Three of the Best Midsize Off-Roading Trucks You Can Buy Used

Are you shopping for used trucks for sale that can power your off-road adventures? Midsize trucks are some of the best sizes, in our opinion, because they typically see better fuel economy than full-size trucks, and their midsize dimensions are easy to maneuver on unpredictable terrain. Shopping used can be a great way to find an exceptional off-road pickup because you might just find one that the last owner already upgraded and modified to be an incredible off-road machine (off-roaders are known to do that kind of thing, after all).

Below are three of our recommendations for used off-road midsize pickup trucks. Each comes from one of the top names in the truck market and delivers incredible off-road features that can be high-priced when purchased new at unbeatable pre-owned costs. Start planning your next big off-road adventures now because you're about to fall in love with your pre-owned off-road truck.

Ford Ranger (2019, 2020, or 2021)

Let's start with the Ranger, specifically the years 2019 through 2021. The reason we're looking at these model years is that in 2019, Ford introduced the FX4 Off-Road Package to this model. If you're lucky enough to find a model with this package, you're about to experience a whole lot of possibilities. This package gets you off-road-tuned shocks that can better absorb impact on the road and keep the Ranger's cab from bouncing up and down when you're rolling over hilly terrain or crawling over boulders. It also gets all-terrain tires designed to channel mud, rocks, and sand away from the vehicle and maintain excellent traction, no matter what paths you explore.

This package also gets you the Terrain Management System. You might know its sibling system on the F-150 off-road Raptor trim. This system offers you four drive modes to help you command a variety of settings. First, there's a normal mode, which should balance a comfortable ride and fuel economy in everyday driving situations. But we're off-roaders, so normal mode is nice, but we want our backs covered when we hit the trails.

So, let's look at the other modes, such as grass mode, which gives you the power to travel across that meadow or field without concern. Gravel and snow mode will get you through rock-littered terrain or roads where the snow plow hasn't come yet. Mud and ruts mode can get you out of sticky situations when you can't get a hold of a recovery vehicle to pull you out of a rut. Finally, sand mode lets you travel across sand dunes without fear that your wheels will spin out. Activate any of the modes, and the truck will automatically adjust throttle responsiveness, gear setting, and other elements to adapt to your surroundings.

You'll get a frame-mounted, heavy-gauge steel front bash plate along with frame-mounted skid plates. So go ahead and be rough on your Ranger (so long as it has the FX4 package). It's an adventure-ready vehicle prepared to thrive in the roughest of terrain. Another awesome feature in this truck is Trail Control. Think of it as cruise control but for off-road environments. It works at low speeds, taking over acceleration and braking, so all you have to focus on is steering. When you're crawling over unpredictable and bumpy trails, Trail Control can handle some of the hard work so you can enjoy the ride a little more.

Chevy Colorado (2017, 2018, or 2019)

Now we're onto the Chevy Colorado. Find yourself a 2017 or newer model, and you might just snag yourself a Colorado ZR2. Chevy made the ZR2 trim available for the Colorado in 2017, and that delivered some incredible off-road powers to this already popular midsize truck. The ZR2 has an off-road suspension that's prepared to better absorb the bumps of off-road terrain and provide a smooth ride.

A Multimatic DSSV Damping System provides increased levels of damping, so even if you choose to go down that path that looks more like a roller coaster, the inside of your truck will feel like a smooth ride. The ZR2 will have an increased ground clearance compared to the other Colorado trims, meaning you can cruise down trails with minor obstacles in your way without concern of them scratching up the bottom of your vehicle. A broader track width gives you better command, too, even with the increased ride height.

Making the most of off-roading usually means towing something like a camper or boat with you. That's why we like that the Colorado ZR2 also has a trailer electric brake controller. It allows you to control your towed vessel's electric brakes, when you activate your truck's brakes, giving you better command when towing heavy loads.

That's not the only tow-friendly feature on the ZR2. If you find specifically a 2018 or newer Colorado ZR2, you'll benefit from the Active Tow feature. It provides guidance when lining your hitch up to your trailer. When you put your vehicle in reverse and hit the "Active Tow" button, you'll see guidelines on your rear vision camera screen that help with trailer-hitch alignment.

GMC Canyon AT4 (2021 or 2022)

Finally, we have the GMC Canyon. In 2021, GMC added the AT4 trim to the Canyon's family of models, delivering great off-road powers to this great midsize truck. The AT4 trim of a 2021 or 2022 model will have a standard 308-hp V6 engine. But it's available with a 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel, so if you snag yourself a used AT4 with that engine, you'll get some serious power beneath the hood.

This truck rolls on 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires ready to provide impressive traction on a variety of terrain. On the front, you'll notice red front recovery hooks, which should come in handy if you ever find yourself in a bind. You'll get an off-road-tuned suspension on this truck, too, ready to smooth out bumps and dips in the road. Plus, it has Advanced Hill Descent Control to prevent unwanted downhill rolling.

This four-wheel drive truck gets an automatic locking rear differential, too. Should one tire lose traction with the ground, this feature will send maximum torque to the vehicle still in contact with the ground. There are plenty of times that would come in handy when off-roading. When you are forced back to normal roads, you'll like the AutoTrac Transfer Case. It allows you to operate in 4x2 mode on regular, paved roads to improve fuel efficiency and help reduce wear and tear on 4x4 models.

Find Your Pre-Owned Off-Road-Ready Truck Here

At Automax Truck and Car Center, we're constantly acquiring the used trucks that we know deliver tremendous value to our customers. Check out our online inventory, where you can peruse dozens of the brands you know and trust, including GMC, Ford, and Chevrolet. You'll love how many great models we have and what great prices we offer. We know that any of the trucks we mentioned on this list will live up to the standards of avid off-roaders. Visit our website, and pick out the features you want, from brand to transmission type to drivetrain and more. We're passionate about showing drivers the quality that you can find in a pre-owned truck and carrying only the best models.