Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Gen 1 Toyota Tundra...any good?

Has anyone here owned a Gen 1 Toyota Tundra? Looking at some 2005-2006 models. First thing that jumps out at me is terrible fuel economy. Other than that, are they a decent half-ton? I don't need to tow much. Mostly need a bed to haul stuff and a truck to kick around in. I notice prices on the 2007 (and even later years) Gen II aren't much higher than the Gen 1. Gen II looks like a lot more truck. Wish they came with diesel.

We had 3 of them in our company fleet, all super cab 4x4's. We also had 4 2012-2014 Tundra Crew 4x4's later on. The early model Tundras that you're asking about gave us fewer problems than the newer ones. Every newer one was a PITA with electronics, nav's, infotainment, etc, and a couple of them had cold start sensors that went out....all under 75k miles. Way overrated IME. We put well over 200k on the old ones.

I had a 2002 Tundra and now have a 2008 Tundra 5.7. They both are tops on reliability. Gen II's obviously have great towing capacity. I put 280K on my Gen 1 and up to 114K on Gen II with nary a problem, ever.

06 Tundra bought new Limited crew cab. And still driving. Never been in shop but been maintained.

I’ve got 2 first generation Tundras. The 2002 is a good solid machine but the 2005 has more electronics/ emission controls, thus more problems. The 2005-06’s have a secondary air injection system for emissions that is a major pain. I put in a bypass kit and blockage plates , I think it was 200 to 250$.
I like the trucks, bigger than a taco, but not as cumbersome as a full size. The 2005 I have is a four door and it’s just right.

I had a 2005 doublecab, 4.7L engine, for 8 yrs, about 150,000 miles. Great truck.

Traded it in on a 2013 Tundra (doublecab, 4.6L), sold that last fall a bought a 2020 Tundra (doublecab, 5.7L).

Guess I kind of like the Tundras. I actually liked the 2005 better than the 2013 model, but felt it was time for a replacement. One of my cousins still has a 2006 Tundra that's his daily driver. His son is who bought my 2013.

I had an 06 and it was a great truck. We put grew it as a family.

Theyre so good they were eligible for a one time $10,000 frame replacement.

Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

Never owned a boyota, but anyone with two brain cells to rub together can most easily surmise, if Gen 1 were trash, the 'gens' would have ended.

'Think Glock"

try to think of the different gens of pintos, vegas, colts, pacer and, gremlins, yeah, NONE, Gen 1, they were/are trash.

I've currently got 280k miles on my 06' 4-door TRD and am trying to kill it but with new truck prices these days I'mm now trying to conserve it....

What do you want to know specifically?

We had an 05. It was a great truck.....no issues

I have two 2002 Tundras.The first one I bought new in 2002.Two wheel drive,4.7L V-8.It has 213,000 miles on.Still runs and drives great.I like the First Generation Tundra better than the newer ones.Last September I came across another 2002 Tundra 4.7L V-8 4X4 144,000 miles that was in good shape and no rust so I bought it.It too runs and drives great.Now I just alternate driving the two and hopefully they will last me a long,long time and they are both payed off.

I had a 2000 tundra, put 367k miles on it and gave it to my Grandson who drove it for nearly 3 more years then sold it. By far the best vehicle I've ever owned.

The only downside is... They don't take a hit very well. Plastic bumpers are crap. Other than that , great truck.

How are they for frame and body rust? Any issues?

Youre not being serious are you? They willingly replaced frames on early years, under class action lawsuit for frame rot other years.....ya great truck 🤪

My 2002's don't have any frame rust and that was the last year they had the chrome bumpers.

Fixing to drive my 2000 Tundra 4 X 4 SR5 (Access cab) down to the ranch again this morning. I've had it since Oct. 1999.

I don't usually keep a vehicle longer than about 10 years. But, this one has just never given me any real trouble, its easy to work on, its paid for, and its always done everything I've asked of it.

Fuel mileage on the little 4.7L V8 has always been poor. I get about 15 mpg on the highway. I get maybe 6-7 mpg pulling my boat (empty weight with trailer just under 5000 lbs).

The maximum payload is rated at 2000 lbs, but, in my experience, even that is a bit too much (Many many times over the years, I've loaded it down with 40 bags [@50 lbs/bag] of deer corn, and that pretty much bottoms the bed out; the truck handles much better with a couple of hundred pounds less).

No plastic bumpers on mine. No rust either (but, living in south Texas, we [almost] never get snow or ice, so no need to salt the roads).

All in all, this Tundra has been the best vehicle I've ever owned. YMMV.

That was some of the 2003-2004 Tundras. Problem fixed before 2005s came out.