Toyota Design

ZZebes · January 7, 2007

Well i spent the last 20 minutes on Toyotas website looking through the Tundra info and noticed a few things that are really cool and a few potential flaws.

Plus's

1) SS Shorty headers 4-2-1 from factory

2) Huge tow Hitch with something like 32 Grade 8's

3) 10.5" Ring Gear with Standard LSD

4) 6-Speed(5.7L) only 3.333 first gear

5) 4.10 available rear end with 6 speed so like a great launch/towing gear

Negative's

1) 2 piece drive shaft (Half steel & half Aluminum)

2) Looks only a mother could love (cow*)

3) TBA

To be continued when i get home

*Courtesy of Wingnut

Wingnut · January 8, 2007

Add "looks only a mother could love" to that list.

wink05 · January 12, 2007

Yep, about an 8 on a 1-10 scale of looks............but............with the 5.7, 381HP in a reg cab, short bed..........show me where to sign on the order form!

Wingnut · January 12, 2007

Yep, about an 8 on a 1-10 scale of looks............but............with the 5.7, 381HP in a reg cab, short bed..........show me where to sign on the order form!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hemis have impressive numbers too...But they're not much to a) look at or b) drive.

david.mciver · February 15, 2007

Pretty FUGLY in my book!!!

Bruce03Silverado · February 20, 2007

Yep, about an 8 on a 1-10 scale of looks............but............with the 5.7, 381HP in a reg cab, short bed..........show me where to sign on the order form!

I think that's being generous. To me it's the ugliest truck I have ever seen. Not matter how it performs I don't see it taking away GM, Ford or Dodge owners.

GeoHawk · February 21, 2007

Yep, about an 8 on a 1-10 scale of looks............but............with the 5.7, 381HP in a reg cab, short bed..........show me where to sign on the order form!

I think that's being generous. To me it's the ugliest truck I have ever seen. Not matter how it performs I don't see it taking away GM, Ford or Dodge owners.

I really don't care for the Tundra's "Tonka Toy" styling either. I prefer my vehicles to look a little more "mature", or classy. The Tundra's numbers in some categories may snare some buyers and others that prefer the in-your-face styling, but not me.

chud53 · February 21, 2007

i second that, i saw the new tundra at the auto show i went to on sunday and they are repulsive, i was just checking out the FJ cruiser the whole time i was in the Toyota section which was probably no longer than a 5 second glance and then a wince because of the disgusting tundra lol

SilveradoLAX7 · February 23, 2007

Well i spent the last 20 minutes on Toyotas website looking through the Tundra info and noticed a few things that are really cool and a few potential flaws.

Plus's

1) SS Shorty headers 4-2-1 from factory

2) Huge tow Hitch with something like 32 Grade 8's

3) 10.5" Ring Gear with Standard LSD

4) 6-Speed(5.7L) only 3.333 first gear

5) 4.10 available rear end with 6 speed so like a great launch/towing gear

Negative's

1) 2 piece drive shaft (Half steel & half Aluminum)

2) Looks only a mother could love (cow*)

3) TBA

To be continued when i get home

*Courtesy of Wingnut

I don't have an engineering background, so I will defer to those with more expertise. That being said, is bigger better with a trailer hitch? Is that what prevents other brands from increasing towing capacity? In other words; are GM or Ford factory hitches sub-par?

-Jay

GeoHawk · February 23, 2007

I don't have an engineering background, so I will defer to those with more expertise. That being said, is bigger better with a trailer hitch? Is that what prevents other brands from increasing towing capacity? In other words; are GM or Ford factory hitches sub-par?

-Jay

The hitch is on part of the equation (BTW, the GMT-900s have a new, stronger hitch as well). Frame strength where the hitch attaches, rear axle gearing and strength of internal drivetrain components, and braking capability all factor in as well. FWIW, my new truck with the MaxTowing Pkg. has a 400 lb advantage over the Tundra Crew Max with their towing package. (And its cheaper)

67ChevyRedneck · February 23, 2007

I don't have an engineering background, so I will defer to those with more expertise. That being said, is bigger better with a trailer hitch? Is that what prevents other brands from increasing towing capacity? In other words; are GM or Ford factory hitches sub-par?

-Jay

No, bigger is not always better. Silverado's and Fords have smaller hitches with greater towing capacities than the tundra. The tundra's is bigger because the frame is wider. The frame is also a c channel frame from the cab back. GM uses a boxed hydroform frame. The tundra's frame is weaker than the silverado's.

Here's my explanation of the hitch being bigger.

Assuming the square tubing on the hitches is the same, the shorter hitch is technically stronger, assuming no additional bracing. For example, put a 2x4 on some cement blocks sideways and step on it in the middle, it will deflect a lot. Take the same board, cut it in half, put the ends on cememt blocks, step on it in the middle and it will deflect a lot less than the longer board with your same weight in the middle.

The tubing in the Tundra does look bigger than the silverado hitches, and it has to be, because it is spanning a wider space. It HAS to be bigger to have the same strength as the shorter silverado hitch.

Once again, Toyota's ingenious marketing took a positive spin on something that is no better than the competition, playing off the "bigger is always better" metality. GM needs to front the money and "steal" members of Toyota's marketing team. It would only be fair right? Toyota basically came into the NASCAR truck series, "bought" all of the good teams and drivers, and are kicking some ass.

unit731 · December 3, 2007

I think Toyota flunked on styling also. Too bulky.

EXSlider400 · December 3, 2007

Posted this a week ago, thought it fit well in here to.

Stats on paper say one thing... reality is totaly differient!

dsmazz · December 3, 2007

After many years of GM ownership, I went with a Dodge Ram Hemi in '04. It was a nice truck, fun to drive, had lots of power, but too many quirky fragile components. So this last Spring, I took a long hard look at the Tundra. I'll agree, it's a cow, but it can grow on you if you let it. That being aside, I test drove one. Was about ready to sign the papers, but told the salesman, I just wanted to confirm my decision by looking at a GMC Sierra at the dealer across the street. Ten minutes later I call the Toyota salesman up and told him I was buying the GMC. There is no comparison when it comes to quality of design. The GMC was far better than the Tundra, at least in my opinion.