Off-roading without lift

I've driven thousands of miles off road in a stock 2006 Tacoma, no exaggeration. Plenty of days where I've done 100mi+ in a day, including some very legit rough and rocky roads. My most memorable was a road in Montana with a hairy section on the side of a cliff and my buddy refused to stay in the truck, "one of us should be conscious to call an ambulance." Lol. Never broke anything, no serious scrapes.

Edit: Actually I hit the tow hitch + connector 3x now that I think about it, coming out of a narrow ditch with steep sides. The bracket that holds the connector is broken lol. But that's been it. I'm happy the 3rd gens have the connector in the bumper

 

Honestly any truck is fine, the problem is when you go too hard the shocks over heat.

Lifting is usually just a masculine desire, but most lifted coil overs or shocks are upgraded to handle the stress of offroading.

My last run my kyb's gave up. I'm running Bilstien 4600's now to help prevent that, but it will still happen.

 

Why worry about big tire or lifts, google crown vic at MOAB

 

This comment needs more attention.

My truck is on stock suspension with a bigger skid plate, sliders, dif breather and 32” Duratacs. It’s done great offroad and has seen a lot. I will eventually lift it. But let’s not kid ourselves. You can’t put a 6” lift on these trucks. 2-3” is about the max. 2” is more than nothing, but it’s not massively impactful on what trails you can clear.

 

The more the merrier. Don’t need anything, but if you can afford some things you’ll be pleased. There’s a reason these trucks, for those that utilize them, rarely stay stock. A stock truck can go far, a modded truck can go farther easier. Isn’t that the name of the game?

 

Have had four Tacoma’s and haven’t lifted any. Have done plenty of off-roading without. I may throw on 255/85r16s to get a bit of extra clearance but not till I wear down my current tires.

I’ve done some trails where it would be nice to have but have worked around it. Dinged up the factory OR tins pretty good but just bought a skid plate. It was one spot that did it, right at the gate to the trail, so couldn’t get around it. Lol.

it would be nice maybe but for the cost it’s not worth it to me yet.

 

Right now my only mod is a set of 255 85 16’s and it does pretty good off road!

 

Totally agree with your quote...tires, tires, tires...but since I only got 16k (miles) when Goodyear Kevlars are done I'll go Toyo Open Country ATIII. But investing in Timbren was very beneficial, the OEM bump stops are useless!

 

My only plan is 265/75/16 on my 21 OR. I was all about a lift and such until I read more and saw what a stock OR can do. I am not rock crawling. Mostly fire roads, camping and fishing excursions in the NE.

I want to switch wheels as well.

 

I'll stay at stock height until it becomes an issue. It hasn't been yet, and I doubt it ever will be. A few bangs on the bottom isn't much issue.

You'll know when/if you need a lift.

I do need to get some sliders soon though for peace of mind.

 

I have for 2.5 years because i’ve been trying to save up and “buy once cry once”
My skid plates are beat to hell. I wish i threw a 5100 lift on there soon rather than saving up for the Fox’s that i still dont have.

 

Was just out yesterday with a friend who has a bone-stock sport (even has that front air dam on it). I was hearing him bottom out from my truck on sections I was driving quite easily with only a 2.5" lift and 33" tires. He was struggling to drive some pretty easy obstacles, but some of it may be new offroad driver but from the scraped clean ground in the center of trails I would guess it was more getting hung up. Did he do it? Yep. Did he drive the same trails as me? Obviously. Were these the easiest trails in the area? Yep. So ... yes, people drive stock Tacoma's offroad, but it looked a lot less fun that what I was having and he sure won't be joining us on any snowfari or serious trails. There's already enough spots I can't go while I watch the Jeeps on 42's have fun, I can't imagine how much I would be sidelined without the lift and tires and protection added.

 

All depends on your use/abuse level so no correct universal answer.
Bottom line is fire roads can be driven in any vehicle even a lot of posted 4x4 trails.
It's the deep ruts, angles, and rock fields that will eat your Tacoma so full steel skid plates.
Traction and sidewall rips are next so better tires especially if running street tread.
Then 2-3" lift for better ride and Bilstein's allow you to go up 2" in front with stock coils no problem.
Then the rear you will want better leaf springs so an easy 3" lift and then will tow and not sag down and will keep the driveshaft angle correct to stop the vibration/shudder issues.
Departures can flex your rear bumper up and that takes the taillights out. 2nd gens move the 7 pin connector into the bumper or that goes too.
Front painted bumper can get messed up too. Again terrain dependent.
See lots of issues so up to you. Debate away until that next trip when.....

 

Like all others have said, staying stock will be no problem at all for fire roads, and some minor to intermediate trails.

I have been back and forth soooo many times between staying stock and getting a lift. My compromise,although not ideal, has been to add a 1/1 spacer lift. Ive been extremely happy with it and give the truck a look that should have came from factory. No vibrations and nothing too harsh on driveline angles.

Once my 265/70/16s wear out, I will upgrade to 265/75. Which will be the perfect completion imo

 

It never fails, you’ll see some dude thinking he is bad ass in a lifted truck with all of the current trendy Gee-Gaws hanging off it, then there will be a guy in a clapped out Honda Civic with bald tires ahead of everyone…

 

And that POS Civic will be busted by the end of the month, unusable to drive at all let alone as a daily driver for the family, and in the meantime the properly built and maintained truck will be driven daily for fifteen years.

 

Gotta go 40s or stay home.

 

As many have said - and many more will say - it depends on what you want and need. When you say 'off road" , to many that means many different things. I drive a LOT on and off road. I now have 138K miles on my truck - bought it new Jan of 2019. I'll say 20 - 30% of those miles are "off road" miles. For me that is when I am in fields, pastures, around the river. I own a horse farm that is boarded by a river, so I am often in mud and muck - needing 4WD. However I am NOT climbing rock hills, or needing a lot of clearance, so skid plates, armor is not much of a need. I would like a lift sometimes like my son has. He has a 2002 Tacoma with a 5" lift and 33" Duratrac tires, winch, ARB Bumper, etc . However he does not do the on road travel I do - he puts maybe 10K a year on his truck.

I think my truck is great as is/stock - but that is for my needs.

The one thing I will probably add is better bumpers (front and back) and a winch - I could use that pretty often to pull trees, fence posts, etc (when I am away from our property). I'd say wait and see what you need...now if it is a WANT....LOL.

 

Stock suspension, upgraded tires and you're good to go

 

I’ve gotten to some pretty great places loaded up after adding airbags with stock suspension, wheels, and tires.