Of course it's wood. If those were reel schteel girders, it'd be sitting on the rear bumpstops, at the very least.

Also: Most. Accurate. Headline. Ever?

Nothin wrong tith a little wood...

A blind man arrives at a lumber camp & asks for a job. The boss advises him due to the fact he is blind & lumber work is very dangerous there are no available positions. The blind man protests & advises the boss he is able to identify trees buy smell & could go out ahead of the cutting crew & mark whatever trees were to be cut that day.

The boss decides to give him a try & takes him out to the lumber yard outside. The first piece of wood he comes to he hands it to the blind man who then passes it under his nose & advises it "fir"

The boss is impressed & picks up a second piece of wood. Again the blind man passes it under his nose & advises its "redwood". This continues all around the lumber yard & the blind man never makes a mistake. The secretary has seen this display & decides to throw a curve at this lumber expert.

Taking a ruler she runs it between her legs and passes it to the foreman who in turn hands it to the blind man, he smells the ruler and appears confused, finally he advises he is not sure but I think its a board from the door of a sh!thouse on a fishing boat.

He should've carried one on his shoulder and would've took motor trend reporter of the year.

Also: can somebody check if this dude still alive?

@Zepia: Which dude? Me?

I'm a diehard Toyota trucker, but really, has MT ever picked a Truck Of the Year (T.O.Y., heh) that wasn't simply the newest design on the market?

Is the trophy on top real gold?

WOW! Look at all that wood! Were they next to the Lamborghini display by any chance???

Wert, your freeze frame faces have gotten less silly over the last few months.

I'm starting to miss 'em.

@skaz: I've become more tired over the last few months. Also, I'm no longer choosing my own freeze frames.

@Ray Wert: I hope you got a big raise with the promotion, because you look a lot more exhausted, and your work load is overwhelming.

@POLAR: Run and hide before the Jezebel gals string you up by your balls...!

@Ray Wert: I cannot recall seeing such a smug and satisfied, yet vaguely disdainful, expression planted on the face of a member of the fourth estate... Well played, sir...!

They could've at least dusted the plywood girders, or is that there for added weight?

@Charles_Barrett: They've probably told that one more than I have

@Zepia: Alive? He runs the place!

Clearly not Professional Grade

Well it looks a lot more appropriate than a snowdick...

Polar's joke would have been funnier if the ruler had been, ahem, "soiled" by Angus, the long-haired editor of Motor Trend.

Maybe they have finally fixed the following...

December 14, 2007 -- Toyota Motor Corp said on Friday that it is recalling 15,600 Tundra pickup trucks in the United States because a rear propeller shaft may separate at the joint.

DETROIT, May 29 (Reuters) - A glitch in Toyota Motor Corp.'s Tundra pickup truck has caused 20 engine failures and forced it to track down other trucks at risk for the problem, the Japanese automaker said on Tuesday

Automotive News - May 28, 2007 - LOS ANGELES -- A batch of camshaft failures in 5.7-liter V-8 engines has dinged the launch of the Toyota Tundra pickup.

WASHINGTON - January 17, 2007 - Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it was recalling 533,000 Tundra pickup trucks and Sequoia sport utility vehicles because of potential steering problems.

DETROIT FREE PRESS -- August 8, 2006 -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s Tundra pickup might be recalled for the second time in as many years after new complaints of suspension failures prompted U.S. auto safety officials to upgrade an ongoing investigation.

@OLDS: Even more deserving of a Motor Trend Award! Which now confirms that Motor Trend is the Automotive Industry Lacky followed just as close by JD Powers (Pays us for a good review, pay more for even better!).

@Ray Wert: I'll do that job for free, finding freeze frames for you.

The stage prop transportation segment is booming. Once again Toyota is ahead of the curve.

I heard they tried real metal, but the tailgate fell off.

@olds: "Maybe they have finally fixed the following..."

As a matter of fact they have!

and none of the items you list are for the 2008 model.
nice try though.

(ps I own a 2008 Tundra)

@Ray Wert:

There you are! I though Toyota Kidnapped you for busting their secret!

Shallow lies . . . that's very appropriate for Toyota.

@Bumblebee:

I know, I just don't want to wake up in the morning and find out he was kidnapped, or bought.

Oh so this is what "real" journalism is.

/sarcasm

@POLAR: lol

now you're going to be getting angry calls from toyota, too.

Really, you should've climbed up those girders and dry humped the award. Angus would have loved that.

@burtreyn0lds: I don't think we've ever said that before. What the hell is a "real" journalist anyway? A non-imaginary one?

Is that Mitch Albom? ..or Dan Howes?

@burtreyn0lds: until we see screenshots of ray bent over his desk taking it in the ass from [insert corporation]here[/insert corporation], yes.
also, best check with skaz first on those screenshots, in case he's keeping them to himself.

i own a 2007 tundra (see avatar), and they had the same "girders" in the truck in the NAIAS. they are ply wood, i also work in theater design, and i must say i am very impressed with the realism of toyotas props, but by no means are the real. That being said i am very disapointed, but you also cant take anything in the truck market seriously(ford truck stopping a huge plane). So just take things for what they are guys.

Toyota makes the tailgate out of the same material that they used to make those "Truck Of The Year" award girders.

@DionDege: I'm pretty sure that Ford truck did infact stop that plane. There's a section called Behind the scenes that does just that for their latest commercials.

I personally like the Gforce test for the front tow hooks. I mean C'mon they custom built a freaking centrifuge just for the commercial.

Here's the link to Behind the scenes at Fords site.