2020 Toyota Tundra
The Tundra is Toyota's only horse in the half-ton race, and for 2020 a few changes have been made. Most notable is that the V6 has been dropped and now the only engine available is the 5.7L i-Force V8. In current form, the 8-cylinder naturally aspirated motor produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. Routed through a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2020 Tundra is rated to tow 10,200 lbs and carry a max payload of 1730 lbs. Toyota's main focus for the 2020 model has been on the TRD trim level - a level that outfits the truck with specific off-road equipment like LED lighting, beefier sway bars, underbody skid plates and a retuned suspension.
More Power, Better Sound
Outfitting your 2020 Toyota Tundra with a set of aftermarket headers is a superb way to add horsepower, torque and gain much improved sound all with one part. When looking to buy headers, there are two main styles: short and full-length headers. The former, often dubbed ‘shorty’ headers, feature shorter length primary tubes that merge into the collector further upstream (as compared to a full-length or longtube header). Shorty headers have unique primary tubes that improve scavenging and exhaust pulse over the stock manifolds. They typically result in a gain of 10-15 horsepower and produce a more aggressive sound. Short tube headers are also much easier to install on the 5.7 i-Force engine. Longtube headers, on the other hand, are more difficult to install. However, due to their much longer primary tube length, scavenging, backpressure and exhaust pulse are greatly improved, often resulting in 20-30 horsepower gains. Further, with their larger sized primary tubes, full length Tundra headers will deepen the exhaust note.
Beef Up the Bed
Adding excellent utility to the bed of a Tundra, a sportbar, chaserack or rollbar will also give your truck a unique Baja-like style. Installing atop the bed rails at the front of the bed, a chasebar runs around and up the perimeter of the cab and then partially down the bed along the bed top. Usually made from tubular steel, a sportbar can be used to mount external lights, help strap loads down in the back or, depending on the height of the rack, even act as a roll bar to protect the roof of the truck. These units are highly versatile and come in many different styles and finishes. Given their exposure to the elements, it is important to choose one that has a durable finish on it (multi-stage powder coat).
Sprucing Up the Cab
Many 2020 Tundra aftermarket customizations focus on the exterior truck, leaving the interior exactly as the factory made it. Sprucing up the interior of your 2020 Toyota Tundra can actually be quite inexpensive and produce magnificent results. The bland OEM trim pieces such as the door handle bezels, window switch bezels, AC vents, gauge trim and shift console can all be easily swapped out with a better, more attractive option. From carbon fibre patterns to solid colors to a polished look, replacing most of the interior trim pieces and bezels can simply be done with a screwdriver. The new pieces are typically are constructed from durable UV-treated plastic, which are designed to resist color fade when exposed to sunlight. For those that want a more upscale material, some manufacturers make these trim pieces out of anodized aluminum.
