Should You Take the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Off Road Off-Roading?
The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Off Road definitely has the chops to go off-road, despite its limiting wheelbase. Click here for more.
The 2022
Toyota Tundra
TRD Off Road lives up to the expectation that the brand set with its TRD line—it’s a performance pickup that can handle off-roading, as long as the person behind the wheel remembers that it’s a pickup truck and not an SUV.The 2022 Tundra TRD ushers in a new generation for the model line and the TRD Off Road trim doesn’t disappoint. It marries cabin comfort and technology features to a rugged off-road package that’s ready to hit the trail—and beyond.
RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees, ever
Can the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Off Road actually go off-road?
Yes, you can absolutely take the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Off Road off the road. And as an added bonus, unlike some of its counterparts, you can reliably get it back on the road too!
With a great ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, and an excellent low-end torque—which has a dual benefit for off-roading and hauling—the Tundra TRD Off Road is ready to rumble.
With a starting MSRP of $39,695, a new Tundra TRD Off Road is comparable in price range to its 2022 competitors as well as recently released but used off-road pickups.
But don’t buy based on the low price alone—you’ll want to get to know the Tundra TRD Off Road a little better before you invest to make sure it’s the right off-road vehicle for you.
Ground clearance
One of the most important specifications in an off-road vehicle is the ground clearance. Ground clearance measures the distance between the ground and the lowest portion of your vehicle’s chassis. It gives you an idea of just what size of rock, stump, or roadkill you can drive over without interference.
Off-roaders like to see a ground clearance between 8.8 inches and 10.8 inches. Anything much lower than 8.8 inches means you’ll be seriously limited on what you can safely drive over. If you go much higher than 10.8 inches, you’re really starting to tamper with your vehicle’s stability (Of course, the stability also depends on the car’s width and wheelbase, too).
The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Off Road has a ground clearance of 10.9 inches. It’s a smidge higher than the ideal frame of reference, but not dangerously so—especially with the longer wheelbase of a pickup truck.
Torque
Another spec to read up on is torque. For off-roading, you’ll be particularly interested in your vehicle’s low-end torque. That means the amount of torque produced at a lower RPM. This figure is good to establish how heavy of a load your vehicle can haul in a grueling, grinding pull. It also tells us if it can climb and crawl out of rocky terrain.
An ideal low-end torque for off-roading should show a high torque output in the range of 2,000 and 4,000 RPM. This ensures your truck can crank out plenty of power even in a lower gear.
The 2022 Tundra TRD shows an excellent low-end torque of 401 lb-ft at a mere 2,000 RPM. This gives you a steady, strong lunge to get over riverbeds, rocks, and inclines. It also means you could haul up to 11,000 pounds of trailer weight on the highway.
Tires
The 2022 Tundra TRD Off Road uses 265/70R18 tires, and it comes with Falken all-terrain tires. Falken is a brand with a growing name for all-terrain performance.
Wider tires, like the 265-centimeter-wide Falkens, are great for generating contact pressure in dry or even damp conditions. However, they might not be best for icy or snowy off-roading excursions. In slick conditions, a narrower tire is better.
Drivetrain
There are arguments in favor of all-wheel drive (AWD) for off-roading and equally legitimate arguments stating the superiority of rear-wheel drive (RWD) for off-roading. The truth is, they both have benefits and drawbacks. You should have an idea of which you’d prefer before you buy, as the Tundra is a RWD pickup.
RWD off-roading proponents say that this drivetrain gives you better stability, power transfer, and control over the vehicle. AWD enthusiasts would say that the improved traction can give you more leverage to climb out of the most rugged pits.
It’s worth noting, though, that pickups, which generally have longer wheelbases than SUVs, can’t go into the extreme crevasses and climb out the way a short-wheelbase SUV can. Still, if you insist on AWD, then the Tundra TRD Off Road is not for you.
Angles
Finally, you’ll want to know what kind of angles your truck can handle before you head off the road. No need to do the trigonometry yourself—we’ve got the numbers here for you.
You need to know your truck’s approach angle, departure angle, and break-over angle. Here’s what those terms mean:
- Approach angle tells us the maximum incline that your vehicle can climb without scraping the underside. It’s basically a measure of the steepness your truck can handle upon approach.
- Departure angle is a lot like the approach angle, except this time you’re descending instead of going up an incline. It tells us how steep a decline your truck can depart from without interference.
- Breakover angle indicates the peak that you can drive over. Basically, it helps you to know what degree of peaks you can maneuver over without getting stuck.
While the Tundra TRD Off Road’s angles don’t compare to those of something smaller like a
Jeep Wrangler
, they’re still pretty good! It has an approach angle of 26.2 degrees and a departure angle of 24.2 degrees. The break-over angle depends on the truck’s wheelbase, which can vary depending on options, but it's somewhere between 15.8 and 17 degrees. That means the Toyota Tundra TRD can handle a lot of varied off-road terrain, but it’s not going to climb out of deep gorges the way something built like a
Land Rover Discovery
can.Off-road rating: Trail Boss
Rating | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
D | Don’t Try It | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
I | In a Pinch | Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances |
R | Rough and Ready | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
T | Trail Boss | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 App Store Rating. Trusted by 2+ Million Customers.
The 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Off Road gets a T Rating with a caveat. Yes, it earns the Trail Boss designation, as long as the driver is wise enough to remain aware of the truck’s length and limited angles. It’s a pickup truck, not a mountain goat.
The best off-road alternatives to the 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Off Road
It’s okay if you’re still undecided about getting a 2022 Toyota Tundra TRD Off Road. To help you with your decision, we’ve put together a rundown of some comparable models:
Alternative | Model | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Most affordable alternative | 2022 Ford F150 | $30,000 | The Ford F150 is as versatile as ever, with plenty of configurations and a hybrid option available. Its payload and towing capacity were both increased in 2021, making the 290-hp 3.3 L V6 a viable contender against the Tundra. |
Most comfortable alternative | Ram 1500 | $45,480 | The Ram 1500’s 3.6 L V6 gets 305 hp, but that’s not its only strength—it offers the best interior in its class based on comfort and materials. |
Most powerful alternative | Nissan Titan | $50,690 | The Nissan Titan comes with a 5.6 L V8 offering 400 hp and 5,800 rpm and it’s a 4WD. It’s much more expensive than the others, but if you prefer off-roading with a 4WD, it’s worth a look. |
How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
One downside of buying an off-road vehicle is that the insurance might cost a little more. That’s because, well, we have more fun in off-road pickups. But sometimes, that fun poses a risk to insurers who are thinking about body damage and repairs down the road.
Still, you can go off-roading and save on insurance too if you try
Jerry
. Jerry is a super-fast, super-easy car insurance comparison shopping
app that saves people money. It only takes about 45 seconds to get started with Jerry.Once you open the app, you’ll answer a few easy questions. From there, Jerry will pull some information from your existing car insurance policy to generate a real set of custom quotes from a network of 55+ top insurers. When you find a policy that looks good to you, Jerry makes switching over easy. They’ll even help you cancel your old insurance!
On top of that, the average Jerry user saves over $800 a year on car insurance.
“I signed up for a new policy withJerry’shelp. I ended up saving $236 a month after my switch. Thank you Jerry!” —Adelaide C.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare and find out in 45 seconds.
4.7/5 App Store Rating, 8,100+ Reviews
Trusted by 1.5+ Million Customers.
Trusted by 1.5+ Million Customers.
Compare Car Insurance Quotes For Free
Jerry automatically shops for your insurance before every renewal. Members save $872/year.
Start saving money!
You might also be interested
