Landcruiser(ish) person looking at Tundra's anything I should know, or things you wish you knew...

Hello Friends.
Newbie here. We have had a GX for long. Its an old GX 470, so the 2016+ Tundra feels a technological marvel. So the typical LX GX fellow getting turned of by spartan interiors is not going to be the case. We sat inside a Tundra and its massive.

We had almost decided to buy a used LC, but then sitting inside a tundra we realized we can get a 2018 Tundra for the price of a 2013-2014 LC.

We want to put on a truck cap (I guess 3000$ for reinforced ones) and add our RTT on top of it. We carry some small kayaks and stuff and 5 1/2 foot bed is great.

We also do some medium++ offroading, so sliders etc., will be added.

But I do have some questions about the Tundra
1. Do 4x4s come with LSD or only limited variants
2. ATRAC. It works great on 4runners and my GX, how is it on Tundra. Basically the same system?
3. How is the ride quality compared to a lifted old GX. I understand a 200 series LX glides on air suspension, but we care comparing more with mildly lifted 120 platform
4. Most good pieces with sunroof are limited/platinum or 1794 editions. Rarely find a TRD. How easy it is to lift a Tundra about 1.5" and then put on 34" tires? Any pitfalls, caveats etc.,?
5. Does any variant come with a power plug in the bed (We use a refridgerator)
6. Do truck caps open in such a way that we can roll down the rear window and then open a sliding window to reach inside the truck cap to get stuff without stepping out of vehicle (important when snowy and stormy)
7. Are truck caps fully water tight even in storms? How about Dust ingress. I sometimes carry a lot of photography gear which is a trifle sensitive to dust. SUVs are 100% dust tight. Are after market caps too 100% dust tight. Asking because running high speed on salt flats can get very dusty.

Any other tips regarding variants etc.,? We need 4x4, Sunroof and Trailer brake control. Can give up LSD if fitting a locker is easily doable and RELIABLE. On my GX a Locker would blow up the rear diff in a hearbeat (Yes the Toyota legendary 8")

 

Own a 100 series and 2 weeks into my tundra. So here are some thoughts.
- powerful, the 5.7 is far superior to the 4.7. Also my 100 series only has a 4 speed transmission so the tundra feels so zippy!
- seats are not as comfy — ended up with a limited because it was the highest trim that came with a 6.5 foot bed. Not uncomfortable by any means and maybe I’m just so partial to the 150k I’ve sat in my LC but it’s not as comfy!
- off road capable — mines a TRD off road and honestly it performs better than the LC on washboard dirt roads. Maybe the LC is ready for a suspension refresh as I bet it’s pretty clapped out. Toggling 4wd is a bit different and will take some time to get used to. Winter will be a good test
Truck beds are rad — got back from camping this weekend and oh man do I see what I’ve been missing. Grills, paddle boards, drunk people... just pile them in and motor to camp with not a care in the world!
All said I’m loving the change — jump in. Get the highest trim package you can based on your needs and don’t look back!

 

Welcome here,there is a lot here to read.

First of all how is having a 4runner in any clothes being Cruiserish really or are you saying you are choosing between the Cruiser and a Tundra here?

Nothing about the platform of a GX can get you ready for the extra everything of a much bigger rig and I mean bigger space and power as you have already seen!

Of course you can make a Tundra capable easily to do everything you want or have done in your GX except maybe go through some more narrow spots where a more narrow truck is more likely to pass unscathed but then that is what this entire Forum is really all about,learning about the Tundra on all levels.
Smaller trucks like the 120 platform might be more handy in tight spots or obvious reasons.

There is also the Sequoia which is an SUV already and essentially similar to the Tundra on most levels if you prefer an SUV.
Access to the back is easier in an SUV but the space is so much bigger and more customizable in a truck and sure you can get the back window combination that you ask about in a Tundra and yes you can make the back water and dust tight though not as easily as with an SUV too,but then that is why God gave us the Pelican Case too isn't it!?

I find that I can not get comfortable in any 120 platform truck and I try all the time too in my Sisters GX but it is way to cramped for me and I go crazy on long drives and can not wait to get out of the thing.

I also owned a 3rd Gen V8 4runner and several 1st Gen Tundra too one of which I still have and even those are so much more comfortable to me that my choice about the trucks is a simple one.

I sold my 100 to get into my newest Tundra and the comfort on the road is so far above the LC for me that I have not regretted that part of it at all,not once!

There is a certain tangible Cruiser Cache for sure that can be tough to quantify and explain although there is also plenty about the Cruiser that is easily seen and well deserved but in the end I needed more space and power and the practical nature for me of a Tundra is just more important than the Cache of the Cruiser right now.

YMMV clearly though.

 

1. Tundra has an open diff with an auto lsd that uses the brakes. It’s not a true lsd and is obviously far from being a locker. Some add an Auburn lsd or arb locker.

2. No ATRAC.

3. Dont know.

4. It’s easy to lift 1.5”. Can be anywhere from $1000 or less to whatever you want to spend. With trimming, you can probably fit 34” stock. Pros come with a little lift in the front.

5. No but it’d be easy and cheap to run the wires and add one.

6. Yes. Some caps come with sliding windows. The entire back window on the crew max rolls down. There are boots you can put between the cap and truck. If not, you’ll get rain/snow through the gap when reaching back.

7. My ARE leaked a little. I put silicon in it and it’s good now. But they are not dust proof. There are gaps on the sides of the tailgate. I put some weatherstrip in there but can’t get every gap dust tight.

 

thanks!

The dust proof part is a bummer. Camera equipment is sensitive to dust. So are telescopes and stuff.

But I did see youtube vides with various inexpensive 30$ seals from Amazon which can make it almost 100% dust proof.

About ATRAC, I see videos of Tundra ATRAC where its definitely modulating the front wheels. Is that a different system?

 

Yeah I did one of those $30 kits from Amazon for the tailgate. It’s just hard to get it just right. Some parts need more than others. If it’s too thick you have to slam the tailgate. If it’s too small there is still a gap.

Tundra has a VSC, but there is no ATRAC as I understand the 4Runner and I think Tacoma have. I don’t know what those videos are showing.

Edit: Here is a thread to read on stability control. I was thinking of how the 4Runner has an ATRAC button and Tacoma has a selector for terrain. Tundra doesn’t have those.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/traction-control-everything-you-want-to-know.21697/

Edit 2: So reading that post ATRAC (I thought it was just VSC) is always on and if it detects a wheel spinning, it’ll cut engine power. That’s happened to me when pulling in to traffic and there is a small gap between where I am pulling out and the road I’m turning on. One wheel spins a little and engine cuts power. Then you are sitting there unable to move and there’s traffic heading straight at you. I think that’s dangerous and have almost been hit before when that happened.

 

Oh man that thread is good! Stoked to get Clyde off road and turn the nannies off.

 

Welcome aboard from SoCal.

 

Dust: I went with the below linked product. Reduced dust by about 90%. Satisfactory for my needs.

ESI Tailgate Seal
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00IPQWXZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6XpgFbVF2638N

 

Welcome

 

Thanks for the warm Welcome. Looks like Dust is the only dealbreaker. I am researching pickups and dust and sealing. If I can find out that its possible to make it 99% dust proof, then its a pickup, otherwise its back to LX land.

 

I came from the 120 platform due to wanting more interior room and more hauling room. We went with Limited trim as it had the most creature comforts but still with a 6.5' bed, double cab. The sunroof is only on crewmax. Ride all depends on the suspension, lift price is again a large range from spacers to full out long travel but stock they ride like a truck more than the 120 which I liked. There is some form of traction control although I don't see it called atrac. Other than its obvious size difference it's been impressive offroad on 37s comparing to 120 on 34s. You could fit 35s on a leveled tundra with the right wheel offset and trimming.

Bed dryness and cleanliness is the biggest nag I have. I wanted a truck to throw dirty camping stuff in but then now I gotta figure out how to keep my stuff clean and dry. I'm currently running a soft top while waiting to see if I really want to invest in wedge camper or hard shell. From what I've read and talked to unbiased shell dealers (not the water tight sales pitch) is that its almost impossible to get the bed to be waterproof. I would think that with sealing holes behind track system, under bed stake pockets, between bed rails and cap, and between tailgate and bed you could get it to your 99%. Other than that we store our campong gear in plano trunks and also have a big truck bed dry bag for non camping trips. Combined with the sealed soft topper and tailgate seal our stuff stays clean and dry but not easily accessible like the back of the 120 rig. I used the same seal that comes in the ESI kit linked above but its cheaper under the Lund brand. Check my build thread for the install instructions that it came with, they were almost perfect.

Enjoy your hunt!

 

So if you get rid of the tailgate altogether you can keep things dry and dust free a lot easier I have found.
I also am 2' closer to the bed at all times and it makes it a whole lot easier when I need to climb in,on or pull things out at the cost of the rarely used tailgate for me!

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome! As a previous GX470 and GX460 owner I can say that I love my Tundra! Only downside compared to a 120 series is the size, but only if you are going on narrow trails. Since you're talking about the salt flats I'm guessing this is not the case.

As for dustproofing, what about some nice sealed cases mounted or otherwise secured in the bed? Could be an easy solution to the problem. I say this as a former photojournalist for Speedhunters, where we shot at race tracks and car events all over the world (including Bonneville)!