Coming back to Ford...and an ode to a Tundra

[JumboJVT]

Newbie here. Long time Ford owner as my signature notes . In 2016 I didn't wish to once again be a guinea pig for Ford and the then-new aluminum body, so I looked at everything and found, even absent the alum body, I liked the gen 3 Tundra better. Gave $36.5K for a 5.7 double-cab SR5(Supercab in Ford-speak). Now here we are 9 years and 185K miles in northern New England later and its once again time for a new truck. This Tundra has required nothing, absolutely nothing except brakes and fluids in that time...nothing, nada, zip...while returning about 15.5 MPG with solidly 25% of those miles on dirt backroads including towing a snowmobile trail a few K each winter. Book on it is now $13K or so, and right here, I beleive I can get $15K private sale. She still looks pretty good, even with the winter steelies.

But its time for new, before time catches up with me. Had Toyota continued with the Gen 3, I'd have another in a heartbeat, but alas, that is not to be. So I've got an XLT 302a SuperCrew 157" with the 3.5 ordered. Unfortunately for Ford, I suspect, this Tundra has created in me unrealistic expectations about how a vehicle should wear (truth be told, the '98 was pretty close...until the frame got rusty). But time will tell. When you get new pickup, folks always ask "How do you like that rig?" My standard reply is "I'll let know know in 10 years". In the case of this Tundra the answer is: Never had nor expect to have better. But there is always hope.

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[Jmitchelltfo]

I seriously considered the new Tundra after the wastegate issues were sorted. I know they still have a couple more problems........but my wife and I couldn't get past how uncomfortable the seats were. Very similar to the flat, unsupportive, unpadded GM alternative.

I would highly suggest an extended warranty through Granger or Flood if you plan to keep this pickup for the long haul, like the rest of your fleet. Good luck with your new pickup!

 

[Mt.F150..]

5.7 was a dam good motor​

 

[JumboJVT]

I seriously considered the new Tundra after the wastegate issues were sorted. I know they still have a couple more problems........but my wife and I couldn't get past how uncomfortable the seats were. Very similar to flat, unsupportive, unpadded GM alternative.

I would highly suggest an extended warranty through Granger or Flood if you plan to keep this pickup for the long haul, like the rest of your fleet. Good luck with your new pickup!

Yep, extended warranty is the plan. Had one on the Tundra, which has turned out to be money not-well spent.

Funny you mention the Tundra seats. The only reason I upgraded to the 302a is because the 40/20/40 seat w/o power on the passenger side was uncomforatble for my wife...and I agreed. So now I'll have a bunch of features to turn off and never use, some that I really don't want (a console? Where am I going to put my rifle? At least I still have a colum shifter). Ah well. You know what they say about a happy wife...

 

[Jmitchelltfo]

Yep, extended warranty is the plan. Had one on the Tundra, which has turned out to be money not-well spent.

Funny you mention the Tundra seats. The only reason I upgraded to the 302a is because the 40/20/40 seat w/o power on the passenger side was uncomforatble for my wife...and I agreed. So now I'll have a bunch of features to turn off and never use, some that I really don't want (a console? Where am I going to put my rifle? At least I still have a colum shifter). Ah well. You know what they say about a happy wife...

Those 5.7’s were definitely reliable. I’m not saying that the Ford will be worse……but I bought an extended warranty after seeing that it would pay for itself if I even had to get my headlights replaced. The 10R80, makes it even more of a no brainer for me.

My wife loves a brown interior……I’m fond of them too. That was my biggest reason for the King Ranch. There are some slick options for rifles if you don’t mind spending a little money or using your imagination.

 

[Fox146]

I’m not a Toyota fanboy ,as I’ve a few Lexus , but unfortunately I just don’t think your new Ford will be as reliable as that particular Toyota truck but the technology leap itself will be night and day along with better fuel economy. Enjoy the new wheels when they arrive and consider the extended warranty

 

[Aonarch]

That Tundra is LEGENDARY minus rust.

F-150 is a good truck, plenty of people with this gen and the previous with high mileage.

Maintenance is key. Use a good quality synthetic and change it every 5k-7.5k miles.

I prefer the 5.0 if you are looking at reliability (Not saying 3.5 isn't, but 5.0 is more).

You will be pleasantly surprised at the better ride, refinement, and gas mileage of the F150.

 

[Bryan Simon]

Yep, extended warranty is the plan. Had one on the Tundra, which has turned out to be money not-well spent.

Im pretty sure the guy prepping the truck locates and flips the hidden dip switch from destruct at 36k to make it to 100k before he drives it out of the bay if you get the extended warranty

 

[JumboJVT]

I understand what all are saying about refinement, technology, etc. But I'm not yet convinced that stuff means much when your up to your hubs in the mud in what we that we call a Town highway, LOL. I have a pickup beacuse I need a pickup, for work, play and simple daily chores (that mud was 3' snowdrifts not long ago). But I don't need adaptive cruise control, lane minding or reverse brake assist. Ever tried to back around in a field of tall hay with reverse brake assist?

I went with the EB simply becuase if felt more like the Tundra than the 5.0. Frankly, both the 5.0 (even with 3.73's) and the EB were num'er than a pounded thumb off idle, 0-20. But the EB recovered from that numbness more quickly and did so without all the hystronics of the 5.0 getting up to speed. Not talking about power braking to get revs up before the launch, just real world useage. Time will tell if that was the right decision or not.

 

[JumboJVT]

Im pretty sure the guy prepping the truck locates and flips the hidden dip switch from destruct at 36k to make it to 100k before he drives it out of the bay if you get the extended warranty

Only 100K won't be acceptable either...but better than 36!

 

[Jmitchelltfo]

I understand what all are saying about refinement, technology, etc. But I'm not yet convinced that stuff means much when your up to your hubs in the mud in what we that we call a Town highway, LOL. I have a pickup beacuse I need a pickup, for work, play and simple daily chores (that mud was 3' snowdrifts not long ago). But I don't need adaptive cruise control, lane minding or reverse brake assist. Ever tried to back around in a field of tall hay with reverse brake assist?

I went with the EB simply becuase if felt more like the Tundra than the 5.0. Frankly, both the 5.0 (even with 3.73's) and the EB were num'er than a pounded thumb off idle, 0-20. But the EB recovered from that numbness more quickly and did so without all the hystronics of the 5.0 getting up to speed. Not talking about power braking to get revs up before the launch, just real world useage. Time will tell if that was the right decision or not.

The 5.0 only felt adequate to me. The 2.7 and 3.5 ecoboost were both nice with plenty of low end torque that I feel a truck needs......but the powerboost was my Goldilocks since it provided slightly better overall MPG's (alot better around town) but the extra torque from the hybrid setup made it feel like my friend's tuned 3.5 Ecoboost, without feeling excessive. The 7.2kW generator is very nice too.

Luckily all the features you don't want to use can be easily turned off. I totally agree on the reverse brake assist but using the lane centering feature on an empty interstate when you have fresh nuggies and your favorite dippin' sauce............that will spoil ya!

 

[2.7tugger]

I had an 08 Sr5 Trd double cab 4x4. The tundra was amazing for reliability and power. It was shitty for gas mileage, gas tank size(2 small) and technology.

So far my 22 F150 2.7 has been reliable, fingers crossed it is half as good as the tundra

 

[Aonarch]

I understand what all are saying about refinement, technology, etc. But I'm not yet convinced that stuff means much when your up to your hubs in the mud in what we that we call a Town highway, LOL. I have a pickup beacuse I need a pickup, for work, play and simple daily chores (that mud was 3' snowdrifts not long ago). But I don't need adaptive cruise control, lane minding or reverse brake assist. Ever tried to back around in a field of tall hay with reverse brake assist?

I went with the EB simply becuase if felt more like the Tundra than the 5.0. Frankly, both the 5.0 (even with 3.73's) and the EB were num'er than a pounded thumb off idle, 0-20. But the EB recovered from that numbness more quickly and did so without all the hystronics of the 5.0 getting up to speed. Not talking about power braking to get revs up before the launch, just real world useage. Time will tell if that was the right decision or not.

You can turn all of that off in the menu/ settings.

 

[Wallyo]

I am not very tall a bit over 6'1". Every one says for reliability buy a toyota. I tried the newest tundra on for size. With the electric drivers seat in the lowest position my head was just about touching the ceiling. The windshield an head liner were split across my vision.

Over all the interior just felt uncomfortable. Then we went across the street to the ford dealer and Sat in the F150. It was like going from economy to first class. The new tundra boasted more head room, hate to of seen what the old was like.

If I remember right the electric seat in the tundra reduced head room over the manual. But I wanted both fronts to be electric.


Fords Super crew has more rear leg room.

The flat floor gives plenty of gun storage.

A 1/2 year ago we looked at the New land cruiser as well. The interior felt very hard plasticly and cheap.

Toyota might be reliable but comfort is also a factor.

 

[Entropy710]

I love the look of the current Tundra. I think it's the best looking full-size. But even setting aside all the engine recalls, I found the cabin to be severely lacking. The seats weren't comfortable and the rear seat space was severely cramped. I'm 6' 0" and there was no spot in the rear I could comfortably sit, and the center was abysmal. My son is 6' 3" and we needed a vehicle comfortable for 300+ mile trips for 4, so that was an instant no-go. I've found the seats in both the Tundra and Taco to be too short to support my legs well, which means all my weight ends on on my tailbone and that's exactly what I was looking to get away from (long trips generally happened in my wife's Subaru Forester).

I've always owned GM trucks ('93 K1500 standard/8ft, 2004 GMC SIerra Ext/8ft, 2007 Silverado 2500HD Duramax Crew/6.5ft and 2017 Colorado Crew/6ft). I was actually a day away from buying a Silverado High Country when I test drove an XLT just to do my due diligence. Even the XLT seats were much more supportive and comfortable to me than the fancy HC seats and the 3.5L was smoother and more responsive in normal driving than the 6.2L GM.

Probably not a popular opinion here, but I think the F-150 looks like an old man's truck. But I'm not on the outside looking at it, I'm nice and comfortable inside.

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