2017 Toyota Tundra
The 2017 Toyota Tundra is nearly completely unchanged from the year prior. Base models are equipped with a 4.6L V8, producing 310 horsepower and 327 lb-ft of torque. Most owners opt for the larger 5.7L V8, still paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission and chruning out 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. Apart from the addition of new paint colors available, the only other notable change is the addition of a tow receiver as standard equipment. It is hard to believe that in all years prior, a hitch was only offered as an option! With the last refresh of this truck completed in 2014, here are a few suggestions to bring your 207 Tundra up to modern standards.
Rugged Off-Road Stance
Update the look of your 2017 Tundra pickup with a set of fender flares. Contouring the factory wheel arches, aftermarket fender flares add extra depth to the wheel well and produce a significantly more chiseled and muscular look. On top of their trail-ready appearance, fender flares double as extra tire coverage should you wish to equip your Tundra with a bigger and wider tire. In many areas, having the tire stick out past the fender is a ticketable offence. Fender flares solve this issue in an attractive manner. Regarding construction, fender flares are made from a flexible plastic polymer and are designed to survive mild impact with trail brush and debris. UV protection is important too, as all fender flares are left unpainted in a black finish. The off-road black look is appealing but will certainly absorb heat, therefore having a UV protective layer is important in order to prevent the fender flares from drying out and becoming brittle. Another important aspect when choosing between fender flares is the installation method. Most use an adhesive gasket, which is effective and simple to do. However, making sure the flare is properly sealed without any bubbles or gaps is imperative, otherwise dirt, water and other debris could become trapped between the body and fender flare, marking the paint and eventually rusting the underlying metal.
Roll-Over Protection
Give your trail-going Tundra pickup some added trail safety with the addition of a rollover bar or chase rack. These four-point all metal structures mount to the top of the bed rails and protrude up slightly above the top of the cab. Their intention is to reduce the likely hood of the roof collapsing should the truck inadvertently experience a roll over. On top of their roll over protection, many roll bar and chase racks are designed as a modular unit. This means they also feature mounts that can be used for other off-road equipment and gear (top mounts are a great location for an LED light bar). Some models may also incorporate a headache rack into their design, which places a protective steel web over the span of the rear window. This additional layer is intended to protect the rear window and cab from getting damaged should cargo suddenly become unsecured and fly forward at the cab (sudden braking, rear impact, off-road upset etc). This added protection is highly recommended, but of course these types of sport bars will be more expensive.
Modern LED Rear
A final way to bring a 2017 Toyota Tundra back in line with more modern offerings is through the addition of LED tail lights. LED technology offers superior visibility and longevity over standard bulbs,and given it is many individual diodes that make up the overall assembly, LED tail lights can feature really neat patterns. Further, since their output is much greater than a comparable incandescent bulb, aftermarket LED tail lights can make use of heavily tinted or shaded lens' (giving a blacked out look) without compromising brake light visibility.
