1st Time Going Off-Road

Don't get to happy in the water crossing. We had a guy hydro-lock a brand new 3rd gen this past winter in a foot of water. Ended up with bent everything. One new engine latter he was back on the road. That same water crossing we had three Tacoma's go through just fine, one completely stock.

Edit: Just use good common since and have fun. If something doesn't feel right don't do it, especially if your by your self.

 

The differential breather mod is not a instant one event survival thing, you wont know that water entered your differential for quite some time.

 

if you go there be careful near the waters edge though.

 

i’m not too worried i’ve put 30k hard miles on it since.

i also didn’t let off the throttle at all crossing. harder to injest while positive pressure is venting. not that it can’t happen and in no way am i suggesting to OP to not do the mod.

water isn’t really that deep there. bow waves make it look worse also water isn’t even over the hub there

 

Looks worse when people do it and then stop in the middle. That mod is just good, cheap insurance.

 

Azusa ain’t no joke. It can have hidden pockets full of water, that may appear like puddles, depending on what they are doing with the flood dam up from it. If they are releasing water, be careful as you’re going alone. Take straps. Just be careful who you ask to pull you out if you get stuck. The big powerful mud bogging machines will rip your truck apart if given the chance!

 

really azusa is only good and fun if

1. you have a v8 swamp tank
2. SWB jeep to crawl around on shit.

otherwise it’s basically a giant silt lot that you have to drive through a mine field of baby heads to get to with a small hill on the side to climb.

when headed that far either cleghorn or pilot rock are much better drives as the terrain is about as “difficult” but you get the added bonus of some cool views.

 

San Gabriel OHV (better known as Azusa ohv) is for rednecks, lol. The water crossing to get in is about the most fun there is to be had there unless you like romping around in the giant mud pit with all the big domestic V8s on 40" swampers.

I actually saw a Suburu Baja running around in there with a homemade snorkel out of PCV pipe last time I was out there.

There are a few tiny trails out there to test 4lo out on but nothing big. If you're in this area, head north to Rowher Flats, Drinkwater Flats, or Miller Jeep Trail. Or Cleghorn/Pilot Rock which is pretty close to Azusa.

 

As others said I would try Pilot rock trail. It’s even easier than cleghorn. But if your totally new it wouldn’t be a half bad idea to go 30 minutes further to the open desert to test out 4wd. On cleghorn and pilot your stuck most the time on truck width trails.

 

lol it wasn’t even over the hub cowboy.

 

I don't live in the area anymore (lived there 28 years). 99 percent of the time the water crossing is about 8 inches deep. On the weekends there are lots of people willing to help and learn from.

 

Ok, gotta ask, how do you hydro lock in a foot of water?

 

Hit it going too fast and splash water up into the intake....you'd have to be pretty unlucky for that to happen but it does. Also if you have your fender liner cut to fit larger tires its a much bigger risk since the liner protects the intake.

 

Edit: Sorry wrong quote.

You try for a good action photo. After looking back at the pictures, the water was a little over a foot and a half or so.

 

Hungry Valley is a great place to engage and learn the 4WD system. Hugs the 5. It’s open 24-7, 365 if ya get an itch in the vampire hours.

 

The first time I went to Azusa in my brother's Jeep, I was blown away how crazy and dangerous that place (can) be. It aint no joke and will bite hard. Being new, I was a bit in shock having seen a fella's high rised Willy go under water in a heartbeat. I remember one fella diving in and as he neared the vehicle, the driver popped out above the water. They then recovered the Willy, and I recall them removing the spark plugs and bumping the motor over several times before the water stopped coming out. Fucking crazy stuff. Towed out.

I got caught when I had the "I have a Taco with a locker and I'm bad ass attitude." I tried crossing an area full of water and mud, and as soon as I left the embankment, I sunk. Thankfully I went with my nephew and he pulled me out with his Bronco. Only damage came to the towing bracket that held the connectors.

Before the last big fire, Angeles National Forest had fire roads you could take. It had some gnarly places. Beautiful places too. But I remember the day I nearly shat in me pants leaning some crazy degrees and thinking how fucking stupid I was. I thought I was rolling over that day. How I didn't still amazes me. There would have been no recovery from another vehicle, it was going to have to be done by chopper, or leave it there, watch it get stripped for whatever was left, and pay some crazy hefty fines.

I learned my lesson with that type of stupidity. However, even with that lesson learned, sometimes stuff happens. The last pucker came from Hungry Valley not too long ago when I climbed a small steep hill and then went off a berm I didn't see with the right front wheel. The whole truck dipped and rocked and I was tripping as I was practically the only one there that day that Tuesday. Surprisingly, the stock 4x4 system got me out rather easily. I have a lot of respect for Toyota's 3rd Gen 4WD. I just need to respect the trails more and step out once in a while.

 

Beginners (with friend): Pioneertown to Baldwin Lake, or Pipes Canyon (1N01) in SBNF: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/pipes-canyon-1n01-and-onyx-peak--2

Experienced beginner (with friend): Old Dale Road and Berdoo Cyn Road in Joshua Tree NP. Doable in 1 day from LA, or a single overnight.

Beginner to experienced (bring friend and camping gear): Anywhere in Anza Borrego SP, except dont try Coyote Cyn without a dif breather (its seasonally closed now though). Kinda far for a 1 day trip from LA, makes a great camping trip. There are many trails here with all levels of difficulty. Its the second largest State Park in the US.

 

I was out there last month. There was only a foot or two of water, not deep at all. There are areas with more difficult ascents and obstacles. All of that is optional. If you are there with someone who can show you the lines you’ll probably be surprised how capable even a stock truck can be.

There is no cell reception in the area, so keep that in mind.

Have fun

 

I SURVIVED! Hahaha, so it was a real good first experience. I'm glad I didn't chicken out. The water level was not very high. I was able to test out my 4WD and do some nice little obstacles, donut (attempts), mud splashes and saw some vehicles get stuck in the mud and people pull em out. Got super burnt by the sun, and my truck is filthy (my dirty girl)!

Thanks for everyones suggestions and input, really appreciate it.


I was able to get tons of cool drone footage (which I will be editing and then sharing). But for now here's a video my friend captured with his samsung (pretty bad quality): https://youtu.be/ahdatXko460

 

How does this happen?