Insight and Dispelled Myths from Offroading the 17 TRDOR

A lot of people wheel their 16-17 trucks. Too much reading here, might make a new truck owner feel that if you don't have 1000 lbs of armor, lift, diff breather mods and 285's then you aren't ready.

This is to encourage those who haven't yet gone wheeling in their '17, or who want to but aren't sure about it. By "Offroading" ... I mean more than a dirt road. We took trails that had some potential of body damage, and I was in my practically stock TRDOR DC. It wasn't extreme by any means, but difficult for a stock truck. Maybe it will dispel some myths floating around as well? Please chime in if you have anything to add. I'm a vet wheeler of 25 years... but in a Jeep CJ, XJ, or TJ. I was very apprehensive about taking the 5 month old Tacoma on this ride, but it was a camping / wheeling trip with my family and some friends.

The trails we rode were tight and twisty, with lots of slimy rocks, ruts and hills. What made it the most interesting is that it was raining both days. Every time we pointed down another trail, my wife asked "are you sure you need to be doing this in the NEW truck?"

The stock suspension is quite good. I saw only 3 issues with it.
1- Loaded with 2 adults, a teenager, and camping gear for a rainy weekend... I bottomed out in the rear easily and often. It needs firmer springs (especially if I ever get a RTT)
2- Reaction in the front to an "event" was a little quick, but tolerable.
3- Loaded down, I was making a fair amount of contact with the ground in the center.

I was on the stock tires. (265/70-16). I was a little skiddish about airing down as I've heard stories about these tires failing... and I needed the GC. The suspension was good enough on the small stuff that my street pressure felt fine most of the time. This isn't what I would normally do, but it turned out fine. The tires actually surprised me a lot. I don't like them, but I never got stuck... and I should have.

Crawl Control didn't really work out in these conditions. It was just too off camber and slick. MTS helped a few times, but nothing worked as well as the locker and a little momentum. With the twisty conditions, I was unloading or lifting front or rear tires often. I had to back up a couple of times on a few spots... but always pulled out. I left the locker on a lot. leaving it on for long periods did not cause any issues.

I have a sunroof. I was twisted up enough that I heard the cab shift and pop a few times, but the sunroof is fine. It did not explode, or begin to leak.

I installed RCI sliders and SpiderTraxx wheel spacers. Each one paid for themselves at least 3 or 4 times. The kick out in the sliders kept the door off the banks and the spacers kept the tires pressed against the sides of the deeply rutted trail instead of the fenders. Sliders are a must for these trucks for any eastern wheeling.

I crossed about 12 creeks and streams without the diff breather mod. Some of them were as deep as the tire. All of them were as deep as the floor pan of the truck. My diff fluid is fine.

On the 2.5 hour drive back home, the truck was as smooth as it was before the trip. It didn't shimmy, wiggle or pull. I was extremely impressed with the capability of the stock truck. This trip changed my modification priority.

As with many, a lift was high on my list. Now it seems the most important thing is to get the exhaust moved, and get some better skids. Taller tires that can handle airing down will be important as well. Maybe just LT 265/75's though (If the stock suspension can be made to carry more while maintaining comfort.) If not, then a lift may be needed.

 

I agree completely with all of the above. I'm pretty much 100% stock in terms of anything wheeling-related. While I haven't done anything quite as intense as what you describe able, I've gotten close with a couple of really steep, rocky, narrow descents to access remote rivers. Watched chevys (even lifted) and dodges turn around halfway down. I barely ever scraped anything and did often have flexing, found the Crawl Control was just too much - perhaps if I were stuck and the locker wouldn't do the trick it would make more sense but the locker was able to easily push me out of anything sketchy. I also have been just fine w/ the stock GY tires and on my last adventure climbing over the slick rocks after a rain, my passenger commented on how cool it was that the tires NEVER even slipped (4Lo + Rock MTS most of the way).

I've had a mountain of other issues w/ this truck but the one thing I do feel comfortable with is it's ability to get me into and out of sticky situations. I'm not a hardcore off-roader - 90% of my "offroad" is really just driving on rutted out and often rocky, unmaintained forest roads and while some can be technical, it's definitely not hardcore offroading. But there are rivers I've avoided in the past because the access to the put-ins were so treacherous - and this truck has opened up some new options to me as a result.

 

same