You can think of a Tundra vs the domestics trucks this way. You can probably get a domestic for a better price and get a nicer truck to drive.
And for what a Toyota cost and cost of parts to repair along with it's poor fuel economy, you can make a lot of repairs on a domestic truck and still be further ahead.
Or you can enjoy driving the Tundra while a domestic truck would have been in the shop, knowing that you paid a bit more in gas to get a lot more in reliability. At 75,000 miles, the Tundra uses no oil, has not had one repair, runs perfectly, starts every time, does everything I ask of it. I drove it to Boston and back last weekend. 18-19 MPG on the highway. Mine is the 1794, so it has every convenience.
With all the BITOG threads on failures of Ford eco boost engines, GM cylinder deactivation problems, transmission failures, etc. the Tundra is a reliable, if slightly thirsty, bet.
That is exactly the decision I made several years ago. I’ll take reliable over fuel economy if it means I don’t break down and have to get recalls done to the truck.
As far as work? My Tundra tows with ease. It carries large, often dirty, bulk cargo, including used engines, landscaping materials, lumber, and moves furniture when needed. It’s a truck.
You’re really choosing repairs - having the truck out of service - over fuel cost? Your math is way off, I suspect, in support of your thinking...
The Tundra around town isn’t much worse than a domestic, and it isn’t a big difference on the highway. So, you don’t save enough on fuel to offset the cost of repairs, and having a truck down for repairs is detrimental no matter what business you’re in.
The Tundra is a solid truck, period.
I prefer the 2017 and earlier for the external transmission oil cooler but unless you tow a lot, I don’t think it matters in reliability.
The engine and transmission are bulletproof, and the V-8 sounds glorious when you rev it hard. I heard a Raptor going full throttle from a stop light the other day, he had to show me his tail-lights, I suppose, and the flatulent sound of that V-6 was just silly.
I think I’m going to go wash and wax the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned.