2014 Toyota Tundra asks what Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, and Ram are afraid of

Many people don’t realize that with 250,000 trucks sold annually, Toyota is arguably the second or third largest light truck manufacturer in America. In combination, its Tacoma and Tundra rival any single brand except Ford when it comes to all but heavy duty truck sales. Given that leadership in the industry, maybe it isn’t so surprising then that Toyota’s trucks and SUVs are the only ones to have adopted the Society of Automotive Engineer’s (SAE) towing standard known as J2807.

The SAE towing standard has been in place for about 5 years and it details comprehensive standards for engine, transmission, cooling, axles, structural capability and more to ensure repeatable towing safety results. It was developed in partnership with the major manufacturers and it provides for standardized testing and ratings systems for all vehicles that tow. Watch any truck commercial and you will always see the big boy trucks slogging through a work-site pulling an enormous trailer loaded with logs or stone. Ford’s F-150, Chevy’s Silverado, GMC’s Sierra, and the Ram truck commercials like to brag about their capabilities, but they set their own standards, rather than adopt the automotive industry’s engineering group’s set of standard tests. What are they afraid of?

The largest trucks, known as heavy-duty pickup trucks, can all tow insane loads. That is not really in question. However, many homeowners that use their truck or SUV to tow a boat, snowmobile trailer, or camping trailer have legitimate questions about the ability of a half-ton, full size pickup truck to safely move what they need to. If they choose a 2014 Toyota Tundra they know that the towing rating is set by the automotive industry’s engineering group, rather than by the individual automaker.

Commenting on Toyota’s leading the way in adoption of the standard Mike Sweers, chief engineer of the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma said “Toyota owners look to us to develop vehicles that meet the highest safety standards, and our voluntary adoption of J2807 helps us deliver on that promise. Tundra owners can tow confidently knowing that the published tow rating has been verified by the industry’s foremost engineering authority. With Tundra, what you see is what you get.” All Toyota trucks and SUVs that have a tow rating met the SAE standards. The Tundra has met the standard since 2011 and is the only full size pickup sold in America that does so.

At the recent Texas Truck Rodeo, The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) provided Toyota with its Distinguished Service Award for its leadership in adopting third-parting towing standards and certification. The TAWA group likes the Tundra for many reasons, but especially because, unlike many other trucks on the market, the Tundra is built exclusively in the United States by Texans.