2011 Toyota Tundra – Biohazard

Bug Out in the Time of Zombies

Photography by: Maxwell Matthewson

We're usually not ones to feed into the current, though thankfully fading, undead fetish. You won't see a special RECOIL flesh-eaters issue or a buyer's guide on zombie-green rifle accessories. But we have to admit that if there were a living-dead pandemic, we'd have no fear being at ground zero so long as we were behind the wheel of this off-road rig.

In recent years, we've seen many a truck souped up to serve as zombie apocalypse vehicles. Some are serious tanks that can handle any terrain thrown at them, while others are really just trailer queens disguised with a lot of automotive makeup and not enough muscle. This 2011 Toyota Tundra, however, doesn't need a boost of creatine. “Another ‘Yota?” you might ask. Sure, we featured a Tundra in Issue 10, but this truck is perhaps even more prepared for a SHTF scenario. It is bulletproof after all. No, really, it is.

Ready for World War Z

The first thing any good end-of-the-world vehicle needs is a bigger stance to clear hordes of walkers, downed power lines, and the useless smartcars that will no doubt litter the streets. So, the truck owner — who is former military and prefers to keep his name out of print — outfitted his rig with a 7-inch BDS lift kit front and rear. Icon Vehicle Dynamics remote reservoir coilovers and piggyback shocks make sure that the Tundra rides great, even over the roughest terrain. Hellwig sway bars front and rear control body roll, while custom skidplates protect undercarriage vitals. The 37×13.50R20 Nitto Mud Grappler M/T tires are held in place with OMF Performance beadlocks on a set of KMC XD wheels.

Another must for a bug-out vehicle is more power. Giving the 5.7L V-8 a boost is a Volant cold-air intake system. Doug Thorley long-tube headers route the hot exhaust to the 3-inch Flowmaster mufflers. Getting the engine's power to the ground is a set of Nitro ring-and-pinion gears front and rear. Finally, a Bully Dog GT T+ tuner allows one of four different tunes to be loaded into the iForce's ECU.

And as we all know, the last man on earth will no doubt be standing with a gun in his hands. With desperate folks, straight-up villains, and hordes of the undead dotting the landscape, dealing with firearms is a given when World War Z hits. To survive an ambush or to prevent an errant round from disabling this Toyota, almost the entire truck has been made bulletproof — at the cost of $15,000. This includes the doors, the windows, the camper shell, and the engine compartment.

Of course, the best defense is a strong offense. So the Tundra has mounts for long-guns, pistols, and ammo under the ARE bed cap. The truck also houses all manner of survival gear, including a 30-foot Bubba Rope, Hi-Lift jack, 30 gallons of water, a Yeti cooler filled with freeze-dried food, and a wide assortment of tools.

Light of the Living Dead

Lighting up the night is a full array of LED lights including two 50-inch lightbars, a 30-inch lightbar, and eight square lights on the front, sides, and rear. A Golight spotlight is mounted on the roof and offers 370-degrees of rotation and remote-controlled operation. In case the truck should get stuck or someone needs to get pulled out of a sticky situation, a pair of Warn Zeon winches resides in the Expedition One bumpers. Powering all of these accessories are a total of four Optima Yellow Top batteries and a DC Power high-output alternator.

Just because the world has ended doesn't mean the interior has to resemble that of a tank. Inside the four full-size doors of the CrewMax are diamond-stitched leather seats by Chris Caras, of Corona, California. A full sound system fills the cab with audiophile-quality music. To top it off, a CB radio makes sure communication is always available.

We love seeing trucks that are built for a purpose, and this one fits the zombie outbreak bill. The Tundra is by far one of the most apocalypse-ready vehicles we have seen. If crap has already hit the fan, you might just see this thing cruising around the abandoned streets. That is if you are one of the lucky ones still alive.

2011 Toyota Tundra
5.7L V-8
4WD/six-speed automatic

1 Wheels and Beadlocks
You might be thinking, let's get the biggest tires possible to drive over debris and obstacles. But if those tires aren't secured to your axles with a set of powerful wheels, you won't be getting far. These custom-made wheels and beadlocks are as hardcore as they are mean looking.
Make:
KMC Wheels
Model:
XD Series
MSRP:
N/A
URL:
www.kmcwheels.com
Make:
OMF Performance
Model:
Phase 8 Sim-U-Lock
MSRP:
N/A
URL:
www.omfperformance.com
2 Tires
These are the kind of beefy meats you want on your doomsday vehicle's bones. Nitto's Mud Grapplers are known throughout the off-roading community for providing traction on all sorts of nasty terrain, from dirt and rocks to shallow streams and fallen branches. So, running over rotten, undead flesh wouldn't pose any problems for these tires.
Make:
Nitto Tire USA
Model:
Mud Grappler 37×13.50R20
MSRP:
$442 each
URL:
www.nittotire.com

3 Brakes
EBC's Yellowstuff Kevlar Brake Pads give this Tundra the ability to stop on a dime and avoid debris, which could be key when buildings are crumbling around you or it's raining fire and brimstone.
Make:
EBC Brakes
Model:
Yellowstuff Kevlar Brake Pads
MSRP:
$149
URL:
www.ebcbrakes.com
4 Suspension System
No bug-out vehicle is complete without a seriously capable and reinforced suspension system — one that allows the driver to make hairpin turns, scramble over downed lampposts, and absorb harsh landings. This Tundra is no exception, as it combines a BDS lift kit, a set of custom-built Icon shocks, and Deaver leaf springs to get this truck to go wherever it needs to.
Make:
BDS Suspension
Model:
7-inch Coil-Over Lift Kit
MSRP:
$3,581
URL:
www.bds-suspension.com
Make:
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Model:
2.5-inch Remote Reservoir Coil-Over (front)
MSRP:
N/A
URL:
www.iconvehicledynamics.com
Make:
Icon Vehicle Dynamics
Model:
Icon 2.5 piggyback shocks (rear)
MSRP:
N/A
URL:
www.iconvehicledynamics.com
Make:
Deaver Suspension
Model:
Leaf Springs (rear)
MSRP:
$1,500
URL:
www.deaverspring.com
5 Differential
Building your first end-of-days vehicle? Don't forget to upgrade your differentials, lest you want parts falling off your truck's nether regions. Meaty tires and hardcore wheels can put some serious strain on stock differentials, so this Tundra upgraded to a Nitro 4.88:1 ring-and-pinion, which changed the gear ratio to handle the bigger tire size and improve torque and gas mileage.
Make:
Nitro Gear & Axle
Model:
4.88:1 Ring-and-Pinion
MSRP:
$3,500
URL:
www.nitro-gear.com

6 Illumination
Ever drive down a road where the streetlights aren't working? Pretty hard to see what's on the road, let alone what's around you, right? Now picture doing the same thing in the desert or the backcountry, where obstacles and predators abound. This Tundra won't have a problem with visibility. It's loaded with light bars and a remote-controlled, permanent-mount Golight RadioRay LED Searchlight, which can rotate 370 degrees and tilt 135 degrees.
Make:
Rigid Industries
Model:
E 30-Inch Light Bar
MSRP:
$1,000
URL:
www.rigidindustries.com
Make:
Rigid Industries
Model:
E 50-Inch Light Bar (amber LED)
MSRP:
$1,600
URL:
www.rigidindustries.com
Make:
Rigid Industries
Model:
E 50-Inch Light Bar (white LED)
MSRP:
$1,600
URL:
www.rigidindustries.com
Make:
Golight Inc.
Model:
RadioRay LED Searchlight
MSRP:
$650
URL:
www.golight.com
7 Battery
If you want power accessories, you gotta have the juice. Three Optima batteries keep this rig's lights, communications, and entertainment system running at full steam. And it has four more powerplants stored in the truck bed, just in case.
Make:
Optima
Model:
YellowTop
MSRP:
$229
URL:
www.optimabatteries.com

1 Winch
There are no if's, and's, or but's when it comes to winches on an off-road rig. These are requisite tools needed if you ever plan to leave the pavement — likely in a SHTF scenario. A winch will help you, or another vehicle, get unstuck if you've hit a deep sticky patch of mud or got your undercarriage “high-centered” on a boulder. This Tundra has not one, but two winches (one for each end) to ensure recovery is possible from almost any angle.
Make:
Warn Industries
Model:
9.5ti Multi Mount Winch Kit (front)
MSRP:
$1,920
URL:
www.warn.com
Make:
Warn Industries
Model:
Zeon 10-S (rear)
MSRP:
$1,349
URL:
www.warn.com
2 Bumpers
Armor is vital if you're going to wheel through harsh environments. While they're no cow-catchers, these Expedition One bumpers do provide serious protection from collisions, the elements, and any form of undead.
Make:
Expedition One
Model:
Tundra RangeMax Front Bumper
MSRP:
starts at $1,580
URL:
www.exp-one.com
Make:
Expedition One
Model:
Tundra RangeMax Rear Bumper
MSRP:
starts at $1,150
URL:
www.exp-one.com
3 Fenders
These fender flares balance function with aesthetics, giving additional tire coverage from debris while seamlessly adding to the Tundra's aggressive looks.
Make:
Bushwacker Bodygear
Model:
Toyota Pocket Style Fender Flares
MSRP:
$640
URL:
www.bushwacker.com

4 Recovery Tools
In addition to the winches on the bumpers, this Tundra is armed with an X-TREME Jack and 30 feet of Bubba Rope to assist in vehicle recovery.
Make:
Hi-Lift Jack Company
Model:
X-TREME Jack
MSRP:
$120
URL:
www.hi-lift.com
Make:
Bubba Rope
Model:
30-Foot Bubba Standard
MSRP:
$199
URL:
www.bubbarope.com
5 Cooler
Whether you want to maintain your food supplies for a long-term SHTF situation, or you want be able to knock back a few cold ones after a long day at the range, this Yeti cooler will ensure your chow and drinks are at the ready.
Make:
Yeti Coolers
Model:
Tundra 105
MSRP:
$480
URL:
store.yeticoolers.com
6 Truck-Bed Cap
This truck-bed cap helps to keep the gear, supplies, ammo, and firearms secure from prying eyes, bad guys, and the living dead. Plus, the cap accents the Tundra's hardcore aesthetics while fitting flawlessly with the bed.
Make:
ARE Accessories
Model:
Z Series Truck Cap
MSRP:
Contact for pricing
URL:
www.4are.com

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