Toyota used the Tundra because of Brooks & Dunn’s predominantly truck-using fan base and thought about having a traveling truck that provides both comfort and utility. To execute the idea, Toyota sought the help of The B.A.D. Company to convert the Tundra CrewMax Limited 4×2 V8 into the ultimate tailgating vehicle for Brooks & Dunn.

The exterior of the modified Tundra CrewMax was painted black with silver metallic flakes and features custom western-engraved silver door handle surrounds, a custom Brooks & Dunn license plate, chrome Brooks & Dunn steer skull logo at the front grille, 20-inch Mickey Thompson “Classic-Lock” polished aluminum wheels with 35-inch Mickey Thompson “Claw” off-road tires, Bushwacker bolt-on fender flares and a 3-inch suspension lift.

The B.A.D. Company used black leather trim seats and silver accents inside to match its exterior. A Toyota navigation system and rear seat entertainment, along with a Kicker sound system provides passengers with the best entertainment even while on the road.

To get the Ultimate Tailgating Experience, users simply need to slide out the tailgate to expose a Grill  N Chill cooking area produced by Go! Products. This area is complete with countertops, infrared barbecue, beverage tap and ice chest. To provide entertainment while people are partying at the back, a 42” flat screen TV, also with a Kicker sound system and a dual subwoofer system, four 2-way speakers and everything you need to get the best sound in various conditions were placed at the truck bed for more versatility.

With the Tundra Midnight Rider Tailgater by Brooks & Dunn, not only will Toyota be able to take part in the duo’s last hurrah, it will also give them an opportunity to evaluate the people’s response to interior treatments and bed utility to influence design possibilities in succeeding Tundra models.

Toyota provided the flat back Tundra Regular Cab 4×2 to be made over hot rod style. Sucker Punch Sally’s painted it black with candy red hot rod flames, used Bonneville moon hubcaps, added a custom cherry bomb exhaust and a 1950’s Toyota logo at the grille.

For the interior, they gave it a full custom tuck ‘n’ roll package, a custom headliner, a dash pad and carpet and hand-turned brass dashboard controls. Fender Guitars created custom radio knobs as a finishing touch. Also, SPS added custom aluminum side panels and railing and a custom curly maple wood cargo deck by the Fender Custom Shop topped the bed.

The Tundra Rod could have been a great concept, but it looks like a lot of people still prefer last year’s Ultimate Tundra Sleeper.

A 2009 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab Long Bed PreRunner V6 5-speed automatic was transformed into the new concept vehicle with the help of B.A.D. Company who was the primary builder, along with Microsoft Xbox, Kicker, Toyota Racing Development, INNO Advanced Car Racks and Cannondale. The said pickup was selected because it provided an ideal balance between on-road and off-road capabilities and the spacious cab and full-size bed can accommodate a group of friends, as well as the equipment they’re bringing.

The three custom metallic anthracite colors from the Xbox brand guide, an acrylic hood with an engine view port, a 66-inch plasma monitor with a roll cage enclosure, “Craze” technique painted tonneau cover, black front grille and Xbox graphics were just some of its exterior modifications.

A group of friends can get to their favorite outdoor destinations with the 304 horsepower 4.0-liter Supercharger from TRD to easily navigate through the off-road terrain and for better torque. TRD also used 16-inch bead lock wheels with BF Goodrich LT295/75R16 All-Terrain T/A tires to enhance the outdoor experience. A ridge wide cargo box, as well as bike racks carrying Cannondale RZ ONE Twenty and Cannondale Moto 4 high performance mountain bikes mounted to truck base rack systems were provided by INNO to fully enjoy the outdoors.

After a tiring day, friends can relax and play at the comforts of their 2009 Toyota Tacoma ATG. Theater-style seating was made possible by repositioning the front seats beside the back seats to make things more fun when playing Xbox’s 4-person video games. The B.A.D. Company also added interior monitors in swing arms so that each player can have equal screen distance and easily convert it to a drivable truck whenever necessary. To make the video games more exciting, a 2-channel custom Kicker audio system with a Kicker Solobaric L7-12 Subwoofer and 8 Kicker QS65.2 6.5-inch mid-range speakers were used as a surround sound system.

The Toyota Tacoma ATG is truly a cool concept truck similar to what MTV’s hit show Pimp My Ride features. I am pretty sure a lot of young boys would want to have a truck exactly like it.

If you want to see more of the Toyota Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer, look at Autoblog’s pictures from the 2009 SEMA Show here.

Options

Other options include Regular Gasoline or Flexible Fuel Vehicle or FFV, 2WD and 4WD and Limited Editions for the Double Cab and Crewmax. The Crewmax comes with a 5.5-foot bed, while Short and Long Bed configurations for both the Regular and Double Cabs are available and measure 6.5 feet and 8 feet respectively.

Additions to the Current Model Year
To keep up with their other full-size competitors, Toyota improved the Tundra’s 4.6L V8’s horsepower and fuel efficiency. Furthermore, they added standard and optional exterior, mechanical and convenience features for all 2010 Toyota Tundras.

Toyota now offers a Platinum Package for the Crewmax Limited Edition models as a more upscale option and a Work Truck Package for the 4×2 and 4×4 Regular and Double Cabs in both standard and long bed configurations. The Platinum Package includes high end exterior touches like a chrome bumper, a billet-style grille, 20-inch alloy wheels with P275/55R20 tires, as well as convenience features such as perforated leather-trimmed seats which can be heated and cooled and a navigation system among others.

In contrast, the Work Truck Package is designed for consumers who prefer to have more utility and is offered at a lower MSRP. It is targeted specifically for commercial truck buyers in the farming, ranching and construction industries and those who prefer a large cargo volume and towing capacity. The package includes a matte black front bumper and surround, manual outside mirrors and windows and 2-speed windshield wipers, but features such as cruise control, remote keyless entry and courtesy lamps are excluded.

Styling
There are not a lot of changes in the 2010 Toyota Tundra’s exterior. It now has a new two-bar grille with larger horizontal spaces and newer tail lights. Its interior is pretty much the same as the 2007 model. One of the best features of this truck is its spacious and comfortable cabins, with the Crew Max model having the biggest rear seat space in the entire class with 44.5 inches of leg room. Besides that, the customers complain about the beyond reach location of the audio controls, not so clear gauges and the inferior quality of the interior materials compared to other brands.

Performance
The 4.0L V6 is rated at 236 HP and 266 ft-lbs of torque and the 4.6L V8 is rated at 310 HP and 327 ft-lbs of torque. The powerful 5.7L V8 can crank up to 381 HP and 401 ft-lbs of torque. For serious truckers, the 2010 Toyota Tundra can definitely get the job done. Experts agree that the 5.7L V8 is one of the fastest full-size half-ton pickups in the market and besides power, it also delivers considerable torque and a responsive transmission is definitely a plus. On the other hand, though the 4.6L V8 may not be able to accelerate as much as the 5.7L, it has considerably improved from last year’s 4.7L engine in part because variable valve timing in both intake and exhaust camshafts are now employed. The 2010 Toyota Tundra’s maximum towing capacity is 10,800 lbs. That’s 300 lbs more than the Chevy Silverado and just falls short of the Dodge Ram’s.

As far as ride quality is concerned, customers are not particularly impressed. Its rear leaf springs and independent double-wishbone front suspension makes it a little more difficult to handle compared to its counterparts from Ford and Dodge. Some are also disappointed with its rack-and-pinion steering.

The Tundra also still falls short when it comes to fuel efficiency. Compared to its full-size counterparts who deliver 19/20 MPG on average, the Tundra only rated 15/19 MPG for the 4.0L V6, 15/20 for the 4.6L 2WD, 14/19 for the 4.6L 4WD, 14/18 for the 5.7L 2WD and 13/17 for the 5.7L 4WD.

Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association has not tested the 2010 Toyota Tundra’s side impact crash tests, but the frontal crash tests for Regular, Double and Crew Cabs were all given 5 stars except for the driver side frontal crash of the Regular Cab, which was given only 4 stars. The rollover rating for all 2WDs were 3 stars and the 4stars were given to the 4WD models.

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gave the 2010 Toyota Tundra a “good” rating, which is the highest possible rating for both frontal and side impact crash tests. They also gave the Tundra recognition as a Top Safety Pick for performing well on front, side and rear impact crash tests.

Overall
The 2010 Toyota Tundra is a capable full-size pickup. You can get a great blend of power and fuel efficiency in the new 4.6L V8 or get the best muscle in the 5.7L V8 engine. Because of these powerful engines though, it may not be the best truck for your daily driving because of its low MPG, but if you need a pickup that can deliver more power, the 2010 Toyota Tundra might be the one for you. It’s quick, has smooth and prompt shifts in transmission and strong towing capabilities.

Options

New Additions to the 2009 Toyota Tacoma
The last major redesign of the Toyota Tacoma was back in 2005 and a newer version is definitely overdue. Even though it has remained a consumer favorite and offers steady and reliable performance, Toyota enhanced it by giving it traction and stability control as a standard feature. They also added active front head restraints, rollover sensors and automatic limited-slip differential to add to its safety features. Access and Double Cab owners can also get an optional rear view camera to improve visibility.

The 2009 Toyota Tacoma also includes an MP3-compatible CD player and MP3 jack, as well as optional Bluetooth capability and satellite radio. They also added a storage compartment below the jump seats at the back for Access Cabs. To enhance its appearance, Toyota added LED tail lights, a chrome grille surround and 4 new color options.

Styling
The 2009 Toyota Tacoma has a simpler and more conservative exterior than its competitors, but it has excellent build quality and exudes a road warrior appearance. Its design is also very practical in that the bed liner, built-in storage, tie-downs and an electrical outlet provides maximum utility.

On the other hand, its interior is made with high quality materials and an effective design. It has a low-slung driver seat which creates a car-like feel, it’s relatively roomy and more comfortable back seats especially in the double cab. The 2009 Toyota Tacoma offers the longest bed size in its class and the interior cargo room is just right. It also has a lot of available storage space. The Tacoma’s interior features are geared towards practicality and comfort. It has easy-to-read gauges and smooth switchgear, nice-sized audio and climate controls within reach and 6-disc CD player with satellite radio capability and auxiliary input jack as options.

Performance
The 2.7L 4-cylinder engine which produces up to 159 horsepower and 180 foot-pounds of torque is the practical choice with today’s economy. The 4.0L V6 produces 236 horsepower and 266 foot-pounds of torque. Customers prefer the smooth 4-speed or 5-speed automatic transmissions over the manuals.

Its EPA estimates are 19/25 MPG (city/highway) for the 2WD 4-cylinder A/T and 17/21 MPG for the 2WD V6 A/T, which are quite respectable numbers for the compact pickup segment.

Because the 2009 Toyota Tacoma performs quite well off-road, this can give a rougher ride for daily driving on the streets. Its towing and hauling capabilities are quite impressive though.

Safety
The 2009 Toyota Tacoma ranks very well in terms of safety. Its standard safety features include stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes and front, side and side-curtain airbags. The Tacoma was given 5 stars, the highest possible rating for driver and passenger protection in frontal and front-side crash tests and 4 stars for rollover prevention by the NHTSA. They also gave the Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 5 stars for rear passenger protection. The IIHS also awarded the 2009 Tacoma a “good” rating, also the highest possible grade for frontal-offset crash tests.

Unfortunately, the 2009 Toyota Tacoma was included in the massive floor mat recall in Toyota and Lexus vehicles because they were found to have caused a fatal accident. Toyota has issued instructions to their dealers to prevent it from happening.

Overall
The 2009 Toyota Tacoma ranks first among all its competitors in the compact truck segment. Since the Tacoma was introduced over ten years ago, it has consistently performed and people have responded very well to its build quality, reliability and durability. It has also been recognized so many times by respected publications, websites and other award-giving bodies, with the 2009 Toyota Tacoma getting Best in Class Compact Pickup from Truck Trend this year and Best Car for the Money in the compact pickup class from US News as well. The Toyota Tacoma is backed with a 3-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty.