What lift and tire size is best for moderate off roading?

Don't knock the stock, they're quite capable.

Might want to at least get sliders and/or skids before you accidentally do some expensive trail damage to the truck though.

 

I believe Jim does have RCI sliders (they're local to him!) on his Tacoma. I think he was commenting that skill and patience are equally important as all the junk you bolt on. Stock Toyotas are very capable, maybe the only thing that you need is decent tires.

 

I've got RCI sliders and I gotta say they are worth every last penny. Lot of the St Louis crowd are using them and everybody (even the 4 Runner) guys love em.

 

Moderate Off Roading?? Forest service roads?? Stock is just fine (remember to airdown) but I'm at 3" with 33's and loving it!!

 

I did the lift and tires on a 1st gen when it was new. It went through some moderate to tough trails but tough trails are expensive to drive. ( difference between moderate and tough trails is the probability of body damage, on a tough trail, it os a “when” it happens don’t cry about, you are on a tough trail because you chose to thing.)But in retrospect it was a lot of negatives and expense to be mildly more capable. The only way to make a huge gain was to SAS. But that is a permanent solution to a vehicle selection problem.

My most epic trails and memorable trips were done in a stock FJCruiser trail teams, a stock Jeep JK with no lift and 255r85x15 pizza cutters. And some in then Smurfy 4 runner pro stock.
some sliders and understanding tire placement and your steering inputs impact on center of gravity are more important.

 

Absolutely true, the difference between need and want isn't a sharp distinction. I run suspension with some lift, bumpers, sliders and a front skid and use them all. But I tend to push my trucks to get places harder intentionally. So my approach is the armor is mainly for the oh shit, I screwed up or a rock rolled and I get pushed off the line.

The point where you run trails where armor is used intentionally is rock crawling to me and not really what I do. But a person (no offense @CygnusX191, I'm from St. Louis originally) from the flatness who doesn't run Colorado and Utah trails every week "rock crawling" might mean what we call "unmaintained forest service driving" where rocks are part of the features.

For example, this is what we call a moderately difficult trail (6 of 10, at the margin for stock-friendly).



It's not a hard core rock crawling trail. A stock Tacoma on decent ATs can do it without damage but there's a good chance of catching low hanging stock body panels like bumpers so steel bumpers and sliders are useful just so if you do you don't rip off a ton of plastic. That's mainly it, trucks 20, 30 years ago came with steel bumpers and could do more stuff without modification, so we're building trucks like should be delivered new by companies.

I mistaken took the alternative line at this obstacle going up and had to winch out. This was actually the easier line and what I got into was a real mess due to long wheel base and 32" tires. The guy following me in his FJ40 on 31" tires walked right through.

 

You can definitely wheel with 2 inch lift and 32s. Definitely need skids and sliders. Id suggest to go 3 inch lift and 285s not too much work to fit them under the truck. I think on the third gen you just need the cmc. Not sure if the plastic needs to be trimmed or not.

 

True, but in these days they'd be charging about 100k for a truck built the way we build ours.

 

So right. I've removed a ton of unnecessary junk and by simplifying it to be more like my 1991 was Toyota would charge me extra.

 

Suspension lift changes approach/departure angles, rarely needed in 'moderate' form, and the axle line is still the low point. It only gains ground clearance with taller tires.

255 80 17 or 85 16 on your OE wheels (or wheels with those specs) will fit, no rub, cutting or chopping. Full 33's.

 

Absolutely. The funny thing, I lifted when I lived in Texas, it was mostly a sand rig for far off fishing spots.
For the 10 years I lived in southwest Colorado wheeling there, Utah and New Mexico..I never needed to lift. Did I cut tires(which would lead to tougher tires) dents some skids, use some sliders, and get some brush marks? Of course! It was a tone of fun!
Now I am back in Texas living in the”hill” country and my two stock rigs are way overbuilt for this pancake state.

 

Nice thread.
You can drive this truck from the dealer to the trail as is.

If the trail is too variegated you will either need to go around or go back. If you increase your height (tires), you will have a few more chances to go on. The suspension lift give no additional height, just more travel, so you are mostly limited to the same or similar trail.

Add under protection you can traverse more technical terrain because you can bottom out a little more safety.

Problem with new trucks is it is hard to fuckem up on purpose and until you do it is hard to find “moderate” trails.

 

I actually just put the sliders on on Friday. Everything I've done so far, which isn't a ton but some sketchy stuff, was on a bone stock Taco. With the sliders on now I'll probably get over confident and get stuck or damage something .

ETA I wish I took a pic of the road I was on when my truck was about a month old. Next time I'm up on the Kawuneeche road (near Grand Lake) I'll get a picture. But if anyone has been on those 4x4 trails up there they aren't moderate.

 

@DaveInDenver love the clarrification, and no offense taken. Just to the South of STL has plenty of hills sans pavement

Rock crawling is rock crawling, fire roads are fire roads. I'm slowly adding armor to my truck for whoops moments, because ish happens. Running ATs on an otherwise stock taco can get you into a lot of fun places.