Is the Tundra Exterior all metal?

Just a question, my mechanic said you can tell the type of material from what it sounds like. Lower panels (rocker panels, lower rear bedside panels) have a more dull sound so they're plastic, and higher body panels have a more hollow sound so are metal.

Any thoughts on this from more expert tundra owners? Are in fact any parts plastic, or is my mechanic just full of BS?

 

More parts on the exterior of the 3rd Gen Tundra are plastic than they are metal, yes.

 

I don't buy it. Most of the Tundra exterior structure is steel. Grab any magnetic thing and see for yourself. Toyota hasn't, that I'm aware of, began using aluminum like Ford, and plastic body panels are attached very differently, which you will notice quickly.
You can't really tell the difference between some grades of aluminum and steel by tapping on them; the acoustics change dramatically by how the part is bent and shaped, and how stiff it is right where you tap.
Trim, dressings, and other things have been plastic for decades, but these are designed to be replaced, unlike the welded body panels.

 

Not entirely accurate. The tailgate, fenders, and rear doors are steel. Hood, front doors, and bedside panels are aluminum. Only the front and rear bumper panels are plastic. Underneath them is a steel frame though.

 

Google "tongue in cheek".

 

Magnet won’t help much as @wxman91 mentioned, aluminum up front. The bumpers have plastic covers but the front has a very stout aluminum crash bar behind it. Rear uses the tow bar covered in plastic. The bed is composite with a steel skin outside.

Most 1/2 Trucks these days are using steel, aluminum, composites, and plastics these days.
If you want the safest get a Rivian. Lol
If you want the safest Full Size truck, it’s the Tundra

https://realtruck.com/blog/safest-p...Y40sR3kdd_qzY-naZNKg8ynaxAxTf1YQWbX5C00QNyhz1

 

I dig the composite bed so far

 

This is how I found out what panels were what.



Getting fixed now to the tune of 14k. I guess aluminum is tough to fix which is good as I wanted new metal.

Rear doors- steel (replacing)
Front doors - aluminum (very small dent)
Rear fender panels - aluminum (replacing)
Cab- steel (replacing the “D” ring)
Hood- aluminum
Tailgate- steel