J.D. Power and Associates recently published their 2008 long term vehicle dependability study, and the Toyota Tundra was rated as the most dependable truck in it’s segment.

Long-term dependability is based on the “reported problems” per vehicle over the course of 3 years. So, the 2008 study is based on 2005 models, the 2009 study will be based on 2006 models, etc. It’s information about a vehicle that was made three years ago. While it’s nice to talk (cough-brag) about the award, we’re not sure that this study by itself is particularly meaningful. …click here to read more →

Popularity: 4%

As we’ve mentioned before, some Tundra owners have trouble with “bed bounce.” While it’s a problem that effects only a small percentage of Tundra owners, it’s a big deal for the people it does effect. To be clear, bed bounce is NOT bed flex that you can see out your rear-view mirror as you’re driving down the road. Bed flex is normal - every truck bed “floats” separate of the cab by design. True bed bounce is not just seen but actually felt. SO, if you aren’t feeling it, then you don’t have a problem.

This video from Willybar demonstrates their product pretty nicely, but it also demonstrates real bed bounce quite well.

We haven’t reviewed the product, but this video makes a compelling case for checking it out. Here’s a link to Willybar’s website.

Popularity: 5%

When it comes to air intake kits, K&N is like Coca Cola. Everybody who’s ever talked about performance knows about K&N. They invented the re-usable cotton gauze air filters that have been the basis of every performance air filter and air intake since they went into business 35 years ago. K&N literally founded the market for performance air intakes and filters, and they deserve a lot of credit for bringing proper engine breathing to the forefront of the consumer’s mind.

We were invited to test both K&N’s performance air filter and their 63 series air intake, and if you follow this site closely you’ll know that the K&N performance air filter passed our tests with flying colors and received our whole-hearted endorsement. Yet it’s hard for us to make the same recommendation about K&N’s 63 series air intake.

The K&N 63 series intake installed in a 2007 Toyota Tundra with the 5.7L. …click here to read more →

Popularity: 5%

Are you a fan of our website?

Do you have a website of your own? What about a myspace or facebook page? Do you regularly post on popular automotive forums? Do you post links to Digg, Propeller, Delicious, etc.?

If the answer to any or all of these questions is “yes”, would you consider posting a link to Tundra Headquarters? If you would, we’d appreciate it! You can link to the main page, your favorite post, whatever you want.

Links help us grow and make sure that people find our website when they search on Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. Over the last year and a half, we’ve grown quite a bit. We’ve been able to use the advertising revenue from TundraHQ to reinvest in the site - we’ve increased the number of product reviews we do, hired some writers, etc. We’re also going to add some new features soon (like a marketplace with user generated product reviews, a place to buy and sell trucks, parts, etc., and some other stuff).

In other words, thank you to everyone for helping us grow over the last year and a half.

Thanks for reading - we promise not to beg for links more than once a year!

Popularity: 4%

I was watching the movie Pretty Woman with my wife-to-be last weekend, and there’s a line in that movie that sums up Chrysler’s future:

Vivian: So whadda ya do with the companies once you buy ‘em?
Edward: I sell them.
Vivian: You sell them?
Edward: Well, I… don’t sell the whole company, I break it up into pieces, and then I sell that off, it’s worth more than the whole.
Vivian: So, it’s sort of like, um… stealing cars and selling ‘em for parts, right?
Edward: Yeah, sort of. But legal.

Corporate raiders are oh-so-80’s, but the reality is this: Chrysler has quite a few valuable assets. If they could somehow escape their liabilities (like all the crushing UAW entitlement and employment obligations), the $7.4 billion that Cerebus Capital paid for Chrysler last year is a smoking good deal. Here’s a short list of Chrysler assets that could be sold off:

1) The Jeep Brand. The value of the Jeep brand, a mass-market nameplate synonymous with adventure and independence, has got to be worth more than Land Rover or Jaguar combined (which were recently bought by Tata motors for $2.3 billion). I’m no expert, but I could see someone stepping up and paying $3 to $5 billion for the Jeep brand, the rights to produce all the vehicles, and the rights to sell $500 million worth of Jeep branded merchandise each year, as well as exclusive access to the Jeep dealer network. …click here to read more →

Popularity: 4%

Alan just sent us an email alerting us to the new official Toyota tonneau cover for the 07-08 Tundra. Evidently, it’s so new that many dealers haven’t heard about it yet. Here’s what we were able to get our hands on:

Here’s an image from the brochure for Toyota’s official tonneau cover for the Tundra. Note the single recessed lock mounted rear center. While there’s only one lock, there are dual latches for extra security.

One of Toyota’s newest accessories for the Tundra, the tonneau cover is available in a variety of colors (all exact matches of new Toyota paint). It has a smooth, polished factory finish and it’s covered by Toyota’s standard 3 year/36 mile warranty. The single center lock is recessed into the cover so it doesn’t take away from the appearance, and there’s a detachable battery powered LED light under the lid that can either serve as a cargo light or be carried around as an emergency flashlight. Opening and closing the tonneau is assisted by two gas struts, and Toyota has certified that the tonneau is weather and water proof. Detaching the cover is supposed to be quick and easy - the latching mechanism just ’snaps’ in and out. It’s also supposed to be very lightweight. …click here to read more →

Popularity: 8%