Reference to learn about my 2017?

Hello TW,

Simplest explanation, if needed, is midlife crisis and seeking salvation through my long time dream of a bad ass Toyota. I can take things apart and put them back together, have some light experience working on various parts of trucks, but is has been a long time and really I don't know much at all at this point. Before getting yelled at for posting stupid questions, I thought I would start by asking for any pointers to good places to learn all about my 2017 SR5. The Hayes manuals only go up to 2nd gen (up to 2015), but anything ranging from "Tacomas for Dummies" or something up to the factory service manual would be useful.

The plan is to push this thing as far as I can and get into some good back country (I guess this is called "Overlanding" now, thought that seems like a yuppie term for something people have been doing for a long time). Not looking to do hard core off road or any racing type stuff, just want to take this truck as far out as I can for general outdoor adventure.

Goals would be:
-- new suspension
-- swap out wheels
-- get a locker on the rear diff for sure, and maybe front if I find I need it

Any suggestions on how to get to the point where I can know what the hell I am talking about and tackle the above projects?

Thanks a lot!

 

Welcome! Everything you want is talked about a lot here. If you want to read up, go to google, prefix your search with "3rd gen Tacoma" and then type in suspension for example. This will bring you right back here with the right threads.

 

Another great way to use google is put "site:tacomaworld.com" then what you are searching for. Without the quotes.

 

Welcome to tw. All over this sute you will see the answers. Look at peeps build threads. Look for your region, conect with locals. They may have answers, or help with mod days as well.

 

Hey Thanks, yeah I have been doing that a lot, problem is I quickly get lost and can't follow much of the details, so aside from sink or swim, any suggestions for where to get some general knowledge to be able to even make heads or tails of the great theads on here? Is Hayes the best?

Ha looks like I did not manage to avoid making a dumb post...

 

I will tell you that off roading is 90% driver, 10% vehicle. This truck in stock form will go much further than your abilities unless you drive a Class IV buggy in the Baja. If you are new to off roading, before you mod anything you need to take it off road on easy trails and dirt roads. Take it over bumps. Keep reading posts here. After six months or so, if you keep going easy off road and reading, you will magically know what you need.
People get in too much of a hurry to mod they forget that experience is the best teacher, not books or the internet.

 

https://i.gifer.com/7QGZ.gif

 

No help here but welcome to TW!

 

That there is the best advice for @OregonTacoNewb. Dont go over board at first.

 

Upgrade as needed, man. I would throw some tires on that are better suited to your needs and then go get her dirty. She will tell you what she needs, if anything.

 

Your SR5 is really capable, I did some complicated stuff in mine with only wheels, tires and a 2” lift. Sliders would be high on the list if you’re planning to test the limits early on. Lockers would be nice but picking a good line helps a ton. It’s taken me 3 years of modding to get to a point where I’m pretty happy with it. Good luck and enjoy your travels!

 

Read thru some of posts here. The stickies are great for quick basic knowledge and the search function is helpful if you know what you want to search for... Otherwise it's a sea of unlimited info

 

Oh and just read and do your own research, everything you want to do has been done many many times and this is the best place to take it all in. Go to the build pages and check em out.

 

^^^ stickies stickies stickies all day. you will be surprised at how quickly you pick things up.

EDIT: stickies are the posts at the top of each forum

 

Alrighty, thanks, I have not read the stickies, just searched and got lost repeatedly.

Some great advice.

I'll start simple and leave the diff lock for later. Though my early experience was with an 82 toyota pickup and another earlier diesel 4 runner, boyh driven through seriously rough terrain and I appreciated the fully functional 4x4 very much. I don't really trust this limited slip and various electronic modes, but it's true I have not pushed it to where I am totally clear on the limitations.

I am not clear on the major differences between 2nd and 3rd gen. But I'll grab a Hayes for the 2nd gen and try to find another physical reference. Call me old I guess, I still prefer to get information from books or at least physical manuals.

I'll go read up and come back with some more detailed questions on suspension, wheels and tires, start there as per the good suggestion above, and leave powertrain alone to start.

Thanks for taking the time to post! Happt Holidays (glad I'm not the only one thinking about my truck and sneaking away to talk about it).

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wCb1pU29yOgp9qlPwrKgqROwPGqj-VBu/view?usp=sharing

Service manual just for you bby

 

Yes!! You sir are the man!! Thank you!