07 Tundra vs F250 vs Dodge 2500 vs Chevy 2500

[safari 28]

If you are looking at 07 25 safari it will about 200 lb less than my 04 28 safari. I have posted many times how impressed we are with our 2008 f150 set up for towing properly. I wont waste any more time on that, just wish some of these diesel 2500 series or more could drive our rig. It is just impressive indeed.

My point in this is to consider a well set up f150 and you get a wonderful combination of ride and a non punishing effect to your airstream. We have the console shift and it seems more like a luxury car than a truck. I have at this writing towed more than 5k miles for over 35 days and just love it.

Diesel has its advantages, but consider the add of 10k up front, the much higher maint cost and the noise and smell. It never goes away, even at drive in banking and fast food you may have shut if off to order. The handling of diesel at fuel stops is a real treat and trust me, get into diesel threads and you find big problems. They are complicated light duty diesels in these trucks and turbos and seals and filters and I tell you many would love to have a new gasser just get away from the hassle. My lease is for 2 years, just got a 25.00 oil change in san diego and I am done for another 5k. These big rigs even have spin on filters that have to be change on the transmission on a regular basis, not mention fuel and water filters it is a total different maint shedule and no comparison in cost. Cold weather presents even more issues.

Possibly the best gas engine for towing is the ford v10. I tried it out but the 250 series just rides so much rougher, our 150 is set up with tow and snow plow package, 5.4, 18 inch wheels and sits as high as most 3/4 ton trucks. Anyway I probably have made lots of enemies, but this truck works towing a 28 nationwide,not around the block. Good luck.

[DFord79]

The frame strength of the Ford over the tundra .....NO comparison. Contrary to what people think the Ford and Chevy have had a much better NEW owner record of late compared to Toyato. Read the above article about Toyota and their Tundra problems. Bad engines, Bad torque converters, Cracked tailgates..etc. The big three have not had these problems this year or anything significant for that matter. Toyota is recalling over 35,000 engines for camshaft failure.

To reiterate what SAFARI 28 said....The Ford V-10 is an outstanding engine. All the power you will need and its bulletproof. The fuel mileage is probably better than you expect too in the 3/4 ton version. GM and Dodge make good HD pickups too. But don't compare a 1/2 ton Tundra to a 3/4 ton and exspect the same results in real life. According to several magazines the V-10 outpulls and other gas engine made. Consumer reports took the Toyota tundra OFF their recommended list this year.

[Rollertoaster]

For this model. Easier to back up, great horn. CB works too.
Terry

[DFord79]

Originally Posted by Rollertoaster

For this model. Easier to back up, great horn. CB works too.
Terry

Ya...and you could tow the ..tundra...ford..chevy...and Their AS's and still be under GVW.

[TinShack]

Originally Posted by Rollertoaster

For this model. Easier to back up, great horn. CB works too.
Terry

I can't wait to see Janet's face when she see's what you got in trade for her beloved rig! does it come with a step ladder?

[Gene]

Best TV choice yet, but paint the TV silver.

Gene

[SRW]

I tow my new 28ft International that weighs about 6500 lbs (an estimate I have not had it weighed, yet) with a GVWR of 7300 lbs. with my 2007 Tundra, and it does just fine.

The Tundra is a 5.7L, 4x2, short bed, Crew Max Limited.

My best estimate from a small chart provided by Toyota is that the Tundra develops 140hp/350ft-lbs of Torque @ 2000 rpm: 220 hp/380ft-lbs @ 3000 rpm: 300 hp/390 ft-lbs @ 4000 rpm: 360hp/380 ft-lbs @ 5000 rpm.

Obviously this performance does not compare at all well to a turbodiesel (but, what does), on the other hand, the numbers are not bad vs. a Vortec 8.1, and I get 19 mph nontowing and 11 towing.

Since this was to be my only vehicle, it was a considered decision (right or wrong) to get the Tundra.

Of course, when I am towing: I know the thing is back there.

I would like to know what you tow with, and when you are towing do you "know it's back there"?

[SRW]

Photo of the Tundra I use for my every day driver and tow vehicle.

[SRW]

Originally Posted by SRW

Photo of the Tundra I use for my every day driver and tow vehicle.

Sorry, wrong photo.

[SRW]

If I have uploaded the correct photo it will be of my everyday driver.

Sorry for the mistake.

[dpandorf]

Originally Posted by SRW

....

The Tundra is a 5.7L, 4x2, short bed, Crew Max Limited.

My best estimate from a small chart provided by Toyota is that the Tundra develops 140hp/350ft-lbs of Torque @ 2000 rpm: 220 hp/380ft-lbs @ 3000 rpm: 300 hp/390 ft-lbs @ 4000 rpm: 360hp/380 ft-lbs @ 5000 rpm.

Obviously this performance does not compare at all well to a turbodiesel (but, what does), on the other hand, the numbers are not bad vs. a Vortec 8.1, and I get 19 mph nontowing and 11 towing.

....

Of course, when I am towing: I know the thing is back there.

I would like to know what you tow with, and when you are towing do you "know it's back there"?

I just went to the Toyota site and configured a new Tundra as close to how my new F250 is configured. But before I get to the price comparison I'll put the F250's performance numbers up and my real life towing experience with it:

Horsepower (hp @ rpm) 350 @ 3000
Torque (lbs.-ft. @ rpm) 650 @ 2000

I have 10,000 lb GCVR with a max payload of 2410 lbs. and can tow 12,500 lbs.

Driving and towing: At 65 mph with or without the trailer, the truck engine runs at 1750 rpm in 5th gear.

I get 17 mpg on the highway without the trailer and 10-11 mpg towing.

Now the pricing part: My F250 4x4 diesel is a crew cab with the Lariat pkg. That's leather with heated captain's seats in front and 60/40 seats in the back. It also has Navigation and rear DVD entertainment. Some of the other options that aren't available on the Tundra has "automatic" extending/folding heated tow mirrors, integrated brake controller, dual alternators (380 amps). 18" aluminum wheels with chrome running boards.

I paid $50k and a comparably priced Tundra crewmax 4x4 is retail just over $48k.

When I'm towing on level ground I don't know my trailer is back there. (34' Classic)Going up hill I do notice cuz the turbo starts working to stay at 65 mph.

[SRW]

Originally Posted by dpandorf

I just went to the Toyota site and configured a new Tundra as close to how my new F250 is configured. But before I get to the price comparison I'll put the F250's performance numbers up and my real life towing experience with it:

Horsepower (hp @ rpm) 350 @ 3000
Torque (lbs.-ft. @ rpm) 650 @ 2000

I have 10,000 lb GCVR with a max payload of 2410 lbs. and can tow 12,500 lbs.

Driving and towing: At 65 mph with or without the trailer, the truck engine runs at 1750 rpm in 5th gear.

I get 17 mpg on the highway without the trailer and 10-11 mpg towing.

Now the pricing part: My F250 4x4 diesel is a crew cab with the Lariat pkg. That's leather with heated captain's seats in front and 60/40 seats in the back. It also has Navigation and rear DVD entertainment. Some of the other options that aren't available on the Tundra has "automatic" extending/folding heated tow mirrors, integrated brake controller, dual alternators (380 amps). 18" aluminum wheels with chrome running boards.

I paid $50k and a comparably priced Tundra crewmax 4x4 is retail just over $48k.

When I'm towing on level ground I don't know my trailer is back there. (34' Classic)Going up hill I do notice cuz the turbo starts working to stay at 65 mph.

Yup. The Tundra is a great 1/2 ton, and out performs other 1/2 ton gas trucks, but it should not be compared with a diesel.

Also, Isn't your CVWR about 23,000. The Tundra's is 16,000.

They simply are not the same truck.

My Crew Max Tundra 4 x 2, has GPS, Bluetooth (which is pretty cool), leather, rear view camera (that helps me hook-up the Hensely), etc.

It has extending tow mirrors, but they are manual. I installed a P3 break controller. Like you said, Toy does not offer an integrated brake controller.

The dealer sold to me for just under $38,000 plus TTL.

Your nontowing mpg sounds great.

[Gene]

[QUOTE=SRW]

"I get 19 mph nontowing and 11 towing.

"Since this was to be my only vehicle, it was a considered decision (right or wrong) to get the Tundra."

You'd better get that Tundra checked out. Mine gets well over 80 mph nontowing and 65 towing.

Gene

[SRW]

[quote=CrawfordGene]

Originally Posted by SRW

"I get 19 mph nontowing and 11 towing.

"Since this was to be my only vehicle, it was a considered decision (right or wrong) to get the Tundra."

You'd better get that Tundra checked out. Mine gets well over 80 mph nontowing and 65 towing.

Gene

Gene: You are right!

Should have been: 19 mpg and 11 mpg. What can I say.

[thecatsandi]

Originally Posted by SRW

Obviously this performance does not compare at all well to a turbodiesel (but, what does), on the other hand, the numbers are not bad vs. a Vortec 8.1, and I get 19 mph nontowing and 11 towing.

I would like to know what you tow with, and when you are towing do you "know it's back there"?

With my F-250 Diesel that is not broken in yet....
18 MPG non-towing with a range of around 600 miles
14 MPG towing a 9,000lb trailer with a range of around 400 miles.

Towing east of the Rcokies. No I don't know its there. I have to look in the mirrows. In the rockies yes I know it is there but I am no longer following the trucks up the hills I am passing them.

[Carl Bolton]

I have a 5.7 toyota tundra and tow a 25 FB. We have 16,000 miles on it, 12,000 towing. We towed coast to coast. We travelled through the rockies and the appalachians over several 7% grades and the truck pulled them all. We travel "heavy" with a lot of stuff and a large dog. The truck gets 11 to 12 mpg towing and 17 to 18 solo. We love the truck and feel that it is a good match to our 25 trailer. Good luck and happy towing.

[cosmotini]

I just checked the mileage of my '05 F250 CC LB PS 4x2 towing our 27' FB from Illinois to Arkansas & back using trip computer.

14.9 mpg. I tried to keep it at 65MPH as much as possible.

Non-towing, I get 19.5 on the interstate @ 65MPH.

Truck just turned over 40K miles.

[SRW]

Originally Posted by Carl Bolton

I have a 5.7 toyota tundra and tow a 25 FB. We have 16,000 miles on it, 12,000 towing. We towed coast to coast. We travelled through the rockies and the appalachians over several 7% grades and the truck pulled them all. We travel "heavy" with a lot of stuff and a large dog. The truck gets 11 to 12 mpg towing and 17 to 18 solo. We love the truck and feel that it is a good match to our 25 trailer. Good luck and happy towing.

Great to hear about your Tundra towing experience. We will probably go to Bozeman this summer, and I am looking forward to a similar experience towing through the mountains.

[Gene]

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety today says the Tundra is the only pickup to ever get the best safety rating. Since recent reports of camshaft and 4WD problems as well as tailgates falling apart are disconcerting to we Toyota owners, it's nice to get good news. I buy Toyotas primarily because I don't want any repair issues, so that recent news is troubling. Mine has no problems at 2,500 miles. At least I'll be safe when the camshaft comes through the hood, transfer case crashes to the pavement and the tailgate flies off into the A/S panoramic window. Toyota generally still rated high by Consumer Reports, only behind Subaru and Honda. Neither of them makes a real truck (The Ridgeline doesn't seem to be a true pickup, though I'm sure it's fine for lowing smaller Airstreams), so for me the Tundra is the best alternative.

On 2 tanks of gas while towing, 11.5 mpg, all at high altitude. Without towing it has been running about 17.5-18.5 (better than my '02 with a much smaller V8 and less weight). I can beat anything up the Colorado passes, but it costs too much gas and I have to control myself. I also don't like hearing the engine at 4 K rpm. I installed a K&N air filter because the one in the 4Runner increased mileage perhaps close to .4 mpg (hard to judge exactly). I figure it's paid for itself already.

Gene

[BillTex]

Another interesting tidbit for those looking at new trucks;

YouTube - Silverado vs. Tundra Twist Ditch

Bill