Short box
The Tundra Double Cab is available with a 6.5- or 8.1-foot cargo bed. For this exercise, the shorter one was more than enough. Our tester's featured a bedliner and a rail system. As the pictures show, I had to secure my boxes to prevent them from moving around inside the bed. Unfortunately, the standard tie-down hooks (located at the base of each corner) are rather hard to reach while loading.
It rained for four days and I noticed that water was building up at the bottom of the bed. I wish Toyota would find a way to help owners clear the water away without having to move the vehicle. On the flip side, the tailgate is easy to manipulate thanks to a hydraulic damping system that also prevents injuries.
Trailer coupling
Coupling the trailer to the truck is easy, provided that you have someone to assist you. Rearward visibility is limited and forces the driver to make multiple back-up maneuvers when attempting to do it alone. Fortunately, there's a center mark on the inside of the tailgate to help the driver -- something I can't recall seeing on any other pickup truck. The hooks and electric wiring are easy to tie down and connect.
On the road
When the bed is empty, the rear axle has a slight tendency to hop. In this regard, Ford and GM both offer better stability. Once the bed is loaded and the trailer is hitched, the Tundra has fun. The Tow mode allows for smoother takeoffs. In the mountains, I particularly liked it because the transmission does not downshift needlessly. The power of the 5.7L V8 is appropriate for any type of duties. In fact, the engine never showed signs of running out of steam. Accelerations are strong and transitional maneuvers are performed without any mishap. Furthermore, the brakes deliver satisfying results. My cruise speed varied because I spent most of the time following my colleague, whose RV was highly affected by the violent winds of the mountains. When we came back, it was my turn to lead; I maintained a steady pace of 110 km/h and never felt destabilized. The Tundra averaged a fuel economy of 18.94 L/100 km for the entire trip, which is very reasonable given the circumstances.
Satisfaction
This tow test allowed me to appreciate the mechanical qualities of the new Tundra. I especially liked the ride comfort when loaded as well as the storage and payload capacities. The Tundra Double Cab is easy to maneuver and rightfully deserves a place in the half-ton full-size pickup truck segment.
Power and fuel economy
Efficient Tow mode
Storage
Comfort
Material selection
Rear window
Price (compared to rivals)
None
photo:Amyot Bachand
The Tundra Double Cab is available with a 6.5- or 8.1-foot cargo bed. For this exercise, the shorter one was more than enough. Our tester's featured a bedliner and a rail system. As the pictures show, I had to secure my boxes to prevent them from moving around inside the bed. Unfortunately, the standard tie-down hooks (located at the base of each corner) are rather hard to reach while loading.
 |
| Our tester featured the 6.5-foot cargo bed. |
It rained for four days and I noticed that water was building up at the bottom of the bed. I wish Toyota would find a way to help owners clear the water away without having to move the vehicle. On the flip side, the tailgate is easy to manipulate thanks to a hydraulic damping system that also prevents injuries.
Trailer coupling
Coupling the trailer to the truck is easy, provided that you have someone to assist you. Rearward visibility is limited and forces the driver to make multiple back-up maneuvers when attempting to do it alone. Fortunately, there's a center mark on the inside of the tailgate to help the driver -- something I can't recall seeing on any other pickup truck. The hooks and electric wiring are easy to tie down and connect.
On the road
When the bed is empty, the rear axle has a slight tendency to hop. In this regard, Ford and GM both offer better stability. Once the bed is loaded and the trailer is hitched, the Tundra has fun. The Tow mode allows for smoother takeoffs. In the mountains, I particularly liked it because the transmission does not downshift needlessly. The power of the 5.7L V8 is appropriate for any type of duties. In fact, the engine never showed signs of running out of steam. Accelerations are strong and transitional maneuvers are performed without any mishap. Furthermore, the brakes deliver satisfying results. My cruise speed varied because I spent most of the time following my colleague, whose RV was highly affected by the violent winds of the mountains. When we came back, it was my turn to lead; I maintained a steady pace of 110 km/h and never felt destabilized. The Tundra averaged a fuel economy of 18.94 L/100 km for the entire trip, which is very reasonable given the circumstances.
Satisfaction
This tow test allowed me to appreciate the mechanical qualities of the new Tundra. I especially liked the ride comfort when loaded as well as the storage and payload capacities. The Tundra Double Cab is easy to maneuver and rightfully deserves a place in the half-ton full-size pickup truck segment.
 |
Efficient Tow mode
Storage
Comfort
Material selection
 |
Rear window
Price (compared to rivals)
 |
None
photo:Amyot Bachand
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