This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi All-
Funny, I made that fantastic journey to and from Oregon, rode and drove my butt off etc., and came home refreshed. Now after 2 days of my regular life I'm exhausted! Go figure... I promised a full report on my new Toyota Tundra, and here it is. In my opinion, it passed all tests with flying colors. Around town it is comfortable, quiet, and looks cool (important for me when meeting clients etc.). On the trip, it rode like a dream. I didn't even know the trailer was there, except for on very steep uphill climbs. Then, all I had to do was accelerate a little and no problem. The cruise control is awesome. I set it between 55-65 depending on the terrain, and all I had to do was steer. (Safety note, suggested to me by several folks, don't use cruise control when you're tired.) The braking was great. Doesn't have ABS, but I know how to gradually use my brakes to avoid trouble. Even after driving 500+ miles at a stretch, all functions were in top shape. No overheating, trouble starting, or other problems I'm used to with older/smaller vehicles. Gas mileage averaged 15mpg. With gas in our area rising to $2.50+ a gallon, that's not great, but it's still good for such a large powerful vehicle. I opted for the "access cab" since, as a professional pet sitter, I carry lots of stuff and need it at hand yet not on the floor/seat. The back seats will accomodate a normal size human, and the 60/40 bench flips up to reveal storage space (pet sitter key hiding area). There is also a flip-down drink/snack holder for the passengers (pet sitter paperwork hiding area). I opted for the front "captain chairs" instead of the bench. It looks nice and is quite comfortable. Also, you get a storage bin with two compartments and drink/snack holders between the seats. The bed is 6 feet. If you buy the single cab it is 8 feet. My cart fits perfectly, as will most. The width of the bed is 60-some inches. (for all specs and msrp, go to www.toyota.com. "Build your own" Toyota is fun, just remember that dealers carry what is popular so you may not find exactly the combination of options you pick. And, the stick shift is virtually nonexistant.) In any case, we fit one cart, one bale of hay, one dog in a crate, and miscellaneous items with room to spare. Probably could have put more, but I was afraid of my precious riding/driving clothes blowing away on I-5! As for the towing hitch, Toyota will install it for approx $350, but that doesn't include brakes. So you're better off just having the whole thing done at your trailer shop. My shop did hitch & brake controls for $475. They also refurbished my trailer last year, so they know all my fittings, towing weight, etc. I chose the 4X2 model since I'll likely never drive through a creek like in the commercials. 4X2 and 4X4 are the same in regards to ground clearance & suspension, so "rough" roads, gravel, dirt etc. are not a problem. We drove through just about every kind, including a bumpy, rocky, weed-clump lot that Dad thought was a shortcut to Wal-Mart (it wasn't). Well that's all I can think of for now. Feel free to ask any questions, or check Toyota's web site for specific measurements. In my opinion you get a lot for your dollar in this truck. Happy Fjord Hauling, Brigid M Wasson San Francisco Bay Area, CA <A HREF="http://ourfjords.freeservers.com/fjord1/Our_Fjordsx.html";>Our Fjords </A>
