Masonry Magazine February 2004 Page. 26
Trucks
There are new kids coming to play in this sandbox and the challenge will be to find the benefits in each vehicle.
The newest model, out for 2004, is the Tundra Double Cab which rides on a long 140.5-inch wheelbase, longer than the Ford F150 Super Crew. For comparison, the Tundra Regular Cab and Access Cab models ride on a 128.3-inch wheelbase.
Our test drive vehicle boasted a 4.8L V-8 rated at 240 HP coupled with a slick optional four-speed auto transmission, independent front suspension with tuned shocks, antilock power disc brakes in front, and 17-inch rims mounting 265/65R17 tires. The combination provided a ride that one driver called "Lexus-like."
In fact, the luxury level of the Tundra was actually higher than the Dodge. This is one truck that the boss can drive in comfort while hauling the replacement mixer and a stack of blocks to the job site. And you won't have to climb up on a ladder to get in the cab.
Unlike the Dodge, which had the feeling of being intimidating to other drivers, as well as the person behind the wheel, the Tundra slides along, blending in more than standing out. This isn't a bad thing if the vehicle can do the same job-haul workers, material and tools while being available to tow the usual equipment. For the most part, the Tundra has that capability.
Starting at the back, the Tundra with the optional ($430 MSRP) towing package - which consists of a Class IV hitch receiver, heavier-duty battery and alternator, transmission cooler and wiring harness-is rated at 7,000 pounds trailer weight. While less than the larger Dodge, this is adequate for most mixers and equipment trailers. Payload is also slightly less, at 1,750 pounds, but that 40 or so pounds won't be noticed-do you actually know the weight of the load of material and tools you drop into your truck?
If you're hauling a load in back say one around 2,000 pounds - the Tundra's load-sensing proportioning and bypass valve determines if the vehicle needs more braking power and directs an increase in power assist to the rear wheels. When pulling a heavy load up to its maximum, the 240 HP V-8's intake manifold increases low-end torque for efficient towing.
Some writers who specialize in testing trucks are calling the Tundra only a 7/8-size, not full-sized pickup. Still, the Tundra is longer than either the Ford F-150 or the Nissan Titan crew cab models by about six inches. Regular cab beds measure 96 inches, while the test Access Cab model measured 76 inches, a few inches shorter than the short bed of a Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado, and almost exactly the same as the test Dodge Ram 1500. Doesn't seem like 7/8s to us.
Picking a pickup is an exercise in comparing specifications, checking capabilities, and judging reliability. Past performance and experience weigh heavily with most people when making these investments. That might be one reason Chevrolet and Ford dominate this market-they've been doing so for so long, people are comfortable with those decisions. But there are new kids coming to play in this sandbox and the challenge will be to find the benefits in each vehicle, compare them with your needs and wants, and check the capabilities where you may not have thought to look before.
The 2004 Nissan Titan, the company's first full-sized pickup, is on the short list of almost everyone who makes "Truck of the Year" awards. We'll be looking at one in the next few months, as models become available, and report back to you. From the days of Big Three dominance to a much more open playing field, the purchaser of full-sized pickup trucks will be the beneficiary.