Tundra in the Pines

By: Melanie Droz Shawcroft

A weekend filled with days on the lake paddling in the kayak or standing on the paddleboard accompanied by rides on the quad in the evening sound perfectly fit for the 2022 Toyota Tundra HV 4X4. With the non-skid spray-on bed liner and ample space, we had plenty of room for all the fun water and land toys. If only we had a boat to put the tow hitch with Integ 4/7-pin connector to good use – maybe next time. For now, the exterior color of Wind Chill Pearl ($425) was an ideal match for the chilly afternoons and windy rain we experienced in the Pines.

Our drive to the Pines in the Tundra started off the trip just right. The I-FORCE Max 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 hybrid engine was efficient, quick and handled the windy roads with ease and comfort. We felt completely safe behind the big rigs slowing to climb the hills because we were able to set our Cruise Control with full-speed range dynamic radar which allowed us to select when the Tundra started to slow down based on how close we got to the vehicle in front of us. The lane departure alert and lane tracing system also made it easy with all the twisting and turing and I especially enjoyed the speed limit and speedometer reading on the front windshield so I didn’t have to take my eyes off the road.

Arriving at the cabin (aka luxury VRBO), it was easy to unload all of our belongings because of the power running boards and bed step. I may have hit my shins a few times on the running boards, but I love that I could adjust the automatic setting from the driver’s seat. The same driver’s seat that allowed me to have control of everything in the vehicle which is super important when you’re transporting three tween boys. I was able to access the 14-in Audio Multimedia and 12 speaker JBLPremium Audio on the 12.3-in digital screen and through the Apple Car Play which allowed me to listen and respond to the text messages from the others we were carvaning with. I could also adjust my heated or ventilated seats and open the power tilt/slide panoramic roof and rear window as it started to cool off closer to the Pines.

While in the cool weather of the Pines and when the sun was shining, I was responsible for transporting the kayaks every morning and afternoon to and from the lake and was even given the less glamorous responsibility of taking the trash to the dumpster because the bed liner was so durable. Using the trailer backup guide with straight path and the backup camera, I was easily able to ease down the lake boat ramp to unload all the fun. I love being responsible for bringing the fun which is exactly what the Tundra did this weekend in the Pines. How can you not have fun with such a good looking truck with an MSRP of $73,530? Those 22-in dark chrome alloy wheels and auto-leveling LED headlights with LED DRLs make this Tundra a looker and even though the test drive model we drove is priced at $77,339, the fun we brought to this trip was priceless.

2022 Toyota Tundra HV 4X4

Capstone Crewmax

Wind Chill Pearl/Black

MSRP $73,530

Tested $77,339