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Over the years, we’ve seen cars hit million-mile clubs. This is the ultimate proof of durability for any vehicle and coincidentally, a number of the vehicles we’ve covered are Toyotas.
Notably, two Toyota Tundras from 2007. One of them is owned by Victor Sheppard, which is one million miles away (1,609,000 kilometers). Toyota gave the new Sheppard Tundra to replace the old truck.
The automaker then studied the vehicle to see what helped in its nine years on the road, and today, Toyota Chief Engineer Mike Sweers is sharing what he and his team learned and applied to the 2022 model.
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When Toyota received Sheppard’s million-mile Tundra, the only things that didn’t work were the sun visor on the driver’s side and the odometer which hit the 999,999 mile mark. Even the seat frame is not bent and the foam is not worn, showing only light wear.
However, the truck bed exhibited severe stress, which prompted Sweers to build a more durable bed for the 2022 Tundra. He used a composite material that is lighter, sturdier, and less prone to rust, which was tested by throwing stones, cinder blocks, and even a V8 engine on it. The bed is safe with no dents.
Meanwhile, Sweers opted for a ladder-shaped linear frame for the Tundra instead of the usual one from its predecessor. The new design provides wider support to the bed, allowing for a more even distribution of weight. He’s also focused on storage, including those found under the back seat.
Sweers also uses a wider 1 3/4-inch drive chain – a quarter wider than all previous Tundra models.
“When you increase the width of the chain, your planetary gears, your shafts, everything else has to be increased to keep up,” he added.
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