TRDLEGACY
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- Mar 28, 2025
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- Tundra
- 2023 TRD Off Road SR5 4X4
What’s up, everyone,
I just had to take a moment to talk about how insanely awesome my 3rd Gen Tundra is when it comes to off-roading. Every time I take it out on a trail, through the desert, over rocks, or even just cruising dirt roads, I’m reminded why I love this truck so much. It’s one of those rigs that makes you feel confident, capable, and unstoppable — and honestly, it’s the perfect balance of comfort, power, and ruggedness.
For context, I’m running a 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Off-Road, and it’s equipped with:
Ride Quality & Power
Let’s talk about ride quality. The factory suspension paired with the Westcott lift strikes a really nice balance — not too stiff for everyday driving, but just enough lift and control to handle rocky terrain and ruts with zero drama. And when you throw in those KO2s, you get that extra grip and confidence when the trail gets loose.
The 3.5L twin-turbo V6? Let me tell you… it delivers. People who doubt this engine over the old V8 have clearly never climbed steep grades or ripped through sandy washes in one. The torque is instant, the throttle response is smooth, and the 10-speed transmission holds its gears like it actually understands what you’re trying to do. No lag, no hunting — just raw power when you need it.
Trail Confidence
What I love most is how planted and surefooted the Tundra feels, even in technical spots. Whether I’m airing down for some rocky terrain or cruising across a fire road, it never feels sketchy. You don’t have to fight it or constantly adjust — it just glides over stuff like it was built for this life.
TRD Off-Road features like the locking rear diff, multi-terrain select, and Crawl Control are all great tools too. They’re not gimmicks — they actually help when the going gets tough. That extra traction and tech takes the stress out of uncertain terrain, and makes you look like a pro even when you’re not trying hard.
Interior Comfort
Here’s the kicker: as capable as it is outside, the interior is straight-up luxurious. After a dusty trail or rocky run, I’m back inside enjoying ventilated seats, a massive touchscreen, wireless CarPlay, and a smooth, quiet ride back home. There’s no trade-off. I get to go hard on the trail, then drive home like I’m in a high-end SUV.
It’s like having two vehicles in one — a rugged, trail-busting tank on the outside and a tech-loaded, comfortable cabin on the inside. Toyota really nailed the dual personality with this gen.
Looks & Presence
Let’s be honest — part of the fun is just looking back at your truck when it’s parked on the trail. The stance, the grille, the lights, the tires — everything just looks dialed in. People stop and stare. I’ve had folks at trailheads walk up just to ask what suspension I’m running or where I got my grille. It’s a head-turner that performs even better than it looks.
Final Thoughts
Every time I take this Tundra off-road, I come back more impressed. It eats up everything I throw at it, never complains, and makes me feel like I can go anywhere. It’s the kind of truck that reminds you why you fell in love with the off-road lifestyle in the first place.
So if you’re debating whether a 3rd Gen Tundra is trail-ready… it’s not just ready — it thrives out there.
Let me know if you’re building one too — I’m always down to swap tips, check out other setups, and hit a trail or two. And if you’re not convinced yet, come ride shotgun with me on a trail run — you’ll be sold in 5 minutes.
I just had to take a moment to talk about how insanely awesome my 3rd Gen Tundra is when it comes to off-roading. Every time I take it out on a trail, through the desert, over rocks, or even just cruising dirt roads, I’m reminded why I love this truck so much. It’s one of those rigs that makes you feel confident, capable, and unstoppable — and honestly, it’s the perfect balance of comfort, power, and ruggedness.
For context, I’m running a 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Off-Road, and it’s equipped with:
- Westcott Designs preload collar lift
- 35” BFGoodrich KO2s wrapped on Method MR312 double black wheels
- Rave Off-Road TRD Pro-style grille w/ amber LED light bar
- Alpharex Nova Series headlights
- Upgraded fogs, blacked-out trim, and some light interior touches
Ride Quality & Power
Let’s talk about ride quality. The factory suspension paired with the Westcott lift strikes a really nice balance — not too stiff for everyday driving, but just enough lift and control to handle rocky terrain and ruts with zero drama. And when you throw in those KO2s, you get that extra grip and confidence when the trail gets loose.
The 3.5L twin-turbo V6? Let me tell you… it delivers. People who doubt this engine over the old V8 have clearly never climbed steep grades or ripped through sandy washes in one. The torque is instant, the throttle response is smooth, and the 10-speed transmission holds its gears like it actually understands what you’re trying to do. No lag, no hunting — just raw power when you need it.
Trail Confidence
What I love most is how planted and surefooted the Tundra feels, even in technical spots. Whether I’m airing down for some rocky terrain or cruising across a fire road, it never feels sketchy. You don’t have to fight it or constantly adjust — it just glides over stuff like it was built for this life.
TRD Off-Road features like the locking rear diff, multi-terrain select, and Crawl Control are all great tools too. They’re not gimmicks — they actually help when the going gets tough. That extra traction and tech takes the stress out of uncertain terrain, and makes you look like a pro even when you’re not trying hard.
Interior Comfort
Here’s the kicker: as capable as it is outside, the interior is straight-up luxurious. After a dusty trail or rocky run, I’m back inside enjoying ventilated seats, a massive touchscreen, wireless CarPlay, and a smooth, quiet ride back home. There’s no trade-off. I get to go hard on the trail, then drive home like I’m in a high-end SUV.
It’s like having two vehicles in one — a rugged, trail-busting tank on the outside and a tech-loaded, comfortable cabin on the inside. Toyota really nailed the dual personality with this gen.
Looks & Presence
Let’s be honest — part of the fun is just looking back at your truck when it’s parked on the trail. The stance, the grille, the lights, the tires — everything just looks dialed in. People stop and stare. I’ve had folks at trailheads walk up just to ask what suspension I’m running or where I got my grille. It’s a head-turner that performs even better than it looks.
Final Thoughts
Every time I take this Tundra off-road, I come back more impressed. It eats up everything I throw at it, never complains, and makes me feel like I can go anywhere. It’s the kind of truck that reminds you why you fell in love with the off-road lifestyle in the first place.
So if you’re debating whether a 3rd Gen Tundra is trail-ready… it’s not just ready — it thrives out there.
Let me know if you’re building one too — I’m always down to swap tips, check out other setups, and hit a trail or two. And if you’re not convinced yet, come ride shotgun with me on a trail run — you’ll be sold in 5 minutes.
