TOTO Drake II Two-Piece Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet vs TOTO UltraMax II One-Piece Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

The TOTO Drake II and UltraMax II share identical flush engineering (Tornado Flush, CeFiONtect glaze) and identical capacity (1.28 GPF, elongated bowl, universal height). The choice between them is structural — two-piece versus one-piece — with meaningful tradeoffs.

One-piece vs two-piece structure

The UltraMax II ($790-850) fuses tank and bowl into a single ceramic body. The Drake II ($480-560) bolts a separate tank onto the bowl with a spud gasket between. The one-piece advantage is real: no tank-to-bowl joint to leak at year 8-15, cleaner visual silhouette, easier to wipe clean across the seamless surface.

Weight and installation

The Drake II weighs 79 lbs (two-piece advantage), the UltraMax II weighs 105 lbs. For tight bathroom doorways and second-floor installs, the lighter Drake II is meaningfully easier to handle. A two-person lift is standard for the UltraMax II.

Cost analysis

The UltraMax II commands roughly a $250-300 premium. Over a 20-year ownership, that's $12-15/year — modest relative to the daily quality-of-life and aesthetic improvements. If shipping damage destroys the bowl, however, you replace the entire unit rather than just one half on the two-piece.

Aesthetics

The UltraMax II has a sleeker, more contemporary silhouette — the smooth uninterrupted curve from base to tank top is striking. The Drake II is traditional two-piece form executed cleanly.

Maintenance and service

Both use identical TOTO service parts. The Drake II's tank-bowl gasket needs replacement at year 8-15 ($15 part, $50 plumber call); the UltraMax II skips this entirely.