Tundra Crewmax vs. 2500HD

[BrownClown]

I just had to replace the rear diff. in my 2002 Suburban(1500). Unfortunately, it struggles pulling the RZ2. So, I've started looking at new tow vehicle. The two I'm looking at are the Toyota Tundra crewmax 4wd or the Chevy 2500HD regular gas.
Any opinions?

[Ewok]

I pull my RZ with a Toyota 4Runner. It does great, good steering and break control. Granted I have usually towed my boat around the flats of OK and the hill country of TX. It would probably be a different story in a mountainous region at higher altitude. A friend of mine has a Tundra and it tows great, you barely know the boat is back there. The suprising thing was that he got 13-14 mpg ish pulling my boat. I get 11 towing with the 4runner. My wife primarily drives the 4runner as her daily driver and she didnt want a big heavy truck or SUV but if I could pick any truck to tow with it would be a Ram 3500 with the in-line 6 diesel.

[majestic]

I have a 2007 Silverado 2500HD 6.0L Gas. It tows ok but in the hills you will spend alot of time above 3000rpm's and the transmission wants to shift all the time. You should expect gas milage without the boat around 13 and with around 11. The Silverado has monster brakes and after 90,000 miles 80% life left.

For the price of trucks these days IMO I would NOT reccomend the gas version and look at the Diesel version if your budget allows. Great truck otherwise and being in construction she gets worked hard.

[talltigeguy]

I have a Tundra Crewmax and love towing my X45 with it. The boat weighs 4900 pounds dry and has a 90 gallon gas tank. By the time I add gear and trailer, I am sure to be at or over 7K.

Under 55 MPH, I really can't tell the difference between that and my diesel Excursion. Acceleration is terrific. The diesel excels at highway speeds and can go from 65 to 85 in a heartbeat. The tundra is no slouch at highway speeds, just not like the diesel. I have a long hill right near my lake and if I cruise to Mead, the canyon coming back has multiple long steep sections and I can maintain speed all I want on those hills.

The suspension manages the boat very well and I always feel like the truck is in control. The gas mileage sucks to about 9-10 MPG with the Tundra.

I have pulled with a duramax as well and I think that for the 2004-2006 vintage, the duramax pulled better than the Ford 6.0.

When it boiled down to it, the wife made me buy a Toy since I had my first one since 1996 with very little hassle, and in that time we went through a lemon suburban (she still couldn't forgive Chevy for that) and my Excursion, which has been reasonable, but far from trouble free.

[91Terminator]

I just had to replace the rear diff. in my 2002 Suburban(1500). Unfortunately, it struggles pulling the RZ2. So, I've started looking at new tow vehicle. The two I'm looking at are the Toyota Tundra crewmax 4wd or the Chevy 2500HD regular gas.
Any opinions?

Umm How about none of the above. No Toyota cuz lets face it its not a real truck. No GM cuz we dont support obama motors. So know we are down to Dodge and Ford, and If you drive them both you will end up in a ford.

[IDBoating]

I could pick any truck to tow with it would be a Ram 3500 with the in-line 6 diesel.

Good choice, that's EXACTLY what I have. 25 MPG mixed driving, close to 30 MPG freeway. "Huh? I'm towing something? Wow, I totally forgot." {grin}

[petrey10]

I tow with a Tundra and its awesome man... that is a real truck and is made how trucks should be made (minus the bed of the truck... its a little light)... Anybody who is " BUY AMERICAN" well just go on over to the Toyota factory in Indiana and watch your truck being made... Toyota makes a great truck and they stand behind their product... Did they need bailout money? NOPE... Comparing a Tundra to a diesel is not a fair comparison tho as i would love it if Toyota made a diesel engine for the Tundra because it would tow even better and still ride like a dream... The tundra doesn't ride stiff like a truck its real smooth... seats are comfy... only thing bad I can say is the bed of the truck is light and will dent easier than a 2500 HD (i know for a fact because the 2500HD is one of our farm trucks)... I have driven both and have lots of trailer time in them both but the Tundra gets the nod from me... both are quality trucks tho

[Timmy!]

I have an 07.5 Chevy 2500HD (Duramax) and I have 2 gripes with it, one is the cloth interior from the 07's is junk and the second gripe is that while the wide fenders look cool, they also stick out far enough that rocks seem to tag them and I have 3 dents now from rocks hitting the fenders while driving. Other than those 2 things, great truck!

I would have kept the Burb and just put some 4.10's in it and that would help with the towing issues. I personally don't like the newer gas trucks from Chevy and Ford because they both seem to think that peak torque should be between 3k and 4k rpm and that drives me nuts while pulling a boat up here in Colorado. I think that newer 6.2 in the Chevy 1500 would be a better option than the 2500 with the 6.0.

[somebodyelse5]

go with a diesel

[Joeprunc]

X2 on diesel, and I would never go with a IFS 4X4 system on any HD truck. IFS really is weak system for the heavy trucks if you use the 4X4 a lot (but the road ride is a bit nicer). Which leaves only Ford and Dodge.

[IDBoating]

X2 on diesel, and I would never go with a IFS 4X4 system on any HD truck. IFS really is weak system for the heavy trucks if you use the 4X4 a lot (but the road ride is a bit nicer). Which leaves only Ford and Dodge.

One of the reasons I bought my truck when I did was the timing. I felt I had hit the sweet spot in terms of the drivetrain. It was the last year of the 5.7L Cummins engine, which meant they had had years to work out any bugs. Also, that engine is installed and used everywhere (including marine applications) meaning it has TONS of support from Dodge, Cummins, and aftermarket suppliers so I will never be orphaned.

Next, the transmission was actually a Mercedes Benz manual tranny designed for medium duty commercial trucks. (In 2006 MB and Chrysler were still associated.) It's vastly overrated for this light truck application, which is just fine with me because that means it will never be stressed.

They say that when you buy a truck, you're really just buying a drivetrain - everything else is fluff. I have zero brand loyalty (had never even owned a truck before) so I was able to evaluate everything from a clean slate. Cummins had the best engine, and that particular model year had a great transmission, so it seemed the stars were aligned just right.

My one wish is that I had one more top gear, or that the ratios were up a bit. I basically never use Low (what they call 1st gear) but could use one more beyond 6th. My top speed is about 85 before I redline, and there are times on those Montana freeways....

[chpthril]

What gear did the 1500 have before the grenade when off? Is it a 4WD truck? If not, did you upgrade the gear when you had it repaired? better gear like a 3.27 or 4.11 is like getting a new truck, but gets pricey if it's a 4wd as you have to do both front and rear.

[Timmy!]

X2 on diesel, and I would never go with a IFS 4X4 system on any HD truck. IFS really is weak system for the heavy trucks if you use the 4X4 a lot (but the road ride is a bit nicer). Which leaves only Ford and Dodge.

That "theory" has been debunked so many times it's not funny. That's Ford and Dodge owners excuse for having a crappy ride and being able to live with it.

[somebodyelse5]

That "theory" has been debunked so many times it's not funny. That's Ford and Dodge owners excuse for having a crappy ride and being able to live with it.

bunch of videos with them blowing up on youtube..... just dont 4 wheel launch your Dmax and youll be ok. it is the front end from the 1500's. might not be on the new ones, but it used to be.

[RockRig]

Try to find a diesel, it is the best for towing.

The Toyota bed is too small to haul alot of stuff - like a fifth wheel - or a 4x8 sheet of plywood, or two tons of dirt. It's nice if you spend all that money on a truck to be able to use it for about anything that you can throw at it.

And yes, Chevy - Ford - Dodge are the better trucks for hauling and work, they are built to take the stresses of towing and work hauling, the 150/250/350 (or similar 1500/2500/3500) are the smaller end of the trucks that they make.