New Tundra is Disappointing

I just sold my 2022 SR5, and am on the hunt for a 2014 - 2021. The new Tundra is disappointing, for the following reasons:

- Squat. Toyota doesn’t offer the air suspension in the lower trims, which are the ones the working man will likely buy. My truck would squat badly when towing my 16’ cargo trailer.

- Electronic steering. The steering feels unnatural, separating you from the road. It gives very little feedback.

- Controls. A/C, radio, and other controls and anything but intuitive. Their lights are dim, and you have to take your eyes off of the road to use them.

- Composite bed is slippery. I tried addressing this with a mat, but Toyota currently has none available. I had to use an aftermarket one.

- Turbo lag. I know that the solution to this is getting the hybrid, but that’s just not an economical choice.

I still love my Toyotas, but I personally feel that they took a step back with the new truck. However, the previous generation is the best truck ever made, in my opinion. Thanks for the opportunity to gripe.

 

Good luck with your hunt, shouldn't be too hard to find what you're looking for. If I had a 2nd opportunity to buy one another one new, I might've opted for a limited in a Cement color; heated seats, leather, sunroof, few extra goodies.

What's with the 2015 SR5 DC in your profile? Did you trade soon after making an account here.

 

Haha! I forgot that was there. The reason that I purchased the 2022 was that, 10 months ago, a tree fell and totaled my 2015 Tundra and my wife's Rav4.

When I find a replacement, I'll update my Pic.

 

Oh I think I remember reading that awhile back bummer, 2 for 1 deal. What did you end up replacing the Rav4 with?

 

Nothing yet. Still saving and searching. It will probably be another Rav4. Or a Taco, if I can convince my wife........

 

I get that, and good luck... I tried that route too with a taco and a 1GT (eventually find her something new and I would have a play truck haha, she catches onto my games), said we didn't need another gas hog / truck. She drives a malibu right now and it's too small for our need so we'll need something else in the next couple of years with 2 young ones. I sat in my neighbors Rav4 Hybrid, not a bad SUV for the price point.

 

Good luck with your search! When you find a truck, look at a Roadmaster Active Suspension HD kit to add some beef to the workhorse.

 

I agree with your sentiment regarding the 2nd gen Tundras. However, they will squat with heavy tongue weight as well because the leaf springs were designed primarily with articulation in mind. The truck is very good at keeping both rear wheels on the ground no matter how twisty the terrain.

There is a sweet spot though, where you can hold weight without squatting and still have the intended flexibility, and for me that’s with the RAS HD setup. Search Roadmaster active suspension.

 

I sold my ‘18 Limited CM (cement) to buy a ‘22 Limited CM. One of the worst decisions I ever made. I used to defend my ‘22 to the death to try to justify my bad decision, but now I just embrace the suck. The ‘22s are built like garbage (just like anything else anymore). It just doesn’t feel like the same solid truck I had with my ‘18. I like all the creature comforts with my ‘22, and the V6 tows better, but I doubt the longevity will be there. Hell, you can’t even take a 3rd gen through a car wash without it coming apart lol.

 

I wouldn’t buy a first year model of anything , especially a Covid truck , just me

that said , if it’s a pos just sell it and move on, having a machine piss you off all the time isn’t worth the stomach lining loss

 

Regarding squat. A simple 3x 10mm bolts per side for the install and you can add the Tumbren SES which act like a big bump stop to help sag without much affect in the ride when unloaded. I used it on my base model SR. Squats about the same as a 3/4 ton now loaded.

 

Seems like a growing trend, where manuf are just building throw-a-ways. Plastics are getting thinner and cheaper. Same with body sheet metal. Things that should have evolved actually devolved. The interesting part in your post was air suspension. I personally have never seen an air suspension worth a damn from any manuf. At some point it will be a headache and drain in your pocket to fix. I had it on 3 Trailblazer SS, none worked 100%. Still remember the old Lincoln town cars, dad had one, also never worked, along with 99.9% of those cars. Chevy had a great opportunity to make the baby diesel pretty damn good, then they fuck it up with a belt to drive the oil pump. Like did you runout of money or did you just decide that you needed something to go wrong just because. Still cant figure out the AFM lifter issue, really. Hopefully this will be my last truck. Only reason I have it, is to tow my boat. When I see the boat in the future, the truck is gone. Moving over to leasing SUVs. Rent it for 3 years and repeat. Make all this new tech someone else problem. My wife's 23 Acura RDX is so bad ass and full of features, but guess what, it's not Honda/Acura quality anymore. I would hate to own that suv out of warranty. All the more reason why I bought a SC for my 20 and kept it.

 

Too bad you aren't happy with it. I've had 2nd gen and now 3rd gen and absolutely love the 3rd gen so far. Good luck on your search.

 

My cousin bought a brand new 2017 RAV4 XLE and put 99K miles on it in four years. She traded the RAV4 for a brand new 2021 Highlander Hybrid which has something like 54K miles on it now (she has a decent commute for work). I drive a 2010 Tacoma 2.7L/auto that I've had since new and I just hit 200K last week!

We love our Toyotas in this family, but a turbocharged gas engine in a full-size pickup is a stupid idea in my opinion; Toyota should go back to naturally aspirated V8s!

 

You’ll have to talk to the USEPA, that’s why the v8 is gone and going bye bye , emissions.

The hemi is dead now too

 

How much did you get for your 22 if you don’t mind me asking. Just kinda curious how much people are eating when they pull the parachute. Thx!

 

I think it's also a good idea to ask Toyota. Chevy and Ford have no intentions, yet, to drop the V8 out of their line up. So it's not like they cant meet the EPA standard. The whole Hemi V8 thing has yet to see what it does to the company. Eventually the old timers will fade away and the newer gen will have no choice but to enjoy what they have. Just like eventually, we probably won't see it, the end of ICE engines.

 

I don’t even count the ford 5.0, that’s not a v8

but ya, it’s gm 6.2 or no v8 at this point

I tested it liked the motor but the rest of the gmc truck was lacking and the seats were trash

 

I dont know. They have the new 2024-25 sleeper F150 with a Coyote 5.0 and a Whipple 2.9= some broken hearts at 700+++ HP/TQ with a factory warranty and cheap, for todays vehicle prices. I was always a fan of the LS engines and the 6.0. Toyota could have easily bumped up the displacement or factory turbo/SC. Regardless, it was possible. I also dont understand the new Taco engine configurations 4 cylinder or nothing.

 

Emissions

and I’m not buying a ford v8 with a charger is better than a Toyota tt in the qdr world that most seem to cherish here, but that’s just me, I am still turned off by ford after the test drive bs I had

 

Emissions? You cant tell me Toyota cant meet emissions in 2024 but Chevy and Ford can. That's a cop out if Toyota went with the emission story for the getting rid of the V8. And emission cant be the reason there's no V6 option for the Taco. As to Ford, I own a few, like 2 and they were back in the day. My company is mainly Ford fleet diesel and not to thrilled about them. But me personally, if I was looking right now and how vehicles are built in general, none of them are off the table. This why I prefer to lease in todays tech driven vehicles.

 

If it weren't for emissions compliance, the US could easily build a diesel engine comparable to what they produce/drive in Japan and Europe. Domestic diesel trucks are now like owning boats.. something's always broken and it cost a fortune to maintain. And looking under the hood of any new vehicle, I think to myself "How the hell am I supposed to fix any of this"? The technicians can barely figure out electrical problems anymore. We are definitely devolving.

 

Glad you like it. I like mine too.
Toyota is the number 1 car maker for a reason.
Tundra sales have left lethargy status by having something new to offer. Tundra sales are strong for the Jan-April period compared to Gen 2.
Their business plan isn't structured around satisfying people that hold onto their trucks for 300K and 10 years.
Ford and Chevy both have better simple work truck options that fit that profile

 

You actually can get air suspension on the SR5 for a mere $6k - $10k depending on which "tech" package you choose.

If you need a truck, to use as a truck, I don't believe the 3rd gen is a choice. Toyota is going after affluent people that want a vehicle that looks like a truck but drives like a car. The majority of the trucks I see on the road are just being used as big cars with big trunks. I don't blame Toyota, it was a good marketing decision, Tundra sales are up. I do wish they would also build a truck for people that need a truck. Would love to see them enter the HD truck market.

 

The Toyota Stout would help fill this need in the market for those who want a truck that drives like a car but has a big trunk.

I wish Toyota would have gone HD with the Tundra instead of the route they took. I know I’m not alone.

 

?

So your saying they should have made a HD only and no 1/2 ton?

 

No, I’m saying they should have both, like the other manufacturers.

 

ok, i see ya , at least a 3/4 ton

 

Wishful thinking. I just saw a YT video from Automotive Press that said that Toyotas vision is to become a more eco friendly manuf. So slowing moving down from V8 to V6, to Inline 4 and eventually EV. Apparently no one has told them about the environmental impacts for EV battery mining.
Just like I said on a previous post, eventually ICE engines will be no more. Glad it won't be in my lifetime since I like to take long road trips and not have to sit and wait for my batteries to charge.

 

The 3.4 in the new Tundra is pretty under stressed engine design for a twin turbo with its longer bore to stroke ratio than an Ecoboost making it more of a truck workhorse engine. It’s a good engine on paper with an overbuilt cooling system including a designated one just for the turbos. It’s normal to have a few bad apples whenever a new powertrain is released. Long term I think this will prove to be a good engine and transmission combo.