Toyota’s Trucks Are Built for Off-Roading

If you are enthusiastic about off-roading, then you need to find a truck built to handle the terrain of the trail. You can’t take any old truck and expect it to deal with rocks, hills, riverbeds, and dunes. If you try off-roading with a rear-wheel drive pickup that was meant for towing and hauling, you're going to have a big problem. This is why Toyota has always offered its two trucks with specialized off-roading trims. Whether you desire a full-size truck like the Tundra or a midsize pickup like the Tacoma, Toyota has you covered.

The latest models feature such trims as the TRD Pro, TRD Off-Road, TRD PreRunner, and TRD Trailhunter. But if you are like many drivers, buying a new truck may be outside your price range, especially if you are looking for an off-road model. This is why—at Future Toyota of Yuba City, your specialty used Toyota dealer—we have plenty of pre-owned Toyota trucks to choose from, so you can easily find a used Tundra or Tacoma with an off-road trim that's ready to help you enjoy your next adventure.

Powerful Engines

In order to handle the rigors of the trail, an off-road truck needs to be equipped with a strong engine. Toyota has this handled, giving their off-road versions of the Tundra and Tacoma a potent powertrain. In the case of the Tundra, the standard is a 5.7-liter V8 gas engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The 2021 Tundra TRD Pro and Trail Special Edition were the off-road options featured that year, and each is capable of delivering 381 hp at 5600 RPM and 401 lb-ft of torque at 3600 RPM. This V8 has a dual overhead camshaft configuration (DOHC) with 32 valves for its eight cylinders and utilizes port fuel injection—enough strength to handle most obstacles in your way. The Trail Special Edition was offered that year on the SR5 trim, while the TRD Pro is its own trim.

The Tacoma also has a dedicated engine with impressive output for its off-road variants. In 2021, Toyota offered the Tacoma with the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro trims, as well as a Trail Special Edition for the SR5 trim. While Toyota offered a smaller 2.7-liter I-4 gas engine on the Tacoma, the three off-road variants all featured the larger 3.5-liter V6 gas engine. The Trail Special Edition has a six-speed automatic transmission, while the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro gave drivers the option of a six-speed manual transmission. This V6 also has a DOHC configuration with 24 valves for its six cylinders and utilizes a combination of port and direct fuel injection. It also uses a form of Atkinson-cycle hybrid to improve fuel economy, allowing this powertrain to provide up to 278 hp at 6000 RPM and 265 lb-ft of torque at 4600 RPM.

The Right Tires

To handle off-roading, your truck must boast the right set of tires. A standard set of all-season tires might be fine for driving on the highway, but they aren’t going to provide enough grip off the pavement, especially in mud or sand. In the case of a used Tundra, you are going to find that Toyota has given these off-road versions the right wheels and tires to handle the job. The Trail Special Edition of a used 2021 Tundra SR5 has 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped with Michelin all-terrain tires. The used Tundra TRD Pro also features Michelin all-terrain tires, but these come wrapped around 18-inch BBS wheels; these are specially forged from a magnesium alloy to provide greater strength and carrying ability.

A used Tacoma will feature different wheel and tire configurations depending on which trim level you choose. Looking at the 2021 Tacoma, if you opt for the SR5 with the Trail Special Edition, you will get a set of 16-inch TRD Off-Road gray alloy wheels and all-terrain tires. The same setup applies to the TRD Off-Road trim. The TRD Pro trim features 16-inch TRD black alloy wheels with Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain tires; of course, if you are looking at a used Tacoma, the TRD Pro trim will probably cost more than the other two.

High Ground Clearance

Having the right amount of ground clearance on your truck can be the difference between breezing over an obstacle or getting stuck. It is crucial for you to know how much ground clearance your truck can afford before going out on the trail so you won’t have any such problems. A used Tundra TRD Pro will give you an impressive 10.6 inches of ground clearance, which is more than the 9.0 inches found on most other models. Similarly, off-road trims of the 2021 Tacoma provide 9.4 inches of ground clearance—enough to give you peace of mind when clearing obstacles.

Specialized Suspension

Toyota has made sure to equip every off-road version of the Tundra and Tacoma with a four-wheel drivetrain; this will deliver the right amount of horsepower to each wheel, giving you solid traction for off-roading. Four-wheel is distinct from all-wheel drive, which gives different amounts of torque to each wheel and is designed to improve traction in highway driving conditions.

Having a specialized suspension system is another important factor to consider. A regular set of shock absorbers and struts might be fine for cruising on a nicely paved highway but won’t do you much good out on a rough and rugged trail. This is why the off-road versions of a Tundra and Tacoma feature a specialized suspension system. For example, the Tundra TRD Off-Road has Bilstein shock absorbers, while the TRD Pro has 2.5-inch FOX Shocks. Both of these are among the best for off-road suspensions. You'll find similar setups on a used Tacoma; the TRD Off-Road trim and Trail Special Edition each have a TRD-tuned off-road suspension with Bilstein shocks, while the TRD Pro featured 2.5-inch FOX internal bypass coilovers and rear remote reservoir shocks.

Other Off-Road Features

If your truck has a strong powertrain, solid ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a 4X4 drivetrain, you may be ready for off-roading. However, Toyota goes the extra yard to give you specialized features that come standard on most of their off-road pickups. For example, you'll find skid plates and front tow hooks on a used Tundra Trail Special Edition and TRD Pro. Similarly, the Tacoma TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro boast front tow hooks, skid plates for underbody protection, and an electronically locking rear differential; these will help reduce skidding by locking the rear axle, allowing the two wheels to turn in unison, getting you out of muddy conditions.

You can also find a used Toyota Tundra or Tacoma with Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, and Active Traction Control. Each of these systems will come in handy when out on the trail. Multi-Terrain Select allows you to choose between five different modes, each automatically adjusting the engine throttle and brakes to deliver the right amount of traction. Crawl Control is for driving on the most challenging terrain at low speeds. Active Traction Control adjusts your truck’s traction to handle snowy and slippery conditions; this works both on and off the road. Off-road, Active Traction Control will allow you to get through a rough trail in inclement weather; on it, Active Traction Control will keep your truck from skidding, ensuring you and your passengers will get wherever you are going safely.

Find a Pre-Owned Toyota Truck at Future Toyota of Yuba City

Finding the right truck can be a challenging task. But at our dealership, we will help you find the used Toyota Tundra or Tacoma with the off-road trim and features you need for the next time you hit the trail. Come into Future Toyota of Yuba City today and drive out with a used Toyota Tundra or Tacoma that's already prepared to leave the pavement!