Well, at least I think it is. For several years I've been on the hunt for a 1st generation Tundra. You would think "Hey, it's Toyota, theres millions of them, what's so complicated?" Well, I'll tell you.

For starters, Toyota only made this body style for 7 years (2000-2006). For reference, my 5th gen 4Runner they started making when Moses was in short pants, they just quit making those a few years ago. 7 years isn't much for a Toyota model. Another complication is the Toyota frame recall. Many of these trucks had bad frames that rusted out, some of which were replaced, some of which were sprayed with a protective coating. Point being, finding a truck with a good frame was my starting off point.

Moving in to the options, or lack there of, I had specific wants. I certainly wanted the tried and true Toyota 2UZ-FE 4.7L V8 and I also wanted the 4x4 option. In the 05-06 model years, Toyota offered the 5 speed transmission, which I could have gone either way on, but I figured if I could find an 05-06 that checked my other boxes, I'd lean that way.

Final requirement was that the truck be an access cab, I was not interested in the crew cab truck.

Once you apply these filters, you realize there aren't that many of these trucks on the road any more. The trucks you do find, will have 200K+ or in some instances 300K plus miles on them, paint and clear coat is a mere memory, and the trucks are just beat to shit. If they are NOT beat to shit with a ton of miles on them, people want stupid money for them.

After being very close on a few local trucks, one popped up down in Vero Beach. Pictures showed me much of what I needed to know as well as the Carfax. Agreed on a price with the seller and met him the next morning. Took the truck for a quick drive and completed the sale. Truck threw no codes at the time and drove well back to Orlando.

After driving her around and doing some routine maintenance and a few upgrades, I decided to breathe some new life in to her with a fresh coat of paint. If you've stuck around this long, you deserve a picture.

More to come.

Top notch! Top notch! Best of luck with that bulletproof vehicle.

Good stuff.

I was likewise on the hunt for a (relatively) low mileage 05-06 in decent shape for a reasonable price a couple years ago.

I wasn't able to find what I wanted at a price I could live with. I'm glad to hear you were.

That’s a very nice Tundra! It will last you a loooong time. Enjoy.

I had one of those years ago. I sold it with half a million miles on it. Still ran strong. Burned zero oil. Reliable as the sun. It’s a good truck.

As of late I like older trucks much better than new offerings. You gain much more with a truck that lived most of its life south of the road salt, seemingly.

My son is driving a 2013 Tundra that’s doing well.

I have relatives with new trucks, one just towed to the dealership 10 days ago. He said he’s not had a 3 week period problem free yet, 24 or so model, GMC.

Beautiful!

I had a 2002 V8 2wd for a time. I like the first generation better than the following ones. For me it was a "Goldilocks" (just right) size, big enough to haul stuff like my work tool boxes and comfortable inside, not so big as to be unwieldy. If I kept speed to not more than 65 mph, it got 19 mpg. I was in the California desert at the time, so rust wasn't a problem, but coming here I saw a number with rotted frames.

Always liked the 3/4 Tundra, looks like you got a clean one.

Yep, that is still my favorite body style in a Tundra…congrats!

I had that truck for a while! Same color, same cab. A 2000. I picked it up in 2017 when my old standby F250 got loaned to a friend and totaled. A few years later it picked up a rumbling/thumping in the drive train. The dealer didn't seem to be able to isolate it so after three several-hundred-dollar shots at it I wound up trading it in on a new truck. But up to that point it was a pretty good truck. The coil packs had a habit of failing, I replaced 3 of them over span of about a year.

quote:

For starters, Toyota only made this body style for 7 years (2000-2006). For reference, my 5th gen 4Runner they started making when Moses was in short pants, they just quit making those a few years ago.

Ha! My 4th gen 4Runner (2008) must be from before Moses was in short pants, diapers!

That's a nice looking Tundra. Enjoy!

Very Nice, sure looks a bit hilly for CFL though! LOL

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Very Nice, sure looks a bit hilly for CFL though! LOL

Central Florida Rifle and Pistol Club down by MCO.

So why this truck? Well, the size is perfect for me. Good 6' bed, a V8 engine in a....wait for it....PICK UP TRUCK, truck itself isnt the size of a small casino boat, and it's analog enough that my dumb ass can do some wrenching on it.

I have had an 05 double cab since new, it has 140k on the odometer. Routine maintenance is the only thing it has ever needed, always garaged.
A hot-shot oilfield driver put a million miles on one, trans failed at 700k. Toyota traded it for a new truck so they could do a necropsy.
Congratulations on a great find, it will serve you well as long as you own it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sunburn,

Just what I would like to buy. Congrats.

Nice!

I have a few Dodge trucks from the same era.

At least you'll get better milage than I get with mine.

Beautiful Tundra Mike, congratulations on finding just the configuration you wanted.

In late 2003 I gave my 97 T100 to my son after purchasing the exact Tundra I was looking for. 2004 Access Cab, SR5, 4WD, 3.4 V6, 5 speed manual, and straw interior to match my dog, with 600 miles on it. I loved the fact it still had an actual lever to engage 2wd, 4wd, and 4wd low, rather than electronically with a button. That truck was just the right size.

First thing I did was remove the cramped rear seats giving a lot of usable storage space and that's where Milo rode. I did the normal maintenance myself; engine, transfer and rear end oil, spark plugs, brake fluid, and coolant. I had the dealer replace the timing belt, water pump, and tensioner at 92,000 miles. When I sold it to my son with 110,000 miles it still had the original brake pads and that's having been driven in a hilly area its whole life, the manual transmission might have influenced that longevity.

These trucks are well built. As a comparison my friend bought a fancy new 2003 Dodge 1500 with the old 360 V8 engine renamed 5.9 and he was always having problems with it, electrical, changing brake pads, ball joints, on and on. When he and I both changed the fluid in the rear differentials my Tundra held over a quart more. When the front wheel part of 4WD quit working it was going to cost over $2,000 to get into the transfer case to fix it. He was actually considering turning it in for Cash For Clunkers when his son borrowed it and wrecked it thankfully totaling it.

I wish I had kept mine but at least my son is still enjoying it every day, probably has around 200,000 on it now and he's done nothing other than normal maintenance and spraying the underneath with oil once a year to prevent rust.

Nice older Tyotie! Now comes the wallet draining for truck goodies.