2012 Toyota Tundra to tow Space Shuttle Endeavour into Retirement

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Yep. You read the title right.

http://www.insideline.com/toyota/tun...etirement.html

A 2012 Toyota Tundra CrewMax will tow the space shuttle Endeavour to its final resting place at the California Science Center.
The full-size pickup will tow the 292,500-pound shuttle for the last quarter mile of its journey.
Toyota currently has a Tundra on display at the California Science Center and will replace it with the tow Tundra after the Endeavour exhibit opens on October 30.

TORRANCE, California — Toyota announced that a 2012 Toyota Tundra CrewMax will tow the space shuttle Endeavour during the final leg of its journey to the California Science Center on October 13.

The Endeavour shuttle is slated to make a 12-mile city street trek from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the California Science Center. The 2012 Toyota Tundra will be towing it for the last quarter mile. Toyota says that it worked with heavy lifting and transport company The Sarens Group to engineer a special dolly that would allow the truck to haul the 292,500-pound shuttle.

The tow vehicle will be a completely stock 2012 Tundra CrewMax half-ton pickup, and Toyota makes sure to emphasize the point that the truck has no additional modifications to increase towing capacity or engine output. That specific vehicle has a 5.7-liter V8 under the hood that churns out 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque.

"There is no larger or more recognizable icon of the U.S. space program's success than the shuttle, and to have it towed by the Toyota Tundra is not only an incredible example of the capabilities of the truck, but an honor to be part of history," said Ed Laukes, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A vice president of marketing communications.

Toyota currently has a Tundra on display at the California Science Center and will replace it with the tow Tundra after the Endeavour exhibit opens on October 30.

Edmunds says: A real honor for Toyota, but will anyone question why a domestic truck didn't snag this prestigious job?

What the article failed to mention, is that the transporter carrying Endeavour moves most of the load by itself.

[FenwickHockey65]

Just like the Toyota trailering ads which touted the Tundra's braking ability.

They just failed to mention the trailer was equipped with its own brakes.

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Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Just like the Toyota trailering ads which touted the Tundra's braking ability.

They just failed to mention the trailer was equipped with its own brakes.

This is nothing but a super mega publicity stunt.

Here's your sneak peek of the next Toyota Tundra commercial everyone!

[The Blue Angel]

"Houston, we have a problem!! The Tundra's accelerator pedal is stuck!!"

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Originally Posted by The Smashin' Pumpkin

"Houston, we have a problem!! The Tundra's accelerator pedal is stuck!!"

Oh god please no. Endeavour will still be attached. Wait until they unhook Endeavour. Then it can run itself off a cliff.

[FenwickHockey65]

Especially if they plan on keeping that POS in the exhibit with Endeavour. A Japanese truck has no place sitting in history next to an American icon.

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Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Especially if they plan on keeping that POS in the exhibit with Endeavour. A Japanese truck has no place sitting in history next to an American icon.

Oh and get this, there's already a Toyota Tundra on display there! WTF?!

I swear if they display this Tundra still hooked up to Endeavour until her permanent home is built ( at least 3 years ), I will forever have no respect for Los Angeles.

[FenwickHockey65]

California.

Toyota can do no wrong in that land.

[motorhead]

WGAF? Toyota sucks.

[Overflow]

Poor Endeavour.

[james347]

Even tho' it's a promo stunt, I give the Tundra nothing but praise. Mine has been to heck-and-back for almost 150K and never once given me a single problem. Runs as strong as the day I drove it off the lot.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by james347

Even tho' it's a promo stunt, I give the Tundra nothing but praise. Mine has been to heck-and-back for almost 150K and never once given me a single problem. Runs as strong as the day I drove it off the lot.

My oldest Chevy work truck has over 400k on it with the OEM motor, transmission and rearend. There's a picture of this truck in the dictionary for hell and back.

The frame would have been dust long ago if this had been a Toyota.

[pyr0b0y]

Chevy should have been all over this! really sucks that Toyota is pulling the shuttle, seeing its a Japanese company! When everyone thinks of a truck for towing, you think of a Ford or Chevy, not Toyota! Who ever made this decision made a big mistake! and like already, WTF is the Tundra doing on display in the first place?

[james347]

Originally Posted by motorhead

My oldest Chevy work truck has over 400k on it with the OEM motor, transmission and rearend. There's a picture of this truck in the dictionary for hell and back.

The frame would have been dust long ago if this had been a Toyota.

Yeah, yeah, yeah....all driven down to the end of the driveway to get the mail and back too I bet. Nothin' but Grandma' miles.

Number of times I've had to pull a ford or chevy out of bad situations, I should start a towing company.