2013+ Tundra and SoCal freeways?

[Vipergrün]

Hello all, considering getting back into a 2013+ Tundra.

My 2007 was HORRIBLE on the SoCal freeways and was beaten to hell over the freeway expansion joints.

Has this changed with the 3rd Gen Tundra? I am hearing mixed reports...practical experience would be great to hear.

Thanks for your thoughts!

-B

[vash]

dang..how bad are the expansion joints to do damage at 10 mph?

sorry i work for Caltrans as a bridge engineer. i love busting the socal engineers balls (if "balls" are applicable)

[Seahawk]

I have a 2015 4x4 with the TRD package.

It has 125k on it, mostly interstate runs from here to North Carolina...not the best roads, either.

Zero issues so far. No rattles or squeaks, etc. I'll probably do the TRD refresh in a year or two depending on miles.

The truck is big but all the 1/2 tons are. The steering is very good, however, for such a large vehicle. Power is also excellent.

Gas mileage sucks.

My hope is that this is my last 1/2 ton. I have been looking at the Ford Ranger with a friend of mine who needs a suburban truck and it looks and drives great.

[Vipergrün]

Originally Posted by vash

dang..how bad are the expansion joints to do damage at 10 mph?

sorry i work for Caltrans as a bridge engineer. i love busting the socal engineers balls (if "balls" are applicable)

..As you should! There is a section of the 405 between Sunset and Century where a kidney belt is almost required! With Covid, we are actually seeing freeway speeds, so there is a silver lining! Let the beatings begin LOL

[Vipergrün]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I have a 2015 4x4 with the TRD package.

It has 125k on it, mostly interstate runs from here to North Carolina...not the best roads, either.

Zero issues so far. No rattles or squeaks, etc. I'll probably do the TRD refresh in a year or two depending on miles.

The truck is big but all the 1/2 tons are. The steering is very good, however, for such a large vehicle. Power is also excellent.

Gas mileage sucks.

My hope is that this is my last 1/2 ton. I have been looking at the Ford Ranger with a friend of mine who needs a suburban truck and it looks and drives great.

Thanks for this information. I have read that adding the TRD package to a non-TRD truck can help, so perhaps that's my plan.

My goal is to acquire an Airstream, so I would really want the payload and towing capacity of the Tundra. Some folks are reporting better mileage than the competition with the Tundra. Yes, I'll follow the 80% of capacity rule :--)

[Scott Douglas]

That section of the 405 northbound is probably one of the worst freeway sections left in all of LA.
Of course they smoothed out the 405 from the OC all the way up to LAX after I got rid of my rough riding Mustang GT convertible.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

Thanks for this information. I have read that adding the TRD package to a non-TRD truck can help, so perhaps that's my plan.

My goal is to acquire an Airstream, so I would really want the payload and towing capacity of the Tundra. Some folks are reporting better mileage than the competition with the Tundra. Yes, I'll follow the 80% of capacity rule :--)

I didn't know they could add the TRD package. Interesting.

I got it because I had a 1999 Tacoma with the TRD package that I used exclusively on the farm until we decided to do horses.

It does make a difference, at least to me.

I have installed a trailer brake package and it tows the horses, 18 ft utility trailer, boats, etc., with ease.

The Tundra also has a "Trailer Tow" mode on the transmission that is great.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

..As you should! There is a section of the 405 between Sunset and Century where a kidney belt is almost required! With Covid, we are actually seeing freeway speeds, so there is a silver lining! Let the beatings begin LOL

I have nothing to offer in terms of the truck itself but I hear you and ask about the expansion joints on our fwys here in the past. Let me guess, Newer section and its concrete? I don't drive the 405 anymore due to traffic. One thing I have noticed, any new sections or repaired sections are super bouncy. I feel like I am bouncing up and down my seat in my diesel truck. Yes, its that bad. Why the heck can't they smooth out the joints like they use to in the old days? I mean every single patch or section that's new. There's a section for about 5 miles that's new on the 10 going out to Palm Springs. Its a real bone shaker and every lane is like that.

[Scott Douglas]

The sections on the 405 I'm talking about are original concrete. They couldn't lay concrete in long sections way back when the 405 was first built so the expansion joints are close together.
Having grown up in Santa Monica, I was witness to the 405 and 10 being built. Dad used to travel the Sepulveda pass to get to work at Thomson Ramo Woolridge over in the valley.

[sammyg2]

I also had a 2007 tundra, and one of the reasons I replaced it was the terrible ride on the freeways above 70 mph.
I hope they fixed that but don't know for sure.

[Tobra]

Swap to Bilstein shocks?

Originally Posted by vash

dang..how bad are the expansion joints to do damage at 10 mph?

sorry i work for Caltrans as a bridge engineer. i love busting the socal engineers balls (if "balls" are applicable)

Good weather, bad roads

[Nostril Cheese]

I used to ride a Honda 750 on the 405 from the valley to Century every day. Everything else felt like a pillow.

[RANDY P]

SoCAL is that bad? I drive SoCal in lowered cars, not a big deal. Don't see why a Tundra (of all things) would be an issue.

Did you all forget NorCal exists? Now THAT's a place that will ruin anything with wheels!

rjp

[Bigtoe32067]

The TRD Pro came with Bilstein and they’d go over those joints like butter. I have a 2013 TRD Pro Rock Warrior Crew Max 4x4 with 246k miles on it with the original Bilsteins and believe it or not it still rides like a Cadillac and has more room inside.

I can’t speak to the other ones though.
Good luck

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

SoCAL is that bad? I drive SoCal in lowered cars, not a big deal. Don't see why a Tundra (of all things) would be an issue.

Elderly gentleman, I guess? There is something to be said about driving a big ol' Mercury Grand Marquis on the road...

[unclebilly]

Under the updated sheet metal a 2013 is the same truck as mine...



It’s been pretty good with 250,000 miles on it so far though I did replace my leaf springs recently...

[craigster59]

If Tundras are anything like F150’s an immediate install of Bilsteins will make a big difference.

It helped on my 4Runner and that had the off-road package.

[Vipergrün]

Quick update... I ended up with a super clean 2015 Tundra with TRD off-road package, 31K miles. After driving a couple different trucks over the same section of freeway in the Ventura area, there is definitely a difference with the TRD package. The TRD equipped truck was way less choppy and overall absorbed expansion joints....and to Craigsters and BigToes point, the TRD package includes heavy duty Bilstein shocks.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

Quick update... I ended up with a super clean 2015 Tundra with TRD off-road package, 31K miles. After driving a couple different trucks over the same section of freeway in the Ventura area, there is definitely a difference with the TRD package. The TRD equipped truck was way less choppy and overall absorbed expansion joints....and to Craigsters and BigToes point, the TRD package includes heavy duty Bilstein shocks.

pics!! you get a good deal? congrats..

as i understand it, used prices for the Tundras are palatable, while the used Tacoma market is still rabid. truth?

[Vipergrün]

Originally Posted by vash

pics!! you get a good deal? congrats..

as i understand it, used prices for the Tundras are palatable, while the used Tacoma market is still rabid. truth?

The Tundra's are holding up as well. I got mine for less than low "book", likely because it's blue and not ubiquitous white or silver. Didn't even get a chance to look at a couple because they went so fast. With the new ones with similar options going in the mid-upper 40's, used is the only thing that makes sense for me, and it will help older ones keep their values.