4 Super WEIRD Designs On The New Tundra | 3rd Gen vs 2nd Gen Technical Comparison

A technical review on 4 major mechanical changes on the new Tundra (TNGA-F platform). Highly relevant to off-roaders and overlanders.
Thank you Nick Fisher and Greg Mohrman from @koch33toyota94 for lending me all the parts. www.koch33toyota.com/
Thank you Cong from @4WDisLife for contributing his 2nd gen for testing.
Thank you Josh @Everything.offroad and James (instagram @overlanding_warrior) for wheeling with me. Join Northeast Off-Road Club to see Josh sends his Tundra. / neoffroad
Support me by checking out products I designed tinkererdesign.com/
0:00 Why It Matters
0:43 Frame
2:40 Steering
5:52 Front Diff & Axles
7:59 Ground Clearance

[@CanadianOffroad4x4]

I cant wait to see you get your hands on a 3rd gen to 4th gen tacoma. I want to see if we get a bulletproof steering rack!

[@yzrippin]

Can you please explain what do you mean do the steering racks go bad on the 3rd gen

[@CanadianOffroad4x4]

@@yzrippin Its a common item to slowly fail or leak/play in our drivetrain. Max powell went through some, I blew up my entire power steering system last year and have all new parts. However the aftermarket cheaper one i have shows boot seepage and slight play but still good according to my local toyota. My OEM rack had seepage from, never could warranty it. and suddenly i deveoloped power steering noises, later on down road i seized my rack.(110,000 miles) Ive seen Others replace their racks as well. Its a $2000 job. It sucks to get this repair.

[@CanadianOffroad4x4]

@@yzrippinI am not saying the rack fails and you get problems. Im saying its got some weak spots or dumb designs to it because 3rd gens saw rack replacements and i think they suck.

[@yzrippin]

@@CanadianOffroad4x4 I noticed wet boots at 50K now at 60 I've done the team oil drops 7 power steering fluid changes it's never really lost much any fluid out of the tank Reservoir but I do notice that as well thanks for letting me know your experience have you looked into having it replaced with the tundra rack for upgrade I think I remember seeing that somewhere on Tacoma world that second gen Tundra racks fit right in and are basically a beefy upgrade same with disc brakes I believe I'm more concerned with my coolant loss seems to be almost the entire overflow tank in about 15K no that's more when I'm driving it like a rental we're doing some of that straight up and down off-road stuff we're really not supposed to be doing in these things

[@yzrippin]

@@CanadianOffroad4x4 also for shits and giggles what type of driving are you doing with it 80% of my driving is pavement princess but then I remember that it's 6 years old paid off and has full coverage insurance so I send it up some mountains with the 2 door jeep fellas

[@joeerau]

Your videos provide information that I have not found elsewhere. You provide well organized details in a sequence that are clear and easy to follow for those of us less mechanically apt. Thank you for taking the time to share the information I would not otherwise have access to. Please keep up your good work.

[@Walking_Bear]

Best Toyota content on the internet. They should be paying you for each video with no strings attached.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

This video is a must for any Tundra owner!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thank you! I just realized I forgot to add credit note for the skid plate footage from you! aw man sorry dude

[@AndrewGroat7]

Great video!! I’m loving these deep dives, especially from an engineer’s perspective. I hope you can do more of these with other Toyota models!

[@robertom883]

I have owned nothing but Toyota trucks for many years. I always look forward to your videos, it’s nice and satisfying to watch and listen to someone who knows what they are talking about. Keep up the good work 👊

[@torquematters8815]

I really hope you're able to do a similar video for the new Landcruiser, GX550, and 4runner! This is an incredibly informative video format.

[@sinister184]

We need this same analysis on the 4th gen Tacoma. Even though I imagine it’s going to be pretty similar to the tundra.

[@MacGyver2394]

Fantastic. Can't wait to see a deep dive into 3rd Gen VS 4th Gen Tacomas!

[@zxx9554]

Very clear but also informative explanation!!! Great work!!

[@RoyFJ65]

Best most technical description ever, thank you.

[@bespey]

best source of yota tec details on the tube, thanks bro!

[@UrbanOpsOffRoad]

Let’s go!!!! Ready for the class professor Kai! Cheers my dude!

[@ClimbAClassic]

Love your work man!

[@8oliverraymond]

That is unfortunate about the CVs, Looks like the 300 series is the same way.

[@qbanlink25]

Your videos are hands down the most informative useful for fay to day and off-road driving I've ever seen, thank you. I can't wait for you to get your hands on the 4th gen Tacoma's and review those too

[@josephpark421]

Love your Vids Kai! Keep them comin~ 🤙

[@tdgarage4012]

Your in depth observations are probably one of the best on KZbin. While I’m not a Toyota fanboy I’m a truck and off-roading enthusiast so I watch your videos. I wish you did these types of in depth videos on other makes. I suspect this channel would explode in viewers. Good luck in whatever direction you take this.

[@mrgylex123]

Your analysis are just... breath taking. Thank you for the hard work

[@g.fortin3228]

Anothe good dive in type vid.. a really great series !! Like no other channel.

[@dumanimjo609]

This was very well done and informative

[@taliesinangling3564]

Love the technical content

[@anorakadventures]

Appreciate the walk through and the technical pictures

[@DualityofManz]

Ohh nothing better than an upload from Kai on a snowy day!

[@thomaslam6821]

👍👍👍. GREAT VIDEO AND PRESENTATION! 👍👍👍

[@davide30541]

i dont even have a toyota but these videos are great. your video about articulation made me realize to leave my 2wd ifs mitsubishi L300 anti roll bar alone :)

[@bamafencer12]

I don't have a Toyota, but I love watching your videos! So educational and informative. Thanks!

[@commbubba1990]

Look forward to this level of detail on the ‘24 Tacoma and Land Cruiser

[@rdyred5080]

Great explanation of components and limits of each. Great channel.

[@KM-os4be]

Enjoy your videos! Thanks

[@OutdoorAuto]

Awesome video, great details.

[@chopperpl]

Dude, why is it that every morning before I log in to my daylies, I always check if there is new video on your channel? I guess, you must be doing something that noone else on YT is capable of.... Letting Toyota reverse-engineer their vehicles by You makes me trust them even more. Kyle, you should be awarded a hero of YT status for the content you produce. Greetings from Poland!!!

[@4WDisLife]

Kai but close haha.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

I appreciate the support man!

[@chopperpl]

@@4WDisLife don't know why, but for some reason I had hardcoded this name wrong.... apologies to Kai

[@gregmgm06]

Another fantastic video!!

[@imagiine]

Please do 1st gen tundra too !!

[@IndependenceOverland]

Best Toyota tech videos on KZbin. @ToyotaUSA , we want to see a Tacoma, Land Cruiser, GX on this man’s lift.

[@paulvictor9368]

I love your videos. Thanks!

[@ndm8447]

Brother, you make the best videos ever in this space, please have mercy and make some Bronco videos for us Bronco owners 🙂. Excellent work, thank you for the quality information.

[@snart87]

Hopefully you get to do a deep dive on the new Landcruiser and GX550 as well!!

[@overlandme]

Again... another video put on KZbin for us to watch after a lot of effort to make... I can't thank you enough 🙏

[@CherokeeChief.]

I’d love to see a first gen comparison of the tundra and sequoias vs their 3rd gens.

[@jimf.625]

The problem with the new Tundra is obvious. Toyota did not consult with the Tinkerer for his advice. C'mon Toyota.

[@VitaminD_Power]

Best reviews, blessings

[@lyonsy143]

Great vid

[@360Argus]

Great video. I know you are a toyota guy but your explanations are so understandable that i wish you could do the same with other makes and models. I would love to know what you think of the new 2023 GMC Canyon. Keep up the good work.

[@popo_patty]

i would love to see this very break down on the Bronco! Go into steering, frame, axle type, etc.

[@mohammednuredin4663]

It would be cool if you give us detail measurement of frame section to calculate RBM and compare it ford or ram

[@HAHA.GoodMeme]

these videos are super duper sick. Please make one with the Tacoma.

[@jworthe]

As a mechanical engineer, Toyota's design choices make me want to beat my head against a wall.

[@abrahamdz1471]

Hopefully you could do the same testing on the new LandCruiser

[@ClimbAClassic]

Thanks!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thank you for the support man!

[@XplorerSteveDIY]

Love your vids! I have 08 Tundra, Reg Cab, Long (8ft) bd. I want to build Overland but forums say "it's too long". is it? It has the same WB as the double cab, i think. No one has a problem with those however.

[@96kylar]

While most talk about the new colors, and shit i dont even care about, Kai gives me the info i want. Good stuff mate.

[@bobmariano3731]

Awesome info & video , do you do Landcruisers at all ? Thx again 👍⚾️

[@flight2k5]

The engineer of the tundra wanted the frame flex. In an interview he wanted it on the 3rd gen but had to use box frame. Stiffer isn’t stronger.

[@OscyJack-]

Can't straighten a boxed frame. Boxed frames tend to rot much faster. Open C ftw

[@georgeparis6729]

Another great informative video mate Keep up the great work Could you just replace and use the 2nd gen steering arms instead

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks! but no, the thread is different. So i think the sleeves are the way to go. However, Toyota doesn't sell the sleeves by themselves at the moment. They only come in the full TRD lift kit

[@cf6231]

Great video! Is the Land Cruiser tie rod a viable upgrade for the 3rd Gen tundra?

[@raullasvegas]

im going to ask the obvious question. Rock crawlers use full hydro. I get the EPS will be better for overlanders, but we aren't trying to lift the vehicle with the front wheel with a hydraulic pump. The tie rod thing is weird definitely. The Unimog brags that there is 20 degrees of frame flex. Its better for traction and adds to articulation. I will say that I was on a destroyer in the US Navy. Our ship has half aluminum. It tore in half. Steel flexes, and is a much better metal to make ships out of so they flex over the waves and doesn't tear like aluminum. Great Vdieo! Love your content.

[@stevenpeterson7234]

Awesome video man!! Love how you compare trucks!! Can you please compare the 23 Nissan Titan pro-4x to the 23 Toyota Tundra trd pro PLEASE!! I really would love your honest opinion on which is better!!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

thanks! i'd definitely what to check out some nissan trucks when i get the opportunity!

[@fishwoodcarving6021]

Hey, thanks for these great and detailed videos. I watched your video about the Toyota Tundra TRD 3”‘lift. You mentioned you would replace the front shocks. I just installed the 3” Toyota lift and it is pretty stiff. Would new shocks fix that and what would recommend? I think you said you would upgrade to 2.5” shocks. Would love any recommendations for replacement shocks that work with the new lift. Really enjoys your channel. Thanks, Ryan

[@asong26]

It would be awesome if someone can pave the way to swap the new Tundra steering components into the older one. Or even onto 4runner & GX. If it's possible, I would definitely buy the compoents an stuff them into my GX.

[@ahmadalanjary2020]

Damn wider rear frame sucks big time for fitting a 3.0 bypass shock off the rear axle for like a bed cage on a go fast build.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

True

[@MissouriAdventures]

It would be awesome to see you do this with a Land Cruiser 150/250 & 100/200.

[@001dman]

looks like the TRD offroad axles i removed from a lift kit install are going to be worth something.. hmmm

[@johnb-ke9xi]

just wow about the unequal length CV's, i didn't know that, and as you pointed out, it looks like they could have been made equal with a slightly longer tube. be curious if Toyota engineers have an explanation

[@spinnetti]

Good analysis.. Damn few people are going to spend that kind of money then go trash it off road - more like the 3rd or 4th owners....

[@currentlyhd7649]

Can you do a vid like this for the new Tacoma? :)

[@gulu-cat]

For the conclusions in section ground clearance, does this apply to all new TNGA trucks? Wonder if new GX550/LC250 will have lower hanging mounts.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

it seems like it. but this was comparing to the 2nd gen tundra, which has oddly high clearance compared to most other toyotas.

[@overlandready]

Theres a few things in this that made me realise why they always break CV joints, the joint is straight on the ball movement so it's inherently weaker than an angled ball track, unfortunately you can't have it slide in/out with angled tracks. The short diff tube is probably down to it's use on another model with a slightly shorter track, the easy way to make the wider track is to make a longer shaft. albeit on one side. Centring the diff/axle shaft might not be feasable because of space or a bespoke driveshaft for just that model(?). Toyota have had massively weak chassis for decades, I still don't know how they were allowed to keep manufacturing with known chassis issues, the rear half falling off is a standard joke. Electric PAS is definitely the way to go, why did they not do that sooner? Most modern vehicles have gone EPAS since about 2010 at the latest with generation changes. Steering arms are the designed weak point, so should be easy enough to change out if you do bend one, which to be fair is better than the rack getting the hit. I guess they can't design a better system to sling the rack over or under the diff nose, that would stop the tendacy to oversteer.

[@rotorhead5000]

I was going to say the same thing about the epas system, I have a 10 year old Ford with a similar system, and while the steering systems runs into its limits in the gnarly stuff, I'd take it every day if the week over a hydraulic rack for a truck. The other thing about the cv shafts being different lengths; I bet folks will find the same thing with this as people do with solid front axle rigs, the short side shaft will be the side that fails 95% of the time, due to the longer side shaft acting as a spring and reducing shock load on the joint itself. Hence, you'll only have to carry a short side shaft as a spare.

[@BigBluePile]

Aaaaaand now we need PCK for tundras lolz

[@enjoytheridedude]

I have the TRD lift kit tie rod sleeves but I also have the Silver CV axles from the TRD lift kit…I however don’t know what they do? Are they the same as the red ones I had from the factory?

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Good thinking! I plan to make a video on the TRD lift kit. But the silver axles have the same joints as the red axles, but the shafts are a tiny bit longer. The reason they are longer is NOT because of lift height, but because this kit also has the offset lower knuckles that pushes the spindle outwards a tiny bit. And the reason for that is to correct for camber. And there are a few whys after that. All these made this kit super interesting and I want more people to understand these principles.

[@absolutefreedom9437]

Excellent.

[@Gilbertmk2]

Do you think the 5th gen 4runner has steering rack bushings that are as soft? That might explain some of the sensitivity to vibrations and the tendancy to get weird harmonic occilations in the 4runner steering system.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

I do think they are too soft, especially after larger tires

[@jailbreakoverlander]

nice Big videos coming this week, gonna make some folk mad. lol

[@TinkerersAdventure]

look forward to your next vid!

[@dallasvanwyk]

🙌

[@ericachail9449]

So buttom line 2nd Gens Tundra are the best??

[@jgm113]

Do you think any of the control arms on the bigger tnga trucks will work on the 4th gen Tacoma for a cheap diy long travel?

[@TinkerersAdventure]

unfortunately no. i held the 3rd gen tundra LCA right up against the 4th gen tacoma. the mounting is completely different

[@jgm113]

@@TinkerersAdventure such a shame, maybe brackets could be welded to adapt it? That's something the aftermarket would have to explore obviously. I wonder if there is anything interchangable between models that would be worth while.

[@ronaldrussell5481]

What is Toyota's target market for the 3rd gen Tundra? Determining that may explain the changes/lack of in some areas. Is it work truck market, gentleman farmer market, ???

[@Luckingsworth]

Lets be honest, the market for the Tundra is the city guy who might go to a dirt trail with the buds once in a blue moon and might tow a mid size boat every once in awhile. Anybody doing any real towing is going for a 250 equivalent which Toyota decided to abandon, and Toyota has better vehicles suited for offroad already. If it wasnt essentially a freebie alongside the Sequoia etc, they probably would have discontinued it. It sucks because I have driven toyota forever but I am looking toward Ford or Ram for my next truck to avoid having to spend $$ in upgrades and still being dissapointed. Plus Ford is leagues ahead of others right now with their full online custimized direct order system.

[@gerrybaker1422]

@@Luckingsworthford is junk. Drive a ford as a work truck and I would never spend my money on one

[@williameddy7217]

Thanks for the Great Video. I would imagine that someday you will be a college professor teaching engineering. Your a Fantastic teacher. I would be interested to know what you think about, AMD's KZbin channel called The Car Care Nut.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

thanks! oh i watch all his videos. very informative and helpful

[@tommcl8548]

👍👊

[@RedWingsninetyone]

To be fair, the Tundra wasn't made with off roading as a primary focus. Much like the Tacoma isn't designed with towing as a primary focus.

[@berkayt5319]

ayy got ya early

[@El_Dusty_]

Same changes on sequoia?

[@TinkerersAdventure]

only some applies

[@Juan-VargasJV]

I have wondered why I havent seen a 3rd Gen out and about on trails that I go on with my 2nd Gen 😂

[@MidwestAtvGroup]

So should i keep my '19 2nd gen tundra or get newer one?

[@flight2k5]

Have one of each

[@MidwestAtvGroup]

@@flight2k5 my wife wouldn't approve it lol

[@flight2k5]

@@MidwestAtvGroup trying to convince mine 😁

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Since you already have it, I would keep the 2nd gen :)

[@SuperSnakePlissken]

There wasn’t one thing said that would inspire me to sell my 2.5 gen TRDPRO for the 3rd gen at all.

[@dickhernandez3191]

So it true buy

[@dontask7898]

You should compare the new trundra to the f150. I would be willing to bet the f150 comes out the better truck.

[@joelcade1569]

we want to like the new tundra. it does some things well. It almost seems like a stepchild in the offload line up. Tacoma gets it all. But then the 4 runner is also long in the tooth. My main gripe is toyota is overpriced by 25% at all levels. Like a commenter said, just build a better ford. but no. Ah well still a neat truck for some.

[@TheTbooth87]

“However…” 😮

[@cabinetguy5639]

It does have a 38 gallon tank

[@richardstone5241]

Couldn't agree more with your analysis! Truth is, Toyota is losing its way with off-roading and overlanding engineering concepts and useful design. I think they are sacrificing real off-road ability for saving cost of manufactory MONEY!!! Toyota is counting on the ignorance of the consumer to get away with this.

[@flight2k5]

🤣 how? This has a factory locker. It’s already far superior to any previous gen

[@davidsdean]

Toyota Tundra has always been more geared up for Towing vs overlanding and payload, hauling a trailer is what it was and still designed to do

[@PaletoB]

Why don't more reviewer's do this? Well probably because it takes time.. 😢

[@Baebon6259]

and that they can't churn out massive amount of videos for viewership.

[@sfshilo]

The apple marketing approach has finally made it to Toyota...........(Nickle and dime for "upgrades")

[@dangkhang9479]

So not only does Toyota reduce the engine but also the off-road component

[@andreylosetskiy5217]

second gen. is the best in term of the engine

[@alexwbakker]

The steering rack swap job on the gen2 was the literal worst job I’ve ever done on a car. The smaller tube length on the 3rd gen is bound to make the rack replacement job better since on the gen2 you either pulled the engine, or took the boots and inner tie rod ends off just to squeeze it in. I think I’d rather the mismatched axles than have to do a gen2 rack swap again.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

yes. i didn't cover this in the video because it is a little too deep, but half of the LCA mounting bracket on the 3rd gen can be unbolted. Leaving wide open space to take out the steering rack. It was a deliberate design choice for serviceability.

[@DJKjo007]

In my country we only have hilux 😢

[@matthewinaz]

Wish we had them in the USA

[@tboe-cr8pz]

2nd gen is the best gen hands down.

[@Yeeto767]

Cries in 26 gallon tank.

[@monocogenit1]

Toyota is awesome, I loved my 80 series land cruiser, but I think often over hyped.