Tundra or Silverado/Sierra?

[farmeratheart]

I know that we all love to spend the other guys money on this site. Here's a question for all of you. If you were going to buy a new truck this year and your choice was limited to the Toyota Tundra or the GM Siverado/Sierra which would you get? I need to tow a 2000 lb boat/trailer combo and a firewood trailer quite often. Then there is the occasional need to lug the tractor around! Reliability is most important, but maximizing mileage is important. I know that you all have opinions- so let's have it!

Thanks.

Frank

 

[sixdogs]

Tundra. I've had a bunch of them and no troubles ever. Used to be Chevy and GMC but no more.

 

[KubotainNH]

Toyota would be my pick but I would drive them both. If the Toy is not comfortable for you to ride in for hours then it's worth losing some quality to get the comfort.

 

[George2615]

Either truck will tow the loads you mention. Both will get about the same mileage. It comes down to which one fits you better. Take each for a test drive and you'll find your answer.

 

[nybirdman]

I have been driving GM trucks for 35 years,never had a bad one.I would guess 20 or sne half ton 4WD for the most part,extended cabs since 1997.
My current is a 2014 Silverado,4WD,extended cab,Z71 and it's a very nice truck.
The biggest knock on the Toyota's that I have heard is gas mileage.I have a friend with an older Toy and it's been a money pit recently.
You may want to look at the new Colorado,I think they are rated for 7,000lbs.towing.

 

[timswi]

Either brand will do what you need...Drive them both, you'll know which one pretty quickly.

 

[lcuinc]

I just went through this and ended up with a Tundra (2015 crewmax). My last 2 were GMs. GM will get better mileage than the Toyota. If you plan to do anything off-road the front end of GM is very low. There is an air dam that hangs way down. It is there to increase the mileage (about +2 mpg). Friend ripped his off on a dirt road! I'm averaging between 14 and 15mpg and have towed about 8,000lbs at this point. Good luck they are both nice

 

[Dutch445]

I just picked up my 5th tundra, have had 01, 05, 07, 10, and now a 13. Guess i'm a bit biased,
but in all of those trucks, approx 17,000 miles per year, (more mileage earlier on) i have had 1 warranty issue,
a radio, and other than tires/brakes i have had no other repairs. i routinely tow a landscape trailer up to
3k lbs, a few times a year tow our boat which is probably 4500, and once or twice a year tow
our 27' travel trailer all with no problems. I have a Tekonsha P3 brake controller for the camper.
Mileage wise, it is what it is, 381 hp and over 5000 lbs doesn't add up to good gas mileage!
But I find it a quiet, comfortable and dependable truck.

 

[robs660]

Pros and cons with both. I have been looking.
I like the interior of the GMC as well as the onstar option. The Tundra has the option to put down the whole rear window which is nice. I also like the bumper pullout step that Toyota has but I was not happy with the seating or how the interior was laid out.

Both will tow what you are looking to tow. I have a 2013 Sierra 1500 that I have towed 9000lbs with and it does it pretty well. Like everyone said you wont go wrong either way. I decided on the RAM 1500 after looking at everything.

Good luck with your new ride.

 

[s219]

Reliability is most important, but maximizing mileage is important.

If maximizing mileage is important, Toyota will not be at the top of any lists. They are significantly worse than Ford and GM when it comes to gas mileage across the model range. I was shocked when I discovered that, as I expected the exact opposite. I bought a 2014 GMC Sierra last May, crew cab / standard bed / 4x4 / 5.3L V8, and it's rated for 22mpg highway (routinely returns 23-24mpg in real world use on long highway trips; my combined city/highway average is 19-20mpg on most tanks). Similar Ford models are in the same ballpark. But a comparable Tundra is rated for 17mpg highway and real world mileage reports suggest that's optimistic. For whatever reason, the Tundras drink gas like they're dragging an anchor and parachute, and on paper they are 5mpg or more worse than the competition.

The one thing I didn't like about the Tundra was that their technology seemed 4-6 years behind the rest of the truck world in 2014 when I was shopping. It's like they froze things with their last major update in 2007, and anything since then has been cosmetic. I think they are in need of an honest refresh like Nissan just went through. Which reminds me, look at Nissan!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Tundra hands down for reliability. GM hands down for MPG.


Chris

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have an 08 Duramax that I bought new. Generally speaking, it never let me down, although I have never worked it. Just some of the gimmicks that quit. There is a few thousand dollars of equipment in that thing that makes up the integrated trailer brake system. In my mind, this does nothing more than an On-Sale $49.00 aftermarket controller but costs you plenty if it fails, and you can't even put the tranny in trailer towing mode! This type of BS, drives me crazy about my GMC. Reminds me of JD! Too much high tech BS just for the sake of it!

The Japs have more of my respect in that respect!

I would look at the Dodge 1/2 ton Diesel if I were looking to buy!

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would look at the Dodge 1/2 ton Diesel if I were looking to buy!

If I was only towing light like the OP I would look hard at the 2015 2.7 EcoBoost F150. Diesels scare me anymore after owning 4 of them and the cost of fuel makes it a wash in cost per mile.

Chris

 

[Industrial Toys]

True, I only like a Diesel for the sake of a Diesel. The Government (here) has made it financially impossible to tow any sort of a load down the road just occasionally!

 

[Billrog]

I don't own a Nissan or Toyota but have 2 friends with new toyota's and one with a new Nissan and they both say their getting around 12 mpg. I have an 08 GM 6 lt. 2500 ext cab 4x4 and don't get much better 17 -19 hwy 12 pulling an 8,500 lb. trailer.

 

[Creamer]

I am a lifetime GM fan. Currently have a SIlverado and a Cadillac and have worked many years in the automotive supplier industry. They are definitely my last GM products - not because I have had so much trouble but because of the way GM is doing business especially development and sourcing.

 

[lcuinc]

I also liked the fact my Tundra was built in the US. I know parts are not all from US but. My 2007 Sierra was built in Mexico. I am having more and more issues with that. My last one was a Duramax diesel. I hD hoped it would last 300,000 miles. I traded it in with 106,000. Lots of problems with the emissions garbage. The government has ruined diesels for me

 

[sodamo]

Traded my 2007 Sierra 3500 Duromax, dbl cab, 8 ft bed for my 2012 Crewmax Tundra. Dealer had to tow the Sierra in for transmission work because it would go up my drive. After warranty any trip to dealer resulted in my check book being $1000 plus lighter. I traded it when less than 100 miles after last fix the engine light was back on. Tundra has been nothing but joy 3 years this month. As for difference in mileage, I really don't know, but given that gas is now cheaper than diesel I figure just one less repair bill translates into a lot of miles. I do miss the 8 ft bed from time to time, but on those times I just hook up the trailer or pay for delivery.

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[PapaPerk]

Get the Toyota. GM is a heartless company in my opinion. A lot of folks like the Tundra.