Toyota Tundra

[murphyluv]

Sorry, yet another thread about hauling and Tundras.

What are absolute must-have on a Toyota Tundra, if one is going to be hauling a two horse trailer? The trailer is not going to be purchased right away.
Back story, I have a 2007 4 runner, with over 175 thousand miles, and I’d like to trade it in for a truck this year. I absolutely love Toyotas and would like to stick with it, hence the Toyota Tundra. I also am sick of putting dirt and mulch and hay and other things in my car, so there’s that aspect of needing a truck. Secondly, I am NOT hauling now, but would like to eventually. If I keep the truck as long as I have kept this 4-runner, it will be at least 5 years. I don’t have my own property now, but in the next five years, possibly 5 to 10 years, I would like my own place. That includes chickens possibly other small livestock, and my pony if he is still around, and possibly another horse at some point. So I’m not buying the trailer now, but I guess I have to figure out if it is worth getting the towing capacity in the Toyota Tundra if I’m not going to haul now. I like to figure out what the difference in gas mileage and cost is and if these things could be added at a later date. Engine size of course can’t be added, but how about the towing package? I have driven flatbed trailers, hitched them, backed them up on dirt roads and parking lot, but I’m a total hauling newbie. I’ve obviously been with people who have hauled my pony, so I have an idea of safety etc, but do not know all the complexities of the towing vehicle.
Is it a bad move to purchase the truck before the trailer? Cart before the horse?
I’m just ready to move up to a truck, for other reasons, and imagine myself hanging on to this vehicle for many years. I could also start hauling before buying my own property.
Thanks!

[HorsesRMyTherapy]

Go for it!

Back in 2006-2007 I was researching new tow vehicles. Bottom line, if I had not gone diesel, I would have purchased the Tundra with the big motor (senior moment, can’t remember) Not only was it a comfortable and well-designed cab;I kid you not, the engine compartment must have been designed by a woman! :winkgrin: The layout was perfect for easy maintenance, everything within safe grasp without scraping boobs over something hot or sharp (y’all know what I’m talkin’ about LOL).

Back to the cab, the instrument panel was easily legible. Builtin backup camera was AWESOME! No ONSTAR back then, but perfect place for optional CB or ham radio installation. Lots of convenient storage and well-placed mirrors.

As I said, I knew I wanted to go diesel, but that Tundra really tempted me. My neighbor has one and even under 3-horse tow it gets excellent gas mileage. If you need a truck now, go for it! You’ll gain experience, be comfortable withthe truck, and when the time comes for a trailer you’ll have a better idea of which trailer will best fit your truck.

Good luck and pics please

[Jim_in_PA]

Factory Tow required. And you want a recent model year, not the older ones. Otherwise, it’s not that much different than any other 1/2 ton for this consideration.

[GoodTimes]

My boyfriend has a 2012 Tundra with the factory tow package. It’s got an 8’box and an extended? cab. It’s sooo comfortable to drive, so roomy up front compared to our 2009 Sierra. Gas mileage, and towing ability are similar. However, his Tundra has the extendable side mirrors which I really like, I’m sure you could add those to any truck.

[happilyretired]

I have a 2008 Tundra with the big engine (5.7L) and factory tow package. I tow an all aluminum two horse gooseneck with a small tackroom (Featherlite). The truck handles the trailer well. I’m in Florida most of the year now (i.e. nice and flat) but have hauled in Western NY and PA where there are lots of hills and the truck handled the trailer fine with one horse in it. I generally haul with horses for short distances (i.e. to local/regional shows) with one horse. If I routinely hauled two horses with lots of gear and hay I’d probably think about upgrading to a 3/4 ton truck but for now I love my Tundra. I bought it used and (knock on wood) its been very reliable. I do make the 1,200 mile trip between Western NY and Central Florida twice a year (although not with horses in the trailer – rather it serves more as a moving van).
My truck has a back seat area but is not the extended cab. If you’re considering a gooseneck trailer be advised that you’d have to go with an all aluminum trailer - 2 horse at most. And would still need to be careful about your weights as a GN puts alot of weight on the truck. When I haul horses its just me in the truck and I am careful about not adding alot of additional weight (ie hay, extra gear, additional people in the truck, etc).
But its a great truck and very comfortable for a small woman (I’m 5’4") driver.

[MMavin]

2010 5.7l Tundra here…must have factory tow. Tow mirrors and digital tow brake controller are nice to have, and can be added later.

I added rear air bags to the suspension after purchase-- I wish I had paid extra for the in-cab air pressure controller for these vs. the manual inflation version. Since it’s my daily driver and I trailer regularly, it means I live with a firmer ride around town.

It tows a steel 2H BP with one horse like it’s not there. Fully loaded with 2 horses and going over high mountain passes was a little slower but I only do that a couple times a year.

Like above, great truck and a comfortable drive for a 5’5" woman.

[Ready_To_Riot]

Just wanted to throw it out there that my moms sequoia has over 400k miles. You’re 4 runner is just getting broke in lol

Had I been able to find a tundra I could afford with everything I wanted, I would have gotten one. They are fabulous! It will last you forever. I didn’t like that the back seats were small without an option for larger, but that’s the only thing I could find wrong with it.

Get it and love it!!!

[egood]

Anyone know how the Tundras fair in reliability vs the American trucks? I’d figure pretty well, considering it’s a Toyota.

A friend recently purchased a Ford F-150 v6 ecoboost and it pulls her 2 horse like a dream (she had a weight distribution hitch installed as well). I’m considering purchasing a 1/2 ton pick-up in the future and would prefer a Japanese truck, although I know they generally can’t tow as much as their American counterparts.

[MMavin]

My husband’s Tundra has 160k miles, with no service issues. We are in the land of heavy duty residential construction, and Tundras are now the truck of choice.

[froglander]

Few years back, hubby and I had to have our car towed. Two truck guy was driving a Toyota Tundra and gave it glowing reviews while he drove us and our car where we needed to go. That has stuck with me and when we go to finally look for a truck is one I plan to consider. Will keep this thread bookmarked

[stb]

I have a 2014 Sequoia (basically the SUV version of Tundra) with factory tow package. I pull a 2 horse BP Featherlite slant with it. It pulls great and I love the car.

As far as quality vs. American trucks goes - my husband has a 2014 Chevy half ton Silverado LTZ with tow package. His truck has had multiple nagging issues already - my truck has had none. Also, several years ago my husband bought two trucks for his company - one a Toyota Tacoma, the other a Chevy Silverado. The Toyota far outlasted the Chevy, and had far fewer problems to boot. My husband bought his Chevy because the bed height was lower than the Toyota, but at this point wishes that he had gotten the Tundra. Lesson learned.

[candico]

I have a 2000 Toyota Tundra. No major repairs and I still absolutely love driving it although the fading paint job is a bit embarrassing especially since I got the borderline purple one - looks like tie-dye! Looking into replacing it with a newer one with the 5.7l engine since hauling two horses up the steep grades around here gets a little nerve-wracking. Sounds like next year they will be coming out with a diesel version.

[AutumnReign]

I have a 2010 Toyota Tundra SR5 with the crewmax cab. 5.7L V8.

Factory tow package (believe for this year/model tow capacity is 9700lbs). LOVE my truck. So spacious. Huge back seat. Built in back up camera in my rear view mirror (makes hitching my BP 2H easy!). I didn’t buy new so I had to get an aftermarket brake controller, but there was a really handy spot to install it on the dash. Lots of glove boxes/storage compartments. The driver’s seat is a “captain” seat so has a bunch of adjustment options which I love.
I do have one of the “dud” trucks that has a weird glitch with the intake. But Toyota extended the warranty for 10 years or 160,000 MILES. And my truck is only at 72,000KM and 6 years old.
Fuel mileage isn’t great. But it’s a big truck.
Pulls my 2H without a problem and doesn’t affect my fuel mileage at all really. Which is impressive.

Overall I’m very happy with the truck.
One thing to consider (not sure if it’s the same in the newer models) but factory recommends that you use synthetic oil and premium fuel. I’ve always used both, so it wasn’t a deal breaker for me.

[Jim_in_PA]

[QUOTE=candico;8476345]
I have a 2000 Toyota Tundra. No major repairs and I still absolutely love driving it although the fading paint job is a bit embarrassing especially since I got the borderline purple one - looks like tie-dye! Looking into replacing it with a newer one with the 5.7l engine since hauling two horses up the steep grades around here gets a little nerve-wracking. Sounds like next year they will be coming out with a diesel version.[/QUOTE]

The early ones (I had a 2000 and it was great!) were not anything as close to capable as the current generation trucks made in Texas. Bigger, beefier, better towing, etc. You’ll enjoy moving up to a current one!

[rockymouse]

We have a 2007 Tundra, 5.7L engine and tow package. It’s got 225K miles and purrs along. The mechanic who has worked on it says it’s tight as a drum. (And he’s worked on it for very minor issues, like the radiator cap failed a couple weeks ago and sent all sorts of lights blinking; the mechanic figured it out and it cost us $6.)

Our old trailer was an ancient all-steel four horse trailer and the truck pulled it just fine, bumper pull. We inherited a newer steel three-horse that was gooseneck. In our part of the world, you never ever ever see Tundras hauling goosenecks. Well, we got a gooseneck hitch installed a year ago and it goes great. We live in the mountains and have driven that thing literally all the way across Texas and back in rain and foul weather. The truck just does great. (Mileage drops down, but that’ll happen.)

[Rescuer]

We have a 2008 5.7L V8 Tundra with factory tow package and after market trailer break proportional controller. Love it. We use it to pull an all aluminum 2H bumper pull. Previous trailer was a slightly smaller 2H bumper pull with steel frame and aluminum body (we had to upgrade to a warmblood height trailer when I bought a new horse )

We’ve hauled a bed full of hay bales, plus 2 horses, all my show tack, a heavy tack box, and golf clubs (for my husband), and luggage - across the Rockies for a horse show. No issues up or down the roads through the mountains. And some of those get steep!

The only equipment we added to the truck was a trailer break controller. Otherwise its the factory tow package.
No complaints at all other than the gas tank being a bit smaller than its similar sized competitors - so if you’re road tripping in remote areas - plan your gas stops.

[DressageLin]

Ditto to those posts above. I bought a 2010 Tundra in October 2009. We added the tow package and installed an after market break controller. I also installed an after market back-up camera. It makes hooking up my bumper pull an absolute cinch. We also majorly upgraded the tires. When you test drive the tundras, they have passenger tires and they ride like butter. For hauling, you should really upgrade to light truck tires and it does add some stiffness to the ride, but well worth it for peace of mind.

I haul in the mountains, and I will say that I can feel two big warmbloods when coming down the very steepest hills. I typically am just hauling one horse and the tundra handles it with ease.

[AutumnReign]

[QUOTE=DressageLin;8482737]
We also majorly upgraded the tires. When you test drive the tundras, they have passenger tires and they ride like butter. For hauling, you should really upgrade to light truck tires and it does add some stiffness to the ride, but well worth it for peace of mind.
.[/QUOTE]

yes - I would agree with this. when i upgraded to 10 ply tires I ended up feeling a mild vibration of sorts, which after thorough inspection by my mechanic, its just the stiffer tires.

[murphyluv]

Ok, thank you everyone! Take away so far is to get factory tow package, brake controller can be added later. Truck tires will be more expensive than the SUV tires, and it needs premium gas versus 87 which is what goes in the 4-Runner. 4-Runner gets about 20-21, Tundra gets 15-19. So I will be getting less gas milage.

[murphyluv]

Toyota website says this: Integrated Trailer Brake Controller 20 now comes standard on all 2016 Tundras equipped with the 5.7L V8.
Twenty-two different configurations in six trim levels can all tow 10,000 lbs. or more, and the 4x2 Regular Cab Long Bed with available 5.7L V8 can tow up to 10,500 lbs. 22 Included on Tundra models with the 5.7L V8 is the TOW/HAUL Mode that intelligently holds lower gears longer, so Tundra won’t keep shifting or “hunting” for the right gear when towing. And this system also increases throttle response, pulling power and engine braking, helping you tow with confidence
Big trucks tow big toys, so Tundra comes standard with Trailer-Sway Control (TSC). 6 TSC works in two ways: by detecting trailer sway and applying brake pressure at individual wheels, and by controlling engine torque to help stabilize the trailer, and your precious boat.