Bit by the Off-road bug

Hey guys, new guy to TW. I've got a completely stock 2017 double cab short bed SR 4x4 v6, and absolutely love the truck. Huge outdoors man, and love getting off the beaten path. Recently gotten bit by the off-road/overland bug. I live in KY and finally got the truck out to the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway in the Red River Gorge. Met up with a couple buddies and started off for the Spaas Creek trail. Unbeknownst to us at the time, this trail was marked red for "advanced difficulty". We quickly found out why, it was riddled with deep ruts, creek crossings, off cambers, rock walls, and b-hole puckering obstacles (for my completely stock SR and my buddies stock SR5 4Runner anyway).

Needless to say I absolutely had a blast, and the stock taco tackled everything I threw at it. In 4lo it crawled over all the obstacles, never even thought about getting stuck once, even with some aired down HT tires on. I was definitely impressed with the capability of the stock truck.

Now I think I'm hooked. I'd love to drop $5k on throwing upgrades on the truck, but with the mortgage, new truck payment, and a wife who enjoys the finer things in life, it's just not plausible. I plan on buying some new AT's first, but not sure if I wanna run the stock 245/75/16's or jump up to 265's. I think I'd like to go armor after that, just so I can help protect the $30k truck I'm banging around in the woods, maybe an aftermarket front skid, if it's better than the stock? Maybe some LCA armor, rear diff armor, sliders? You guys seem to know more about it than me, so if anyone's got any insight, it'd be much appreciated!

I drive a cruiser 90% of the time, and drive the truck to drill once a month, and to make beer runs on the weekends. Plan on hitting trails at least once a month. I know common sense on the trail is the most important thing to have, and I like to think I've got a little bit of that along with a buddy and a recovery strap. Sorry for the long post, I'm long winded! Snagged a few pics of the recent trip, but was having too much fun and forget to get some other action shots, I'll try and put them on the thread, but I'm not very technologically-inclined. Thanks again!

Adam

 

Welcome

 

Congrats and welcome.
Sounds like you are having a blast. Happy modding

 

Welcome to TW Adam

 

Welcome to TW!

Upcoming meet up at the gorge: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/red-river-gorge-4-12-4-14.594875/

 

Welcome to TW. Lots of options to choose from for suspension an armor. For 5k you can have a really nicely equipped truck. A great affordable option for a suspension system I’d check out old man emu. For armor I went with sos Offroad concepts a vendor on here makes really stout an good looking pieces from sliders, bumpers, an skid plates.

 

Thanks man! I appreciate the heads up, but I've gotta work weekends for the next few months. If yall go on a weekday soon I'll be down!

 

Not many of us go on weekdays, Thursday sometimes, leading into a weekend

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome to TW sounds like you are enjoying the truck!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

I wish I could drop 5k on gear! Yeah I've checked out SOS's front skids, I was between theirs or BPF front skids, BPF came out a little cheaper.

 

Awesome

 

welcome

 

A second for SOS Concepts! They are in SC so may be close enough you can save on shipping. Great products and great customer service. Contact @ovrlndkull for a 10% discount anytime and Eddy has 20% off sales a few times a year

 

Welcome to TW OP!!! You are on the right track with the tires being your first upgrade they will make a world of difference. If it were me I would go 255/85r16 they are 33s and you can fit them on a stock 3rd gen, @SearArtist rolls with 33s just some minor trimming on the plastics is needed. I would then look into suspension upgrades doesn't have to be fancy you can do a decent lift and suspension for around 1k-1.5k depending on what you do. After those are done then I would really start armoring up. I wheeled the piss out of my truck no armor. Wheeling like that will make you a better driver and pick better lines and be more technical and deliberate with your moves.

As far as armor goes I am all for SOS like was said before. Looking at that BPF skid you liked because it's cheaper there is a reason the coverage is about half of that of the SOS or others. Also it may not work with some aftermarket bumpers just because of the way it comes up and under the factory bumper. But getting a full set of skids first then sliders would be my route with Armor worry about bumpers last!!!

Welcome to some fun outdoors with offroading. You'll have a blast and end up meeting some great folks along the way.

 

Thanks for the input, sounds like going SOS is unanimous!

 

I've got their skids as well. They can take a beating for sure!
Went with 4xInnovations for sliders because cost and a deal at that time.
Ebay for the front bumper and an even better deal for the Fab Fours rear bumper.