Discover the World of Trucks: A Buying Guide

Trucks are larger vehicles designed to carry heavier items. In the past, trucks were often associated with industries like farming and construction. But today, trucks are sought after by a wide range of drivers looking for power and capability, combined with comfort, driving performance and the ability to go on rugged adventures. That’s what Toyota’s lineup of body-on-frame trucks are built to do. No surprise, then, that Toyota trucks are some of the most popular vehicles with drivers all across Canada.
 

There are different types of trucks available to Canadians based on what they need. The two most popular are the full-size truck and midsize truck. The main differences between them come down to power, size and performance. Full-size trucks are more powerful, like the Toyota Tundra which boasts up to 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, with the ability to carry and pull very heavy loads. Midsize trucks are a little smaller and lighter, but still provide excellent capability and performance. Take the Toyota Tacoma. This popular midsize truck can also carry a significant payload, and has the horsepower and torque to pull up to 5950 lbs* of cargo. The good news? Toyota offers trucks to suit virtually any need.

One of the first considerations when buying a truck is the truck cab size. Toyota offers several: regular cab, double cab, and crew cab.

• Regular Cab - Has one row of seats and has two doors.

• Double Cab - Also known as extended cab, has two rows of seating with small doors to access the second row.

• Crew Cab - Like the Toyota Tundra Crewmax Limited L - is the largest cab option, with two rows of seating and regular size doors to access the second row.
 

Another consideration when looking at trucks are the different sizes of truck bed. The truck bed is the carrying area in the rear of the truck, and Toyota’s truck lineup offers several options. The Tacoma has two bed options - 5 foot and 6 foot– that can be paired with either a double cab of any trim level. The Tundra, being a larger truck, has three bed options. The 5.5 and 6.5 foot truck beds are available with the Crewmax cab, and the double cab is available with the 6.5 and 8.1 foot configurations. This range of bed sizes means you can choose the truck size that suits your specific needs. And don’t forget to look at the material the truck bed is made from. Toyota truck beds are made of composite material, which offers the advantage of being very rugged and corrosion-resistant, while also being lighter than traditional steel beds.
 

Each truck offers different seating configurations to ensure that you and your passengers travel in comfort. Tacoma and Tundra can seat 5 passengers. Depending on which configuration you choose, Toyota trucks also offer a range of fabrics, interior features and heated/ventilated seating options that provide the highest level of comfort for you and all of your passengers.
 

Considered a key feature of any truck, payload capacity is the weight of cargo a truck can safely carry. Both the Toyota Tundra and the Toyota Tacoma have impressive payload capacities.

Payload capacity is calculated by taking the total allowed weight and subtracting the weight of the empty vehicle itself**. 

Curb weight:

This refers to the weight of a completely empty vehicle, including standard equipment, fluids, and a full tank of fuel, but without any passengers or cargo.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR):

This is the maximum allowable weight of the vehicle when fully loaded, including passengers, cargo, and any additional equipment.

Payload Capacity = GVWR - Curb Weight

The Tacoma’s payload capacity is up to 1,685 lbs (764 kg). And the full-size Tundra’s payload is up to 1,940 lbs (880 kg). Either is a great option if you need a truck that can carry a heavy payload.
 

Towing capacity is another major feature trucks offer, and is good shorthand for understanding a truck’s power and performance. The main difference is that Towing Capacity is the maximum weight a vehicle can pull, while Payload Capacity is the maximum weight a vehicle can carry.

The Toyota Tacoma is rated to tow up to 5,950 lbs (2,698 kg), allowing it to haul boats, trailers and other heavy loads. The Tundra is a significant step up, with a towing capacity of up to 11,199 lbs (5080 kg). That kind of capability lets you pull campers, trailers and even larger cargo with relative ease. In either case, there’s a Toyota truck that will pull its weight for the things that you need to haul.
 

Did you know? Toyota Tundra made history in 2012 by successfully towing the Endeavor Space Shuttle across the Manchester Boulevard Bridge.
 

A major consideration when looking at trucks is safety. All Toyota trucks feature standard Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of advanced safety features. These include pre-collision systems, lane-departure alert, dynamic radar cruise control, and more. There are also truck specific safety features available, like trailer-sway control, an integrated trailer brake controller and trailer merge warning systems. Taken together, these features help keep you and your family safe, no matter which Toyota truck you are driving.
 

Today’s trucks offer impressive technology to help drivers travel wherever they may want to go, and to connect them with what’s important. Toyota trucks feature the most up to date technologies, like the Toyota Multimedia System which has connectivity features that let you to personalise your-in-vehicle experience with premium high-definition displays up to 14 inches and personalised user profiles. A suite of Connected Services such as available Drive Connect, which includes features that enhance your drive, like cloud navigation with real time traffic and Google points-of-interest, intelligent assistant that responds to natural voice commands and can be activated with a simple wake word “Hey Toyota”, and Destination Assist that connects you 24/7 to a live agent to help you find the best routes. Remote Connect, lets you start the engine, lock and unlock doors and more, all through the Toyota app in your smartphone. Service Connect helps you keep your truck in top condition with warning notifications sent directly to the Toyota app and vehicle health reports. Safety Connect provides peace of mind with emergency SOS assistance and enhanced roadside assistance should you encounter trouble on the road. Stolen Vehicle Locator allows our operators to assist law enforcement to locate and recover your vehicle. No matter which Toyota truck you choose, you’ll find technology and connectivity that elevate your drive.
 

The only thing better than owning a truck - is owning a truck that is uniquely yours. And Toyota has the accessories to help you do just that. Like a hard or soft tonneau cover to protect your cargo in the truck bed. Lockable console vault to protect your valuables on the inside. Swing out storage boxes and bed extenders to maximize the capability of the truck bed. And incredible TRD accessories sure to turn heads, like front skid plates, cast aluminum running boards, and performance exhausts. There are even LED tailgate light bars and specialized roof racks that are both functional and, well, pretty cool to look at! 
 

The durability, capability and reliability of Toyota Trucks mean they are perfect for off-roading and overlanding adventures. Toyotas are high-performing off-road trucks, with the power and torque to get you off-the beaten path, and features like multi-terrain select and crawl control to handle any terrain when you get there. Our TRD Pro models churn out more horsepower, torque and specialty design features to make your off-roading adventures even more epic. And Tacoma offers a Trailhunter package that is tough, rugged and ready to explore with standard overlanding equipment and technology. Toyota trucks offer available packages to help conquer any terrain, including rugged off-road equipment like FOX® shocks, Old Man Emu® suspensions, and products from RIGID Industries®.
 

Toyota has an electrified vehicle for virtually every lifestyle, and our trucks are no different. Toyota’s hybrid trucks push the boundaries like never before, with the electrified power of the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain. Seamlessly combining the power of a gas engine with an electric motor, the i-FORCE MAX battery recharges on the go, so you never need to plug in. By running on both gas and the continually recharging battery, this powertrain provides incredible power and performance. For example, the i-FORCE MAX 4-Cyilnder Hybrid engine available on the Tacoma, features a powerful 326 horsepower and 456 lb-ft of torque. And the Tundra’s i-FORCE MAX V6 Hybrid powertrain delivers a whopping 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. That’s even more horsepower and torque than the gas models, so with Toyota’s hybrid trucks, there is zero compromise. 

There are many things to consider when buying a truck. Thankfully, choosing the right one for you has never been easier. Toyota’s truck lineup has a vehicle to suit practically every need, including a range of powerful and large SUVs aside from Tacoma and Tundra. Now that you know a bit more about the power and performance that Toyota trucks have to offer, build and price your new Tundra or Tacoma to find the Toyota Truck that suits you perfectly, or learn more about the full Toyota Truck and large SUV line-up here.

_Disclaimers

_{* Provincial towing laws may require the installation of electric towing brakes in order to safely tow. Before towing, confirm what laws affect you, and whether, if required, your vehicle can accommodate electric towing brakes. Make sure your vehicle and trailer are compatible, hooked up and loaded properly and that you have any necessary additional equipment. If gross trailer weight is above 5,000 lb (2,268 kg), it is necessary to use a weight-distributing hitch with sufficient capacity. Do not exceed any Weight Ratings and follow all instructions and cautions from your trailer-hitch manufacturer and in your Owner’s Manual. The maximum you can tow depends on base curb weight plus the total weight of any cargo, occupants, and added vehicle equipment. “Added vehicle equipment” includes additional standard/optional equipment and accessories added by the manufacturer, dealers, and/or vehicle owners. The only way to be certain of your vehicle’s exact curb weight is to weigh your vehicle without passengers or cargo. If your vehicle is equipped with a kick sensor, installation of a tow hitch receiver or other accessories located near the rear bumper may require disabling or removing the kick sensor, and the sensor operation setting in your vehicle should be turned off. See Owner’s Manual for limitations.}

_{** Payload Capacity is the calculation of GVWR minus curb weight and should be used for comparison purposes only. The maximum amount of passenger and cargo weight your vehicle can carry is the Load Carrying Capacity indicated on the label(s) on the driver's doorjamb.}