2008 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4X4 User Reviews

Pros

Engine Power, Quiet Ride, Excellent Brakes

Cons

No Traction Control While in 4 x 4

I've owned Ford trucks and GM trucks for many years. The trucks have ranged from 1/2 ton to dually Fords (diesel). Each of these trucks has had their advantages and disadvantages. The Fords always had better bodies and doors that you didn't have to slam but frequently had engines that leaked oil (351 Cleveland & Windsor) or used oil. The GM trucks have always been solid yet they often lacked the power of the other trucks by comparison and the newer bodies are plagued with poor fit, lots of plastic and have doors that one has to slam.

My last two trucks were Toyota Landcruisers which I drove 200,000 miles each. I had absolutely no problems with them literally. No transmission problems, no engine issues (except for replacing a thermostat once). Toyotas seem to be built with greater attention to detail and for longevity of ownership.

My Toyota Tundra is a Limited, extended cab, TRD off road, with backup camera, and navigation package. I admit that it does have a lot more plastic inside than my Dad's 2003 Tundra. Remember everyone this was the first model year for the new design. All of us know that they will amend things and change items on the truck and there are always small issues with a new model.

This being said, I really like the 6-speed transmission matched to the 5.7 liter engine. I towed three 9,000 pound trailers across 3 states with my truck recently. No one of the other trucks in this class can even come close to the towing capacity or the safety measures built into the Tundra. I had to stop suddenly on the highway going 55 miles per hour. The truck handled the load of the trailer, downshifted as it should and kept a straight line with no slippage. I've had the life scared out of me in this same occurrence in my Ford F-250 once. I used the Tundra 4 x 4 in heavy snow over the weekend and it performed flawlessly except that the Traction Control switches off in 4 x 4. I was told that the design of the 4 x 4 in this truck cannot adapt the anti-slippage. OK that's fine with me none of my other trucks had it anyway.

In closing, I am extremely pleased with the truck. The mileage is what it is everyone but better than Ford, GM, and Dodge including the GM hybrid Denali (they don't tell you that in the commercials) Remember, pickup trucks are functional, 5000 Lb pieces of steel rolling down the road. They're not going to get great gas mileage. The 32 valve with intelligence engine in this truck is unbelievable. It has power and then some with a lot of torque. I pulled away from a 2008 Silverado LTZ 4 x 4 the other day. The Chevy didn't have the power that the Tundra has. Toyota has built a great truck with a lot of attention to detail. Sure they are going to have a few quirks every now and then but they take care of them quickly. One fellow complained about bending his tailgate by stacking a load on it. I did the same thing with lumber in my Chevy once; I would never stack a lot of weight on a tailgate now.