Review: 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro CrewMax

Moving on up to the South Side

Turned out the washer, dryer and bed were already at my friends\’ new home in South Louisville, as Julie\’s father showed up the day before to haul them off in his truck. Less work, to be sure, but the trailer did prove useful when the rest of the large items left behind were ready to be loaded.

I was also impressed everyone was able to get the washer and dryer down the narrow (on both counts) steps leading into Julie and Justin\’s second-floor apartment. Of course, this also meant getting those heavy items remaining down the steps.

Unlike yours truly, who isn\’t built to haul anything heavy around, the Tundra TRD Pro is a pro at towing, with a max capacity of 9,800 pounds. There may not have been anything heavier than a desk on this moving day, but it\’s good to know the truck can making anyone\’s move easy.

With the 60/40 rear bench folded up entirely, it was a cinch to load as many of Julie\’s art as the Tundra TRD Pro could hold. The CrewMax cab was made for this mission, for sure. It also has a power rear window, just like the 4Runner, which I left down while walking back and forth moving smaller items to help keep the cab from turning into a sauna.

To say this truck was a hit would be an understatement. Nearly everywhere I went while in Louisville, everyone loved the truck\’s looks. A few, like the guy working on the crawl space at Julie and Justin\’s house, wanted to know more about the rig.

Speaking of, did you know my friends were Toyota fans, too?

You will now.

This is Julie and Justin\’s 2017 Toyota Corolla. It was purchased a few months ago to replace their 2007 Camry, which took a one-way trip to Copart via a tree branch landing on its roof.

But this isn\’t just any Corolla, though. It\’s 50th Anniversary Special Edition, released for the 2017 model year in honor of the name\’s five decades of life on the road.

The car is rare for its kind, as 8,000 were made and sold to the U.S. market. Those are Lamborghini annual numbers on a good year.

What made this Corolla special? For starters, it could be had in three colors, like the black cherry model Julie and Justin own. An exclusive set of machined aluminum 17-inch wheels with dark-gray inserts grace the corners, and there are 50th Anniversary badges all over. Finally, the black interior featured black cherry stitching, and was equipped with the latest version of Entune, accessible through a seven-inch touchscreen.

A few hours and an extra helping hand later, the move was for all intents and purposes complete. A few items were still at the old apartment, but nothing my friends couldn\’t handle without the Tundra. I can\’t wait to return for the housewarming party when this pandemic is over.