More offroad help

Hi all,

I am very new to the world of 4x4's. I just bought a 2011 4x4 tacoma. I previously had a 1997 4runner 4x2 that I would take on forest roads and such. There is a road that I took my runner on twice that goes down to the coast and both times I got stuck. The first time I was going downhill and then figured out that I shouldn't go any further because it was too steep and the second time I didn't even get that far down the road because there was mud and I just slid around for a couple hours.

This has become a mental block for me as I have been stuck twice on the same road.

Here is a link to a low quality video of someone with a dirtbike going up the trail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t94U-4jSSBk

The 2 points where I was stuck was around the 3:15 min (its steeper than it looks) and 5:40 min mark (wet/rain/mud).

I know that now that I have a 4x4 I should be able to make it back up this road, but I seem to have a mental block and I am hesitant to go back. My question is...do you think I would have any problem getting up/down this hill with my new truck?

Thanks!!

 

with 4x4 not a problem....

 

What features on the new truck? Is it TRD Offroad (locked read differential) or Sport (limited slip)? Those .. along with A-TRAC .. are good things to have in the "tool bag". But being 4x4 alone, it will perform infinitely better than any 4x2 4Runner.

 

2011 SR5 4x4 access cab. No bells or whistles.

 

Yeah it'll be fine.

 

You'll do fine. In 4Hi the SR5s have TRAC which acts like a 4-wheel limited slip differential (it's on by default). So you definitely have a "bell".

In 4lo your differentials are open, but I don't see anything at all there that would ever require 4lo much less a locked rear.

Note - if you're interested in engaging TRAC in 4lo, there is a mod on this site ... search for "yellow wire mod" or visit http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/51946-4low-trac.html.

Anyway, find a friend with a offroad capable vehicle to go with you, bring a tow strap, and head out with them the first time. I think you'll be blown away just how much more you can do over your 4x2.

 

PS - Humboldt's awesome!

 

I might just do that...when it stops raining.

And yes...Humboldt is awesome!!!!

 

Isn't Humboldt the Weed ring of California or something? haha

 

Humboldt is like a stoner's Mecca.

Lots of stoner's, hippies, and just overall ridiculous people (but harmless). I live here for the scenery.

 

Surrrrre you do. How big were the waves on the coast today? You guys were in a state of emergency I guess?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SfdtJrAp50

Here is a video my roommate shot at the river just a mile or so from our house. This was a relatively small wave. Up the coast about 70 miles (crescent city) the tallest wave was something like 9 feet...destroyed the entire harbor...crazy day.

 

It's crazy how the waves made it all the way to North America and still were strong enough to do damage.