Performance Meets Exploration: OPTIMA’s 2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid TRD Pro

Built with the Best to Take on the Path Less Taken

OPTIMA Batteries has been a leading company in performance batteries since its inception in 1972. Producing batteries for marine, automotive, agriculture, and construction applications to name a few, the company and its leaders know what it takes to get just about any job done—and done right.

“… the OPTIMA Tundra is packed full of state-of-the-art goodies, encompassing everything from the GPS and switch panel in the truck’s cabin to the electronically optimized suspension system down below.”

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

So when the company set out to have a new 2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid TRD Pro built to showcase the latest and greatest components available to the off-road and overlanding markets, the folks at OPTIMA  turned to the best when it came to outfitting the build with the brands and components everyone is talking about.

Debuted at the 2024 CES Show in Las Vegas, a convention showcasing the latest and greatest in consumer electronic innovations, the OPTIMA Tundra is packed full of state-of-the-art goodies, encompassing everything from the GPS and switch panel in the truck’s cabin to the electronically optimized suspension system down below. There’s nothing quite like hitting the dirt fully prepared, and with this setup, OPTIMA went all out for one of the most decked-out overlanding truck builds yet.

Off-Road Ready

Straight from the factory, the 2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid TRD Pro is a highly capable truck, featuring a 3.4L twin-turbocharged V-6 hybrid engine good for 437hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. With the hybrid platform comes over 2,000 more pounds of towing capacity compared to previously V-8-powered models, as well as a 10-speed shiftable automatic transmission, along with some other cool improvements such as electric-only crawling and downhill descent capabilities. But just like with any factory vehicle, there are plenty of improvements that can be made to the platform to make it an even more capable machine, especially when it comes to exploring the world off-road.

One of the leaders in automotive batteries for both on- and off-road applications, OPTIMA partnered with some of the industry’s biggest heavy hitters to build its truck to an even higher standard. First and foremost is the superior suspension system engineers bestowed on the truck.

Created by ICON Vehicle Dynamics, the particular suspension system OPTIMA outfitted its new Tundra with features a 6-inch lift, 2.5 Series front coilovers and rear shocks with remote reservoirs, and Compression Damping Electronic Valve technology. If that wasn’t enough, the system also offers custom triple rate rear coil springs, high clearance crossmembers, and billet aluminum UCAs with Delta Joint Pro joints. Heavy-duty bumpstop brackets, high-angle outer tie rods, and billet rear upper and high clearance lower links with FK Rod Ends are also part of the package. Manufactured specifically to be paired with 20×9-inch ICON Alloys wheels and up to a 37-inch tire, this setup is meant to leave the pavement in the rearview mirror.

For this specific setup, OPTIMA chose ICON’s Rebound Series wheels, along with Yokohama Geolandar X-AT tires for the ultimate dirt loving package.

Outfitted for the Back Country 

While having the proper mechanical gear like a beefed up suspension system and powerful engine to get you to your destination is important, so too is having the right components to increase your safety and comfort while getting there. In this area, the OPTIMA 2023 Toyota Tundra truly shines!

Up front and out back, fully integrated Stealth Fighter bumpers from Addictive Desert Design help protect the truck’s body from damage while giving it a much more rugged aesthetic. Tucked underneath the Tundra’s front bumper, you’ll find a WARN VR EVO 12-S winch for all of your recovery needs.

“… the particular suspension system OPTIMA outfitted its new  Toyota Tundra with features a 6-inch lift, 2.5 Series front coilovers and rear shocks with remote reservoirs, and Compression Damping Electronic Valve technology.”

Over 28 individual lighting components from Rigid Industries help light the Tundra’s way. These lighting components span from the company’s rock light kit and 40-inch Radiance Plus curved lightbar mounted to the truck’s front bumper, to GPS-backed smart SR-M Pro Series light pods and a SR-Q Series backup light kit.

Topping the truck is a slew of products from Leitner Designs, including an Active Cargo System (ACS) Roof Platform roof rack, GearPOD ROOF side-opening rooftop storage box, ACS Forged bed rack with integrated GearPOD storage compartments, and a HyrdroPOD 4.8-gallon carry tank portable shower system. On top of this, the Tundra is fitted with The Bush Company’s TX27 MAX hard-shell rooftop tent and 270 XT MAX Awning MK2, which the company boasts can be put up in as little as 90 seconds.

The Toyota Tundra features even more fair in the bed, from the Rago Fabrication center console Molle truck bed panels to the DECKED full-size bed drawer system, giving the truck a ton more cargo capacity and a great hiding spot for the truck’s Manager30 battery management system partnered with a 3000-watt  Pure Sine inverter from REDARC.

Of course we can’t forget the Starlink Flat High Performance Kit with a Direct Current Engineering roof mount found on the truck for all your Internet browsing needs on the go.

All the Bells and Whistles

Inside, the truck is outfitted with even more of the latest automotive tech products. These include Switch-Pros’ RCR-Force 12-switch panel system for control of the plethora of Rigid lights gracing the truck’s exterior, a Banks iDash SuperGauge vehicle monitoring system for heads-up vehicle information at your fingertips, and Bulletpoint Mounting Solutions device mounts for easy, hands-free mounting of phones and other accessories throughout the cab.

“Over 28 individual lighting components from Rigid Industries help light the Tundra’s way.”

Also fitted into the truck’s interior is a Kenwood NX-5700 110-watt high power VHF radio, to help driver and passengers alike stay in contact with their crews off-road. A 10-inch Garmin Tread XL Baja Series GPS system, not only helps guide you to where you’re trying to go, but also has built-in race team tracking capabilities to be used if you were chasing a race team blasting down the Baja California Peninsula.

Fully built for off-roading adventure, the OPTIMA Toyota Tundra is one heck of a truck that we’d love to take for an overlanding trip. Outfitted with some of the latest and greatest, from the fully capable ICON off-road suspension system paired with ICON Alloys wheels and Yokohama tires, to a full Leitner Designs roof rack system and The Bush Company’s rooftop tent, this truck is capable of going just about anywhere. The only question is, how long would you stay away?

UPGRADES

2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid TRD Pro OPTIMA Truck

OWNER: 

OPTIMA Batteries
Glendale, Wisconsin

Chassis & Suspension : 

ICON Vehicle Dynamics 6-inch Performance Suspension System; 2.5 Series front coilovers and rear shocks with remote reservoirs and Compression Damping Electronic Valve technology; Custom triple rate rear coil springs; High clearance crossmembers; Billet aluminum UCAs with Delta Joint Pro joints; Heavy-duty bump stop brackets; High-angle outer tie rods; Billet rear upper and high clearance lower links with FK Rod Ends

Wheels & Tires: 

20×9-inch ICON Alloys Rebound wheels; 37-inch Yokohama Geolandar X-AT tires

Engine & Drivetrain: 

3.4L V-6 engine; MagnaFlow Overland Series cat-back performance exhaust system with No Drone Technology (NDT); 10-speed automatic transmission

Body & Paint: 

Addictive Desert Design Stealth Fighter front and rear bumpers; WARN VR EVO 12-S winch; Rigid Industries 40-inch Radiance Plus curved light bar attached to the front bumper; Rigid Industries Radiance Plus SR-Series light bar above the windshield; Rigid Industries E-Series resonance damper; Rigid Industries rock light kit; Rigid Industries SR-M Pro pod lights; Rigid Industries SR-Q back up light kit; Leitner Designs Active Cargo System (ACS) Roof Platform roof rack; GearPOD ROOF side-opening rooftop storage box; Starlink Flat High Performance Kit with Direct Current Engineering roof mount;

The Bush Company TX27 MAX hard-shell rooftop tent; The Bush Company 270 XT MAX Awning MK2; Leitner Designs Active Cargo System Forged bed rack with integrated GearPOD storage compartments; HyrdroPOD 4.8-gallon carry tank portable shower system; Rago Fabrication center console Molle truck bed panels; DECKED full-size bed drawer system; REDARC The Manager30 battery management system; REDARC 3000-watt Pure Sine inverter; Custom OPTIMA wrap featuring topographic details

Interior & Stereo: 

Switch-Pros RCR-Force 12-switch panel system; Bulletpoint Mounting Solutions device mounts; 3D Mats USA floor mats; Kenwood NX-5700 110-watt high power VHF radio; 10-inch Garmin Tread XL Baja Series GPS; Banks iDash SuperGauge vehicle monitoring system.

Read More: Exploring the 2022 Toyota Tundra

Editor’s Note: A version of this article appeared in TREAD Sep/Oct 2024