See inside 2023 Elite Toyotas

“I bought it and a week-and-a-half later made $1,500 bucks.” Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bryan New said he also left money on the table not driving a Toyota.
He needed a new ride and went with a 2022 Toyota Tundra Limited.
Toyota Bonus Bucks offers contingency cash awards to tournament anglers owning an eligible Toyota vehicle.
“Reliability is the single word to describe Toyota,” said Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bryan New of his 2022 Toyota Tundra Limited. “I never worry about a breakdown on the highway or mechanical issue.” That’s everything when you pull a bass boat 60,000 miles across the highways and byways of America. Time is everything to a pro angler, and a mechanical breakdown can mean lost fishing time (and money).
“I have more power with this Toyota engine than I previously did pulling a bass boat with a 5.3-liter V8.” Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bryan New’s 2022 Toyota Tundra Limited is powered by the i-FORCE Twin-Turbo V6 that delivers up to 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. “It’s like the Tundra was designed to tow a bass boat at maximum performance.”
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bryan New likes to bring the comforts of home on his eight months of road trips on the tour. “Driving comfort reduces fatigue, and the eight-way power-adjustable seats and lumbar support allow me to change the settings on long drives.”
New’s 2022 Toyota Tundra Limited also has ventilated seats for cooling them down on hot days, or adding warmth on chilly mornings.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bryan New spends eight months on tour launching and loading a bass boat at boat ramps big and small. “I really like the added safety and convenience of the Panoramic View Monitor on the 14-inch screen.” Multiple cameras placed around this 2022 Toyota Tundra show different views.
“It’s like I’ve got spotters with me for tight turns and early morning launches.” New does have an electronic set of eyes that helps him connect the hitch ball to the trailer, thanks to the camera dedicated for that task.
“I can’t imagine driving a truck without four-wheel drive.” Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bryan New isn’t an off-roader or hunter venturing into the woods. What he does is launch his bass boat into boat ramps that are sometimes remote and with unimproved access.
“I have it when I need it, and the mystery is always solved when I arrive at a strange ramp not knowing what’s ahead. The four-wheel drive gets me in and out without any worries.”
Skylar Hamilton chooses a 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Sport for towing his boat across the country to compete on the Bassmaster Elite Series. “I get the best possible fuel economy and performance for highway driving and towing a bass boat 30,000 miles every year. It’s like towing a boat with a luxury automobile, but with the performance features of a full-sized pickup.” Fact. Hamilton previously owned a Tundra and Tacoma, both used for his job as a pro angler.
“This is a twin-turbo V6 and people steer away because the V6 is inadequate for towing a full-sized, tournament-ready bass boat. But it has serious towing capacity … it has way more power than I need for a 21-foot Caymas … I live in the mountains of East Tennessee and I have to go across the Smoky Mountains … there is a reason why I buy these trucks … you don’t need to do anything else to improve the performance of this truck for towing a boat.”
Skylar Hamilton’s 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Sport is powered by the i-Force 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6, producing 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. “That’s more than enough to tow a fully-loaded, tournament-ready bass boat. I get great fuel economy, towing power and Toyota reliability. Most of the guys on tour tow with this package, and we never miss a V8 at all.”
“I don’t hunt but I do launch my boat where the boat ramps can be unpaved, unimproved and downright ugly, so I will always choose the TRD option with four-wheel drive.” Bassmaster Elite Series pro Skylar Hamilton tows his bass boat 30,000 miles each year, and he never worries about boat ramp conditions with his 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Sport. “I have it when I need it, and there aren’t any surprises when I arrive at a strange ramp. The four-wheel drive gets me in and out without any worries.”
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Skylar Hamilton spends eight months on tour, towing his bass boat across the country in all driving conditions with his 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Sport. “The 14-inch touchscreen is synced up to multiple cameras placed around the Tundra, and I can choose different views, like I have spotters with me when launching my boat.” On the road, Hamilton likes the wireless Apple CarPlay for directions, making calls, sending and receiving messages, and of course, playing road tunes to pass the time. “It’s all at my fingertips and the huge screen makes it easy to use.”
Since the day that current Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cody Huff won the 2019 College Bracket and given the opportunity to drive a Toyota Tundra for the entire next season, he’s owned three different Tundras including the his current 2022 Toyota Tundra SR5. “Having the opportunity to win the Bracket and hop into a Toyota Tundra really changed my perspective on owning the right truck as a professional angler,” Huff said. “Not only do I get to drive the most dependable truck on the market, but I also have the opportunity to make extra money through Bonus Bucks.”
As a Bassmaster Elite Series pro, Cody Huff has hauled his boat across the county, so having an engine that can stand up to the test is important. The towing power of his Tundra is one of the things that has stood out the most during the course of the year. “The amount of power this truck has is shocking,” he said. “It pulls like a dream. I had two older models and they towed great, but this truck has been even better.”
Despite the fact that Huff’s Tundra has the power to provide easy towing, one of the things that has been most surprising is the gas mileage that comes with it. “The truck never seems like it’s working hard,” said Huff. “Anytime it needs to step up, the Turbos pick up the slack with ease. It runs at a lot lower RPMs than most trucks do with certainly helps with the fuel economy.”
Huff’s Tundra doesn’t have the biggest screen that is offered, but still suggests that the screen is a huge part of why he loves the truck. “As much as we travel on the Bassmaster Elite Series, it’s so nice to have that screen to make things easier,” he said. “I keep my phone hooked up to the truck all the time with the maps up which makes things way easier, and not having to pick up your phone to look at directions also helps with safety.”
Huff had aspirations of adding some aftermarket products to the truck, but after using the truck, he decided that he like it the way that it is. A bed cover is the only thing Huff decided was necessary. “It drives so good that I hated to change anything about it,” said Huff. “I do like having the truck cap just so I can load down the back with equipment traveling from tournament to tournament.”
While Huff is burning up the interstate during the season, he loves to set his Tundra on cruise control because of the smooth ride. “I stinking love the cruise control on this thing. It feels like it just drives itself,” he said.
Why would a Bassmaster Elite Series pro buy a 2021 Toyota Tundra? “Reliability. It’s the reason why I chose it. The Tundra has been rolling on our tournament trail for over 20 years now.” Will Davis Jr.’s Tundra TSS came with 41,000 miles on the odometer. He’ll put over 60,000 more on it during a tournament season. “I plan to keep it rolling for a long time.”
“I want to get the most of my wins or high finishes. I don’t leave any cash on the table with Toyota Bonus Bucks.” Will Davis Jr. already cashed in after winning a Bassmaster Elite Series event on his home lake in Alabama. Toyota Bonus Bucks offers contingency cash awards to tournament anglers owning an eligible Toyota vehicle.
“It’s like the Tundra was designed to tow a bass boat; I don’t even know it’s back there.” Bassmaster Elite Series pro and Toyota owner Will Davis Jr. likes the TOW/HAUL feature of his Tundra. The system holds lower gears longer when you accelerate or decelerate, while providing better engine response and adding engine braking to help slow the vehicle down.
“My fishing time is my livelihood. I depend on my truck to get me to my destination and back home, without any downtime for mechanical issues.” Will Davis Jr. competes in nine events on the Bassmaster Elite Series, taking him across the country while towing his bass boat. “I never worry about my Tundra needing anything more than routine maintenance. That’s the reputation Toyota has for dependability.”