Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael2000
Sometimes I think Toyota regards us as all a bunch of posers. A lot of Americans, though, really "use" their trucks as a truck, and our 4x4's as 4x4's, and expect truck durability.
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I don't have a clue what Toyota thinks of "us". But, I have noticed all new cars and trucks have much thinner/lighter metal in all areas. Toyota certainly isn't the only one.
I really use my Tundra - it's my everyday construction work-horse. But right from the day I bought it I saw the lighter gauge sheet metal used for the box and tail-gate. Consequently, I haven't expected it to be as tough as the box and tail-gate of the 1977 Ford that the Tundra replaced. So I don't throw heavy objects into the box. I don't drop heavy items on the tail-gate - or obviously over-load it.
Other than an 8 inch diameter dent on the wheel-well, which I plan on beating out from the under-side next time I have the wheel off, the box and old-style gate on my Tundra are still in pretty good shape for what I've put them through over the last 15 months.
Am I making excuses for Toyota? No. I could wish for heavier sheet metal in this truck. But then I'd probably have to bitch about the gas mileage I got - like I did with the Ford. (The Tundra gets twice what my Ford did.)
I've got a few years on this planet now. And I've bought lots of tools, equipment, firearms, and vehicles. Most all of them were never exactly as I wanted them. There have always been things that needed tweaking to get them right. There have been defects in some to correct. And then there were the design limitations that couldn't be corrected, only accepted.
I have adjusted my expectations and actions to the way the truck is. Some items I can tweak and make more comfortable. Some of it I have to live with. And you know what? I still really love my Tundra - even with it's flimsy, cheap-a$$ tail-gate. If I kill the gate I'll try and get a new one out of Toyota. If not, I'll buy another, stronger gate and move on with life.
I'm old enough to understand just how short a human life really is - even if one lives to old age. To get all worked-up over a truck, or a negative feature of a truck, seems pretty silly to me. Peace of heart, mind, and soul is the most valuable thing in life. I'm not about to throw that out the window over a flimsy piece of sheet metal.