2006 Toyota Tundra - Under The Radar

We see the full spectrum of custom trucks at every show we visit, and it's reflected in the features we choose to shoot and run in every issue. Chris Hernandez's '06 Tundra isn't a truck that immediately grabs your eye with a wild paint scheme. It's as if a few Lexus designers snuck into Toyota's studios and took the whole truck apart to build a luxury truck. The execution is so detailed that a first inspection of the truck makes onlookers wonder what exactly was done to make the Tundra look so much better than stock.

Chris initially only wanted to minimize the gap between his tire and fender, so he lowered his Tundra. Then he 'bagged it, and the next thing he knew he was dropping it off at Chassis by Aaron Iha, in Covina, California. Aaron isn't known for plain-Jane suspensions, so you can see where this story is going. Aaron and his crew tore into the Tundra's frame and used 2x4-inch 3/16-wall rectangular tubing to build a new front crossmember and the back half of the frame. The front crossmember includes new mounts for the upper and lower arms, while the rear uses a reverse four-link that's triangulated to center the axle. Four 2600 Contitech airbags were plumbed to flex the suspension's muscle and drop the truck on to 24-inch Boss Wheels with custom-painted spokes. Look closely and you'll see that the paint blends into the lip of the wheel just the slightest bit. Masking each wheel was a several-hour ordeal.

Chris and his brother undertook the bodywork that sets this Tundra apart from the masses. Jose "Pancho" Leal was instrumental in helping the two. Unique modifications like converting the bed caps to metal and smoking the interior of the headlight housings combine with a monotone olive green paintjob that doesn't draw attention to any particular area of the truck. Instead, the effect is one that shows off the completed truck as a single, uncluttered package.