One serious truck
By Bill Zervakos
With
the introduction of the all-new Tundra in 2007 there was no doubt that
Toyota had, with apologies to Emeril Lagasse, kicked it up a notch and
became a serious player in the full-size pickup market.With a philosophy
of making a good thing better, Toyota added the Double Cab and Crew Max
trims in 2008. I had an opportunity to spend a week in a 4X4 Crew Max
and I’m here to tell you, this is one serious truck.
I’m quick to point out that I’m not your typical truck guy and in truth, I wasn’t really looking forward to “herding” a big truck around town but I have to say, once behind the wheel, my opinion changed in a hurry. Now, that said, I still prefer something with a bit more of, shall we say a fun quotient, than a pickup but the 5.7 liter V8 i-Force engine with 381 horsepower 401 lb-ft of torque makes the Tundra one of the fastest full-size pickups I’ve ever driven, ergo I acknowledge that there is indeed an element of fun quotient to enjoy.
Outfitters
and guides, with their special needs for hauling customers, gear, trailers,
horses and the like, will find the Tundra to be the solution for their
needs. In fact, taking customers to the water or to base camp is almost
like a limousine experience. The rear passenger seats recline and a 9-inch
DVD player swings down and can play hunting or fishing videos. The wireless
headphones add to the creature comfort of this amazing truck.
With a GVWR of 7000 lbs and a towing capacity of 10,400 lbs the Tundra is a hefty truck and I was very pleasantly surprised at how well the big truck rode and handled unloaded, because I was sure the ride would be noticeably rigid, but it was actually very smooth. The brake pedal had great feel with very even action and the Electronic Brake Distribution really helped bring the Tundra to a smooth secure stop.
Getting
in and out of the Crew Max really requires a step rail unless you’re
a heck of a lot taller than I am, but once inside you’ll find a very
functional, albeit far from Spartan, interior. One of the first things
I noticed was the size of the controls. They were large and easy to understand
and use. According to Toyota, that was done because so many workers wear
gloves while driving and they wanted the controls to be easy to operate
without having to take the gloves off. The back seat area is almost as
roomy as a full size sedan, with plenty of leg and headroom and the Crew
Max doors open wide for easy entry and exit. The center console is more
of a desk than a console with plenty of storage space and even a place
for hanging files and computer storage space.
All of that is fine
and good but since I’m not the outdoorsy type,I asked some of my
more “manly” friends to ride with me and tell me their thoughts
on the Tundra. Bottom line was that to a man, and one woman by the way,
they were all impressed with the thought that had gone into developing
the Tundra, and specifically the Crew Max. They 
appreciated
the large outside mirrors, gauges that were very easy to read and the
aforementioned controls. The backup camera was a huge success making hitching
up trailers easy even for a citified boy like me. And they also liked
the Obstacle Detection System which really helps navigating the big truck
in tight spaces. Another hit was the tailgate’s Assisted Hinge System
that makes opening and closing the tailgate very easy and the tailgate
is also easy to remove if you so desire.
So, if you actually need a big brawny truck with comfort and proven durability, (and what outfitter or guide doesn’t?) the Tundra Crew Max may be just what you’re looking for. Check one out I think you’ll be surprised. I know I was.
For more reviews go to www.twofortheroadusa.com
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