Making the most out of your truck’s performance requires learning about all the parts that form its design. However, there are many parts to learn if you want to find the best solution. For instance, you have to compare genuine vs. aftermarket Toyota truck parts if you want to find out which is best for your driving needs.
Some people need to optimize their vehicles for work, while others do it for off-roading fun. Overall, you can fine-tune trucks in many ways with the right tools. Continue below if you want to learn what separates genuine and aftermarket Toyota parts, and how to know which is the right choice for your ride.
Exploring Genuine Parts
Genuine parts are a phrase that may seem to suggest that these parts are the real deal and others are fake, but it’s not quite that simple. When you buy a Toyota car with its original parts, those are considered genuine. Think of genuine as your standard Toyota parts. Thus, of course, this means that they can excel at what they’re designed to do. These parts aren’t always manufactured directly by the car manufacturer. Often, third parties will develop the components for use in the manufacturer’s specific car.
Like any vehicle part, the performance of genuine parts relies substantially on the upkeep provided to them over time. This is especially critical to remember if you take your truck off-roading or overlanding, or if you participate in other similar activities. Regular maintenance and healthy driving habits can keep those parts in shape for as long as you can, but at the end of the day, those genuine parts still have a limit to their capabilities. Luckily, extending that limit is where aftermarket parts come into play.
What Are OEM Parts?
Before diving into the next section, discussing genuine and aftermarket Toyota truck parts calls for discussing OEM parts. This is another term you’ll see when browsing parts online, so it may cause some confusion at first. OEM stands for original equipment manufacturer. This means that the manufacturer who designed your truck made those replacement parts. Whereas genuine parts come off the shelf with your truck, OEM parts are replacements you can use later.
Buying OEM parts can provide peace of mind due to the manufacturer’s connection to your truck, but there’s more to consider when browsing for replacement parts. Just because components aren’t built by the truck manufacturer doesn’t mean they can’t adjust performance beautifully. Now, let’s take a look at why you should explore aftermarket parts.
What Are Aftermarket Parts?
As the name suggests, aftermarket parts are components you can buy after purchasing your vehicle as replacements or upgrades for certain areas. Aftermarket parts are carefully manufactured by a third party that’s not associated with Toyota. Moreover, aftermarket parts are typically designed to push your truck’s performance further than what it can do off the shelf. For example, our Toyota truck accessories include lift kits. As the name suggests, the purpose of a lift kit is to lift the truck higher off the ground to provide more clearance below.
A lift kit is a common off-road upgrade because it helps trucks handle terrain that may otherwise damage the underside of the vehicle. You can also explore lift kits if you need more clearance for larger tires, but this is only one of the many aftermarket parts available. Rock sliders are another common upgrade that helps drivers provide their ride with more undercarriage protection when roaming rough terrain. That said, with so many options available, how do you find the perfect parts for any given upgrade?
The Basics of Buying Aftermarket Parts
Because aftermarket parts don’t come directly from the vehicle manufacturer, first-time buyers may be trepidatious about who to buy from—and that’s a good thing. Not all aftermarket parts are equal, so it’s important to find brands that you can rely on to boost your performance. Luckily, there are many reliable options on the market, so choose wisely.
One key way to explore the best options is to look at the technical specs very carefully to ensure the materials are high-quality and the performance enhancements are clear. You don’t want to install something without understanding precisely what it can do.
For instance, at Trail Grid Pro, we provide a wide range of details of each of our parts online so you can buy aftermarket parts with confidence. Buying new parts for your truck shouldn’t be guesswork, so we want to make it easy for you to get to know the product beforehand.
Also, don’t forget about reviews, which you can easily find with online products. Reading reviews is helpful because feedback from someone with hands-on experience can shed light on what to expect from any brand or component you’re looking at.
Additional Essential Details
You also must remember that aftermarket parts aren’t always going to accommodate the same vehicles. The key details you should look at to determine the right aftermarket parts include the make and model of your truck.
Upgrading a truck using aftermarket parts should be a rewarding experience as it directly impacts your driving. Unfortunately, if you install the wrong parts on the wrong vehicle, you’re not exactly going to have the most fulfilling experience. Luckily, when you find a part made for your truck, you can ensure a smooth transition instead of a frustrating one.
The other critical detail to remember is why you’re buying the aftermarket parts in the first place. Determining whether genuine or aftermarket parts are right for you ultimately comes down to what you need from the vehicle’s performance. Remember that genuine Toyota parts should work as intended off the shelf, but that doesn’t mean you can’t boost performance further.
For instance, do you need more ground clearance below the truck? Do you need brighter headlights for overlanding? The opportunities are vast. Details like these are unique to everyone’s situation, so you can fine-tune the approach to your preference. Even if you don’t have a specific performance enhancement you need, browse our aftermarket parts available today to see the opportunities available to you.
