Home » Toyota At The Bottom Of Lake For 13 Years Looks Surprisingly Good

Toyota At The Bottom Of Lake For 13 Years Looks Surprisingly Good

Sunk Toyota Ts5
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If you’ve ever stared out at a lake or river, you’ve probably wondered what kind of trash and treasure is lurking beneath the surface. A body of water can hold all kinds of secrets, from lost keychains to cars. Or an entire pickup truck that sat on the bottom for over 13 years.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was contacted today by a local fisherman who had identified a sunken object using his fish finder. From the surface of the Hughes Landing Lagoon, the sonar device revealed what turned out to be a second-gen Toyota Tundra sitting on the bottom of the fake manmade lake.

Vidframe Min Top
Vidframe Min Bottom

The truck was recovered with the aid of The Woodlands Fire Department and a dive team from Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Divers attached floatation devices to the truck to bring it to the surface, removing it from the lake via a boat ramp.

Law enforcement later identified the vehicle as one stolen from Harris County in 2010. The second-generation Toyota Tundra may have been sitting on the bottom of the lake for as long as 13 years, though that is not confirmed. There’s a chance the vehicle may have entered the lake at some later date, after the initial theft occurred.

Speaking to The Autopian, The Woodlands Fire Department filled us in on the details of the recovery. “There were power cables for a large fountain that were across the truck, and we had to spend some extra time moving them,” explained the spokesperson. The Tundra had also attracted some wildlife in the meantime, too. “Three fish were swimming in the spare tire when we removed the vehicle,” said the spokesperson, who advised us that they were successfully re-homed. The vehicle was confirmed as one stolen in October 2010, with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to follow up with the owner of the vehicle.

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The state of the truck is quite something after its extended stay at the bottom of the lake. The hood in particular was covered in some kind of build-up, either mud or underwater plant growth. All four tires were flat, and the paint appears dull and spattered with organic material. And yet, hilariously, some parts of the truck look almost factory-fresh.

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Can you make out a truck in the sonar image?
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Did you know Jamie Hyneman used to work in salvage? He’s not in this picture, though, I don’t think.

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“That’ll buff out”—your uncle, probably.

The front bumper is shiny and clean, looking like it just needs a quick wipedown. The steel wheels, at least where they’re not covered in mud, look good too. There appears to be some minor damage to the front grille, which is pushed back a bit on one side, which we could theorize happened as the truck hit the water at some speed. Really, though, that’s pure speculation.

Ultimately, though, despite Toyota’s legendary reliability, it’s probably not a runner. Submersion is a great way to ruin all the various electronic modules that run a vehicle. Beyond that, the engine would have been filled with water, along with the fuel tank, and the interior is probably best not spoken about further.

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As goes the old saying, the worst day fishing is still better than the best day working. All the more so if you happen to fish up a whole Toyota, getting yourself a great story to tell in the process.

Image credits: Woodlands Fire Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

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Hugh Crawford
Hugh Crawford
10 months ago
beachbumberry
beachbumberry
10 months ago

It’d be cool as a lobby ceiling decoration for some tech or transport company. Or for the fishfinder company

Crank Shaft
Crank Shaft
10 months ago

Parts car.

MikeInTheWoods
MikeInTheWoods
10 months ago

Regular cab short bed tundras are quite rare. I’d buy that and fix it up.

Bizness Comma Nunya
Bizness Comma Nunya
10 months ago

Tundra for sale..
NO low ballers…
I know what I have!
DON’T RESPOND WITH “IS IT STILL AVAILABLE”!!!!!

StillNotATony
StillNotATony
10 months ago

All y’all suggesting this for DT are forgetting that his baliwick is rust. For conquering the swamp monster, you gotta summon…

SWG!!!

Harvey Park Bench
Harvey Park Bench
10 months ago
Reply to  StillNotATony

Idk why that made me lol so hard but you’re absolutely right.

Whatever happened to the Shrek Buick?

Jb996
Jb996
10 months ago
Reply to  StillNotATony

This does seem more like a SWG restoration.

Chris D
Chris D
10 months ago

Next week: an article about a shady used car dealer selling a one-of-a-kind 2009 Toyota Tundra with just 3,400 original miles for $49,999. “Check out that shiny chrome front bumper!”

LaythU-K
LaythU-K
10 months ago
Reply to  Chris D

Patinaed, untouched, storied history, “lakefind” -RM Sotheby’s, probably

Chris ONeill
Chris ONeill
10 months ago

Dibs on the wheels!

CTSVmkeLS6
CTSVmkeLS6
10 months ago

I’m selling my old 1st gen Tundra next month. Mine has a plastic front bumper. Interesting they switched back to metal bumper for 2007 3rd gen. I like the chrome bumper:-(

Luxobarge
Luxobarge
10 months ago

This coming Monday, in The Autopian:

“I just committed myself to get this waterlogged Toyota Tundra running in 12 hours to get my pregnant friend to the hospital in time to delivery her baby and I’m literally in over my head, the water is too deep, I can’t swim, glub glub” by David Tracy.

Hotdoughnutsnow
Hotdoughnutsnow
10 months ago

Update: The truck was stolen from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office back lot overnight, teens are suspected.

Brandon Forbes
Brandon Forbes
10 months ago

wait serious?! What value could this thing possibly have for a bunch of teens?! That’s funny though

Harvey Park Bench
Harvey Park Bench
10 months ago

Can’t be teens, they would have been toddlers at the time and couldn’t possibly have reaches the pedals.

Rollin Hand
Rollin Hand
10 months ago

Still looks better than some of the Shitbox Showdown cars.

Austin Vail
Austin Vail
10 months ago

GIVE IT TO THE YOUTUBE MECHANICS! They’ll get it running again! The content would be legendary.

Alternately, send it to David Tracy. He’s clearly out of his element in the rustless unnatural perfection of Californian wrenching, think of the skills that are going to waste! This would keep him occupied doing what he does best for a good long time.

Harvey Park Bench
Harvey Park Bench
10 months ago
Reply to  Austin Vail

Then he’ll cannonball it from LA to north Carolina to gift it to Jason as a replacement for the Marshall and the minivan.

Cryptoenologist
Cryptoenologist
10 months ago

Autopian team! This is David Tracy’s next project. Buy it off of Copart and show up to the auction lot without a tow truck or trailer. Get it off the lot within one business day. This is your mission, should you choose to accept it.

Last edited 10 months ago by Cryptoenologist
DysLexus
DysLexus
10 months ago

Isn’t this obvious?

Global warming!

Tundra falls through ice and found at bottom of lake. Happens all the time up here with unsuspecting ice fisherman.

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