Oh but for the lack of power...an unboxed frame...and the horrible fuel mileage. I think with a trailer like mine, it would suck a Tundra down to 4 mpg. Then again...my BIL has had his for oh it's gotta be 10 yrs now, engine was replaced under warranty early on...and it's an ugly sandstone 2wd and he tows a 34' (!!!) monster with it all over the place. BC, Ontario, Wyoming, Texas...and yet it still does it. Next time I see him - could be years from now, now, who knows, despite them being in Niverville - I'll have to ask. He should really have a 3/4 ton for his trailer, but somehow it does it without breaking. Not that mine's broken per se...and I love the turbo pull compared to an NA 8, no comparison, but this is kinda stupid on Ford's part. It's as if Apple owns most of the shares...made to die.
381hp and 401ft-lbs of torque aren't enough for you?
And who says that a fully boxed frame is a necessity for a half-ton truck? There is so much more to it than that. Type and thickness of steel, the dimensions of the frame, number/size of crossmembers etc. Just saying 'fully boxed frame' means squat without all the other information. A great example to support my argument is that most commercial trucks use open C-channel frame, including Ford's own F-550 truck. Fully boxed frame is just a nice thing to say when marketing the truck. Ultimately, as long as the frame is designed to resist the forces placed upon it, who cares whether it's fully boxed or open C-channel, as long as it does the job that is asked of it.
Fuel economy...don't use my truck's numbers, they're skewed by short trips. Overall the Tundra isn't that much worse than your very own F-150 with the older 3.5EB. And it certainly won't need to go into the shop for cam-phaser maintenance every second year.
The fact that the Tundra is such a known quality product would make it my no brainer 1/2 ton choice. Even being a GM guy, I know that the Tundra will be buried with me which for a truck, is my main concern.
But then I'd have no reason to want a new truck again, would I?
381hp and 401ft-lbs of torque aren't enough for you?
It's probably enough, it's just an N/A V8 doesn't have the low down punch in the torque pants the E/B does...and you can't get a real bed on a Tundra either. Not with the full 4 door anyway. 6 and a half or nothing. Need a place for the dog, 4 bikes, fire wood...all sorts of stuff you don't want in the camper or in the truck. I also totally get sucked in to the
boxed frame thing. It's just
better, right? Overall an F150 is just a
better truck. (watch the links first please)
I've said many times on here what I get towing my 31' trailer, and I don't think its any worse than you BW. Typical day would be 25-26l/100km, with a range from 22-32 depending on the wind.
We're heading to Falcon Lake over Canada Day...I don't think I'll get 26 with the trailer. But we fill both water tanks to the brim so I'm dragging whatever that sloshy stuff weighs along with us. I'll try to keep an eye on it though, what with the brand new chain and all, I'll probably pick up like 6l/100!! (hahaha...someone's gonna read that and make it real...it's fake news kids...
)
I've seen it said the Ford cam phaser issues are mostly a side effect of not enough oil flow to the head.
Combo of small oil passages that clog easily and leaky seals on the time chain tensioner assembly that bleed pressure
Ive heard a stop gap measure is a higher flow oil pump to make up for the lack of engineering.
I wonder why the dealer wouldn't know this...and then why wouldn't they just put one in? No idea where it might be on the engine in this case, but if it's in the front of the block, why not also include that in the fix-it-kit? They just put a new water pump on without calling me. It was showing signs of leaking through the weeping hole (true? Or making SOME money off my warrantied item?
) so since they're right there...replaced it. I'll report back on what that cost me when I get the bill...didn't have one ready when I got there. Maybe in a year and a half when it goes again, I'll have them drill out the oil ports. Then it'll be fixed! (sure it will...)
