It’s been a long time since Toyota has come out with an all-new Tundra. Luckily, the current model can still get things done off-road.
There was once a time when the Toyota Tundra was the new kid in town. It rolled in with a huge front grille, a stout 5.7-liter V8, and a message for Ford, Dodge, and Chevy: Toyota can make big and badass pickups, too.
That was a long time ago, though. Since then, Ford has switched its F-150 to a lightweight aluminum body, Nissan has produced an all-new Titan, and Ram has sold a lot of diesel-powered 1500s. Come 2019, both Chevy and Ram will have brand new trucks on the market. Toyota has facelifted the Tundra (it most recently did that for the 2018 model year) and gradually incorporated improvements along the way, but where does the Tundra line up against its competitors these days, particularly off-road? That’s what The Fast Lane Truck sets out to discover in the above video.
The guys at the popular Youtube channel previously tried to drive a Tundra TRD Pro to the top of a challenging, snow-covered uphill stretch of terrain in Colorado, but were unsuccessful. Even with its fancy shocks, it just couldn’t get through the thick white powder. TFL Truck‘s newest test rig, the Tundra 1794 TRD 4X4 Off-Road, has a comfortable, leather-lined interior and an as-tested price that’s much lower than what its competitors typically ask, although with its big gas V8 and a dated six-speed automatic, it has a comparatively old-school thirst for fossil fuel. For off-road driving, it’s equipped with all-terrain tires, trail-tuned Bilstein shocks, and engine and fuel tank skid plates.
TFL Truck doesn’t take the 1794 up the most difficult trail nearby because it would be impossible to scale with most other trucks during the winter anyway. Instead, it points the Tundra’s nose toward Gold Mine Hill. Its tire treads filled with snow, the Tundra clunks and climbs its way up the uneven earth.
Clearly, there’s still plenty to love about the Tundra. However, what we’d love even more is an all-new model. It’s been a long time. Too long.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
