Trim levels and model years

Looking at 2014 and up, 4x4, CrewMax.

Thinking of the SR5, because of cost, but wondering what things are on the Limited that cannot be replaced.

Primary focus - transporting dogs/toys, with a little off-roading (think farm work).

Do not need a sunroof, especially with the back window. Leather is an easy addition. Dual climate is nice but not a deal-breaker. Can change out head unit/speakers, if needed. Help me understand what else I am missing, such as safety features.

Trying to stay around the $35K mark for under 100K miles. Finding vehicles but struggling to spend the extra monies on something I may not want and can be added/upgraded later in.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! Starting in the '17 or '18 model year, a few more nanny features were added to warn about lane departure, an object close to you, front or back, and the radar controlled cruise was added. I prefer the traditional cruise control myself.

The market is crazy. Good luck in your search!

 

Welcome from Oregon!

SR5 sounds like what you’re after.

You can build it into what you want.

SR5 had some upgrade packages that added some really desirable stuff:

38 gallon gas tank
LED headlights
Better wheels

For the more premium items, like you mentioned, just add them and don’t pay for the higher trim.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the welcome!!! Guess I need to dig a little deeper. On rentals, I have had the adaptive cruise control, which I am guessing is the same...nice feature, but definitely not a necessity. Blind spot monitoring again, is cool, but my Honda Accord has an actual camera which is MUCH better, IMHO.
Considered the '18+ as I like the dash a little better but as you said, the market is crazy! Will look at the SR5 and see if any other "safety features" make it more worthwhile.

 

Thank you for the welcome.

That is what I was thinking but needed to hear...

Can I add the 38 gallon gas tank if not included? Will look at the 2018+ and see if there are "safety features" I cannot live without but would rather build my truck, my way.

 

Toyota has all the same safety features every trim. The only things that are optional that could be called safety would be the parking sensors and the BSM/RCTA. Both can be had on an SR5 with the right packages. The adaptive cruise was added in 2018.

The biggest difference between the SR5 and the upper trims will be the leather, possibly heated seats, and the climate control. Some of those can be found in SR5s with the right package.



The one thing you'll want regardless of trim is the larger 38 gallon fuel tank. I wouldn't buy one without it. Pretty sure those came in around the 2014-2016 MY, but they were not standard on all trucks. They were in packages on various trims.


If you tow, you may want to go 2018 or older because they deleted the external transmission cooler starting in the 2019 MY. There is a perfectly fine and 90% OEM kit you can add to the later trucks though.

 

Thanks for that!!! I am probably in the minority, with liking the RCTA, but if the implementation is proper, I have found it to be a usefool tool (Audi slows the vehicle when getting too close, truly making it an adaptive cruise control. Others just "alert", which is nothing more than an annoyance).

Thanks for that info as I was not aware some of these items were available on the SR5 trim. Preferring the SR5 but if I can get it with some of the desired Limited items, even better!

Do you know which package this came in?

Would love a 2019-2021 but I think pricing, especially in this market, will prohibit me from moving forward. Hard to buy a truck that costs almost the same as what is left on my mortgage...

 

First off, sorry for the delayed response. Working nights, so everything is wonky.

I love RCTA. My WRX had it and saved me 3 different times from a$$hats that were blasting through parking lots as I was backing out. Reading what you post about cruise we may be talking about different features though. RCTA is Rear Cross Traffic Alert. I think you are talking about the radar cruise that is part of the Toyota Safety Sense that was added to all Tundras in 2018. It will actively slow you down to maintain following distance/speed as needed.

Any trim 2018+ will have the Toyota Safety Sense, but the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and RCTA are part of the options packages.

Toyota changes what items are in what packages from year to year often enough that I can't swear to know which one has what. I think the larger tank was part of the SR5 Convenience Package on my 2019, but I can't swear to it without digging out my old window sticker. I know that the TRD Sport and TRD Off Road packages were what had the LED headlights for the 2019 SR5 trim, but you can add them to any of the 2014+ trucks with a harness from a member on here. His screen name is iHacker, but I didn't want to tag him when just mentioning it in passing like this.

An understandable sentiment. If you want the happy balance of good safety features, option for the bigger tank, and saving some $$ I would focus in on the 2018 MY. It was when they added the Toyota Safety Sense with the radar cruise, still had the external transmission cooler, and because there was no TRD Pro trim that year you will be able to fend off the inevitable idiots that ask "Why didn't you get the Pro, bruh?" by saying it wasn't available in 2018.

 

You are correct in that I was talking about something different from you. That said, I do frequent Costco and feel like I need someone to guide/direct me when leaving the parking lot. RCTA may be a welcome addition.

Thanks! I will go hunt around and see what is included on the 2018 Convenience package.

Have always been an HID projector fan. Do you find the LED's to be truly an upgrade, not just better looking?

Thanks! Really liked the dash upgrade on the 2018, so had been looking at 2018 and newer. Sounds like now I just need to find a vehicle!!!

Most of my friends with trucks have Ram or Super Duty's. When I mention looking for a Tundra, usually it is "damn, those are expensive" or "excellent choice"!
Thanks for helping me make my decision. Still struggling with being cheap, and buying an '06 for around $15-16K or getting an '18 for double. If this was my only vehicle, decision would be easier...

 

There isn't a stock HID option on the Tundra, so I can't say if HID would be better than LED, but the LED is way way better than the halogen bulbs. For the pure ease of it and to stay OEM I would add the LEDs before HIDs. No need for ballasts and such.

Yeah, the "why didn't you get a Pro" is something you'll usually only get from people that have a Pro.

Perspective is the big thing that I would say you need when it comes to being "cheap." The value of the 5.7 V8 Tundras is not fully realized until you look at it long term. They are expensive up front, but that usually buys you fewer days in the shop and many more miles than much of the competition. You're going to pay no matter what truck you choose. Just gotta decide if it'll be up front or over time. The only major downside on the Tundra is it's payload rating is pretty weak. If you are planning to live/work within it's limits, then I don't think there's a better truck out there.

 

I started looking to buy around late 2018 to early 2019. Then towards the end of 2019 I still had not purchased, and found out that the 2020's were coming out with with Apple Carplay (not sure if it was optional or standard). So right after I heard the 2020's were coming out with Carplay I drove a rental car for awhile with Apple Carplay and then after that experience I only considered a 2020 Tundra with the carplay. If you care for that functionality (apps, maps, apple phone on your head unit) you may want to consider it.

The adaptive cruise control is really nice way to drive the truck (or any car), you can set the gap distance and the truck will slow itself down as it senses an object in front moving slower within the gap distance. I turned the lane departure warning stuff off the first night I bought the truck, and 2 years since the location of that button has been forgotten. The pedestrian and crash warning stuff (Toyota Safety Sense Package) does work very well.

 

38 gallon tank is only in the 2016 and newer, and only on certain packages (most SR5s had them but not all).
Adaptive cruise was added to all models in 2018. Not sure if it was ‘18 or ‘19 that they added the auto-on headlights to at least SR5 trim (if not all). Prior to that, they were only available in Limited and up.

Factory leather seats, seat heaters, and dual zone auto climate control are only in Limited, except that a few 2020/2021 SR5 packages appear to have them.

as mentioned, CarPlay is available in 20/21 only, but an aftermarket head unit can add that pretty easy and probably sounds better anyway.

If you’re looking at a double cab - at some point they took away the power sliding rear window except in Limited and up. Not sure exactly when though.

Dedicated transmission cooler got deleted in 2019.

 

If I were you I’d look at 2018+ SR5 upgrade package. That gets you the 38 gal tank, Door sill protectors, etc. Toyota safety sense is 2018+. The adaptive cruise is all I use and it’s pretty nice.

LED OEM headlights are an easily upgraded thing that’s well worth it. I had a light bar in the bumper valence of my 2014 (with old headlights and just led bulbs) and now I don’t need one (for my use) in my 2019 now that I have the OEM LEDs if that gives some idea of their performance. Auto on/off is a nice feature that I didn’t know I wanted until I had it.

heated leather seats can be added and are typically nicer aftermarket than the limited trim versions.

Power rear window is a game changer. I think the double cabs stopped offering the power slider in the 2.5 Gen, I could be wrong though.

due to the crazy market you will likely be right at the $35k for a <100kmi truck. A certified pre-owned gets you the platinum warranty coverage for 1 year/12kmi and powertrain until the truck reaches 100k or 7 years from its original sale date. So that will likely put you looking at 2016+.

 

Finally found a brochure. Will be looking for SR5, with upgrade, as you suggested, along with Convenience package (BSM and RCTA).

Good to know! Had originally been looking at an Escalade, with LED's, and honestly, the halogen projectors were much better. Same with a K5 I recently rented...Optima had better throw. Definitely will give it a look, though, as Toyota may have done something different.

Definitely helped sway me from a Limited on this alone...

I usually have a vehicle with a sunroof...but Tundra CrewMax with back window down is MUCH better!!!

Delaying my purchase and stretching budget to $40K, as that seems to open up a significant amount of possibilities.

 

SR5 Upgrade package is the appropriate package

It is showing up as Standard for 2018 SR5 CrewMax

I understand there is a decent aftermarket for those but looking at a 2018 SR5 CrewMax.

 

Something I hadn't thought of when I was looking- with the Tundra's light payload numbers, going up in trim levels (options = weight) will reduce the light payload even more.

 

2020's are in the 50's right now and as long as I can exchange the head unit, I can get Apple/Android. Have Android Auto in my '02 Tahoe but cannot get it for my '14 Accord...have seriously thought of trading it in, for that reason alone.

1st used it with an Audi rental car...instantly fell in love with it!!!

Surprised you waited that long!!!

Glad to hear! It, along with the upgraded dash, are the main reasons I am looking at a 2018.

 

I looked at bigger payload trucks and when I get to that point of needing it, I will probably buy a 2nd truck...but for now, will only be towing a 25-28' boat, 2-3 people max in cabin.

 

I hear ya. Updating the head unit on a truck that doesn't have carplay is an awesome idea, and I guess the amp/speakers drivers would follow (cause the stock ones are truly lame). I always wonder why the bean counters chince-out on outfitting the truck with a decent music system.

 

In case you haven’t made up your mind yet, between Tundras and Sequoias I have a ton of miles in all three trim levels. Absolutely no reason to buy anything but a SR5 unless you want it to come with leather seats. Since you said you were willing to do the leather aftermarket, it’s a no brainer.

Other than the seats, the biggest difference between my SR5 and my Platinum is that the stock stereo in the SR5 sounded way better. (You read that correctly.)
Difference between Limited and Platinum is that the seats are slightly softer and have nearly unnoticeable ventilation in them.

 

I honestly think a majority of people do not care that is sounds GREAT, as long as it is decent. Luckily, there are after market products for most (excluding my Honda Accord, of course...).

 

Yeah, I hear you, decent works.

 

Other than dual climate control, I could not find ANY upgrade that I would want but not be able to add on later.
When looking, I entertain ANY model if the price is right but understand I truly NEED nothing more than an SR5...

 

Sooo...financials won out. LOVE the 2018+ Tundra but not the $38-40K+ price tag, for a 2nd vehicle. Saturday, looking at a 2006 double cab with 134000 miles, asking $15,900. Now if it DOES fall through...probably will pull the trigger, on a 2018 SR5 4WD.
I need my car for driving, as I may do 6-800 miles in 1 week. Hopefully over the next 1-2 years, I can stop driving so much and make it my daily driver.
The struggle was definitely real...the 2.5 gen is a GORGEOUS truck but for now, I needed reliable and cheap, for hauling kayaks, dog, cooler, bikes, etc.

 

Howdy, thanks for asking, no I'm not selling my headunit, but I would love to add some punch to the amps/speakers that is the route I would like to go, just not sure whats a quick, easy bang for the buck. Thanks.