2WD Prerunner got no traction.... ideas?

I appreciate the offer - I'm going to try tires and boards first. I may have to circle back around and see if you've still got it

 

Your truck has electronic limited slip and that should be assisting you with traction. It sounds like the limited slip isn’t engaging. First thing I’d do is make sure your LS is working. If it’s working there isn’t a whole lot you can do to improve traction with a 2WD especially in mud. All terrain tires will help a little but won’t work miracles. You definitely don’t want mud tires. They are loud, not the greatest traction on on the highway or in the rain, they wear quicker and aren’t cheap. Installing a locker would improve traction greatly but that’s very expensive. A winch won’t do you any good. It won’t help with traction and it’ll be a hassle every time you get stuck to get out of the truck and set it up and pull yourself out. Traction boards will help you get unstuck but again it’s still a hassle getting stuck every time you find a little mud.
If your limited slip is working then I think you are mostly out of luck. You either need to get a 4WD or not go off road and avoid mud.

 

Did you turn on the LSD? It can help. Plus it shuts off that dreaded traction control

 

I appreciate all the comments. I put an aggressive set of all-terrains on the back, shifted the load of sand to directly over the axle, threw in a shovel, and picked up a set of Maxsa boards. The tires definitely made a difference, and I'll have the shovel and boards if I get myself in trouble. Thanks for the help, guys

 

that's awesome. glad to see you making it work! i also air down my tires and got myself this portable air compressor it stays in my truck: https://amzn.to/3oNhE9D

You can air down easily with a tire deflator. I use this one: https://amzn.to/3pHAHDw

I regret not having 4wd but haven't been stuck more than once and go on dirt roads quite a bit. but i have the mechanical LSD so it helps

 

Avoid the factory lsd, the clutch packs wear out and you end up back on square 1 with an open differential. Go with a Truetrac lsd or a locker.

 

When did yours go out? My 06 at 135k still working good.

 

It's hard to say, but I was noticing more tire spin than usual on slick hill climbs surfaces and at one point I was not able to get traction on a hill climb when I had 280k on the odometer. I had a Truetrac installed, same tires, aired down as usual, and the same hill climb was easy money.

 

This made me laugh...

You know they use that engine in this right:

 

1. Tires
2. Get a small air compressor so you can air down if you need to. Makes a huge difference.
3. If your truck has Auto LSD like my V6 Prerunner does, use it. It isn’t a cure all but it helps.
4. Momentum.