Toyota has a rich history of developing some of the most reliable and rugged trucks. Each engine they produce exerts the power needed to have a fun and comfortable ride. The suspension has proven itself over the years as old pickups are still romping around trails or the streets.
With the introduction of the Toyota Tundra, many immediately saw a tough truck that can take a beating. Many owners opt to take their Tundra off-road which requires a little modification to have the most amount of fun.
#1 Lift Kit or Leveling Kit
The first order of business when purchasing a truck is usually leveling out the natural rake. Trucks are raised in the rear to offset a load in the bed or small trailer attached. Being that many would rather a little squat with a load and have a level truck when driving under normal conditions. Most lift kits will level the truck while lifting and leveling kits will match the rear ride height to the front.
Lifting the Tundra not only levels out the ride height while raising it but the extra height allows a larger wheel and tire combination. Along with wheel clearance, there is also a significant gain in ground clearance as well to allow the truck to maneuver over tall rocks, large berms, and other obstacles that might be on the trail. Lifting the Tundra will prevent damage to the undercarriage during these situations and reduce the chances of getting stuck.
Most lift kits are a simple bolt-on solution while others offer full suspension geometry correcting components. When lifting a truck with double-wishbone suspension, the dynamic of the suspension is changed as the control arm angle is now different. A high-quality lift kit will usually feature a new set of knuckles that correct the angle of the control arms to maintain smooth ride quality.
Correcting the suspension geometry is not typically needed when leveling the front end or lifting the truck less than a few inches. When the vehicle is lifted over a couple of inches, correction is recommended to provide a quality ride as the higher you go the more rugged the suspension feels. Also included with high-quality lift kits are heavy-duty tie rods and optional shocks to improve the ride quality.
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#2 Wheels and Tires
After lifting the Tundra, many owners go with a larger wheel and tire setup to better suit the wheel wells. Installing a larger set of wheels and tires not only improve the aesthetics but also provide extra ground clearance for the differential and axles. Clearing the undercarriage is one thing, but the diff and axles still hang fairly low from the factory, and one meaty sized rock could take it out and leave you stranded.
Getting the vehicle higher off the ground also gives the driver a better point of view. Being able to see further allows for dangers ahead to be visible sooner compared to sitting lower and having a vehicle in front blocking your view. With a tall wheel and tire setup, this is no issue as the height increase from the wheels alone provides a hefty difference.
Most wheel and tire combinations also provide immense grip on and off-road. Thanks to a wider wheel, a meaty tire setup can be installed giving the truck incredible grip. With some wheels offering bead locks, owners can utilize special tires that can withstand low pressures to optimize grip without de-beading the tire. A popped tire can put a stop to the fun real quick and require some assistance which isn’t always plentiful.
Learn More and View Our Selection of Tundra Wheels
Click Here To Get Tires For Your New Wheels
#3 Cold Air Intake
The 5.7L and even 4.7L V8 that was offered in the Tundra are some of the best V8 engines Toyota has produced. Following the UZ series, the 4.7L features a cast-iron block which over the years has proved its worth in durability. The cast-iron design would be ditched for an aluminum block for the 5.7L in the newer generation Tundras.
Due to the intake and overhead cam design, the performance of the Tundra seems to lack in the lower range torque band. Upon the simple installation of a cold air intake, the performance down low benefits significantly. Installing a cold air intake also reduces the intake air temperature (IAT) which results in the densest oxygen being fed to the engine.
With higher density oxygen being ingested by the engine, the power output is increased thanks to a stronger burn inside the engine. Reducing the IAT also prevents ping or knocking within the engine which could be catastrophic to the Tundra over time. Providing a stronger burn also results in improved gas mileage as the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to during the combustion stroke.
Upon installing a cold air intake, owners can enjoy an aggressive induction noise as the throttle body opens to let air into the engine. This aggressive tone allows owners to hear their engine at work and gives a more thrilling experience behind the wheel. The installation process of a cold air intake is simple and offers many benefits no matter the engine configuration in your Tundra.
Buy Your Cold Air Intake System Here!
#4 Exhaust System
Hearing the beefy V8 is sometimes the main selling point for the consumer. Being that the Tundra took off due to its robust construction and big burly sounding V8, many owners feel the exhaust system should have been better suited. Unfortunately, due to EPA regulations and the number of sales, Toyota, and many other vehicle manufacturers, had to put highly restrictive exhaust systems on their vehicles to pass strict regulations.
Since it is not the early 2000’s anymore, owners can install aftermarket exhausts without these regulations being an issue. Installing an aftermarket exhaust will improve the sound quality of the Tundra while also letting it breathe for the first time. Paired with a cold air intake, an exhaust system can drastically improve the performance of the Tundra as more air is delivered to the engine.
Installing an intake with a stock exhaust renders the intake virtually useless. As the increased air exits the engine the factory exhaust creates a bottleneck in the airflow. Due to this bottleneck in the factory exhaust, performance suffers and the engine can’t operate to its max potential. Simply installing an exhaust system can significantly increase the thrill of driving your Tundra as you hear the engine screaming through the RPMs.
Most aftermarket exhaust systems consist of 304 stainless steel construction to provide incredible quality and sound tonality. Simple installation makes this upgrade easy to do at home while offering phenomenal performance increase, especially when paired with cold air intake to truly maximize the beefy sound of the V8 under the hood of the Tundra.
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#5 VR Tuned ECU Flash
Tuning the Tundra is made simple with VR Tuned, either send in your ECU or purchase one of our optional OBD II tuning modules. With the included tuning module, owners can flash their ECU at a moments notice then flashback to stock before a dealer visit. Toyota does NOT use flash counters during standard vehicle checkups allowing this tune to fly under the radar. For those that might not know what all tuning does, there are many benefits other than increased power with a VR Tuned ECU flash.
Throttle response is significantly increased after the ECU flash, as the throttle is controlled by an electronic butterfly valve and a signal from the pedal. Improving the throttle response was achieved thanks to the bump in the signal from the tune which eliminates the ramping effect when the butterfly valve opens. After a VR Tuned ECU flash, the valve opens as soon as your foot hits the ground.
Auto-adjusting mapping and fuel trims allow the ECU to adapt to different octane ratings while efficiently delivering power to the pavement. When adding other aftermarket components like an intake or exhaust the tune will adjust accordingly to maximize power through the installed parts. On top of the other amazing benefits, the VR Tuned ECU flash provides an increase of 19 HP and 19 lbs/ft of torque.
I have a 07 tundra 5.7 with the drop in filter will it with with the tine
On the verge of confirming but it’s looking like we can at the moment!