra). The new Tundra has a 5.7 L, 381 HP power plant with 10,800 lb. towing. Sounds impressive. We'll just have to wait and see how much Toyota really wants to get into the 'bigger' truck market.
Hunter01

The already have a deisel overseas in Aus,,,,,, wish it would come accross the pond

Last I knew, that overseas diesel was only available in their Hi Lux (Tacoma) platform.

Yes, Toyotas are nice, durable half-ton pickups for people that like to ride around in a truck (many of whom haul nothing more than a few toys in the back) and yes they make them here.

Profits, after everything else is settled here, still go back to the land of the rising sun. I still buy Chebbies/GMCs. Close enough for this old goat. It's a free country, so we can choose whatever we want to ride in. Was gonna add that if the Nips had won WWII, we'd all probably be riding bicycles to and from the labor camps instead of hagglin' over Jap or USA trucks...but didn't wanta offend any Nip lovers.

Crap, went and added it anyway. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

ROFLMAO <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

LMAO <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

fwiw,
The next truck I buy will be a Tacoma Crew Cab 4x4... They go places that heavier trucks won't and parking is not the nightmare it can be with a larger vehicle. Don't get me wrong, I'm fond of my 05' Powerstroke Crew Cab, but its too large and heavy to do a good bit of what I want to do. Not to mention I have access to 6 KW W900s and T2000s with 48' Renegade aluminum flats, a Landall, and a Drop Deck if one really needs to haul a true load...fwiw & imho

Regards, Matt.

Now, I am confused. If I buy an US made POS, like they were made in the 70's and 80's, and pour $5,000 down the drain in excess maintenance and repairs, and the US manufacturer loses another $2 or $3,000 on that vehicle, it's a good thing.

But if I buy a Toyota for the same money, keep the $5,000 for repairs in my pocket, they take $2,000 in profit back to Nippon, that is a bad thing?

How does wasting 5 to 8 grand turn into an economic benefit? FWIW, Dutch.

I agree, you is confuseled. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What do today's trucks have to do with trucks made in the 70s and 80s? As for that, I had one new Chevy in the early 70s that was a POS, all the others from then on (and some older than '72), were basically bullet-proof, other than some rust issues with a '76 C-10 and an '80 K10 (both one owners when I bought them). Although in fairness, both had well over 100,000 miles on them by the time that rust became a problem. Sure as hell never had to throw $5K at any of them either. Don't think I've spent a total of $5K for repairs, on a series of Chevy and Dodge beater work trucks over a period of 30 years.

The '76 C-10 shortie had the engine overhauled at about 100,000 miles, primarily because the original owner never spent much money on oil changes or minimum maintenence. Still ran good, but was startin' to slurp oil. Went like a housecat with it's ass afire, once it had the overhaul and a new TRW RV-grind cam and dual exhaust on it, still got good gas mileage (350 w/2 barrel carb).

Had the TH350 tranny rebuilt on the '80 K-10 at about 120,000 miles (pulled it, reinstalled it myself). Another owner-induced malady, since that truck came with 2:73 gears and the nitwit that bought it new, pulled a three horse trailer behind it, (no transmission oil cooler, likely wouldn't have helped much with them tall gears?). My bud's '81 K10 with the same drive train, went for over 350,000 miles on the tranny before it needed a rebuild (he'd sold it to an employee when it had over 200,000 miles on it, think that guy's kid is still driving that particular POS).

Pulled the tranny on an '84 Dodge D150 my dad bought new and had it rebuilt at 95,000 miles. It had less than 45,000 miles on it when I bought it and was 10 years old. Sitting for weeks and sometimes months at a time when the old boy owned it, never did that tranny any good. Also bought a '73 Dodge D150 from the old man when it was about 8 years old. 318, also got good gas mileage, think it cost me one water pump; timing chain and rebuilt the heads at about 150,000 miles (2 burnt valves).

Four trucks, one rebuilt engine, two rebuilt transmissions, one head job, total cost about $1800 in major repairs for 4 rigs. 'Course I did some of that work myself and it was a long time ago.



Buying a Toyota "for the same money" has always been problematical for me. In 2002 I bought a new Chevy S-10 ZR2 5 spd. for about $20K+tax, with GM rebates and other incentives (no trade, cash deal). Sticker price was about $25K. The best deal I could've made at that time on a new Tacoma 4x4, would've cost me another $3K above the STICKER price of the Chevy. Kept it four years and almost 50,000 miles, cost me nothing in repairs. Had two issues under warranty: new intake gasket, new tailgate straps.

Last spring I looked at Tundras and wound up buying a new GMC Sierra K1500 extended cab w/5.3L engine. Paid about $3K less than the Tundra would've cost. It has more room than the Tundra, will likely blow it off'n the road and gets an honest 19+MPG highway with me, the hound and a few hundred pounds of gear in the bed.

Far's I know, only Canucks, Mexicans, Americans and mebbe some assorted orientals benefitted from the purchase.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I don't care if people buy Toyotas or Nissans, more power to them. Doubt I'll ever own one though. BTW, anyone that thinks Toyotas are bullet proof, need only do a Google search on Toyota Recalls. Guess it's all relative?. Everyone I know that drives Toyota trucks, loves them. One buddy has over 200,000 miles on the '92 Tacoma 4x4 he bought new, but he's even more of a tightwad than I am. And of course as I tell him when I see him...since it's a 4 cyl. 5 speed regular cab, all it's ever done is haul his scrawny arse around.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Talk to me again at 300,000 miles.......

Let me see, Ford F150. New clutch at 100. New airco pump at 105.
Chevy 1 ton. $1200 front end repair. at 90,000 Several and assorted other repairs north of $500 each. Oh, the duals fell off when I was hauling a load of fish. That was fun!
1 ton Dodge. Complete rewire when we put a trailer behind it. The dealer said we should have bought the "trailer package", the regular trucks don' t have heavy enough wiring to handle a trailer. THIS ON A ONE TON!

Just some stuff that comes to mind, first hand. I don't really want to think about it, to tell you the truth.

But, I must admit, my toyota will go in for it's first repair pretty soon (not counting U-joints at 180,000). The power steering pump is squeeling. Only 240,000 miles. Can you imagine? FWIW, Dutch.