Went off-road for the first time and got stuck, question.

Bumper and winch and you'll never be stuck again.

 

This. These are great when you're in a pinch, and will save your ass the majority of the time.

 

Hope you had fun (before you had to wait). You've already got a ton of advice, so none here. Other than I was in your place three weeks ago:
1, With a 195K 2007, 2wd Prerunner.
2, I had bought some stuff (including some shackles) to make an emergency kit the very day before.
3, I personally didn't take my truck off road all day - except for getting in - which exceeded my capabilities by a long shot. And out - where I failed.
4, Always have a friend on your trail - mine used my BRAND NEW SHACKLE, and his tow rope, and pulled me out.
5, No matter what the say about plans, stuff happens. I went "left" to avoid the dip you see in the photo below behind my truck. We went UP the bump in another truck going back to camp, I said too sharp of an angle for my stock Taco. Smart, except it was all slop on the way out, with no tracks, I could not see it.
6, You have to smile the whole time, because you did it. Except when you have to wash off the mud. Then, you don't have to.

You did good, hope you had fun. You have more capability than I ever will. Enjoy it.

 

Tailpipe was definitely in the dirt but it’s fine, the flag was actually the flag given to me by the park and was required. Park had a 15 mph limit so no one could do major jumps anyways.

To everyone else thanks for the suggestions. Maybe I’ll do a winch or traction boards or a shovel (Stuff I really didn’t think of at all) because I do not know other off roaders and am only in my area temporarily (4years) due to being here for school so I ride solo.

I think I’ll just avoid mud for now and go back to that spot when it’s completely dry, that way I can show that ditch who’s boss.

Med schools expensive, and so are tires and expensive unnecessary mods :/

 

Well shit you just summed up Tacomaworld in a nutshell, expensive and unnecessary mods.

 

If only it was that easy and that statement was actually true.

 

1st time offroad & you got stuck, that's pretty normal learning curve to improve your skills & build your confidence , as long as you learn something whenever it happens, & it WILL happen again...

 

Steps to become a rock crawler. Disclaimer, may turn into a never ending project.

1) get-a-buddy to spot you mod. Picking good lines are better than any gear. Gotta be someone that’s meticulous and cool to hang out with.
2) more aggressive tires. All terrains, lots of good options out there. May mean lower mpg’s
3) trail gear. The list is long (track mats, air compressor for when you air down your tires, high lift jack, Ipad with Gaia maps, etc). You don’t need it all. Remember, more gear = more weight = lower mpg’s. Choose wisely.
4) suspension upgrade. Just to make your butt more comfortable and to carry all the extra weight around without sagging. Pro level = long travel kings + rear shock mount relocate + custom leaf springs + shackle flip + extended brake lines.
5) armor up. Skids, sliders, bumpers (front and rear w/ high clearance option)
6) winch and all the goodies to get you unstuck.
7) bigger tires, cuz more clearance.
8) big brake upgrade
9) regear cuz bigger tires. Get some rear/front lockers since you’re doing your gears.
10) bigger gas tank, cuz now you’re sitting at 10mpgs and you can’t go very far on a stock tank.
11) Solid axel swap and a marlin crawler.

 

You missed the first step. Make lots of money so you can afford all this...

 

Haha. He will. It’ll just take him 10-15 years. That’s where I was 10 yrs ago, new truck, in school and no cash. Fast forward 10yrs, now sitting on step 10.

 

Don't worry about getting stuck - it's going to happen As for getting unstuck, in that situation, all you need is a shovel and a set of trax.

 

4 years is temporary? If I lived by that logic I wouldn’t have any friends, because the navy moves me every 3 years. I’ve been where I live now for less than 2 years and have made a shit load of friends through this forum, and maybe 10-15 I would actually go wheeling with.

I know med school is a lot of work (my wife graduates in May and starts her pediatric residency) but you should try and become more active on here and in your local threads. You’d be surprised at the friends you make.

 

I hear ya, I was Army too for 5 years and moved every 2 years. Made tons of friends. Did school at University of Maryland in college park for 4 years and made friends too. Key thing was that I had time to do stuff though.

However, I’m in bum fuck middle of no where Illinois now (From MD originally) and Tacoma’s aren’t very common out here in the flat areas of Illinois. Shit, Tacoma Pros are actually discounted here and sit for a while. I only know of one guy in my area that’s on here and don’t think he offroads. He’s actually the guy who sells the aftermarket aluminum radio knobs in the marketplace.

So, I’ll probably most likely go on days where the park is actually filled with off roaders, I went on a Thursday (Last thursday) and the front desk said I was actually the only one in the park and the entire time there only saw a dirt bike later on. So maybe if I go when there’s other off roaders, I’ll have guys who’ll pull me out for free and I might make a friend or two in the process, sounds like a good plan.

Or I go when it’s completely dry with no slick mud.

 

Oh wow, that really is the middle of nowhere! Well good luck and like
Others have said, we’re proud of you for actually going off road!

 

Did you air down? You should lower your tire pressure to about 14psi.

 

That’s not stuck! THIS is “stuck”... —lol.

Seriously, looks like as others have said, you were just hung up and by the sound of it there was a big, hard, slippery rock that you dropped off of and almost high centered on when your front wheels went over it, then when your rear wheels went over it you got hung up on your rear bumper leaving your suspension... well... “suspended.”

Since you’re kinda askin fer some advice, remember your truck is not a tank. If you wheel it, you’re gonna break it. Breakin it is gonna be expensive. If you wanna wheel, buy yourself an ole Jeep and tow it to the trail. If you have to wheel that truck, get tires, lift, and winch... everything thing else is helpful, but not as important.

Finally.... speed... gotta know when and when not to use it. Speed here, if I’m right bout that “clunk” being a big rock would have been real bad —as in broken truck bad. And it shocks me people don’t understand the concept of “airing down”... You air down BEFORE you start wheelin, not after you get stuck. Airing down on the rocks is to allow for traction, a cushion, a softer ride, and to “ease” over hard obstacles and not beat your truck to death. On sand, snow, or mud there are two basic ways to get through it: dig down till you hit sumtin hard or try and float over it. Pizza cutters try a dig to the hard stuff. Think of snow plows... they dig through the snow to asphalt and as a result they run tall skinny tires and high lifts. But what happens in deep mud, deep snow, or in sand where you just can’t dig that deep? Gotta try and float over it by airing down. In this situation, the point of airing down is not so much to soften things or increase traction, but rather to increase as much as possible the contact patch of your tires giving you more surface to run on. I’ve run 6-8 psi on BFGs ATs and floated over 8 feet of spring snow in an old Jeep (a light vehicle). In these situations, momentum is important because as you slow down you will start to dig. Dig deep enough and you’re stuck...

Enjoy your truck. Don’t beat it to death. Focus on school. And save the wheelin for those guys with deep pockets who can afford to break their trucks. There’s a reason why Jeep means: “Just Empty Every Pocket.”

Peace out man...

 

city boy

 

Where abouts in IL? What park is this?

 

If you didn't try all these items, the first upgrade I'd recommend is becoming familiar with all of these options first.

 

How to get your truck unstuck.