Tundra is Not Accepted as a Work Truck

[ab]

I have four Tundras ALL work trucks. Low depreciation, excellent reliability, low operating costs, no down time. They aren't F350's but very few contractors really need that much truck.

[05regcab]

I use mine for a work truck. It could use some helper springs, cause it kinda drags @ss. I've never caught any flack from anybody on the jobsite about driving a Toyota, and I live Michigan with laid off autoworkers and rednecks.

[J-man]

gen contractor here - 2 days after i brought her home i had to see what she was made of - so loaded the bed with 1.5 tons of dirt & rock - hauld it to the dump no prob. Also i pull a 1500-2000# equipment trailer occasionally and she loves it - asks for more. Theres no way id ever think of getting a ford or chevy for it - id rather pay more for a truck that i know wont give me any prob rather than being without a vehicle cause its in the shop.

[bennicde]

My buddy sold his 2000 V-6 3.4 litre 4x4 access cab to his neigbour. The truck was already was worn out IMO as my buddy is an electrican and used it daily since Feb 2000. It had about 400,000 km on it (or about 240,000 miles.)

The neighbour attached a horse trailer to it and towed a horse from Nova Scotia (near Maine for those of you who don't know where it is), all the way to Whitehorse in the Yukon. I didn't think he'd make since the tranny was oringinal and it was overloaded. The back of the truck was full of horse stuff and luggage. over 6,000. miles or about 10,000 km.

Well he's back (minus the horse) and the truck is still going strong. My buddy is thinking of buying it back for hunting trips.

A work truck? that's how the little 4 cy Tacomas got their tough reputation!!!

[Hugemoose]

Yeah I'm not sure what you've been reading but guys on this forum, for the most part, love to put their trucks through the pases. I've towed a car on a flatbed on 3 different occasions, and flat towed an early 90's GMC 4 door long bed dually with a 454 because it's fuel pump died! Let me tell you now....that's a big truck!

These trucks can work hard. And it's because of their high quality and dependability that they are able to take a beating, whether it be because of hard work, towing, or racing!

[Buckeyefan]

Originally Posted by CT-Tundra

I see more and more ladder racks on Tundras all the time. They're about the same price as Ford/GM/Dodge for the same equipment and people are NOT ALWAYS idiots- Americans do recognize that Toyotas will live twice as long as their American counterparts.

Actually, the 06 SR5 4x4 DC's are less than their American counterparts with similar options and they are one of the only mfg's to offer a full size crew cab with a 6' bed. You can't find a 6' bed in a half ton crew with the others mfg's.

[ricqik]

Originally Posted by jqqd

After reading many posts on this site for many years I have come to the conclusion that not many Tundra owners purchase their truck for work. Most treads concern speed, looks or mods but rarely do the treads relate to using the truck for truck work. This may be why Toyota has failed to crack into the work truck market where the American brands dominate. The Tundra appears to be a suburban step and fetch it.

I don't think any truck forums talks much about working their trucks. Diesel, semi's, you name it. Everyone comes to these types of forums to dicuss problems, ideas and ways to improve it better than the way it comes from the manufacturer. Mostly for fun and for good social reaseans. Not a reason to dub it as not work worthy.
Even I tow my 4.6k boat 3-4 times a week during open water seasons yet I don't discuss how it does.

[edexcsc]

I use mine for home depot run and daily driving. Granted I havent fully maxed out what the truck is capable of but eventually I will .

[brow]

Originally Posted by jqqd

After reading many posts on this site for many years I have come to the conclusion that not many Tundra owners purchase their truck for work.

I am purchasing my new Tundra for work. I have had Toyotas in the past and used them as work trucks. I take them in the bush, hit the logging roads, have done upwards of 100,000kms per year of hwy driving, used them in mining sites, loaded them down with tools, hauled heavy loads, etc, etc. All this while having an extremely dependable vehicle.
That is why I am coming back to Toyota's after a few fords which worked out only "so-so".
I would agree that most Toyota's / Tundras / 4x4's / work trucks, etc, etc normally aren't used for the purpose they are intended and built for.

[jimc1959]

Well I do lots of different work. I work for the local school dept. . I do plastering on the side and haul a loaded 5x6 trailer. Most local workman, not Owners, don't make much after paying bills so the price on the new tundra are not going to be in the price range that most workers can afford. I bought my 2003 Tundra AC for $21,000 so to replace mine with a new comparable 2007 DC it would be at least $10,000 more. I can't afford that with having to pay child support and bills. If Toyota wants to take over the truck market they will have to make them more affordable. That is my opinion.

[VPI]

I am in the process of making a deal on a 07 DC 4x4 5.7 4x4. I will purchase through my company. I will beat on it. If it last past 2 years with few problems it will beat the domestics. I think it will. Not a lot of miles but they are hard miles.

[mhileman]

The first 4 tundra owners I asked before buying one were all construction workers, a roofer put it this way 100000 miles and only oil changes, he had it racked and tool boxed filling the bed, I eventually traded a 99 silverradocrapper with 65000 miles that had been in the shop 123 times.

[Hickleberry]

My truck went straight from the showroom floor to the construction site, it replaced an F-150, and I would say the Tundra is equally capable.

I've carried just about every building material you can think of, I know I've exceeded the manufacturer's payload rating a few times. It still handles perfectly, rides great, no groans, its been great.

I've also towed a variety of trailers and it does that competently too.

My only challenge is keeping it scratch free (ya right), and keeping the interior covered. I don't allow anybody to put tools in the cab, always cover the seats and arm rest, and make sure nobody abuses it too much when loading the bed.

My wish list would include a larger cab and an 8 foot bed, I think those wishes were granted with the 2007, Toyota is on the right track.

[enlightened]

Been driving Toyota trucks since 1982 seven days a week, over 800,000 miles total, as contracting delivery business vehicles, and can count on one hand the number of times Toyotas have broken down while on the job. Work means coming to complete stops 500 times day, accelerating swiftly into traffic, making smooth u-turns, driving washboard dirt roads, carrying up to 2400 lbs. in the bed and front seats, while traveling in all kinds of weather.... downpours, freezing rain, sleet, foot-deep snow, on drives of up to 12 hours daily. There ARE no excuses in my line of work, Toyota trucks have been performing this miracle of endurance and longevity seven days a week for the past 25 years, it's been fun, but most importantly, it's been my bread and buttter.

[slamdtaco]

without reading all these posts, most people with "work trucks" have no reason to visit a truck forum, which is mainly for customized trucks.

think about it...........