If your favorite way to spend the weekend is conquering untraveled terrain, you don't have to break the bank to find the ideal off-road vehicle. When you need a vehicle that will take you on your weekend adventures, consider a used truck or SUV. You'll find many models and manufacturers to choose from, such as Ford, Jeep, Chevrolet, and Ram. When looking for your next off-roader, consider a used vehicle. This vehicle type is sure to meet your needs, and your bank account won't have to take a hit with your vehicle purchase.
What Makes a Good Off-Road Used Vehicle?
It's essential to know what you seek before you start shopping for your off-road vehicle. If you plan to take your vehicle over rough and rocky terrain, you'll want to concentrate on specific features that will prove helpful wherever your adventures take you.
Ground Clearance
If you plan to tackle uneven terrain, you'll need a vehicle with extra ground clearance. The higher ride height means you have extra room between the underbody of the car and the ground, which helps to avoid damaging the vehicle. You can confidently drive over rocks and boulders when you have extra clearance.
All-Wheel or Four-Wheel Drive
All-wheel drive will work over rough terrain, but four-wheel drive usually works best for off-roading purposes.
Skid Plates
Skid plates will protect the vehicle's underside from rocks and other debris found on roads and terrain that are not well-traveled.
Best Off-Road Vehicle Models
Once you know what features and equipment to look for, you can start shopping. Take a look at some of the best off-road vehicles.
Toyota Tacoma
Toyota designed the Tacoma to tackle unpaved paths. This vehicle model comes in several trim levels, but the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro models have the extra gear and ground clearance you want when driving over rough terrain. These trims offer four-wheel drive and come with Fox off-road shocks, a wider stance to give you more stability, and over 9 inches of ground clearance.
The Tacoma is a small pickup truck, making it easy to maneuver so that you can feel more at home driving across challenging terrain.
Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner is a capable SUV with plenty of off-road capabilities. Thousands of used 4Runners are available, offering a reliable ride on and off the road. This SUV has a sturdy body-on-frame design, and you can find it in the TRD trim with extra off-road features. Depending on the model, you can get the 4Runner with Fox internal shocks for the front and rear, a TRD exhaust, and an extra front skid plate. This vehicle model also has the additional ground clearance you need to take on rough terrain.
Some trims also have Toyota's A-Trac system, which will send extra power to the wheels with the most traction and stop sending power to the wheels that don't. You can get out of most sticky situations when you activate this system and apply steady throttle pressure.
Jeep Wrangler
No list of used off-road vehicles is complete without the Jeep Wrangler. This iconic off-roader is the best of the best and even better if you have the Rubicon. The Wrangler Rubicon has an advanced four-wheel-drive system that provides the traction control needed to go almost anywhere over any terrain. You'll find locking differentials, 33-inch all-terrain tires, rock rails, steep bumpers with a winch, and tow hooks. You'll also get 9.7 inches of ground clearance with the Rubicon.
Additional elements include disconnecting sway bars, several skid plates made from heavy-gauge steel, and a skid bar over the automatic transmission oil pan.
Subaru Outback
The Outback is another capable off-roader. This vehicle has been a part of the Subaru lineup since 1996, and over the years, Subaru has added more off-road features and equipment.
The Subaru Outback offers 8.7 inches of ground clearance, Subaru's famous four-wheel-drive system, and a tight turning radius. These features allow drivers to maneuver over trails with tight turns easily. Since the Outback is smaller than a truck, the vehicle is easier to drive on narrow trails, and it has several suspension upgrades and lift kits to make this vehicle more capable if needed.
The Outback is perfect for hikers, skiers, and outdoor enthusiasts. In addition to the off-road capabilities, the vehicle has built-in crossbars to allow you to easily mount rooftop accessories to carry gear such as bikes, skis, and kayaks.
Ram 1500
Pickup trucks make excellent off-road vehicles, and the Ram 1500 is one of the best. Choose the Ram 1500 Rebel for an off-road-ready truck that will take you almost anywhere. The Rebel comes with 33-inch tires, Bilstein shocks, a stiff chassis, and an electronically activated rear locking differential. You'll also appreciate the skid plates, tow hooks, and a factory lift to get extra ground clearance. If you find a used Rebel with the optional air suspension, it has even more ground clearance.
Ram also offers the 1500 with its 4X4 Package as an option. This package provides 32-inch off-road tires, hill-descent control, an off-road rear suspension, off-road shocks. Like the Rebel, the Ram 1500 also has skid plates.
Nissan Xterra
The Nissan Xterra is rugged with its body-on-frame construction designed to tackle areas without roads. The second-generation Xterra ran from 2005 to 2015 and had a 4.0-liter V-6 engine with 265 horsepower. This vehicle offers 9.5 inches of ground clearance, and Nissan included a rear locking differential. The Pro-4X is the most capable trim and comes with upgraded shocks, all-terrain tires, and roof-mounted off-road headlamps.
Inside, the Nissan Xterra also has some extras that are handy for drivers who like an adventure. The Easy Clean Surface in the cargo area easily rinses out, plus the cargo area contains 10 cargo utility hooks. Nissan also offers this vehicle model with an adjustable channel system for carrying bikes and other gear on the cargo floor.
When you need a used vehicle that will take you off the beaten path, stop by CarSmart of Farmington. We have a range of trucks and SUVs to choose from, allowing you to head out on your next adventure in style.
