Offroading for Newbie's 101

I'm starting this as a general list off good offroading tips, primarily after my Screwup in offroading ended up last weekend. Let's face it, there is much to learn. So with this said, anybody with good tips, stories, and of course photos, feel free to post, because newbie's like me don't always know what they are doing.

Just to kick it off:
when you see a lake the looks so calm and potentially awesome to drive into slightly, don't! I figured I would just slice through the water just a little bit, and then the whole bank gave way, dragging my brand new 2010 taco in with it. I figured 4 wheel drive could just maybe fix the situation, but it only made it worse making the silt dig the truck in deeper. Which brings me to me to my second bit of advice: always travel with somebody else who can pull you out.
I'll post some pictures of this a little later...

 

Im new at this too

 

The ultimate rule. Dont be stupid

 

Here ya go....

http://www.lieblweb.com/offroadtips.html

Oops, I gotta update that. Trekken TV doesn't exist anymore.

 

I can't wait to see the pics! A Taco that thinks it is Jesus? When the bank gave way, how deep did your new truck go down in the water?

4WD means you can travel on most any land roads, in all weather (that prevents 2WDs from passing), or on beaches and desert sand, but not on water...

 

ok ok... here are the pics...
This is when everything was going well...

Things are still going well...


Started getting a little bit dumber and forgot to close my window while having fun in the mud...


Then, as you all put it, my taco thought it was Jesus, and attempted to walk on water, that is until it started to drag my in. This isn't the worst of it... This is before the bank gave way again (I dont have pics of that, sorry, I was in "OH SHIT!" mode and cared more about getting out then getting pictures of my stupidity). When we finally got enough traction and was able to pull it free, the back end slide into the lake. You can follow the tire marks in this picture where I went from moving forward, to reversing, trying to get more tire on dry ground and slid in deeper.


And as you can see, there is lake water pouring out the side of my brand new truck... Less than pleased...


After a very thorough cleaning which included 3 hours of water removal, 1 hour of resolving and scrubbing of the carpets, several more hours of drying the carpets and floor mats, she looks brand new again. Thank god I know how to detail a car! But there ya go!

 

Lesson learned. It could have been worse.

 

Very very true. It could have been much worse. I can handle cleaning the truck. Hydro-lock or catastrophic failure is a different matter.

Now, with that embarrassment out there, lets hear y'alls stories. Im sure that ya have some...

 

I made a calculated decision to brush my front bumper against this sandstone wall and give my truck some character.

It gave my bumper cover a nice scuff and it was my first off-roading boo boo.

 

You got mud on your face and didn't take any pictures?

I've done that.....AND got mud on my face (didn't take pictures either).

 

So did ya lose the new truck smell already after that incident?

 

Thanks for sharing the photos... As for the Taco taking a swim... BAD TACO, BAD!

 

My girl and took it on the grassy ranch land... mind you my tacoma is 100% stock at the time... well I had the TRD skid. It was all fun and games until we fell into a pretty good size ditch and a loud bang sounded like I destroyed most of the underbody for sure. I couldnt see the ditch because it was masked by vegetation.

So we kept driving till we got to a road near by and I got out to check. But when I got out to assess the damge, to my surprise, there were no visible damage. I think the aluminum skid and the frame took most of the impact. You have to give it to tacomas... they are tough SOBs

 

I gotta ask... you went mudding in STOCK tires???

 

Ha ha... it wasn't really mudding as more like just driving around the ranch thing on the way back from horseback riding. It's one of those abandoned trails... looks like no one has been on it for at least 10 years.

Edit: I just realized this is probably directed toward the OP... if so please disregard.

 

yes yes, I was on stock tires. I figure I will burn these off before dropping more $$$ on a new set. Gotta take things one bit at a time with the modifying. Another reason I made sure to have somebody there with me. Speaking of which, any good ideas for replacement tires that are about the same size? Im not going to be lifting the truck for some time...

 

265/70/17 will fit on stock height.

 

The way i see it never go mudding alone and if your gunna get stuck then get really stuck. Because truthfully mudding is fun but see how far you can push your tacoma is even better but not into a lake haha

 

Mud is evil.

You guys haven't been muddin long enough. Just give it time....your bearings will start squeeling at you and your seals will start leaking.