SEMA Preview: TRD builds a heavy-duty Toyota Tundra

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SEMA Preview: TRD builds a heavy-duty Toyota Tundra

Posted Oct 21st 2007 9:32AM by Alex Nunez (http://www.autoblog.com/bloggers/alex-nunez)
Filed under: Concept Cars (http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/), SEMA (http://www.autoblog.com/category/sema/), Trucks/Pickups (http://www.autoblog.com/category/trucks/), Toyota (http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/)

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/10/trdtundrahauler.jpg (http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/autoshows/sema2007/toyota/adbreakpic.html)

Everybody had a good laugh at Toyota's expense when Jalopnik (http://jalopnik.com/cars/pickup-trucks/toyota-at-texas-state-fair-to-race-leaving-towing-to-chevy-304526.php) posted photos of a Chevy Silverado HD lugging the Toyota Tundra race team's transporter (http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/28/toyota-tundra-race-team-wears-bowtie-to-texas-state-fair/) to the Texas State Fair. If the mean-lookin' SEMA concept shown above is an indication, however, maybe Toyota isn't planning on having to wipe egg from its face much longer. The image comes from a print ad running in the current issue of AutoWeek, and the rig pulling the race trailer is a Tundra Double Cab prepared by TRD for heavy hauling (http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56379#). It boasts a custom suspension, 17" wheels wrapped in 37-inch tires, a front end graced by a custom bumper with an integrated winch, and a revised grille surround that deletes that silly fake intake the production Tundras come with. Power comes from a blown version of the truck's (http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56379#) 5.7L V8 making 500 horses, and TRD hopes to have that supercharger available as a dealer-installed accessory soon. Mike Levine at PickupTruck.com (http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/autoshows/sema2007/toyota/adbreakpic.html) has also heard rumors of a dually HD Tundra concept, but that's not mentioned in the ad, which you can see a full scan (http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc84/tonylop33/Tundra/scan0001.jpg?t=1192773901) of at TundraSolutions.com (http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/tundra/114361-sema-tow-rig-concept/). We'll just have to wait and see what else Toyota brings to SEMA on the truck side of things, and our crack squad of bloggers on-site will bring you tons of coverage from the show floor.

[Source: PickupTruck.com]

It would be even better if it was a production vehicle.

A TRD blower has got me thinking about a lowered Tundra 2WD shortbox...

i hope that 500 hp ain't a typo:eek:

500 hp and a body made out of straws. Excellent combo.

500 hp and a body made out of straws. Excellent combo.

An anology made out of poo. Excellent comment.

An anology made out of poo. Excellent comment.
Careful now, the tailgate might bubble up and pop. I'm a Toyota fan, but when I see shit, ima poke at it with a stick from a 100yards away. Right now, I see shit, im poking at it, wait, look, it snapped a camshaft.

I hope Toyotas getting the message. Yes, even the Toyota fans that actually have a brain to think with are upset at Toyotas let down in quality. The Quality King is now a queen. What a disappointment. Only Toyotas I can recommend is the old ones pretty much.

Yes, even the Toyota fans that actually have a brain to think with are upset at Toyotas let down in quality.

Let me know if you know any.

Let me know if you know any.trust me, I know a bunch. And if you can't see that Toyotas quality has slipped big time, then your not one of them.

All I have to say is a truck is DAM TRUCK!!!! My Tacoma is so dam destroyed I dont know what to say. Its been through so much shit I'm surprised everything hasnt fallen off (eventhough it has). But seriously treat the truck like a truck and don't be a "showfag".

I bet the tranny and camshaft problem came from people thinking "lets floor it and see how fast it is" and I bet the truck wasnt broken in yet.

I'm probably running my mouth...and don't know what I'm saying. Sorry

All I have to say is a truck is DAM TRUCK!!!! My Tacoma is so dam destroyed I dont know what to say. Its been through so much shit I'm surprised everything hasnt fallen off (eventhough it has). But seriously treat the truck like a truck and don't be a "showfag".

I bet the tranny and camshaft problem came from people thinking "lets floor it and see how fast it is" and I bet the truck wasnt broken in yet.

I'm probably running my mouth...and don't know what I'm saying. Sorry
The problem is the original Hilux, the first generation Tacoma, the T100 and 1st generation Tundra are all stout trucks. This new truck might have a good suspension to handle some heavy duty abuse, but I don't think the transmission and body will be able to put up with all this abuse since they rushed this truck into production.

They weren't in a hurry to rush the first gen Tundra. Its still one of the toughest trucks.

The problem is the original Hilux, the first generation Tacoma, the T100 and 1st generation Tundra are all stout trucks. This new truck might have a good suspension to handle some heavy duty abuse, but I don't think the transmission and body will be able to put up with all this abuse since they rushed this truck into production.

They weren't in a hurry to rush the first gen Tundra. Its still one of the toughest trucks.


very true. I do believe the truck was rushed. Your also right about the body not being able to take abuse, but I do think the tranny is awesome......only after it is broken in.

very true. I do believe the truck was rushed. Your also right about the body not being able to take abuse, but I do think the tranny is awesome......only after it is broken in.I do blame the lead foot consumers for not letting the tranny break in too. I seen people litterally take them off the showroom floor and just start doing brake stands and fishtailing them. A guy on Tundra solutions put a rack on his bed and the bed bent downwards from behind the cab from all the weight. Your can't use thin sheet metal for the bed, thats the most part of a truck that gets abused. Even the first gen Tacoma takes a shit load of abuse. I see them abused day in day out. The 2nd Generation Tacos and Tundras aren't representing the Toyota work trucks like the previous generation trucks.

I would say cost cutting measures to blame for this...at least one of the reasons. There is no excuse in a work truck to be this flimsy. Shame on you Toyota, you should know better especially since they have been building trucks for so long.

I would say cost cutting measures to blame for this...at least one of the reasons. There is no excuse in a work truck to be this flimsy. Shame on you Toyota, you should know better especially since they have been building trucks for so long.
Agreed. Thats not the only thing, Very flimsy = alota cost cutting and add to that a very very hefty price tag, Toyotas trying to sell tons of Tundras and wants tons of profits and doesn't care about the consumer. Not good. If I were them and I knew I was entering a danger zone like the full size pickup market, I would've made sure everything on this Tundra was like the old one, but this time, way better. I would pick apart the competitions trucks and see what makes them work, and then build the Tundra better than theres in every way.

Toyota has alot of experience in building heavy duty vehicles, this truck is a big exception.