5 Things I wish I knew before buying my First Gen Tundra 

Loved my access cab so much, that thing never gave me a problem. Now I got a 06 double cab and it’s just a great simple truck. Gotta love the simplicity of an old Toyota truck

Got my 02 SR5 Access Cab as my first car almost 10 years ago and it’s still my daily driver. She’s been through a lot and I love her so much. Don’t want anything else. Nice to know there’s a community behind these trucks.

Hi Sal, thanks so much for your videos. I share same affinity for my 2000 limited as you do for yours. Your programming key fob vid was well done and I expect to be trying out procedure soon. Thx again and happy motoring.

If you do the timing belt,make sure the belt you get has the white timing marks.I bought one as part of a kit,water pump etc and it didn't have the marks,so you have to re-install the balancer to check your progress. The lower ball joint swap is an easy bolt on. The starters don't go out often and give plenty of warning usually.

Love my single cab, RWD, 8ft bed, 5speed manual, 3.4 v6 tundra!

Love your video!! I have owned a 03 and now I own a 06!! I love first gen tundras! Best truck I have ever owned! Your tundra look awesome!!!!

Looking at buying one.. thanks for the video, will keep the timing belt thing in mind when shopping!

great looking truck! One of my favourite trucks of all time. Access cab first gen is fantastic.

Just got a 2005 double cab sr5 TRD 4x4. I love it! I want it to last forever. It really is fun to drive. All my life I've had tiny compact cars, so it's a big change for me.

I just purchased my first truck (First Gen Tundra) which happens to be my dream truck. Single cab, 8ft bed, 4x4, weekend warrior! I love how BASIC it is! Easy to work on for the most part lol! Thanks for the info Sal!

Glad to keep seeing everyone loving these. I just picked up an 06 Tundra. 216k and only one previous owner. Also have a 92 4Runner and 21 Tacoma. Actually hate the Tacoma because of all the tech bs in it. Cannot wait to learn more about my Tundra.

glad your enjoying your 1st gen. I own one as well. 2000 I love it. Only thing I would I knew or would change is I wish I would have looked around a little longer and got a four-wheel drive one and maybe one that was a year or two newer but my frame is still totally solid everything alive soon and probably starter which if you're going to do that you might as well throw in water pumps and all the other stuff while you got halfway torn apart I am at 280,000 miles just over 7 years of ownership 2uz-fe access cab SR5. v8 6ft bed. lot of similarities with mine. now luckily I got a one owner when I got it and he took good care of it

Not sure where you want to be with the channel but I subscribed. Love the content you create and you seem like a good person so thought I'd try to help.

My 2000 tundra just hit 326K miles , same engine/trans . The timing belt was a huge surprise of how easy it was to get to

I have had a 2003 tundra for 10+ years and I’m learning quite a lot from your videos. Aside from the bad gas mileage, this is the only thing I wanna drive.

02 Tundra 4x4 V8 SR5 - 282k Miles when I bought it last year with a rusted frame in the rust belt. Cut out the old rusted frame and replaced with a premanufactured Safe-T-Cap. Slowly swapping old parts as I can find time/issues. Well worth the $1500 total I have in the truck. Going on 285k Miles as a 2nd vehicle. The thing runs great, looking at cleaning and replacing a few parts and keeping this running for another few years.

I just replaced the starter in my 02 4.7L last weekend. It's definitely a project! I couldn't believe it when I finally figured out how I had to get to it! It took me about 5 hours. I also replaced three throttle body gasket and the intake manifold gasket since I was in there and they had never been replaced. I also cleaned a lot up too. One other issue I recently had was the driver side strut broke. The lower part of it that holds the bearing broke off completely! Seeing what happened I decided I'd better check the passenger side strut as well and the bearing was shot in that one. There's 270k miles on all of these parts though so really I'm surprised how long they lasted. But yeah, I love my truck! It's been the most reliable vehicle I've ever known. The starter going out is the first time I've had to do any real work on it that wasn't normal maintenance. I had the timing belt replaced about 10k miles ago but that's just because it was so old and had so many miles on it.

I have the same truck same color, 200 thou on milage, just did the timing belt! Running smooth!

I’m planning to buy a truck in the springtime, currently trying to decide between a tundra and a ridgeline. There’s pros & cons to each. I don’t need anything fancy, just a vehicle with some utility would be nice. Seems like the Tundra would be a solid choice! I enjoy watching your videos on this truck as it helps me learn more about them.

I've got a double cab and while it has its issues from time to time due to buying it in Minnesota but by far the best vehicle I've owned yet

Good video! I have to do my starter this weekend. PITA! First repair in 365K miles. Original timing belt, water pump, even the alternator is original! Usual maintenance items, wipers, headlights, belts, brakes etc....I did have to replace the cheap radiator though. It was more of an upgrade. Love this truck though. Had a 96 and a half model year Taco short bed, short cab 4x4 with the same story as the Tuna, less the starter.

I have two 2003 Tundras , I bought new twenty years ago. SR·5 TRD , 3 inch lift , K&N cold air filter. Denson Iridium Plugs . 110k limited with leather. I run a stock K&N air filter and Same Denson Iridium Plugs . 64K I swapped the 17 inch tires to my SR·5, and my limited runs the regular 16 inch. wheels. This became my city cruiser truck. With higher gas prices, I had to convert 2003 Corolla CE, into the CorollaVirus™. 137K Got ride of the standard 15 inch wheels and put on Scion TC 17 Inch wheels, lifted the body, cut the pre runner noise and make a Home made steal bumper skid plate and winch. Now my CorollaVirus™ goes everywhere my Tundra goes. What is going to brake on my Tundra , everything plastic. 1. The AC control knob 2. inside door handles front and back , Acces Cab. 3. plastic coupling that hold the roods of the tail gate. 4. the handdle to open and close and lock the back acces cab door windows. What I have had to replace. 1. Window Lift motor 2. Starter 3. rack n pinon Those happened on the 19th year of life my SR·5 4. Upper and lower tie rods. 5. second set of brakes and one disc. Planning on doing the timing belt & replace the water pump while I'm timing belt for Christmas. Recalls on the 03 Tundra are. Ball Joint Air Bag. The 2003 also has a air bag recall too

Sal, we’re living parallel lives! I killed my 2020 Outback XT in floodwaters and am looking for a Tundra now. I’ve been scouring for info about the best generations and clearly it’s the 1st Gen. Thanks for all the support info as it validates all the reasons why I want this to be my next vehicle.

00 tundra bought it in december of 1999 upgraded to a ivan stewart clone the front rotors warp easily replaced them with 03 fixed that problem and the orbital gear in the transmisson great job making videos and content for the first gen thank you

I was looking for an older grandma / knockaround Toyota truck and found a one owner 2006 Tundra with 130K miles on Copart salvage site. From the photos it looked OK but I couldn't read the badges etc. When it came in it turned out to be a DCL (Double Cab Limited) with a huge sunroof & roll down back window among other nice features and the V8 ran like a top. It had a surprise in the bed, a box full of parts for front brakes! Only real problem a bad master cylinder, couldn't keep it full. It now has a nice stereo, backup cam, remote start, new shocks & Michelins. The timing chain on the V8 was done at 100K miles so that is good for many years. We hauled an ATV part way across the country and it averaged 16 MPG, a bit better on the way back w/o a load. My wife likes it so well that we sold her Lexus and this is now her main ride.

Right to the point, I appreciated the video

Love the video, I still have my 2002 tundra, and the comment of ‘old grandpa truck’ really hit me. I was 33 when I bought mine. 😂 ride on grandpas!

I love my tundra but one thing I wish I knew before buying a DC Tundra was that the aftermarket support is for the other versions of the Tundras and not as much for the DC tundra. I've made a couple custom parts for my truck such as a grille and I've wired in a small sub but other than that thats all I could really think to do as of now. Eventually I would like to widebody because thats one of the things i have noticed a lot of in this community but that's in the far future.

I bought my 2000 in '06 as a work/play vehicle. Still going strong today. There are a few recommendations I'd make, like doing a drop and swap on fluids every year or two. Past that, you seem to be on target. Most of the long term maintenance issues have been addressed.

You’re the man buddy thanks for the advice

my 04 tundra double cab has been to hell and back a few times, its knocking the door of 740 000 kms, and still going strong. easy to work on, fun to drive and a pleasure to own..

I got 2001 access cab, love this car would never get rid of it.

I own two and this video is spot on. I will add the paint seal coating notoriously doesn't last long and patinas off. And the access cab door window latches always break, but that's a easy cheap fix. These are excellent trucks, a great size/power ratio for typical person needing a truck.

I have the same vehicle but in the V6.(3.4L)Bought it used and had to replace the starter motor IN 2008. On the V6 it's very easy. After 21 years it's working fine. I still have under a 80,000 miles, however I went ahead and changed the timing belt. Hope to have it for many more years.

I bought mine brand new 20 years ago, the only thing I've done to it is A/C coil, valve cover gaskets, and general maintenance. Until last week, I changed out upper and lower ball joints and the inner and outer tie rods. Mine is the XSP Model, which is the unspoken of model between SR5 and Limited

Good review I’ve had 4 tundras since 2000 brand new and I love them. My 5.7 4wd Trd dc is my last tho

I own a 2000 limited.. gave it a bedliner paint job and do all my own mechanic work on it. One thing I wish I had known, if one of your back axle seals starts to leak and you don’t take care of it before your differential fluid leaks out all over your brake drums, your differential will go to pieces… and it’s a little pricey to repair. That being said, I LOVE MY TRUCK !!! Thinking about supercharging it

We purchased an 04 SR5 double cab several years ago and it's been a good truck. I had the timing belt changed at 120,000 miles and changed the oil, that's all I have done to it. I don't drive it much, maybe 3,000 miles a year so I don't have to do much maintenance. My neighbor wants it really bad but I refuse to sell it even though I know eventually I am going to have to replace some things like the starter and wheel bearings. I'll just have my mechanic do it because I know it will be done right the first time and he uses quality parts.

I have a 04 access cab with 275k with the original starter that runs like the day I bought it. This truck tows and has been working since it had 26 miles on the OD. 80k miles for the timing belt is way too often. I have been changing mine at 120k and it still looks good. I wouldn't go longer because the water pump has needed to be changed both times. I like that the 4.7 makes all its torque at low RPM like below 3k so it doesn't hunt for gears like my 17' tundra does.

nice truck got my tundra trd limited in 2002 with 2000 miles on it.i like it better than my 2018 sr 5. toyota put a new chasie on it a couple of years ago due to rust. got over 210,000 miles runs strong. keep up on maintenance and fix what's wrong.

I bought a new 2005 Tundra Double cab 4wd and kept it ten years. The one thing I wish I knew was how much I would miss it when I sold it. Ended up buying a 2015 Tundra and love it, but that first one was great.

Good video. I’ve had my ‘06 ac since ‘16. The best driving truck I’ve had. One thing I don’t like is the turning radius. Hard to maneuver in tight spots. My all time fav truck was my ‘97 T-100. Drove like a sports car. I hated that it had no rear door so switched to the tundra

My first gen 2001 access cab is my fav car I’ve ever had, and I don’t regret it for a second. 340k miles and God Willing still climbing!Something I wish I’d known: the cost of ignition coils… *shudder*.

Gotta love them staters, iv got two of these trucks. Did the starter on one and yes its not the easiest job

Mines a 04 just got it today july 3 rd 2024,I like mines so far,136,000 k ,,,and new timming belt on it or chain whatever they put in it ,like I said I got it today ,but seems nice n tight

Thanks, yes I wish I would have watched your video before I bought my 04 SR5 crew. Supposed to be one owner salesman just retired, has 193k 4.7 nice n clean but he worked at Kolar Toyota in Duluth MN but trying to find service records after the sale has been terrible, And before I bought it they did front brake pads and rotor and one caliper and left the old one with no bleeder on the right. Really gives to the used car salesman promise everything and after the sale nothing lol. I was very disappointed with them but I'll check the belt the owner could not remember but thought it wasn't that long ago. Ya ya. OK thanks for the videos.

Have a 2003 tundra ases cab here in Houston tx love this truck after years it run’s like new, only thing a wish a knew to get the 2005 4 doors 4x4

I’m like you I’m coming from the wrx community, just sold mine looking for a truck, in between a 4Runner and Tacoma, thundras come up but I feel like I wouldn’t truly use it for its full potential, yours looks like a great truck

I see that 240 sitting in the back! .... Nice 👌

So jealous of your truck man its like my dream.

Love my 04 dc and the community behind them just wish I knew more about the rust given I’m in the rust belt

Thanks for the video 📹

currently looking for one. your paint looks great, or maybe it's just the lighting :)

watching this before buying a tundra and just noticed the s13 in the back, nice

I love my 2002 Toyota access cab great truck I’ve had it since 2011

Another solid video man keep it up

I really like the smaller size of the early Tundras. That's a nice truck.

Coming from the Subaru community I was surprised by reliability.

I bought a 2004 Single Cab with the long Bed. It is amazing how big those beds. I have not seen another car with that size bed, I can fit my entire wood panels in it and close the tailgate. It aslo came with the v6 same as my 98 4runner. I know the ins and outs of it.

Been enjoying your content. Always love more first gen vids. Truck is coming along well! Do you have IG? One thing I wish I knew….how much I was gonna love it. When I first got it I had no desire to have a truck and thought it was big and ridiculous. But I needed a vehicle and it was free. Now I’m obsessed with it and wouldn’t trader her in for anything. Don’t do much “truck stuff” with her but appreciate the added utility when I need it.

i wish i knew i wish i knew you wanted me. edit: +1 sub tho great vid, i rlly want to buy a 2000's pick up and i think this is a great option

I have an 03 (bought in 04) w/ 250K miles.....short of the starter..I love this truck. Just replaced the dash lights w/ LED's... and new head lights. still runs like a top

besides mpg part this a great truck vehicle made to perfection ,

I took my 06 Tundra 4.0L in to get its timing belt changed and they told me it had a timing chain, so that was a nice surprise.

Still looking but I couldn't decide between the AC and DC until I learned the DC rear window rolls down. I think that sold me on the DC.

I love my first gen. Tundra too... but the suicide door arrangement is a problem - particularly when trying to load groceries in the back seat when parked between other cars.

nice vid mate

Had my 2001 Access Cab since 2005 and with 200k miles, I have three main issues. Two are minor but still really annoying. First, HATE HATE HATE the suicide doors. They're just a pain, especially in parking lots. Second is the seatbelt. It has never gone back well and always gets caught in the door. Maybe it's just mine but I have heard others having the same issue. Again, minor and not something that makes me regret having it. Third is the turning radius. It's just huge. My brother-in-law has a 3/4 ton Dodge extended cab with an 8ft bed and it's way smaller than my Tundra. This is the one thing that does suck. Same as above that it wouldn't change my mind, but it's a pain in tight places.

What tire set up you have. Looks great fitment! I love it.. beautiful truck. Also you running leveling kit? Stance looks great also.

I have a 2002 access cab for 20+ years...great reliable truck engine running like new....just do like the mpg🤣

you forgot about the stepside bed!! i have a 05 dc limited same color as yours and absolutely love it. sadly i’m in new england and the frame dosent have much time left but i love the truck :(

The starter on the V6 Tundra is sitting right above the exhaust manifold on the passenger side and you can see it when you open the hood....extremely accessible..The only problem with Tundra 4wd is that it consumes lots of gas (15 miles a gallon). My Dad's Tundra has only 27K miles and is silky smooth...

You should do a starter replacement video. My 02 tundra just recently failed on me and I’m pretty sure it’s the stater

I wish I'd known about this truck sooner.

I own the 2003 limited 4X4. I have owned it for 18 years. Never have had an issue other than recalls and did replace a front cv axle due to broken cv boot. Same starter. I just can’t see parting ways with it.

Man I need one of those trucks

I own 3 Tundras... the 00, 01, & now 02 .. 😂 Totalled the 00 tho, so now it's a parts truck for the other 2

Thank you

I have had my 03 4x4 sr5 since day 1 when it showed up on the dealers lot. V6 and gets 25 mpg. It has never gave me a problem in all these years. I look at all the new trucks and can't see downgrading at this point.

Add just change my Water pump Timing belt. And gears 2001. 125000 miles. And the Timing belt that I took off look like it was new Happy I did it anyway took me about a day.😊

One thing I had wish I had known and it's a major design flaw by Toyota is that they weld the differential covers on these trucks (and apparently up to the 2015 Tacoma). They're not bolt on. They use super thin gauge covers too and the welds aren’t the best. After a while it begins to rust out and you have to cut it off and weld a new cover on. I got myself an aftermarket cover from Barnes 4WD which is a much thicker 9 gauge material and made thicker welds. The key to putting an aftermarket cover is all prep, super clean and mate the surfaces otherwise it'll rust from the inside out again.

I love my 1st gen tundra, but I wish they made drop kits for it.

I like this pick up truck

I appreciate you for this video. I own 2000 Toyota Tundra. My alarm always on, I need to buy FOB key romote. Maybe my starter is bad? I will check it.

Love my green 02 2wd. SR-5 Access Cab. Just turned only 70k. It still looks like a couple year old truck , which is insane for a Minnesota vehicle. No patina, no surface rust, recall corrosion treatment completed 10 or so years ago. . I absolutely love this truck. Question(s)... My rear bumper is rusted through in spots and puts a blemish on a very clean survivor. I have viewed a ton of aftermarket bumpers out there, ....any advice for the name of a good replacement bumper ( which allows for a receiver below ) ? The plastics for it are perfect for reuse. The only other issue I have is ....a couple years ago , I clicked up to round off my gasoline bill and I believe I overfilled my tank, possibly the vapor canister? So after that , I hate to fill over 3/4 tank ,as it will slowly leak a little bit when tank is nearly full from that day forward. Don't know if it's from the fuel pump seal or ? Not a big deal , but a little annoying. Love the channel.

I have a 02 tundra 133k on miles I love mine I bought it with 100,000 miles last year. Bought it from the military base. The guy was 70 years old. He was an old jet mechanic.

Great looking truck also loving the color!! I have a 2000 limited, I have this series going on with my truck on my channel check it out! But that first tip you gave it’s a must I have to check it out the timing belt! I have own mines for 2 years now it’s running super good and strong and I had 215k miles! But check out my series bro next vid is the final reveal of the truck 💯

I just bought a 02 SR5 and I currently own a 2020 WRX she's up for sale !!

Keep going

Yes, packaging has never been Toyota's best strength; the 5.7 is a nightmare to do even general maintenance, not to mention stuff like alternators and the starter, where it's one of a few things I'm envious of the 4.7's ease of changing certain items, like spark plugs. In general, there's more performance-items for the 1st gen over the 2nd gen on the market, though the 2UZ is a well-known engine the world over for it's overall legendary reliability (sans the secondary air bits!). You can daily them as is all the way up to transform them into absolutely wicked pre-runners for Baja duty, and being 1st gen era, things tend to be a bit more affordable. The wheels will start turning once you see front and rear fiberglass halves. Fiberwerx is one place off the top of my head that has 1st gen body parts. One piece of advice for the long run: use Genuine Toyota or their branded parts when doing sensors or big part replacement (not including stuff like antifreeze or brake pads, but definitely sensor-level and above; things that are function-crucial for operation). Even if you find aftermarket parts for half the cost, most of the time they won't actually function when in the truck, if they even fit to begin with. Things as simple as a PCV valve will have the wrong thread count, or a crank angle sensor won't function, thus telling the engine it's misfiring in every cylinder. Do yourself a favor, buy Toyota parts or the Denso equivalent, spend the extra $10 or whatever the difference is, and you'll be way ahead on the longevity of it lasting as long as the originals did. Olathe Toyota often has great prices on genuine parts that often are the same price as questionable generic garbage. (On that note, I've sworn off Amazon because of all the scam and counterfeit parts they'll ship, even from their own warehouse. They will swear til blue in the face that a part is genuine when it's clearly not. Been on that end of the fight twice now, which is twice too many.)

How many miles? You can never go wrong with a tundra, I’ve owned 4 best truck by far in my opinion, just recently bought the 22 another great truck

My 2006 V6 has a timing chain. Not a belt. And the starter which I got replaced like a month after I bought it had easy access. Guess I got lucky. Although i do get a little timing chain rattle on the first start of the day.

Although a major pain in the butt I would also say that it protects the starter from the elements so I'd say it might last longer than a normal one. Did you replace any gaskets while doing that? Like the manifold?

I totally regret getting a tundra. I have a 2006 double cab and I wish I would have known that the radiator tends to fail or at least the transmission cooler part of it and it fills your transmission full of coolant and it fills your motor full of transmission fluid so that's fun. Also there's no dipstick for the transmission that's cool too you have to take the bolt out of the bottom of the pan and fill it next to the slip yoke that's awesome engineering and like you said the starter being in the valley this thing's just a crap design and I am super surprised that these trucks have a good name for them at all because from my experience they're garbage

FYI, the starter was placed high atop the engine perimeter. For the reason you’re Subaru or Detroit vehicle would fail., and quite simply water level. Yes, these trucks can take punishment. So that’s why it is reliable. Pay attention or pay cash!

02 Tundra 4x4 LTD with 335,000! Still pulling strong.

Lmao the starter placement and the lbj I’ve had that lbj fail on the interstate luckily nothing too bad. Just recently had my starter fail. At 199k… just ordered my parts from Toyota. Not to excited but I’ll be damned if I pay a shop.

Quick question if you knew those five before you bought it would it have changed your decision about purchasing it or would you still have gotten the same truck me personally I probably would have still got the same truck just how reliable it is and how it suited and fitted my needs

My 2003 Tundra is approaching 95,000 miles and due for it's 1st timing belt svc. I called Toyota today and they gave me a quote: 2353.20 I was going to get it done five years ago, but complained about spending 1500.00 and put it off in thinking I still had low miles and needed to save. I wish I had it done then. Hard to keep up with inflation.

Id like to ask you your opinion on front end stuff since yours is lifed, including shocks. I'm confused about a quote I got front Big O on front end work. I have 2002, 184k miles, nice shape paints great, with original front suspension, that's said to need front and rear bushings, upper ball joint, rack & pinion mount bushings. Big O wants $1400.00 for the job total just replacing just worn parts. Having to spend that much I'm thinking the labor would be the same amount with upgrades. For example the lower bushings cost $92.00 each,(2 bushings are $182.00 at Big O, not including labor), when the whole, stock lower arm, with the 2 bushings cost $176.00 each. New Ball joints $105 each. It's hard to believe. So hard to believe its got me wondering WTH is going on. With a moderate upgrade & lift, using like Progressive parts, a shop said it'd be $34-3,800.00. Is the truck worth, putting, maybe $3,800.00 into? T4TV.