With the approaching arrival of Toyota’s full-size “pick-up” Tundra on our truthful shores in Australia, our ideas have turned as to if or not this factor may very well be used as a tow rig. Our companion magazine Unsealed4X4 truly took one for a drive late final yr, together with a fast tow take a look at, and got here away mightily impressed. You’ll be able to try Unsealed’s first impressions of it right here:
On paper, this factor is constructed to tow. It’s reduce from related material to the RAM, Silverado and Ford F-Vans. Heavy-duty 4X4s for heavy-duty use. Large frames, massive engines, massive tow scores, and massive consolation all mashed into totally different meals cooked from virtually the identical recipes. Nonetheless, the Toyota Tundra is a brand new launch in Australia and is basically unproven. Plus, it doesn’t are available a diesel variant. And it doesn’t also have a V8 (gasp!).
Will it deal with Aussie situations?
Okay, okay. It’s hardly all unhealthy. The truth is, all of these obvious negatives are literally not unhealthy information in any respect. Let’s begin with the Toyota Tundra’s readiness for the cruel situations of Australia. Firstly, Tundras have been out there over right here as non-public imports for fairly a couple of years now and, by all accounts, have held up nicely. On prime of that, Toyota hasn’t simply slapped collectively a bodgy RHD conversion and known as it good. They’ve truly been working aspect by aspect with Australian automotive legends Walkinshaw over the previous 6 years to develop the automobile into one thing that Toyota Japan was completely happy to log out on with a full factory-backed guarantee. So, whereas it could be “unproven,” it’s a hell of a jumping-off level and can doubtless go muster with out breaking a sweat.
Is the petrol-only factor actually that unhealthy?
The Australia-Toyota Tundra is constructed on the TNGA-F platform, the identical because the 300 Collection Land Cruiser, and so they have greater than a few elements in widespread. The place the `Cruiser has a diesel, although, the Tundra cops a petrol-only 3.5L V6. It looks as if it lacks a few cylinders and perhaps 1000cc of displacement, proper?
To not fear, this engine is a beast. The dual-turbo i-FORCE MAX powerplant places down a cracking 326kW and 790Nm to the rear wheels through a 10-speed auto. That’s greater than sufficient to get even the biggest of caravans shifting with out a fear. And that’s inventory. Realizing the Australian love for getting extra from our engines, it’s not unreasonable to think about 400+kW and four-figure Newton-metres may very well be achieved with a couple of alternative upgrades.
Additionally, only for the report, it doesn’t even use that rather more gas than a contemporary diesel. Whereas towing at or close to capability, the 6.7L Cummins discovered within the RAM 2500 makes use of round 18L/100km, whereas the considerably smaller Tundra engine will use round 20L/100km. Contemplating petrol is commonly the cheaper choice, these figures solely develop into higher the extra you have a look at them.
What’s the go together with the tow-rating?
Maybe unsurprisingly, the Toyota Tundra knocks it out of the park right here, too – one other win for Australia, given how a lot we love our caravans. It’ll have the biggest attainable tow capability you may get with no need to improve your automobile licence to an LT. That’s 4500kg of hauling capability, which ought to maintain even the heaviest of trailer-owners completely happy. It’s a full tonne greater than the VDJ79 Land Cruiser or any mid-size dual-cab. These items are flat-out constructed to work laborious. We’d additionally wager that with a GVM equipment and a licence improve, you may probably go even increased, however time will inform on that one.
There’s going to be two spec-levels initially. The Restricted that’s deliberate to hit the showrooms subsequent month, and an upmarket premium mannequin, that’s on account of land early in 2025. The Restricted has 20in rims, LED lights, energy seats which are heated and ventilated, 14in touchscreen multimedia unit and a 12-speaker JBL sound system, and built-in trailer brake controller. Numerous luxurious, plenty of torque, plenty of all the things you want and a bit extra on prime. The best way it must be.
The $150,000 query
May the Toyota Tundra be the perfect manufacturing facility tow rig in Australia? The reply to that for lots of people will come right down to the value tag, which is rumoured to be simply shy of $150K earlier than on-roads. Whereas that’s not what you’d name on the finances finish of the size, you need to acknowledge that you just’re getting so much for the outlay. A Land Cruiser Sahara is analogous form of cash and may’t tow anyplace close to what the Tundra can. RAM 1500s can rise up round that mark (the 2500s are considerably extra), as can the extra truck-like Iveco Every day. General, it’s pretty cheap when in comparison with its market contemporaries.
Whereas the Toyota Tundra actually gained’t be for everybody in Australia, it carries loads of clout as a potential tow rig. We will’t wait to have one on mortgage to see if it’ll dwell as much as the hype. We’ve to say, although, issues are wanting good.
Learn subsequent: