Can a SR 4x4 off-road nearly as good as a TRD Offroad?

Shhhhhhhhh

 

Tires and time behind the wheel gaining skill matter most.

 

This line was completely avoidable, but also completely doable because of the locker.

 

Skill definitely matters, tires help too but I have a story...buddies and I went to Joshua tree recently. They had lifted trucks with the works, bumpers, winches, tires etc, we also had a stock 4runner with no locking diff running 35" tires and a bone stock 4runner. I had my stock Tacoma off road.

Set the scene, big hill, with big dug out divets, all made of soft dirt.

Lifted tacos: made it.
4 runner with 35" tires no locker: failed after several attempts
4 runner stock no locker: needed a winch out
My stock taco: made it (2nd attempt)

I was the least experienced of the group, and only my 2nd time off roading, but had the locking rear diff. Only reason I failed the first time, I put the crawl control setting on medium. Put it on max and climbed right up.

More equipment and tech can make up for lack of skill, tires help but apparently aren't everything. Even distribution of power and torque is a huge advantage and each differential will essentially double your traction. I'm now a huge fan of my locking rear diff and crawl control .

 

You Tube... Ronny Dahl has been mentioned and Andrew St Pierre White has a 2 parter that's older but still quite good. And yes, go out with people.

Brian

 

count me out

 

Yup, the locker matters. It's gotten me through some really cool trails, washouts, that I didn't need winching from (and not using the crawl control, etc)

Brian

 

You're good to go offroad with the SR. Very capable.

 

Its about picking a line, and where to place a tire. I have wheeled into places and pulled up next to built trail rigs in a mostly stock 4x4 in the past.

If you want to increase your trucks ability, outside of driver skill which is primary... you could add better tires first then explore suspension and a rear locker.

Stock for stock the OR has a few more key features for sure over your SR that might help someone get a bit further down the trail with confidence.

 

If you plan on staying stock, you can always buy the Off Road model's suspension on here in the 3rd Gen Marketplace for cheap. That and get some good tires as others have said would make for a great start.