Throughout the years, Toyota has become famous for its line of small trucks, but for a period of ten years, there was also a Toyota 1-ton truck. Although it wasn't on the market for long, the 1-ton and T100 were available before the current Tundra and Tacoma. You can still find them on the used market.
Understanding the Terms
If you are new to the terminology, the term "1-ton truck" is misleading. You may think that calling a truck a "one ton" or a "half ton" refers to the weight of the truck, but that actually isn't the case at all. The term "one ton" refers to the fact that the big truck has the suspension, stability, and structural integrity to carry up to one ton of payload or passenger and cargo weight beyond the truck weight. Keep in mind that payload is not related to the truck's "towing capacity," which is an entirely different rating.
Toyota '1-Ton'
From 1985 to 1992, Toyota featured the Toyota '1-Ton.' This truck had the option of a 2.4-3 L, 4-6 cylinder engine and a manual and automatic transmission. Toyota stated that that '1-ton' had a payload of 2,655 lbs. and 5,000 lbs. towing capacity. This 2-wheel drive truck was upgraded in 1993.
T100 - Another Take
Another take on the 1-ton truck was with the T100. This truck was manufactured from 1993 to 1998. It cost about $14,000 and had a towing max of 4,000 lbs. This truck featured your choice of a standard or automatic transmission in 1994. According to MotorTrend.com, a few of the 1996 specs include:
- 150 horsepower
- 20-24 miles per gallon
- 2.7 liter 4-cylinder engine
Awards
Through its short life span, the T100 won several awards. In the year of its launch, it won the J.D. Power and Associates IQS Best Full-Size Pickup. The truck went on to be noticed by J.D. Power and Associates until 1998 when it was replaced by the Tundra.
Criticisms
The life of the T100 wasn't all roses and sunshine. It did receive many criticisms in its short life because of its inability to meet the standards of the other full-size truck makers. Additionally, the fact that it only went up to a V6 was noticed, and it had a clear lack of horsepower when compared to other Ford and GM models of the time.
Toyota Introduces the Tundra
In 1999, Toyota introduced an entirely new beast to the truck market: the Toyota Tundra. The first model was a half-ton pickup with a powerful V8 engine. Despite the fact that the Tundra offered exactly what Americans wanted in a truck, Toyota did not introduce a three-quarter ton or a one-ton model to compete with large trucks like the Ford F-250 or the F-350. The Tundra quickly became recognized for greater quality and durability. Toyota has also experimented with the Toyota Tundra Dualie 1-ton, but this truck has never made it to the mainstream market.
A Lost Dream
Finding a new Toyota 1-ton truck on the market today is impossible, since Toyota doesn't make a current 1-ton model. While Toyota has experimented with the Tundra Diesel Dualie, this truck has yet to make it to the domestic market. If you truly want a 1-ton Toyota, you'll have to search through the used car traders for the Toyota 1-Ton or T100 models. For more information on cars and trucks, check out auto repair.
