Tundra related....HOLY HELL

[Falls]

How do you call the Tundra weak and then state that some of the weakest framed trucks ever built worked perfectly fine for you? Those trucks couldn't keep the stripes lined up under normal daily driver conditions....look at nearly any example after some use and the box will hang noticeably below the box....

I'm not saying the trucks were junk, just stating that there's some contradiction going on here....

There is not contradiction going on , I'm just telling my experiences . Never had an issue , plain and simple. I personally do not believe the frames are weak by any means on the Ford and GM.

The lack of a full boxed frame is what I consider weak. I think they put more into style , an engine they were not experienced with , and did not keep the contractors in mind when building this truck chassis.

As for the sales , I was just at the dealer last week and asked about the sale of the Tundras , he said they were slow , probably because of gas prices ( his answer ). He also said the FJ's were really slowing down , and Toyota thinks its because the lack of 4 full doors. ( something I've said all also from day 1 ) all the competition all have 4 full doors and still have a little cargo room.

SO no one really answered my question about what do you see to be the strong selling points to the american truck consumer ?????

 

[marjnap]

Hopefully, we may see a boxed frame on the Tundra, since they only got a four star rating from NHSTA. See the following link.

Autoblog

 

[Thai]

Hopefully, we may see a boxed frame on the Tundra, since they only got a four star rating from NHSTA. See the following link.

Autoblog

Unfortunately, the four star is from frontal crash test. Boxing the rear frame will likely NOT do much to improve it. NHTSA's protocol tests more of the restraint system than body integrity. IIHS crash data test more of the body strength.

BTW, Tundra already got excellent scores on it's rear crash test (5-mph bumper test).

 

[Northof49]

Ehn, I'll conjure up some responses next week.

I'm heading up the lake in a Tacoma towing a 4500lb boat and hauling a dirtbike in the back...hopefully the frame won't fall out of it

 

[Neil]

I just thought I would comment and throw a link in to the tundrasoultions.com forum. I have been reading this matierial for a few weeks now and from what I have read over there, the bed bounce is occuring on more then just the conditions that are displayed in the video. Numerous posters have described it happening on concrete freeways that are becoming more common in metro area's like southern CA and the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex. These posters describe having to slow down on to 60-65 mph in a newly designed vehicles where the rest of traffic is going by at 70-85 mph. To me, that is a big deal because I know here in NM, I typically drive my 4runner 83-87 mph when I am on the interstates and heading back to CO. Not only that, but when I go to my parents ranch in Southern CO the dirt roads that are often traveled have the ruts that vary in height from 2-5 inches for several miles and I probably don't go less then 20 mph on those and the 4runner feels very secure. I really like the tundra and I have test driven it and the chevy and nissan titan within the past few weeks but it is lacking some items that I think are deal breakers. One is the frame and the second is the multi mode 4wd that the v6 4runner and the chevy/gmc products have. Supposedly you are not supposed to drive the new tundra in 4wd because there is not a center differential lock/unlock button. I really like this feature because of the rapidly changing conditions I find in the spring and winter here in NM. Anyways, here is the link: http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/tundra/95740-bed-bounce-discussions/

 

[Falls]

Ehn, I'll conjure up some responses next week.

I'm heading up the lake in a Tacoma towing a 4500lb boat and hauling a dirtbike in the back...hopefully the frame won't fall out of it

C'MON now , I come help you with my full frame 4R.....lol . Just kidddin ya man..... enjoy the Lake have fun , be safe.

 

[Thai]

Neil, thanks for the link. I am telling you...i should be a car analyst!

Remember, any vibration/shake is bad on everything else. Sure, it looks great now, but 5-10 years from now after many years of towing/off-roading can really hurt a vehicle with such lack of structural integrity.

 

[keylay31]

Well... Next time someone asks: should I buy a 4runner or a taco/tundra, I'm going to have one more thing to throw at them....(I was once one of these people, guess I made the right decision)

 

[Thai]

Interesting posts from the link above (page 5 & 6):

"I just notcied it the other day. I drove over a bit of a rocky road the other day with all my windows down and i heard this loud thud. I pulled over and got out to look and saw nothing. Got back in and continued to drive. BAM another loud thunk type noise after i went over another bump. Sure enough it sounded like my bed was slaming around when i went over bumps. I noticed my bed moves slightly when driving on the highway somethimes but thought nothing of this. I may of had bed bounce with other previous trucks but never had one this noticable. How do i fix this? I have the bed rug in so do i have to pull it out and tighten down the 6 bolts in the bed? If so, don't you think it is ridiculous i should have to do this on a brand new truck?"

and

"Bingo. Well, the wife let me drive her truck again today. I played with the tire pressure and brought it down a lot. It still sucks hard on these roads. At 65, it really sucks. At 80, (speed of traffic) it feels like you're driving a fish that's flopping down a road which is undergoing an 8.5 earthquake.

At 55, its not so bad. But if you go 55 in any lane in California, you're going to get shot.

Though I suppose I love my truck, even if its built on a frame made from recycled rubber bands. I mean, I suppose having a flaccid truck is a small price to pay to drive the meanest looking, fastest half ton truck you can buy new."

 

[Falls]

Pick up trucks are always light and squirrely in the back end , an empty box and light weight will always do that . SUV's have a different weight distribution. I'm sure the Tundra is the same as all the others and might be worse because the frame is a little lighter weight since it not boxed.....?????????? Just guessing.

I still think the Tundra and Tacoma should have a full boxed frame . I'm saying this because they make me feel better ....lol. I like overbuilt. LOL. I would still have no worry's about getting Tacoma and pulling and hauling what ever I need to .

Thai , if your head get's any bigger it won't fit in the G wagon anymore .....lol. Maybe an automotive critic would be best.

Every truck has its issues , Toyota is no different and anyone else , I would like to think differently , but its just not the way it is . I do think quality and resale value are better than any domestic branded truck out there.

 

[Uneek]

It'll be a matter of time before Demello-Offroad offers a set of these for the 2005+ Tacoma's and 2nd gen Tundra.

I rather have the frame of a Toyota truck boxed than to be driving a Nissan (subjective though, their trucks are ugly as hell and it feels cheap), domestics--let's not even go there (nothing but problems with the Chevy we had).

 

[Thai]

Thai , if your head get's any bigger it won't fit in the G wagon anymore .....lol. Maybe an automotive critic would be best.

Don't worry...the G has tons of headroom and i am not a big guy!

Although the Frontier may not have the prettiest face (Tacoma has it) nor the most luxurious interior, it does do the basics better than the Tacoma. For me, i want a truck that does the basics well. Thus, reliability, boxed frame, and disc brakes all around score BIG points with me.

As you may know, i am not loyal to any particular brand. I buy what is the best out there for my needs. For example, if i needed a SUV at this time, i will not hesitate one bit to get the 4runner...it is just so well-designed and manufactured...there is nothing else in it's class remotely close. It is also a plus that it shares the platform for the luxurious Lexus GX...thus, giving it the smooth and quiet ride Lexus is known for = overengineered in the luxury department compared to it's competitors..

The Tundra is a very good truck...no doubt. It does cater to the BIG is better crowd...big truck, big engine, and big power/acceleration (it's call to fame?). But it is still disappointing to read/hear these stories because this redesign was supposedly the BIGGEST and most important intro in Toyota's history. As it turns out, it's not much different than other 1st year intro. You would think that Toyota would have things under better control or better thought out. The slightly subpar crash test is excusable...it happens to the best of vehicles...and it's scores were good nonetheless. However, the engine going KABOOM is not excusable IMHO. The sad part was that Toyota knew about the problem with the 5.7L V8 engine prior to releasing it, but did it anyway to boost sales. Does this happen with other companies?? Maybe, but this is TOYOTA we're talking about...a company that is the frontier for strict quality control and accountability. (I don't see many of the newer Toyota execs thrusting a sword into them when things fail.)

The weak rear frame is obvious as soon as you crawl underneath it and then compare it to the domestics. It really did not bother me that much until i started to read the rationale (Toyota's literature) and the excuses people (Toyota diehards) were giving. For me, a frame is either boxed or it's not...there is no comparison between the two in terms of strength. (And the fact that Toyota does not use hydroforming is yet another mistake IMHO.)

 

[Koz]

The empty bed bounce on a pick-up on certain highways, at certain speeds, is absolutely NORMAL and all pick-ups do this when the conditions are right. They are designed to be stable with max weight.

As far as the Taco

 

[Thai]

The fact is, the Tacoma, with its bulletproof reliability record is the best compact/mid pick-up truck ever offered to the American public. Period!

Koz

Rear axle blowing notwithstanding.:

 

[Thai]

As far as the Taco

 

[Koz]

Thai, you can pick out all the negitive opinions you want, the fact is the Tacoma is the BEST in its class, regardless of how much shit you throw on it!

Koz

 

[Thai]

Thai, you can pick out all the negitive opinions you want, the fact is the Tacoma is the BEST in its class, regardless of how much shit you throw on it!

Koz

Hey, don't get offended, i am just pointing out FACTS. Sorry. Let me guess, i am also a Nissan fanboy too, right?!

 

[Koz]

Hey, don't get offended, i am just pointing out FACTS. Sorry. Let me guess, i am also a Nissan fanboy too, right?!

Is the Tacoma the best pick-up in its class?

Koz

 

[Thai]

Is the Tacoma the best pick-up in its class?

Koz

Tough choice between it and Frontier...at this time (based on facts so far), i am probably leaning towards Frontier. But, i would piss on a Pathfinder (and just about every Nissan out there not named Frontier or Z).

You never answered my question before...how would TRD suspension help with sructural integrity?? I don't see how, but you're the Toyota expert here.

 

[Falls]

Rear axle blowing notwithstanding.:

Never heard of that , how often does that happen ?