How off road capable is a base V6 4x4?

Your truck is very capable IMO for what I would call "Sportsman's" off-road activity and is a true step up from just "snow storm" use. The Off-Road and Pro options march you up on the ladder rungs for rougher, tougher activity in places where you need everything you can get. I use my "Base" 4x4 to hunt along logging roads, USFS fire roads, and finding the honey holes in streams off the Jeep trails up in northern Maine and NH for fly-fishing. When you cruise the logging roads on paper-company land you need to prepare yourself for putting at least two wheels in the ditch if you have to: those guys in the logging rigs have the right of way and they weigh thousands and thousands of pounds. Back in the day in the '80s and '90's the Rangers and Game Warden's all had serious 4WD K30 pick-ups or F350's and I was on the same roads as them unless it was obvious I shouldn't be. I had 4x4 trucks in the back then and used them the same way. When I sensed things were getting beyond the capability of those trucks, I'd just take the next u-turn spot that came along, or back up to the last one. I never had a locker on any of them and had no problems, but to be honest, I wasn't climbing rocks or ledge. The Ford had limited slip and that would help in the mud holes, but I never drove either of them across a stream. I had full skid-plates on the Chevy, but only a x-fer case plate on the Ford. The Tacoma is just as capable for this use; perhaps more so, because it has a much smaller footprint.

 

Yep, that's about right. I wish I could drop 50K on a truck and didn't care about slapping dents in it or ripping a hole in the gas tank. But I guess if I could afford that I'd drop another 20k on tires, 6" lift, bumpers, s/c, ect....

 

But then again I'd just buy a Rubi Wrangler.

 

Look up yellow wire mod, let's you have limited slip in 4lo

 

That video seemed to indicate that it does anyway without a mod.

 

Driver skill is #1

Tires are #2

Recovery techniques are #3

If you learn how to drive further in 2wd than most can in 4H, you'll be the master of your adventures

 

This is actually my "safety valve" as well. A voice asking me if where I'm looking to go is worth the $1000 deductible on my insurance if I slip off a wet rock into a big pine tree next to the "road" I'm on. I also think about being told: "off-road use damage is not covered" by same insurance company when the "slip" adds up to significantly more than said deductible.

 

I haven't been off road much yet but have been getting the truck ready with the addition of RCI sliders, front and trans skids with my main concern being not tearing shit up. You can do a lot with a truck if you don't have to worry about busting open the oil and trans pan or smashing your rocker panels

 

The only real difference is a locking rear diff. And since Tacoma's locking diff only works in low range you're not missing much. About the only time that is a real advantage is if you have one rear wheel off the ground when rock crawling. Locking the diff is usually a disadvantage in snow and in mud it is just as likely to get you stuck twice as bad as get you out.

 

Okay thank you... validates what I am doing. Have been questioning my choices...

 

Precious cargocouple anyway

 

Answer is plenty capable. So much so that you will be amazed at its ability. Take it slow and learn as you go. Some very basics have already been mentioned. A good recovery strap, shovel and hi lift jack, traction boards.... they may not look as cool as a lift kit and air locker but get you out of a lot of predicaments for a lot less money. Just be sure and strap all those goodies down so your not bouncing the stuff all about the back or out of your truck.
Welcome to the world of four wheeling. It's fun.

 

Probably can get em a lot cheaper than the $ he blew on that thing.

 

Negative, Trac only works in 4hi

 

I wonder how just the driver front wheel pulled it off of 3 jack stands?

 

I think many are confused by this electronic wizardry of using the brakes for ELSD. I haven't tried it out myself but trust that it works decent. I think for a little better test in that video if the guy would have jacked up the front drivers side...in my experience the passenger rear front driver are primary drivers. I think the results would be the same none the less.

 

If I am remembering right (I may not be) my '92 was opposite, rear driver, front passenger. But the front had manually locking hubs, hmm

 

It could be. I think it depends on where or what side the pinion gear meets the ring gear good question.

 

I watched the video again in super low motion. It's interesting to see how the computer works the brakes.

 

Or is that what any open differential would look like?