Click here to view the embedded video.

Not quite sure how useful these logo projectors would be besides creating a cool effect when the doors open at night. However, if you are really into modding your truck, we can certainly see all sorts of cool applications for them.

If these aren’t your thing, how about different reverse lights?

Click here to view the embedded video.

And the last one, we found deals with upgrading your fog lights. This is an interesting yet useful idea for drivers in certain driving situations.

Click here to view the embedded video.

They have created a Youtube channel and you can follow them for all their headlight modifications. The company, Headlight Revolution, seems to carry a large assortment of different headlights and modification information, check out their website.

What do you think, anything catch your eye?

The post Toyota Tundra Headlight Modifications – Headlight Revolution appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.

The used truck market is hot right now and so is the Tundra. Surprised? We didn’t think so.

Dixon told Automotive News:

“We expect large pickups to be one of the better-performing segments for the year,” Dixon says. “They’ve got a couple of things going for them. Used supply is still fairly low relative to where we were just a few years ago [as a result] of reductions in production and retail sales going back to high gasoline prices in 2008.

“You also have the growth and improvement in the housing market.”

Most analysts agree that used-vehicle prices peaked in March and the market will start to stablizie soon. However, the car market is expected to recede much faster than the truck market. This is due to seasonal deprecation patterns and rising/falling of gasoline prices.

Further demonstrating their point, Automotive News created the chart below using NADA numbers.

This chart shows how much better the Tundra holds its resale value. Chart courtesy of Automotive News.

Tundra owners have known for years that the truck has a high resale value and charts and stories like these reinforce that fact. The truth is that while the Tundra doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the competitors (active grille shutters, lighter weight frames, etc…) it is simply one durable and dependable truck. This is great for owners who are looking to have a vehicle that runs for a long time.

Most analysts and industry experts continue to believe that used truck residual values will remain high. With the new cars exceedingly full of plastic and less durable than past versions, trucks keep on running for years.

What do you think? Are you surprised by these numbers?

Related Posts:

• 2011 Truck Depreciation Data and Resale Value Facts
• Kelly Blue Book Declares Tundra Has Best Full-Size Truck Resale Value
• Tundra Resale Value Reigns Supreme…Again

The post Used Toyota Tundra Price Increases – Holds Value Better Than Others appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.

The Monster Jam Toyota Tundra was part of the event at Sandy Hook Fire and Rescue. From left are Pat Summa, Rebecca Kowalski, and Steve Zion at the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue main station on Saturday, May 4. Photo Credit, The Newtown Bee.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The event was presented with no charge for visitors and T-shirts were sold to raise money for the Chase Kowalski Memorial Fund – a student who died in Sandy Hook shootings.

Pretty cool!

Related Posts:

• Tundra Monster Truck Makes Friends, Crushes the Competition
• Featured – Crushing for the Cure Monster Truck

The post Monster Jam Toyota Tundra Visits Sandy Hook appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.

Truck and Miami Dolphin fan Willie Gaines has created a one-of-a-kind Toyota Tundra.

This truck immediately grabbed our attention through the amazing amount of vision and attention to detail from owner Willie Gaines. He said he took his vision to the experts at many shops including Phaze 3 Kustoms located in Florence, SC (Paint & Body Work); Ultimate Audio located in Lexington, SC (Audio/Video & Lighting); Rags II Riches Upholstery located in Lexington, SC; and Freeman’s Car Stereo located in Rock Hill, SC (Electrical Wiring, Lighting, & Audio). In the end, all of this hard work and vision resulted in a work of art.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Gaines says the 2007 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Limited has:

• Custom Painted Miami Dolphins Theme
• Color Match Painted Interior parts
• Vertical Front Doors (VDInc)
• Color Matched Eyelids on headlights
• T-Rex Blk Powdercoated Sport Grill
• Slotted & Dented Rotors/Painted Calipers
• 2” Front 5” Rear McGaughy Lowering Kit & Shocks
• 26” Lexani LX-10 wheels with 305/30/26 tires (3-Tone)
• Fully Customized Miami Dolphins Suede/Ostrich/Leather Interior
• Custom Miami Dolphins Toddler Seat
• Powdercoated/engraved radiator cover & Sill Protectors
• Kenwood DNX 9960 eXcelon 2-DIN Nav System with Built-in Bluetooth/Backup Camera
• Shaved antenna w/ interior antenna
• Color Matched JL W6 10” Subs in Custom Leather Wrapped Fiberglass Enclosure
• Rear Bench Seat converted to Bucket Seats
• 1 Kenwood 4ch Amp on Highs
• All Kenwood eXcelon Interior Speakers
• (2) JL Splash 500/1 Amps & Stinger Battery
• (2) 10.5 in TV monitors in Headrests
• Viper Alarm w/ Remote Start/Windows
• Custom Center Console
• Billet Shifter
• Functional Ram Air Hood
• Paint Matched Engine Cover and Fuse Box Cover
• K&N 77 Series Intake
• 1 Optima Battery
• 8000K HID’s (Low Beams and Fogs)
• Amber Street Glow LED Underbody Kit w/ Custom Dash Toggle Switch
• Thrush Custom Exhaust
• Smoked Fogs, Tail, & 3rd Brake Lights
• Color Matched Headlight Mod
• Amber AAC Installed Halo’s w/ BHLM — FORSALE!!!(Uninstalled due 2 the horrible cust. service)
• Custom Gaylord Bed Cover w/ Fabricated Wing
• Color Matched Rear Bumper (It was Chrome)
• Bed Rug Carpet for truck bed
• Amber Vleds Throughout

Dolphins fan or not, everybody can appreciate the time and talent that went into creating this one-of-a-kind truck.

We want to give a special mention to the people over at Xpensive Habitz. Their fan club and website helped us immensely in producing this post.

What do you think? Is this one special truck or what?

The post 2007 Miami Dolphin Toyota Tundra – Featured Truck appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.

What should a truck consumer do? Buy now or wait until after the CAFE regulations.

For many Toyota fans, the 2014 Tundra is/was a bust in terms of new power train improvements. And many of these fans are predicting changes in engine offerings and transmission choices in 2016. This makes a lot of sense when you look at past Toyota product improvement roll outs, but it also makes a LOT of sense when you consider the new CAFE regulations will affect 2016 model year vehicles.

In case you didn’t know, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards got a big boost when on December 19, 2007, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act. This act originally set the standard for 35 mpg by 2020 and was the first big step in strengthening the CAFE standards that were first enacted in 1975. In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration formally switched to a “footprint” equation to evaluate MPG standards. In 2009, President Barrack Obama directed the NHTSA to review the standards passed in 2007 and improve on them as needed. This is where we are at today. Automakers need to improve 2016 model year pickups, by 8-10 percent MPG or be hit with fines.

This begs the question, do you buy a 2014 model when the 2016 model could have significant power train improvements? Or is it foolish to think that the 2016 CAFE regulations will have any impact on the light-duty full-size Toyota Tundra? Will automakers simply use credits from other vehicles to offset full-size truck being over the limits?

We thought we would address these questions in a unique way. Here then is a Q&A with Tundraheadquarters.com editor Jason Lancaster and Associate Editor Tim Esterdahl. Tim asks the questions:

Q. The new vehicles are projected to cost a few thousand dollars more, yet with 8-10 percent more fuel savings (if not more). Payback period could be 3.5 years or so (EPA official said this). Is it worth it to wait and buy a new fuel efficient model?

A. It’s a great question. The trouble with a higher up-front costs isn’t just the cost of the vehicle – it’s the additional sales tax, additional finance charges, and the increased complexity (and subsequent increase in repair and maintenance costs).

As far as Tundra and Tacoma are concerned, now is the time to buy. The new trucks (which might not actually hit until 2018, as Toyota has lots of EPA credits built-up) will be more expensive and probably not any more capable.

Additionally, there’s never been a better time to lease a new truck. Not only are residual values sky-high, but you’ve got a chance to choose between buying your own lease return or a fancy new truck…it’s a smart option for anyone thinking about buying a new truck.

Q. If the new vehicles promise a big MPG increase, could the CAFE regulations cause a downturn in the auto industry (more people waiting, not buying)?

A. Perhaps, only automakers usually respond to cautious consumers by lowering prices, increasing incentives, etc.

Additionally, the economy is expected to be fully recovered in the next year or two, and that’s going to drive sales. People with cash in hand hate to wait.

Q.  Does anybody care about the 2015 models? Why would you buy a 2015 when in 2016 you will probably get the same model with better MPG.

A. I think we’ll see the biggest changes in 2017 and 2018 – don’t think anyone is going to come out with the new product until the very last minute. We might not even see some changes until 2020.

Keep in mind that EPA credits are available on the market (Honda can sell their credits to Ford, for example, to help offset Ford truck sales) and that paying fines might be an acceptable option for Ford, GM, and Ram (at least in the short term). If Ford coughs up $100 million in EPA fines, but sells 600k trucks, that’s a penalty of $167 per truck sold…that’s a lower cost per vehicle than using aluminum magnesium alloy, investing in direct injection, etc.

Don’t get me wrong – I don’t think automakers are going to pay fines in the long run – but it might be OK to pay fines for a few years. Ram, for example, could just pay fines while Ford and GM hash out the new technology…then sweep in and buy the same technology off the shelf without investing in any R&D. Their trucks aren’t as fuel efficient, but they’re also less expensive, and some buyers prefer them because they’re “simpler.”

So in other words the timeline is still up in the air.

Q.  Are we going to see a slump in cars sales next year with the wait and see approach?

A. Probably not. Consumers buy when they have the money, not when it’s rational.

What do you think? Do you have questions for Jason that weren’t asked? Comment below and he will answer them.

Related Posts:

• U.S. Finalizes Higher 2025 Fuel Economy Standards
• 2015 Toyota Tundra What to Expect – 2014 Shortfalls?
• EPA: 4-Cylinder, 8-Speed Turbocharged Toyota Tundra in 2025

The post 2014 Toyota Tundra Buy or Wait – CAFE Regulations appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.

This is what happens when you screw up a truck commercial. You’re truck is swept out to sea.

This photo pretty much sums it up.

As the story goes from Lost Coast Outpost, a production crew filming a new Ram commercial paid to have exclusive access to a pristine part of the Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California. As environmentalists showed concern about the situation and raised a fuss being how the beach had been closed to 4-wheelers and trucks for quite a while, they noticed the truck was stuck in the sand and rocks.

With concerned residents looking on and altering the local sheriffs office, the tide came in and swept the Ram truck out to sea. Now the helpless film crew could only look on with dismay.

Whether or not you agree with the environmental fuss over the situation, the good part is that these concerned residents were able to take some amazing photos of the truck in the ocean.

The full-size truck looks pretty small compared to Mother Nature.

Fortunately, for everyone, this story has a happy ending as a tow truck arrived and was able to rescue the truck. It is unknown if any fluids or oils from the truck leaked into the ocean.

Someone had the foresight to film the recovery. Enjoy it below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

One thing is for sure though. The ocean one, Ram “tough truck” zero.

Related Posts:

• Press Fleet Ram Catches Fire – Worker Sabotage To Blame?
• Chrysler Workers Deliberately Sabotage Ram Production – Quality Issues?
• American’s Most Dangerous Pickup – Dodge Ram 1500

The post Ram Truck Commercial Blunder – Swept Out to Sea appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.

Does your 2010-13 Toyota Tundra have some excess windshield stripping showing? Now there is a TSB to address this issue.

The windshield dam loose/visible T-SB-0040-13 is for pickups with this problem. Toyota explains that some of these trucks may exhibit a “condition where a deformed windshield dam, or some weatherstrip may be loose between the A-pillar garnish and windshield glass. Normally, the windshield dam is not visible and is only necessary for production. Over time, the dam adhesive may lose adhesion and deform. There is no functional concern with the windshield sealing and there is no need to replace or reseal the windshield if there are no complaints of water/air leaks.”

This TSB applies to only the models produced BEFORE the production change effective VINs below.

Like other TSBs this repair is covered under the Toyota Basic Warranty of 36 months or 36,000 miles whichever comes first. It is also limited to only the repair described below.

The repair process is as follows:
1. Confirm the dam is loose.
2. Remove the front pillar garnish by removing the two claws and two assist grip plugs.

3. Using scissors or a utility knife cut the center section of the dam and tuck in the loose ends

4. Reassemble the vehicle.
5. Verify that the windshield dam is no longer visible.

With any repair, if you don’t completely comfortable doing it on your own, it is STRONGLY recommended you visit your local Toyota dealership to have this issue taken care of.

Anybody have this happen to them? Is it just annoying or have you noticed anything else?

The post 2010-13 Toyota Tundra Loose Windshield Dam – TSB appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.

What is the better fuel economy strategy when it is hot – A/C or windows down? Research has finally answered this question.

The researchers at Oak Ridge Laboratory have looked at whether you get better MPG with the A/C on or windows rolled down. The colloquial wisdom has been that running the A/C taxes the engine and burns more fuel. While the window down argument is that you are essentially creating more wind resistance thus burning more fuel. Who is right? Both apparently.

The researchers tested a 2009 Toyota Corolla and Ford Explorer on a “Burke Porter 300-hp (224-kW) two-wheel-drive dynamometer” inside a laboratory that is ”climate-controlled, and the testing was done at 95°F (35°C).” Originally, the idea was to do the testing on public roads, but likelihood of “too much variation from such factors as humidity, wind direction, and grade (and the resulting transmission shifting activity) over the period of time necessary to provide enough data.”

The findings reported on SAE.org have found that:

1. At speeds below 75mph, rolling down the windows is more fuel efficient on both vehicles tested (a Corolla and a Ford Explorer)
2. At speeds above 75mph, A/C was more fuel efficient on the Corolla, but was NOT more fuel efficient on the Explorer. The reason? The large cabin in the Explorer was hard to cool adequately.

Here is the research chart Oak Ridge Laboratories created explaining their findings.

The bottom line: Tundra owners should probably drive with their windows down all the time if they’re trying to save gas. Car owners, however, can drive with their windows up when they’re on the highway without fear of wasting gas.

What do you think? Do you agree with these findings?

Related Posts:

• Tundra Fuel Economy: 7 Ways To Improve your Tundra MPG
• The Tonneau Cover Fuel Economy MYTH
• Advertised Fuel Economy Lies Growing Larger

The post Toyota Tundra Best Fuel Economy – A/C or Windows Down appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.

Will turbocharged engines like this Ford EcoBoost engine come standard in all 2025 Toyota Tundra pickups? The EPA says yes.

Speaking at the recent SAE World Congress,  Edward Nam, director of the EPA’s Light Duty Vehicles & Small Engines Center in Ann Arbor, MI said that the current turbochargers generally are “limited to 261 psi (18 bar) of brake mean effective pressure, but that 348-psi (24-bar) units will be in the market by 2016 and used widely by 2025,” according to WardsAuto.com.

The mean effective pressure is a measure of the average pressure over a cycle in the combustion chamber of the engine. By creating more pressure with less engine, the vehicle is more fuel efficient.

By building and creating more powerful turbochargers the CAFE regulations will be more reachable for all manufactures. Nam says that 90 percent of all vehicles will have them paired with 8-speed transmissions.

“We believe turbochargers will improve over time, and we believe engines will be able to improve over time,” Nam told WardsAuto.

The improvement in turbocharged engines will ultimately create smaller and smaller displacement engines such as a 392-psi (27-bar) model.

“So that means that a vehicle like a Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado (pickup truck) being run with a 4-cyl. engine,” Nan told WardsAuto.

The growth in turbocharged engines has been dramatic with Ford products who seemingly believe they are indeed the future. As we have documented though, there is some long-term concern about durability as well as questions over real-world fuel economy numbers (see: Consumer Reports story and video below).

Click here to view the embedded video.

If we are too believe the EPA fuel economy stats for turbocharged engines (raise your hand if you do … didn’t think so), these engines could save 4 billion barrels of oil and slash greenhouse-gas emissions by 2.2 billion tons (2 billion t) between 2017 and 2025.

While that is nice, the numbers consumers care about are fuel savings. Nan believes this will translate into a lifetime fuel savings for consumers around $5,700 to $7,400. He bases these numbers on the fuel efficiency of smaller engines and the current gas price of $3.87 per gallon.

Keep in mind though that the new CAFE regulations WILL make vehicles more expensive. Nan says that number should be around $1,800 more compared to the 2016 prices. This wild guess puts the average payback period of 3.5 years when buying a new vehicle.

It isn’t just going to cost consumers though, automakers are expected to shell out a combined $136 billion in costs to meet these new regulations.

Apparently, the EPA doesn’t think just a simple turbocharger will get the vehicles to obtain better MPG. The increases in electric and hybrid vehicles should help as well. Yet, Nan says their estimates are that less than 3 percent of vehicles in the market in 2025 will have a plug-in.

“We believe most auto makers should be able to meet the standards largely through advancements in internal-combustion engines and improvements in emissions,” Nan told WardsAuto. There’s a wide range of technologies available to help meet the standards.”

These advancements will come in the way of an increase in diesels, improved aerodynamics, and improved tires that have better rolling resistance.

All of this translates into a light-duty, full-size truck market that has an incredibly similar aerodynamic look. The reality is that from a designers standpoint a truck is a box and there are only so many things you can do to make it look original while being aerodynamic. These trucks will either have a turbocharged or diesel engine, 8- or 9- speed transmissions and improved exhaust systems.

What do you think? Do you agree with the EPA that turbocharged engines are the future? Your turn, sound off below.

Related Posts:

• Ford F-150 EcoBoost Problems: Shuddering, Power Loss & Limp Mode
• Ford EcoBoost Turbo Replacement Cost? About $2250
• Ford Sued Over EcoBoost Fuel-Injection System

The post EPA: 4-Cylinder, 8-Speed Turbocharged Toyota Tundra in 2025 appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.

I’ve always tried to educate the people who make these statements, explaining that 1) most “domestic” cars aren’t nearly as domestic as they think and that 2) some Toyotas (and Nissans and what have you) are designed, built, and sourced in the USA (like the Tundra).

Yet sometimes this info falls on deaf ears.

So, instead of detailed explanations about where Toyota’s profits go or numerous examples of supposedly imported products winning “most American” awards, I’m just going to talk about two numbers:

-266,536

and

+74,885

The first number? The number of workers fired or laid off by GM, Chrylser-Fiat, and Ford since the year 2000. The second? Workers hired by Toyota, Nissan, Daimler etc.*

*Numbers according to Automotive News

266,536 Jobs Lost?!

It’s appalling to me that the three stalwarts of the American auto industry can lay off 266,000 employees, yet still have ardent defenders. How can anyone talk about buying an “American Made” product from Ford, GM, or Chrysler-Fiat under the guise of supporting the American worker? Those three companies put more than a quarter of a million workers in the street since the year 2000.

To put that number in perspective:

• If each of these 266,536 people earned an average of $60,000 a year, that’s nearly $16 billion in lost wages per year.
• If each of these 266,536 people collected $2,000 a month in unemployment benefits for a period of 18 months before finding a new job, that’s $9.5 billion in government provided benefits to workers who GM, Ford, and Chyrsler-Fiat fired or laid off.
• If each of these 266,536 lost jobs supported 2-3 additional jobs each (school teachers, store clerks, dealerships, etc.), this 266,000 job “contraction” could have actually been about 1 million jobs lost.

Now I realize that GM, Ford, and Chrysler-Fiat were bloated, poorly managed corporations that had to lay off workers in order to stay competitive. It’s called “capitalism,” and I’m all for it.

However, explain to me how it makes sense to be loyal to a group of companies that laid off 266,536 people over the last decade (or so) under the premise of supporting your fellow Americans…cause I don’t get it.

Fortunately, “Imports” Hired 74,885 North Americans

While Ford, GM, and Chrysler-Fiat were busy laying off workers, Toyota, Nissan, Daimler, and others were busy hiring people by the thousands. About 75 thousands, to be precise.

Toyota in particular opened three new auto plants since 2005:

• TMMTX in San Antonio, which builds Tundras and Tacomas
• TMMC in Woodstock, Ontario, which builds Rav4s
• TMMMS in Blue Springs, Mississipi, which builds the Corolla

Is this proof that Toyota is good and Ford, GM, and Chrysler-Fiat are bad? No. It’s just evidence that the whole “I only buy cars made by American companies cause’ I believe in the American worker” argument is nonsense, at least if you think that only your average Ford, GM, or Chrysler-Fiat product is made by the American worker.

Blind loyalty to Ford, GM, and Chrysler-Fiat is mystifying to me for a lot of reasons…this one of them.

The post How Can Anyone Be Loyal To The “Domestics” When They’ve Laid Off Thousands? appeared first on Tundra Headquarters Blog.