"When" not "if" - Trail Damage

Allways wanted to use this someone always beats me to it.

 

Pinstriping and minor dents aren't damage, they're called character. I'm sure the OP's talking about trashed rocker panels, transmission pans, quarter panels and such.

 

You sir are on your way to more than Moderate Wheeling.

 

Maybe he's into extreme mall crawling Curbs be tall at some malls...

 

Bro-Coma time, maybe he could join the VA boys at the mall.

 

there are two kinds of drivers; those who had accidents and those who will have an accident.

also why did toyota put a switch in my tacoma to disable the side curtain airbags when i roll over. made for fun.

 

You WILL have damage eventually. I was trying to be especially careful when I had my 86' 4Runner and managed to put a softball sized dent in the side thanks to a tree (tire slipped off a rock and that was WITH sliders). It will happen, that's why I really don't wheel my Taco, save the carnage for an already beat-up vehicle.

 

Pretty much. I've got a few scratches here and there from branches, and as long as I can buff it all out once a year, I don't mind that so much (though a pin stripe the length of the truck would probably call for immediate attention).

I'm thinking I'll stick with the moderate wheeling, but would like the sliders and skids for those "shit happens" moments

Bro. You never know what could go wrong when you're flexing it out on a curb or a rock on the median.

 

It is kind of similar to the motorcycle mentality. It is not if you will ever crash it is when and how bad. Just be careful and be prepared to minimize the damage.

 

I've heard that saying as well, and in my many years of riding in big cities, I've never had any tip overs, let alone crashes. *knock on wood*

 

I chose "If you're smart and don't push your truck, you can avoid damage," but I don't consider pinstriping or small dents damage. Although it really is only a matter of time before something happens.

Here is my wheeling trip experience.

The first time I went wheeling 4/20/13 in my beautiful 2012 that had only been hand washed. Within the first 10 seconds I immediately questioned the entire act of wheeling. The trail was narrow and all I thought was "maybe I just wanted a mall crawler." At this point I already had the front bumper, winch, and sliders. As we drove through the first part of the trail I was having fun and was doing everything in my power to avoid as many trees limbs as possible... Then we got to the first obstacle. It was a small hill that the lifted FJ's I was with were barely not getting high centered. If someone had given me an easy button to take me and my truck out of the woods I might of hit it. Obviously, tightly holding onto my man card I drove over the hill and of course got high centered.



I couldn't open my doors because the walls were in the way. There were tree branches everywhere and all I thought was "I just fu%^ed up my truck" I calmed down, climbed out the window, hooked up my winch to a tree and got off the hill. The sliders worked and everything was fine.

At this point I was having fun. The next hill same thing only this time I engaged my locker and was able to motor over the hill. From that point on I put down my purse and hit the hills with some speed. I just kind of slid over them without issue. We maneuvered our way through the rest of the trail and by the time we exited I was hooked on wheeling...

..just wait it gets bad...

After messing around in the SUV part of the off road park I started feeling a little cocky.

I had just driven through this obstacle and went off looking for the next obstacle.

http://youtu.be/8JBLOPTUAD8

I had already driven past a rutted out mud hole a 3 or 4 times before I finally decided "what the hell" it doesn't LOOK that deep.

I was wrong! I slowly crept into it to check the depth in 4 low locked, but it didn't matter. By the time my truck sank to the "Ohh SHIT" moment it was too late. I was stuck. I yelled over to my friends who hurried over to pull me out. At first there was no water in the truck and I was hoping and praying I had time. A few seconds later there was water filling up my floor mat.



http://youtu.be/2bwTebdreZY

I thought I had destroyed my truck. After 48 hours of cleaning, pulling out my interior, and drying out everything I got super lucky. In my conclusion I will say that you will not have a showroom truck if you off-road, but you will truly appreciate what it is capable of. I drove my truck all over Moab Utah for the Rock Therapy event and let me tell you these trucks are freaking badass. Since the trip I have done the CMC, ordered new springs to compensate for all the weight I added and will be on 285's by the end of this week. I might has some "custom pinstriping" but it is better than not using my truck for what it is for. At the end of the summer I will have the truck detailed and attend to the scratches knowing full well that I will just create new ones.

Sorry this is so long, but I thought the OP might appreciate the story.


The trail from the first part of my story.
http://youtu.be/mTXXJ8dbnR0

Friend hitting the mud hole I just got stuck in after me and also getting stuck.
http://youtu.be/9bE9OoqARkU

 

Good for you. Shiny perfect Tacomas are SAD Tacomas because deep inside every one of them wants hardcore action.

 

Proper armor is key to keep damage "minimal" but wont always cover ya. I have yet to do any major damage to my current rig but it will happen. Here is a quick clip a bubby took in slomo that shows armor doing its job, just about every piece of armor used here and not one scratch where it hurts.

http://youtu.be/Fb3l4DWeb0U

 

You got that right. OP I have a Pelfreybilt bumper and skids and they saved my a$$ in Moab.

 

Excellent poll and thread.

Props to the OP and all the posters input.

 

Made it all the way through Little John Bull, backed outta Big John Bull and took 3N16 back instead which broke me more than JB would have.

 

It was a toss up between damage will happen and 'if you're smart' and I would've picked both.

Wheeled for 8 years with 96 Tacoma and 94 Wrangler.

I've seen more damage in other rigs than on my own. Don't be 'THAT GUY'.
Wheel smart and expect the unexpected.

 

Well Said

 

This is the worst I have.



Same spot. Eric's sliders took the hit.




course I'm tired of beating up the Taco and it's not as capable as I want so I bought a land cruiser to build...

and I guess I didn't need to try and get my taco through there but you reach a point you want to wheel for real and shit happens

 

you're gonna get some damage, i tried not to in my new '13 but i already have some decent pin striping. you can avoid most of it, but you will find yourself in a situation one day that you just cannot help it. it's like a racecar driver saying "can i drive a race car and not blow my motor"


EDIT: alot of this depends on what type of wheeling you do, and the area you live in though.