New Tow Vehicle

I bought a new Tundra back in October. Finally got a chance to clean it up and take some pics with the new side steps I installed.

I went in with an open mind and looked at all of the full size trucks out there. But, after selling my '98 Tacoma with 128k for $9,850, it was a no brainer, I went with the Tundra.

Here it is:
2007 Tundra 4x4 SR5
Double Cab
5.7L (381hp, 401ft lbs of torque) 6 speed auto
Nautical Blue, beige interior



I have only put about 2,200 miles on it but, so far, I love this truck. I should be able to pull the Nautique anywhere I want this summer and fit all the kids in the back too.

I am going to be adding a DVD/ Navigation deck and some speakers and amps soon, and a backup camera integrated into the DVD/Nav deck

SNobsessed wrote:    I think the VVT 381hp engine came out in '05, correct? There seems to be a big difference in asking prices between the '04s & '05s. Is the new engine worth the extra money? Any idea what the difference in gas mileage would be? What do you get when towing?

Randy, great looking truck.

Chris, the 5.7 was new for '07, so you'd be comparing the 4.7 with and without the vvti. Its a totally different motor (with a lot less power) but its a smooth running, proven design. Toyota used it in everything from the 4Runner on up to the top of the line Lexus SUV's. There was a 35hp gain in '05 when the change was made (235 vs. 270). The change in torque wasnt huge, though- so the non-vvti is still a great motor for towing and everything else. From what Ive learned, the vvti motor might get slightly better mileage (maybe 1-2 mpg) but its real close. If the price difference is huge, Id be inclined to go with a '04. I have the 4.7 (vvti) in my 4Runner and I love it.

Tim is right about everything but the gas mileage depending on whether your talking about a 4x2 or 4x4 .
Actually the 5.7 4x2 gets better mpg than the 4.7.

Here are the EPA-Estimated Fuel Economy Ratings:
4x2 - 4.7L(15/18 mpg), 5.7(16/20 mpg)
4x4 - 4.7L(15/18 mpg), 5.7(14/18 mpg)

But, my computer is saying I am getting 12.7mpg, probably because it's cold and I let it idle to warm up a lot, combined with a lot of short trips.

I haven't done any towing yet (while, one little test run), so I don't know how it will do, but it couldn't be any worse than the millage I got in the Tacoma.

Randy_in_Ohio wrote: Tim is right about everything but the gas mileage

Randy, I admit I have no idea what the 5.7 gets for mileage. My comment was based on the I-Force vs. VVTi ('05-current) 4.7 only, which is what I think Chris is comparing.

Chris, I think it would be reasonable to expect 17-18mpg (highway) from a 1st gen Tundra in the summertime, regardless of which V8 it has. I get 18-20 in my 4Runner with the same engine.

I certainly hope he has something better to do than that. BKH

   That's a sharp truck Randy.Would have been my first choice when I bought last year,but they had just come out and no one wanted to haggle.I was shopping mostly on price due to starting a new business and being tight on funds.Wound up with a dodge,which I really like.It has the Hemi,and I've seen the mileage hit 18.5 in the summer,but when it's really cold it averages around 15mph.Your mileage should get much better as it warms up and the engine breaks in.If you are using the on board computer to calculate,long warm-ups,idle time seem to really affect the reading,and those short trips afterward don't really allow the computer time to get a realistic average.I had a 2000 tundra with the 4.7 and got about 15-16 on average,but I'm heavy on the throttle .Drove it 100k miles and asside from fluid changes,only replaced the serpentine belt and front pads-great truck.I don't expect the same from my Dodge...we'll see.


   Mike

Maybe Toyota should get into the marine engine market.

The guys on the Boston boat show post nailed it - there isn't anything about ski boats you don't know!

I'm really happy with the 5.7L so far. I was a little nervous being the first year it is out. The power is amazing, this thing will do 0-60 in 6 seconds! I can't wait to pull the Nautique behind it this year.
The Tacoma did OK pulling the boat, but I didn't feel comfortable pulling it for any long distance on the highway. I was just about limiting it's 5000lb. towing capacity. I probably would have torn that truck up if I would have continued to tow that kind of load with it.

i think Toyota tried getting into the ski-boat market at the wrong time, maybe today they wouldve been a little more successful, it really isnt a bad looking boat....thats just a guess. i talked to a guy last summer that somehow wound up with 10 transmissions from those boats, they were new and never made it into the boats, he wanted to sell all of them at once and i passed on them, i wished i hadnt and i didnt get his number, go figure

I've got an 2006 Tundra with the 4.7 and it has no trouble pulling my 78 Mustang,and the boat ramp I go to is very steep.No four drive needed to pull it out of the water like I had to do with my Ford Ranger 4x4 4.0 liter.Smooth truck,rides like a car and its quiet.It was just a better truck for the money.It blows Ford and Chevy out of the water quality wise and I shopped around for a long time before I bought.I decided I didn't need that extra big engine for what I needed to pull.Last time I checked there isn't a ski boat out there weighing more than 8000lbs,but hey thats my opinion

SkiLuNautique wrote: I live in America and will support that which proudly represents our flag, country and Man!!

   I may be going out on a limb here,but I'd guess that the workers in the US that build these vehicles in US factories have just as much pride in their work as a guy like 87 BFN, who proudly works works for Ford Motor Co. These people are still Americans who love their country.Maybe if we eliminated some of the illegal immigrants stealing our jobs and bleeding our system dry we would be further ahead,instead of constantly going back and forth about what country the automakers money goes to.At least they are providing jobs here in the U.S.I realize all things contribute to our problems,but in my opinion the money our government blows abroad is killing this country more than the people driving Toyotas.

That's my opinion,but I'm sure someone's gonna let me have it


    Mike

My Silverado is made in Canada. I didn't realize I was buying an import until after I took delivery.

87BFN,I have to agree on that also.I've been a Ford man all my life,hell I have a restored 1965 Mustang to prove it.The customer service was a big deal when I bought.I looked at both Ford and Chevy full sizes and thought hard about it when I was buying.It just turned out that the Toyota was the better truck for my needs and wants.Also it is a truck that is American made just with a Toyota emblem on the front.Really Toyota is a good company to work for with great pay and benefits.I can't lie when I went to the Georgtown,Kentucky plant where they make Camerys to try for a maintenance postion.They make over 100,000 dollars a year down there but theres alot of overtime.There were people there as far away as South Carolina coming up to take tool and die/maintenance test for jobs.I guess it goes to say if you build they will come.

My 03 Dodge 2500 was made in Mexico. The money may have gone to Germany though, I think that may have been a few years later.