By Ronan Glon
Monday, Oct 15th, 2012 @ 4:45 am
 

A bone-stock 2012 Toyota Tundra CrewMax towed the 150,000-pound Endeavour space shuttle across the Manchester Boulevard Bridge in Los Angeles late last week.

Most of the 12-mile journey from LAX airport to the California Science Center was handled by purpose-built heavy-duty equipment but a lighter tow vehicle was needed to cross the bridge.  Toyota worked with Sarens Group to design a dolly that could transport the shuttle over the bridge and attached it to the Tundra's tow hitch.

The Endeavour space shuttle is about 140,000 pounds over the half-ton Tundra's maximum towing capacity but the truck performed admirably.  With Toyota pilot Matt McBride at the wheel, the 381-horsepower truck crossed the bridge in about five minutes.

“There is no larger or more recognizable icon of the U.S. space program’s success than the shuttle, and to have it towed by the Toyota Tundra is not only an incredible example of the capabilities of the truck, but an honor to be part of history,” said Ed Laukes, Toyota vice president of marketing communications. 

Both the Endeavour space shuttle and the Tundra that was used to tow it will be on display at the California Science Center starting October 30th.

  

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