Prospective owner needs a little help

Originally Posted by rjlwork

We've been considering a Tundra too. My main question revolves around problems with it. I've been reading there are alot of problems with the brakes (undersized rotors). Not my favorite problem to have if I'm towing. Is this all in the past or still a problem?

I've not heard nor experienced this problem. What years was this an issue?

I Still say the Ford Ranger with the large GVW,4.0,auto and trailer tow package is a Perfect TV for a TM 2619 or 2720.We are in the Pacific NW the Cascades mountains are one direction and the Coast Range is the other,not one issue in almost 5 years.

[Lesherp]

Thank you all for your advice, if anyone else has some I would love to hear it as I bought a 2720 SL today and am now desperate to find a way to get it home.

BrianS,
I live outside of Portland. I owned a Ranger and liked it fine your comments are making me reconsider it. As a matter of fact it was what I had planned on getting. I have even been to the dealer this week and looked and priced them. I think with its tow ratting it seems a perfect fit. I am going to drive the Tundra and F150 tomorrow.

Congrats on the 2720!!! You got to be excited.

Congrats on the 2720. And congrats on the future Tundra!

[Bill]

Originally Posted by rothko1

If you're going to do a fair amount of mountain towing I would agree with the posts above and go with the larger pickup. Keep in mind that as you climb in altitude you will lose some towing capacity ( can't recall what the formula is right now) so it cant hurt to have extra.

Engines lose horsepower at the rate of about 3% per thousand feet of elevation, due to the thinner air. Since steep grades are also encountered at high elevation, you get a double impact, and a vehicle that is OK in more-or-less flat land at sea level will struggle mightily at 8000 feet.

The thinner air also affects braking (the rotors don't cool as well) and transmission cooling (there is less air going through the transmission cooler). I always recommend that if you are going to tow in the mountains, especially with a marginal vehicle, that you spend a couple hundred bucks on a Scan Gage or an Aeroforce Interceptor. Transmission repairs are wildly expensive!

My Explorer is rated at about 7000 pounds towing capacity, and I can attest that in the high Sierras, for example, or on the western approach to the Eisenhower Tunnel, it gets a bit - ummm, interesting.

Bill

CONGRATS!!!
Bill thanks for the altitude info, I'd agree that there is a noticeable difference at elevation in my limited experiences.
You'll love the Tundra, I looked at that before buying my Dodge. It's well laid out, nice power, good design overall IMHO. Only downside was the price. At the time I was looking Toyota was only willing to bend so much on bottom line/financing and well Dodge was more than willing to work on price/ 0% interest...of course that was when they were being sold off to Fiat, but that's another story
I wasn't crazy about the Ford, but go with what feels best for you. there has been discussions on towing capacity/TV with many differing opinions. I personally like the full size truck for versatility and the gas mileage is similar to the smaller TV's. Without a trailer I usually get 18 - 20mpg on the highway. in the low teens with the trailmanor on grades.
either way, Enjoy!
Jim