If you combine the 10 smallest US states, all together they’d still be smaller than Texas. That’s one reason the longhorn state maintains the reputation that “Everything’s bigger in Texas.”
So it’s fitting that the list of configurations available for the 2018 Toyota Tundra, assembled exclusively in San Antonio, is also pretty big. Tundra’s SR and SR5 models are most popular for fleet use, and each comes with standard features, and a long inventory of options.
SAFETY FIRST
Start with the advanced Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P) system—a prime example of how technology can help provide a safer ride. TSS-P’s Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection uses radar and a camera to detect pedestrians or vehicles the Tundra is approaching, and will automatically apply the brakes, if necessary, to help mitigate or avoid collisions in certain conditions. The TSS-P also includes features such as Lane Departure Alert with Sway Warning System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and Auto High Beams, which we will describe later in this article.
“Tundra is the only half-ton pickup in the market with an active safety system standard on all grades,” says Joshua Burns, product communications analyst with Toyota Motor North America. “The 2018 Tundra is big on safety. There’s no other truck maker with this level of active safety features standard.”
Another attractive feature on the list is that both Tundra models are powered by V-8 engines, and come in two cabin styles, which are the four-door Double Cab, and the four-door CrewMax. The Double Cabs offer either a 6.5-foot standard bed, or an 8.1-foot long-bed configuration. They have forward-hinge rear doors, and offer 34.7 inches of rear-seat legroom. Limited trim Double Cabs come standard with a power sliding horizontal rear window, while all CrewMax models have a power vertical sliding rear window. The SR and SR5 are available with bench or bucket seats for the front row. Rear seats in both cab styles can be folded up to fit in additional cargo.
Truck beds measure 22.2 inches deep, and when properly equipped, offer a payload capacity of up to 1,730 pounds. The lockable tailgate lowers slowly without slamming, and is removable. There’s an available deck-rail system, and spray-in bed liner to help make securing loads a cinch. The underpinning of Tundra’s strength and 10,200-lb maximum towing capacity, is its TripleTech frame, with wide, full-boxed rails up front, a reinforced C-channel under the cab, and an open C-channel beneath the bed.
SMOOTH RIDE
A double A-arm suspension relies on coil-over spring-shock units, and a front-mounted steering rack decreases the overall turning diameter while enhancing feel and response. Staggered shocks mounted outboard of trapezoidal-mounted leaf springs in the rear suspension, help improve control of the rear axle. Spring rates are tuned to help the vehicle maintain a flat stance even fully loaded. Both models roll on 18-inch styled, steel wheels.
Two choices of the i-Force V8 engine place customization beneath the hood. The standard 4.6-liter i-force V8 creates 310 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, and 327 lb-ft of peak torque at 3,400 rpm. The 5.7-liter i-Force V8 produces 381 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, and 401 lb-ft of peak torque at 3,600 rpm. Both engines use an aluminum cylinder block, double overhead-cam heads with four valves per cylinder, dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence, and an Acoustic Control Induction System. The SR and SR5 are equipped with 6-speed electronically controlled automatic transmissions.
TOW PACKAGE
Towing isn’t taxing when it’s done with a Tundra. Teamed with the 5.7-liter V8, the Tow Hitch Receiver and Tow Package offer a maximum certified tow capacity of up to 10,200 pounds. A single-piece Towing Receiver uses 12 high-strength bolts to integrate into the truck’s frame. The Tow Package upgrades Tundra’s cooling and electrical systems, while integrated engine and transmission oil coolers, along with an added heavy-duty battery and alternator, assist the powertrain in handling the demands of a full load.
A backup camera is standard, and select 5.7-liter models have heated and power outside tow mirrors, with available turn-signal indicators, and manual-extend features.
COMFORTABLE AND STRONG
Inside the cabin, soft-touch surfaces, detailed seat stitching, and highly granulated paint on the center cluster provide comfortable surroundings with a durable feel. Windshield and windows are manufactured of High Solar Energy Absorbing (HSEA) glass, which helps filter out solar heat and UV rays that can be harmful to cabin materials.
Tundra’s dashboard gauges are grouped so that they’re easy to see, and a center-mounted multi-information display screen helps keep drivers in charge. The console provides multiple storage areas, and both models come with Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, a standard windshield wiper de-icer, front and rear mudguards, and power windows and door locks.
SAFETY EXPLAINED
And while strength and comfort are important, safety is premium, and the TSS-P helps drivers maintain control in potentially dangerous circumstances. The TSS-P’s Lane Departure Alert (LDA) uses a camera which detects white and yellow lane markers in front of the truck, and the Tundra’s relative position on the road. If the vehicle begins to deter from its lane, the driver is notified with audio and video alerts.
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) helps drivers maintain a consistent speed as does traditional cruise control. In addition, DRCC features a distance-control mode that adjusts the speed, within a set range, if the truck approaches another from behind that is traveling more slowly. It automatically decelerates the Tundra without disengaging cruise control.
The Automatic High Beams (AHB) feature uses a camera to detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles, and taillights of vehicles ahead on the road, then switches between high beams and low beams automatically.
Put all this together, and the 2018 Tundra’s toughness, capabilities, comfort, and safety add up to a truck with some big appeal.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Find out more about the 2018 Toyota Tundra’s various models, visit www.toyota.com.
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MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS: OCTOBER 2017 ISSUE
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