Curious about how much cargo you can fit into your Toyota Tundra?
Here, we go over the details of everything from payload capacities to bed volume to interior cabin space for each model year of the Tundra.
Table of Contents
How Much Cargo Space Do Toyota Tundras Have?
Overall, Tundras have a payload capacity of 1,500-2,300 pounds. Their dimensions range from 209.8 to 252.5 inches in length and 75.2 to 80 inches in width. The exact amount of cargo space and the payload capacity of your Toyota Tundra depends on your trim level, model, and year.
First Generation: 2000-2006
The first generation spanned from 2,000 to 2006. Let’s start by looking at the payload capacity for these models.
First-Generation Payload Capacity
The payload capacity for the first generation of Tundras varies even within the same year, depending on factors such as the engine size, transmission, and drivetrain.
Overall, the first-generation payload capacity hovered at around 1,600 pounds, topping off at about 2,300 pounds. This is actually more than on previous models (see further down this article) and it’s also the reason many think the Toyota Tundra models are quite expensive for what you get.
The minimum payload capacity was about 1,350 pounds.
Generally, if the components of your truck are heavier, they’re going to increase the vehicle’s curb weight and therefore decrease your payload capacity.
This is because your gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) – in other words, how much weight your car’s frame can handle altogether – tends to stay constant, barring any major framework overhauls.
Options that tend to lower the payload capacity are a larger cab size, an automatic transmission, or having 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive as opposed to front-wheel drive.
The 2005 V8 Regular Cab with rear-wheel drive, for example, ranks low on all these elements, and offers an impressive 2,335 pounds of payload capacity as a result.
Most other configurations of the Tundra top off below 2,000 pounds, however.
First Generation Dimensions
From its debut in 2000 until 2004, Toyota kept the dimensions of the Tundra fairly consistent, offering a length of 217.5 inches. In the regular cab, this gives you a truck bed of 8 feet, and in the crew cab, 6.5 feet.
The maximum width of both models was 75.2 inches, and the interior of the truck bed had a width of 61.2 inches.
The height of the cargo bed was 16.7 inches, giving the regular cab a volume of about 58 cubic feet, and the crew cab about 46 cubic feet – not including the area taken up by the wheelhouses.
In 2004, Toyota added a double cab to the Tundra lineup, and expanded the overall length of the truck to 230.5 inches.
Second Generation: 2007-2021
Toyota’s second generation of the Tundra had a long run, lasting almost 15 years.
The second generation focused on improving the Tundra’s heavy-duty capabilities to better compete with the Big Three American truck makers:
- Ford,
- Chevy,
- and Dodge.
This means that the Tundra featured a larger construction and increased power capacities compared with the first generation.
Note, however, that the second generation of the Toyota Tundra has some problems.
Second Generation Payload Capacity
The payload capacity of the second generation ranges from 1,350 to 2,089 pounds, again depending on trim.
Most configurations averaged at about 1,500 or 1,600 pounds of payload.
The brand continued to offer:
- both manual and automatic transmissions,
- three different cab options,
- rear- and four-wheel drive,
- and several different engine sizes.
Again, having a model with the lightest option in each category will result in a higher overall payload capacity.
Second Generation Dimensions
The second generation of Tundras offered more in the way of cab configurations:
- there was a regular cab, with just two doors;
- a double cab, featuring two full doors and two smaller rear doors;
- and the CrewMax cab, with four full doors.
The regular and double cabs come with the option of an 8-foot or 6.5-foot bed, while the CrewMax comes only in a 5.5-foot bed.
These variations mean that the second-generation Tundra can range from 209.8 inches in length to 247.6 inches.
The width remains standard, with all models measuring about 80 inches across.
The width and depth of the truck bed also increased with this generation, going from 61.2 to 66.4 inches and from 16.7 to 22.2 inches, respectively.
This gives the second generation of Tundras at least 56 cubic feet of storage volume in the bed, and a maximum of 82 cubic feet. Furthermore, these are the best and worst Toyota Tundra years.
Third Generation: 2022-current
The third generation of the Tundra has only been around for a couple of years, but it’s continued Toyota’s trend of going bigger and providing drivers with a wide array of options.
It offers seven different trims, as well as two different options for both the cab and powertrain.
Third Generation Payload Capacity
The payload capacity of the third generation ranges from 1,565 to 1,940 pounds, depending on your chosen configuration and trim.
The brand nixed the options for a two-door cab and manual transmission, but fortified the frame and suspension, so that the payload capacity stayed roughly the same and is even higher than some cases of the earlier generations.
Third Generation Dimensions
For the third generation, Toyota did away with the regular 2-door cab.
The Double Cab has the option of:
- an 8 foot bed
- a 6.5 foot bed,
- and the CrewMax has the option of 6.5 or 5.5 feet.
The length of the truck ranges from 233.6 to 252.5 inches. The depth of the cab is 20.6 inches, and the width is 58.7 inches.
This gives the third generation a cargo volume between 67 cubic feet and 46 cubic feet.
How Much Cargo Space Do Similar Full-Size Pickup Trucks Have?
Hoping to compare the Tundra with other pick-ups in its class? Here are the cargo specs for a few of the closest major competitors.
Ford F-150
Ford also offers the option of:
- an 8-foot bed,
- an 6.5 foot bed,
- or 5.5 foot bed,
- as well as three cab sizes.
The volume of the bed ranges from 52.8 to 77.4 cubic feet, a bit smaller of a range than the Tundra.
Recent models of the F-150 far outpace the Tundra in terms of payload, however, offering a capacity of up to 3,325 pounds.
Dodge Ram 1500
The latest Ram offers three different cabs as well, with the choice of:
- an 8 foot,
- 6.3 foot
- or 5.6 foot bed length.
The total volume of the bed ranges from 53.9 to 61.5 cubic feet, the width being 66.4 inches and the depth 21.5 inches.
Chevy Silverado
The Silverado comes with bed lengths of:
- 8.2 feet,
- 6.6 feet,
- or 5.8 feet
And three cab sizes ranging from regular to crew.
Across models, the bed is 71.4 inches wide and 22.4 inches tall, giving the Silverado a volume between 62.9 and 89.1 cubic feet.
GMC Sierra
The Sierra is comparable to the Silverado, offering three different bed lengths – 8.2 feet, 6.6 feet and 5.8 feet. The volume ranges from 62.9 cubic feet to 89.1 cubic feet as well.
How Much Cargo Can a Toyota Tundra Carry in the Bed?
The maximum amount of storage space offered by the Tundra in the bed is 82 cubic feet; this is true of the regular second generation cab with an 8 foot bed.
In general, you’re guaranteed at least 46 cubic feet of storage volume with the Tundra, even if you have the smallest bed length on one of the smaller model years.
These figures do not factor in the volume taken up by the wheelhouses. The width of the bed at the wheelhouses is typically 10 to 16 inches narrower than the overall bed width.
How Big is the Cabin Space on Tundras?
The cabin space in your Tundra will vary based on cab option and model year.
The regular cab provides three front seats, while the double cab adds a compact row of back seats, and the CrewMax optimizes interior cabin space for both the front and back seats.
The CrewMax increases backseat legroom from 33.3 to 41.6 inches, and adds an extra inch of shoulder room in the backseat. Both backseats have a hip room of 60.5 inches and a headroom of 38.5 inches.
The front seat dimensions are roughly the same for all cab sizes models:
- Headroom: 41 inches
- Hip Room: 59 – 62 inches
- Legroom: 41 inches
- Shoulder Room: 62-66 inches
How Much Weight Can a Toyota Tundra Carry?
The total amount of weight that a Tundra can carry, not including the weight it can tow from a hitch, varies from 1,350 to 2,300 pounds.
See above for a more detailed breakdown of payload capacity by generation.
If you’re uncertain about your model’s exact payload capacity, you can always check your owners’ manual for Toyota’s guidelines.
If you want to be extra thorough, you can even weigh your truck at a station and subtract that value from the GVWR of your model.
How Big a Trailer Can a Toyota Tundra Pull?
The towing capacity of the Tundra varies by generation and model. The first generation has a towing capacity between 6,900 and 7,100 pounds.
This was increased with the second generation, whose capacity fell between 9,000–10,400 pounds. The third generation can tow up to 12,000 pounds.
Can You Mount a Rooftop Box on a Tundra?
Mounting a truck topper – also known as a camper shell, a canopy, or a bed cap – overtop of the bed of your Tundra can increase the amount of cargo space.
They are typically either drilled into the bed walls or attached with clamps.
There’s a range of sizes and materials you can choose from when deciding on a truck topper for your Tundra.
In some cases, especially with the help of shelves and racks, toppers can come close to doubling the amount of available storage space in your bed.
Truck toppers are a great idea if you want to load up your truck the way you might a van, especially if you’re loading more compact cargo. They may not be the best option if you want to haul large or bulky items that won’t fit within the topper.
If you don’t mind your cargo being exposed to the elements, there are also open-air bed racks you can mount on your truck that give you an extra layer of storage as well.
When choosing a topper, take your model’s payload capacity into account.
You’ll want to make sure that the combined weight of your topper and the cargo you’re carrying don’t exceed your maximum weight capacity.
Which Tundra Model Has the Most Cargo Space?
Which Tundra has the most cargo space will depend on your cargo needs. If you’re looking for a large bed, a second or third generation model with an 8 foot bed will give you the most volume. If you want a large cabin as well as decent bed length, go for the CrewMax with a 6.5 foot bed.
Which Full-Size Pickup Trucks Have the Most Space?
For bed volume, the GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado will offer you the most space, with a maximum of 89.9 cubic feet for the 8.2 foot bed. The Tundra runs a close second, however, with some regular cab models coming in at 82 cubic feet of volume.
Sources
– Toyota Tundra Double Cab vs CrewMax