New Guy Considering a 1st Generation Tundra

Hello. I've been out the truck game for several years now. Always been kind of a Dodge guy but, looking harder at Toyota these days. My last truck was a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Regular Cab with Long Bed and 4.7L engine. I owned it for 14 years and about 175k miles I put on it during that time. Sold with nearly 195k miles on it.

Anyways, back many years ago I've test drove a 2000 or 2001 Tundra AC 4x4 and recall it was buttery smooth. Didn't seem as big as full size Ram. These days I believe the 1st Generation Tundra or Sequoia would be about the right size for what I need it to do. I've also driven a 2008 Tundra with 5.7L and 4.30 gears. It's a beast but, to me I found the interior to be cheaper than the prior generation and driving it feels larger than my Ram.

Well, my current dilemma is choosing a truck. I'm leaning toward Toyota but, with that territory comes a couple of sacrifices given my current situation. The first is with my budget is the vehicle in question would have high mileage. Everything I've seen within my price range has mileage in the 175k to 220k range and 2wd. There's not many Tundras in the Midwest and would be purchasing a truck on the West Coast, Southwest, or Pacific Northwest. I've been looking more in California though as the truck wouldn't used during the winter. At this mileage point, what other questions should I be asking besides the timing belt/water pump maintenance.

The other part of this question is I'm concerned about the availability of parts for these trucks. I'm just wondering what are the hard to find parts for these trucks given the age? Unfortunately, the salvage yards around me don't get many Tundras and don't see many here given I live in the Rust Belt.

Also, what is the best year Tundra to buy? I've seen that the 2000-2001 have transmission problems. I've read the later trucks have additional features that can be a pain to troubleshoot and purchase parts.

The other part of this I should mention is that the truck might see 3k-5k a year at most. I don't plan on driving it during the winter so would I have problems with a truck like this sitting for several months awaiting better roads and warmer temperatures?

I'm just trying to make a decision as I've been looking at older trucks because I prefer the styling and less electronics than the newer trucks. My apologies for the long post but, I'm just trying to figure out on a truck. I have a chance to buy a 65k-85k mile Ram Quad Cab with a 5.9L Magnum but, I'm still thinking that maybe the Toyota might be more reliable with more miles given both are around the same age if not older. Thank you in advance.

 

Please read this thread in full.

Then come back (reply here in this thread) if you have additional questions not answered there.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

If you've already read it, I feel like a couple of things are answered there (like rodents + truck sitting), but ...

 

I would buy a 300k mile first gen before I would take any dodge for free.

 

03-04 to avoid transmission overdrive issues and possible cracked exhaust manifold. Also, larger 13WL brakes were standard starting in 03.

05-06 for the extra power with the VVTI engine. Maybe even steering wheel controls if you can find one. Downside is more money. Avoid VSC to simplify any future need for a replacement MC since they’re unobtainable I believe.

A long bed reg cab is going to be a hard find. Best to go with the AC and 6.5 ft bed if you just want to haul.

 

An 04 will allow you bigger brakes, no VVTI complexity, and can still get a double-cab, not nearly as cool as the suicide doors on the AC but more space and still with a 6 ft bed. I needed a 4 door no-bullshit truck with at least a 6-footer (hate those 4-door 5-ft bed chodes), VVTI/VSC is too much complex BS for me, gotta be able to fix something myself if possible.

Also many will laugh at me but I feel like the pre-VVTI 2UZFE's are "less-interference" engines than the 100% interference VVTI V8's.

 

Thank you shifty. What about parts availability in the current market?

 

Well, I've had a few Dodge trucks. The older ones weren't too bad plus you had the Dakota Convertible which I've had a few of those. I didn't have too much trouble with my Ram until I got over 140k-150k miles. Wouldn't buy any newer Dodge with the Hemi and MDS features. Styling and technology too over the top for me as well. Still been looking Sequoias, Tundras, and Land Cruisers into the mix. I guess we'll see what happens.

 

Husbands ‘03 RCLB with the 4.7 just passed 300k and has never had any issues and only routine maintenance fwiw. He bought it from NC at 130k rust free and treated immediately with woolwax, frame is still brandy-new looking 20 years later through the Maine winters. Hes a builder so it gets used for truckly things with no probs.

 

Saw this. Mine has 330K with no issues.

 

Plenty of parts out there. If I had to guesstimate, I'd say 80% of 1st gen OEM parts are still available from Toyota. There are parts I've seen become un-available in the few years I've had my 1st gen, non-consequential crap, like a cover plate for the seat heater switch. 00-02 truck owners can no longer get the fog light switch for their dash. There's a specific 2-part master cylinder in later year trucks (possibly only double cab?) that cost an arm and a leg, and a booster or MC that's no longer available. I remember @FirstGenVol ended ordered two brake parts last year, and he could only get one, he literally must've gotten the last one in the country but I don't recall what it was.

IMHO, all of the other critical OEM parts you'll need are still available, either new or reman - CV Axles, starters, alternators, radiators, upper/lower balljoints. You can still get complete transmissions and engines. I don't feel like parts availability is any worse than I fought with on the GMT400 truck I had before this 1st gen. Nor the GMT800 truck I had prior to that.

 

I've never been a Dodge or Ford guy. Almost always GM or Honda brands, some VW sprinkled in there, and just in the last 15 years, I'm exclusively Toyota. As sad as this'll sound, I'm a cheapskate and capitalized on the slight price hit cars took when Toyota got hit with the 'stuck gas pedal death' controversy. I doubt I'll own anything else.

I'd love a 1st gen Tacoma also 4cyl manual 2WD with power windows/locks. I'd also love to have a j100, don't care which brand (Toyo/Lex), but prices are insane today. But I honestly couldn't be happier with my current truck. Out of at least a dozen trucks now, it's the best I've ever had. Stomps the shit out of the loaded '03 Sierra I bought new back in late '02.

There are members on here with 600k-700k mile trucks and still on the original drivetrain. That says everything you need to know.

I will say, though. There's something to be said for Ford and Dodge trucks when it comes to towing. Especially the diesel rigs, with Allisons. But I don't haul, so a beast like that would be absolutely silly for me to own, honestly.

 

As good as anything. The only "issue" I've ever had is finding tundras in u-pull-it type junkyards around here (they tend to get rebuilt or sent to toyota specialty yards).

 

It was the self adjuster for the rear brakes. I got one side and had to go aftermarket for the other side.

 

Shifty is spot on, heed the frame rust advise and OEM ONLY on important parts. Previous owner of my 2000 thought using a Napa starter would save $. Nonsense, it only lasted a couple of years. Starter replacement is not for the weak of heart or those without deep pockets on this truck! Don't worry about milage on these trucks as long as the proper major maintenance has been/will be performed, they go forever if cared for. After two years, I have no reason to ever buy anything else. It's perfect.

 

That's great to hear. I know OEM parts may not always be available but, as long as the aftermarket stuff is as good or better than OEM then that's what I would prefer. Just as a side note, I'm looking at 1st Generation Sequoias. I've never owned a Toyota. Family members back in the day had a 1976-77 Celica GT. That's all I remember. I've owned one Honda/Acura and two Nissans myself as far as imports are concerned.

 

I've owned plenty of older Dodge stuff and a couple of older Fords. I still have some vintage Dodge stuff for now. Prices are definitely high and not sure where they'll go with everything going on. Nothing after 2005 regarding Dodge appeals to me. They started putting the MDS system on their trucks in 2006 and not a fan of the design after that point either especially the cheapening of the interior. I've never had luck with Fords and GMs for me are a mixed bag but, more recent GMs aren't that great of quality and have gone downhill in my opinion.

 

Since, I know this isn't completely Tundra related but, do 1st Generation Sequoias have different issues from Tundras? I've been looking at those as well especially in the 2006-2007 model years. Most I've looked at have well over 200k on them. Anyways, I figure I would ask since I think those have some extra features like Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control.

 

Like any Toyota, you can usually get Toyota parts straight from the manufacturer (AISIN, NGK, Denso, Koyo, Mitsuboshi, etc) for significantly less than from the dealer.

I haven't had great luck with auto parts store-branded parts (Autozone, Napa, etc). Usually it works okay out of the box, but they're a lot more likely to fail 18 months down the road when the original lasted 10 years... Some brands I'd previously thought of as good, like Moog, have become less consistent. So I'd do what you could to use an OE manufacturer unless they're on some crazy backorder.

Use caution when buying parts online - make sure the source is reputable. Denso and NGK are frequent targets of counterfeiting - even when sold & shipped by Amazon itself. You can get AISIN timing belt kits on Amazon directly from the US AISIN distributor, but I've found it is sometimes cheaper to copy that part number and paste it into the Rock Auto search (make sure you check shipping cost though). For whatever reason, Rock Auto doesn't usually show AISIN timing belt kits under the vehicle-specific menu, but they carry the parts...

1990s user-interface aside, I have never had any problems getting fake parts from Rock Auto. Still, you should keep a close eye on the shipping charges before submitting your order. Sometimes they want to charge $15 shipping for a $2 o-ring because it is coming from a separate warehouse.

There is a lot of overlap with the Sequoias, but some significant differences too. They're great vehicles often known to reach 500,000 miles and surprisingly inexpensive for a capable Toyota 4x4. Like the Tundras, they suck gas though

 

Don't forget you can also get a 2nd Gen Tundra with the 4.7 from 2007 to 2009. I've started looking in that direction for when I sell my '06 to someone that wants to take care of the frame rust problem.

 

Never been a foreign car person but I do love mine I got for free.

 

I thought 07 was the last year for the 4.7

 

Hey everyone. I am also considering buying a Gen 1 Tundra today! It's a 2003 4.7 4x4 with 197,000 miles. The test drive felt great and no frame rust. Lived it's entire life in the bay area of California. They are asking 8500$. We have no proof of the timing belt being replaced so I assume that will need to be done +1000$. What do you think a fair price is?? interior is pristine. a couple bumps on the body and the bumper needs repainting.

 

For Cali, the price you listed is a steal if body is good, frame has no rust, no major accidents, and they have maintenance records to show what's been done. V8, 4WD, relatively low mile, good buy.

But honestly, if the timing belt has never been replaced, I'd tow it to wherever the timing belt will be replaced. Use the Aisin kit and do the water pump at same time, and may as well do tensioners and pulleys at same time - just don't buy the parts on scAmazon or fleaBay if you want authentic parts. Belt and thus the engine is probably living on borrowed time. That's double the manuf'er recommended. We've seen trucks throw belts in the mid-100s.

This thread may also be useful for you.

 

That’s cheap imo. I wouldn’t think about that one too long.

 

Not anything specific to the Sequoia that I'm aware of.

A few upsides on them though.
Generally lower asking price than Tundras.
Rear disk brakes.
Fully boxed frame.
Center diff lock, 4wd acts as 4auto until it's locked.
Soccer moms will be so jealous.

Sequoia thread here.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-sequoia-bs-thread.102359/

 

great price imho if its as described

 

Just scored this 03’ for $6600! 197,000. Runs like butter but she needs a timing belt stat. Retiring the 4cyl Taco Prerunner. Quite the upgrade!

 

Hello two tone brother. Two tone best tone.

 

I think you stole that truck! Timing belt cost me $880 in labor and I spent about $600 on parts.

 

They had it till I think 2010 when they switched to the 4.6 for the small v8. I probably have that year wrong.