Team 5’s QRF Toyota Tundra: Built for Disaster Response

Team 5 QRF Toyota Tundra Project

In order to be involved, you must first show up. This is the Team 5 Foundation’s motto, an organization that is known to show up when they’re needed. The QRF (Quick Response Force) Toyota Tundra project started from this very concept, as the organization needed a vehicle that would allow them to show up during North American emergency response scenarios.

The Team 5 Medical Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that exists to assist people who desperately need help. It’s a Special Operations Medical Foundation that reaches the overlooked, remote and forgotten places around the globe where other foundations just can’t reach, or aren’t willing to go to.

“It’s a Special Operations Medical Foundation that reaches the overlooked, remote and forgotten places around the globe where other foundations just can’t reach, or aren’t willing to go to.”

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The SOFMED, Special Forces Operators Medical, group is comprised of active and former veteran Special Forces medical practitioners, emergency response experts and civilian ultra-athletes. The all-volunteer team educates local practitioners, runs medical and dental clinics, does reconstructive procedures and plastic surgery and then donates enough supplies for the local practitioners to be self-sufficient.

Team 5 has no government or religious affiliations, and is internationally recognized for its quick response and quality work, being given the “Patriot Award” and being platinum rated non-profit.

Team 5 followers, donors and advocates kept asking the group why they didn’t do more missions Stateside. The simple answer was that they didn’t have the transportation and gear necessary to carry out those missions successfully. The QRF Tundra project was born from this basic request and need.

Team 5 reached out to their ambassador, Sgt. Dakota Meyer, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient who is also part of the “Hire Our Heroes” program with Toyota, who put in a request on the organization’s behalf. Toyota was quick to respond, donating a 2016 Tundra Platinum. This extremely generous donation got the ball rolling for this unique build, aimed at creating a vehicle that can handle just about any disaster response situation the group might be called upon to assist.

When there is a disaster, Team 5 will deploy the QRF Tundra from its base in Las Vegas, with one to two members.  Other team members will be flown directly to the disaster sight to complete the team. The QRF Tundra will have all the necessary gear to outfit the team for the mission at hand; everything from personal safety gear, tents, sleeping bags, dehydrated food, clean water, and so on, to specialty tools for completing the mission, like the Jaws of Life, medical supplies, solar lanterns, and more. The truck is the base for a wide range of disaster response missions, which when combined with having Special Forces Medical Members running the missions, creates impressive results.

The teams at Divine 1 Customs and Findlay Toyota built the QRF Tundra in Las Vegas, Nevada. A wide range of donors pitched in on this project to fully customize the truck for its unique use, making sure that it was outfitted with the gear necessary to handle everything it and the Team 5 team might encounter during a disaster scenario.

Key components of this build is the ability to carry at least four team members, a lot of vital emergency response equipment, a good supply of medical and other disaster response supplies, and an ability to be configured to carry the injured.

The Toyota Tundra Platinum CrewMax, which is the basis for this build, fits the bill perfectly. The vehicle comfortably seats five adults and its 5.5-foot bed can devour a lot of gear. The bed area has been uniquely configured to transport a specific set of emergency response gear and at the same time be versatile enough to transport large quantities of supplies or the injured.

In the bed of the truck there’s a full length TruckVault drawer system, topped off with a 1,500-pound Cargo Glide 80% Pullout. On top of the bed, an ARE truck bed topper was installed with an electric raising Topper EZ Lift system. This combination enables the team to securely lock down their gear out of the elements, while also allowing a forklift to put a pallet of emergency supplies in the bed of the truck.

When gear and supplies aren’t being carried on the Cargo Glide, it can also be used to transport the injured or be an out-of-the-elements location to treat the injured in the field. An Eezi-Awn Bat Manta 270 Awning also provides shelter from the elements, and is attached to the K9 Roof Rack, which provides even more storage room for gear and supplies.

“The truck is the base for a wide range of disaster response missions, which, when combined with Special Forces Medical Members running the ops, creates impressive results.”

The configurable specialty equipment Team 5 will carry on its North American missions is formidable and ever-changing to meet the specific needs of each deployment. Certain pieces of gear, however, will always stay with the QRF Tundra because they are vital to every mission. This includes a CamelBak SquakBak 25L water bladder to keep the team hydrated and provide clean water for medial procedures. A Hurst Jaws of Life eDraulic combination tool, carried in a new prototype backpack, will always be on hand for vehicle extractions. A Carbon Composites Armadillo Carbon Litter will help the team transport the injured. Fighter Design Armor and a variety of rifles and handguns will always be close at hand to keep the team and the injured safe. Tools like Winkler Knives II Field Knives and Axes, Leatherman multi-tools and headlamps, and a North American Rescue High Angle Rope Rescue Kit will keep the team and its gear moving no matter the time of day or obstacles in front of them.

Speaking of obstacles, the QRF Tundra has been built to let nothing stand it its way, whether on road or off. It has been fitted with a TRD front skid plate, Expedition One front and rear bumpers, and White Knuckle Off Road rock sliders to protect it from any obstacles it might encounter.

“The configurable specialty equipment Team 5 will carry on its North American missions is formidable and ever-changing to meet the specific needs of each deployment.”

The Tundra’s 5.7L V8 puts out 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque, which when mated to its six-speed automatic transmission provides plenty of get up and go. The TRD Performance exhaust gives the truck a bit of extra growl to let anyone present know it means business.

The ride has been dialed in on the QRF Tundra with a full stage 5 Icon Vehicle Dynamics suspension system, which utilizes 2.5” remote reservoir adjustable shocks and prototype rear leaf springs. New Icon Alloys Six Speed Gunmetal Wheels provide an aggressive stealth look, while also being designed to take the weight and punishment that this truck is sure to encounter.

New hybrid mud terrain General X3 Grabber Tires will help keep the truck moving forward, and resist punctures from the debris sure to be found in disaster areas. If punctures do happen, an ARB Twin HP 12v portable air compressor is always on board. If debris blocks the path, or the truck does somehow get stuck, a Warn 9.5XP-S winch with Factor 55 ProLink thimble should rectify the situation. For added traction and quick recoveries the QRF Tundra will also always have Maxtrax on board.

While the QRF Tundra can carry everything it needs, get past most obstacles that stand in its way and handle self-recoveries, it still needs to have the electricity to handle all the added onboard electronics and systems. The electrical system has been upgraded with dual Optima Yellow Top batteries, which are controlled by a National Luna dual battery system.

All onboard accessory electrical needs are managed through a SPOD Touch 8 Circuit SE System. First and foremost is the comms system, which includes a Bear Com 60-mile repeater system, six pack of Motorola CP200 radios and a KryptAll Encryption Satellite Comms system. Another big electrical draw is the plethora of Vison-X lights around and throughout the vehicle: driving lights, fog lights, area lights, cargo area lights and even infrared nights for driving at night with night vision goggles. A large ARB Fridge/Freeze is also on board to provide medicine and food cold storage.

The QRF Tundra project just debuted at the annual SEMA Show, and is expected to be called into action on multiple Team 5 missions in 2017. The vehicle is still in its infancy, with modifications still being made to dial it in to handle the unique demands this group will put on it. Since these pictures were taken, it has received a full shock re-valve, new prototype rear leaf springs and the addition of rear hydraulic bump stops, all courteously of Icon Vehicle Dynamics. All of these items, along with a new beefier rear sway bar from Hellwig Products, are designed to make the vehicle perform better, both on and off road, with the large gear loads that it is expected to transport.

A full compliment of Hi-Lift Jack products has also been added to the build, both for use in vehicle recovery in off road situations and for use as an essential tool in disaster recovery efforts.

A custom trailer system to deploy with the QRF Tundra, which will provide extra storage for swift water rescue gear and other emergency supplies, is also in the works. The trailer should make disaster response that much quicker, and provide the team with the huge variety of gear needed to be able to respond to the wide array of disaster relief scenarios Team 5 is uniquely qualified to handle. With the QRF Tundra’s 8,800-pound towing capacity, the team should be able to bring everything they might need on their missions.

Team 5 relies on donations to be able to run their deployments and operations, and since it is a platinum-certified 501c3 non-profit organization you can feel confident that any donation they receive is used for the right purposes. Find out more about this quality organization and their impressive Toyota Tundra at www.Team-5.org.

UPGRADES

2016 Toyota Tundra Platinum

Suspension:
Icon Vehicle Dynamics Stage 5 with Prototype Rear Leaf Springs

Wheels & Tires:
Icon Alloys Six Speed Gunmetal Wheels (Prototype, 17×8.5, 5.75 backspace, 25mm offset) with General X3 Grabber Tires (35×12.5R17LT)

Off Road Accessories:
TRD Pro Front Skid Plate, Expedition One Front & Rear Bumpers, Warn 9.5XP-S Winch, Factor 55 ProLink, Maxtrax, White Knuckle Off Road Rock Sliders & Hitch Step

Lighting:
Vision X- 1 Roof Bar, 1 Grill Bar White/Yellow, 1 Grill IR Bar, 2 IR Rear Floods, 4 Side Floods, 1 Rear Bar, 2 Driving Lights & 2 Red Led Lights in Cargo Area

Truck Bed System:
ARE Topper, Topper EZ Lift, TruckVault Full Length Drawer System, 1,500 LB Cargo Glide 80% Pullout, K9 Roof Rack (w/Maxtrax & Shovel Mount), 2x 42 Liter Alu-Box, Eezi-Awn Bat Manta 270 Awning, Rhino Lining

Other Vehicle Systems:
TRD Pro Performance Exhaust, K9 Over Cab Roof Rack, National Luna Dual Battery System, 2x Optima Yellow Top Batteries, SPOD Touch 8 Circuit SE System, Viper Auto Start/Alarm System, Power Stop Z36 Truck & Tow Package, Vehicle Wrap by Patrick Signs

On Board Gear:
ARB Twin HP 12v Portable Air Compressor, ARB 37 Quart 12v Fridge/Freeze, CamelBak SquadBak 25L Beast, Hurst Jaws of Life eDraulic Combination Tool w/Prototype Backpack, Carbon Composites Armadillo Carbon Litter, 2x Vetter Rescue Bags, Leatherman Tools & Headlamaps, Winkler Knives II Axe & Field Knives, North American Rescue High Angle Rope Rescue Kit/Mass Casualty Medical Kit/IFAK Kits, Fighter Design Level 4 Armor, 2x Yakima Cargopack, LuminAID Solar Lanterns, Good To Go Food, Combat Flip Flops Floperators,