According to SlashGear’s review of the GMC Hummer EV SUV, it is described as a “cartoon off-roader” that is intentionally playful and oversized, while still being a capable SUV that grabs attention like its predecessor. Although it doesn’t match the power of the EV Hummer pickup, which generates 1,000 horsepower with its “Watts to Freedom” mode activated, the SUV still impresses with 830 emissions-free horsepower, placing it as the fourth most powerful SUV available.
The Hummer EV SUV’s size might be imposing, but its four-wheel steering surprisingly enhances maneuverability compared to other SUVs. Additionally, its Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system makes highway driving less burdensome. When the road ends, the Hummer demonstrates its expected capabilities on rough terrain, aided by the CrabWalk feature carried over from the pickup, which assists in navigating tight spaces. Although it may seem contradictory, the Hummer EV SUV is as unique as anticipated. While it is undoubtedly a niche vehicle, there are numerous buyers who consider its starting price of $80,395 well justified. Currently, reservations for the SUV are temporarily on hold as GMC addresses existing order backlogs.
Also, let’s not forget Toyota’s reputation and history. Toyota trucks are well-known for their reliability which is a big selling point within the off-road community. Buyers look for something that can take them out in nature or around the country reliably for years to come. And, in many cases, the first choice is Toyota simply because of past reliability scores and reputation.
Now, the new Tundra, although more modern, keeps the underpinnings that make a true 4×4. It still features a body-on-frame design with a solid rear axle and independent front. Now, that solid rear axle is coil-sprung rather than leaf sprung making the new model more comfortable and more capable than before.
Since this is such a good base to build upon, it would only make sense to create a list with the 10 best modifications one could do to their Tundra. This will make an already capable truck, even more capable.
A detail shot of the Toyota Tundra Trailhunter’s front bumper
The new Tundra is a great truck, however, there is one area Toyota could have done much better. Aside from the fact that the front bumper hangs down low, the new truck also doesn’t offer front recovery hooks. This is true even on the TRD Pro models and is rather disappointing from a company such as Toyota.
That being said, this issue can be addressed by going for an aftermarket front bumper. To suit the front, you can also upgrade the rear. Upgraded bumpers will provide better approach and departure angles, body protection, and a solid recovery point to easily snatch a vehicle when it gets stuck. Furthermore, most upgraded bumpers will provide a spot for a winch which can be invaluable in certain situations.
Pros
Off Road Protection
Recovery Points
Better Off-Road Angles
Cons
More Weight
Revised appearance might not vibe with everyone
9A Winch Can Get You Out Of Very Sticky Situations
Side view of the Toyota Tundra
One of the main reasons people love off-roading is the challenge involved with the activity. Because of this, people can sometimes push their selves and their truck a bit too far which can result in getting stuck. Now, recovering a stuck vehicle with a snatch strap works in many instances. However, if you are alone or have gotten stuck in a dangerous or very boggy location, your only option is the winch.
A winch can be hooked up to any solid object and through the power of a motor paired with low gearing, can pull out a truck from most situations with relative ease. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the winch can be an invaluable addition to your off-road vehicle – especially if you travel alone.
Pros
Will Get You Out Of Most Situations
Allows you to easily help others
Cons
It Adds Weight
It Needs An Aftermarket Bumper To Be Mounted
8Off-Road Suspension Will Drastically Increase Your Tundra’s Abilities
A detail shot of the suspension on the Toyota Tundra Trailhunter
Upgrading the suspension on a 4×4 is one of the most common upgrades people do. This modification would also work wonders for the Tundra. Because this is a full-sized truck, it is designed with quite a long wheelbase. The longer wheelbase means that its break-over angles aren’t the best which can lead to getting hung up on the belly of the vehicle.
One of the best ways to minimize this issue is to go for a suspension lift. As you can imagine, this will provide the truck with more ground clearance but will also improve its payload capacity and off-road durability. Suspension upgrades come with a verity of stiffness levels enabling you to choose the perfect setup according to the weight you are carrying (like a winch with steel bumpers and a bed rack with a rooftop tent). Furthermore, aftermarket suspension provides more articulation and better damper cooling to ensure your suspension doesn’t overheat over rough terrain.
Good tires are important for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they provide more grip, meaning that you will be able to drive over tougher obstacles. Secondly, off-road tires are made from tougher materials that reduce the possibility of punctures. The last thing you want is a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. Now, depending on your intended usage, you can go either for an all-terrain or mud terrain tire. If you will be doing a lot of off-roading, especially in mud, then the mud terrain is the more aggressive and more capable tire. If on the other hand, you will be going for easier trails, then the all-terrain is perfectly suited.
Pros
More Grip
Better Puncture Resistance
Cons
Decreased Fuel Consumption
More Road Noise
6Off-Road Wheels Are Important
Off-road wheels aren’t a must, but they can have a significant impact on your truck’s abilities. Good quality wheels can be lighter than factory units, which will make your Tundra more responsive while also putting less stress on the suspension. Also, you can choose the design of your liking, which will help personalize your truck.
Now, if you want to take your Tundra to the extreme, you can go for beadlock wheels. Beadlock wheels do exactly what they say – they lock the bead in place. This prevents the tire from slipping off when off-roading with low tire pressures. Keep in mind that beadlock wheels aren’t road legal in all states. Therefore, it is a good idea to do some local regulation research before you spend your money on them.
Pros
Less Weight
Better Economy
Less Wear
More Grip
Cons
They Can Be Pricey
5A Set Of Rock Sliders Will Keep Your Sills Straight
As mentioned before, the Tundra is a long beast. Even with a suspension lift and larger tires, there is a big possibility that you may run out of clearance on some obstacles. The last thing you want is to put some big dents in your brand-new Tundra’s sills. To avoid this, you can get a set of rock sliders that will act as sill protectors.
Rock sliders are made from steel and act both as protection but also as side steps. Therefore, getting in your truck won’t get any harder when you install them. Make sure that the rock sliders you go for mount on the frame of the truck not on the body, as frame-mounted sliders are much tougher.
Many would argue that a snorkel doesn’t really improve a car’s water-wading ability and is only there to help the truck breathe cleaner and colder air. This, however, isn’t true. There are many instances in which water can go over the bonnet when off-roading, and if your Tundra doesn’t have a snorkel you will end up with an eye-wateringly expensive bill thanks to a hydro-locked engine. It goes without saying that if you are planning on hitting deep river crossings, a snorkel, and water-sealed airbox are a must.
However, the statement that snorkels help your truck breath cleaner air is also true. The fact that the intake is mounted higher up leads to less dust intake which prolongs the life of your engine.
Pros
Helps your engine make it through deep rivers.
Provides cleaner intake air.
Acts as a cold air intake.
Cons
Requires drilling into your fenders.
Can break off-road as it is mostly made from plastic.
.
3Take Extra Camping Gear With A Bed Rack
A Toyota Tundra Trailhunter in the snowy mountains
A rack system will increase your Tundra’s off-road and adventure abilities even further. In many cases, off-roading goes hand in hand with camping, and camping means taking a lot of stuff with you. A bed rack can help you organize all your gear by providing more space to mount things. Throwing everything inside the bed simply won’t work as after a long day of wheeling, nothing will be in the same spot.
A bed rack simply mounts on your Tundra’s bed and extends roughly to the same height as your roof. This means that the truck won’t become much taller than it already is. Also, the fact that the rack goes all the way to the roof means that you can still use your bed to haul items.
Pros
Increased Storage Space
Tent accessories allow you to camp right on your truck
convenience
Cons
More Weight On Board
Worse Aerodynamics
Decreased Fuel Economy
2A Drawer System Will Further Organize Your Tundra
If you want to organize your off-road gear even further, it is a good idea to go for a truck bed drawer system. This is essentially a box with a drawer that is made to fit the Tundra’s bed, providing you with tidy storage areas to keep all your gear organized. Furthermore, most bed drawer systems are lockable, making everything a bit safer. One of the biggest downfalls of truck beds is the fact that your gear can get stolen easily.
Keep in mind that this is a modification for people who mostly use their Tundra for off-road purposes. Once the drawer is in, you will lose quite a bit of depth in the bed; therefore, storage space will be reduced.
Since the Tundra is such a great adventure machine, it would only make sense to equip it with a rooftop tent to ensure baby-like sleep in nature. A rooftop tent mounts on your bed rack and provides elevated sleeping space. This means that you are safer from animal strikes but can also enjoy nature from a higher perspective. In most cases, rooftop tents also come with great-quality mattresses that are extremely comfortable.
Rooftop tents are expensive; therefore, when shopping, it can be tempting to go for the cheaper ones. However, it is better to spend the additional cash and get one that is lightweight, comfortable, and tough. Cheap rooftop tents tend to be noisy when nights get windy; they are heavier and don’t last as long.
It’s the only option for a fully equipped Maruti off-roader with more comforts and a bigger 9-inch touchscreen system
The Maruti Jimny Alpha is loaded with features such as a 9-inch touchscreen, cruise control, auto-LED headlights, and auto climate control. However, if you wish to have these and more in your Maruti off-roader, it’s the range-topping Alpha variant that you need to pick. Let’s see if it’s worth the premium of around a lakh rupees over the Zeta:
Variant
1.5-litre Petrol
MT
AT
Alpha
Rs 13.69 lakh
Rs 14.89 lakh
Why Consider The Jimny Alpha?
If you are looking for a fully equipped version of the Maruti Jimny, the Alpha is your pick of the two. The carmaker has provided it with a plethora of premium comforts such as its latest 9-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, auto climate control, cruise control, and push-button start/stop. That said, there’s no new addition to the safety net over the entry-level Zeta variant, which already gets six airbags, electronic stability programme (ESP), and ISOFIX child seat anchorages.
This variant also looks worth the price tag with the auto-LED headlights, body coloured door handles and alloy wheels.
Let’s see what it has to offer:
Exterior
Interior
Comfort and Convenience
Infotainment
Safety
Highlight features
15-inch alloy wheels
Auto-LED headlights
Headlight washer
Cruise control
Auto AC
Push-button start/stop
Other features
What Could Have Been Better About The Jimny Alpha?
Although the Jimny packs a lot of modern tech compared to some of its prime rivals, it still feels lacking in terms of a few convenience features for its price. These include a 360-degree camera (an important friend indeed on off-road trips), and some more practical bits inside the cabin like bottle holders and storage spaces, all of which we feel could have been provided on the top-spec Alpha variant. While this generation of the Jimny is only built as a hard top model, fans of the Gypsy and Mahindra Thar will miss the option of a soft-top convertible.