What would improve offroad performance the most

I am having a debate with my friends. I drive a prerunner on street tires. It is my opinion out of the the two options of getting better MT tires will help me more as of now than a 4x4 swap would. They think a 4x4 swap would better offroad capabilities when I would still have street tires. Keep in mind I live in a humid and wet environment. Which should I do first? (Both will be done, I’m asking about the order)

Let me include more information:
I’m 17 and this is my only car. I will not sell it for a different truck it is completely out of the options. I am living in a rental and don’t have access to all my dads tools like I have for the past 16 years. I do still have some access though to more rudimentary tools. I’m the first to leave the house and last to arrive so I cannot borrow my parents cars. Lastly, I’m not trying to climb up Mount Everest, I’m just trying to not spin on wet grass.

 

Depends on the terrain to a certain degree. But tires are a safe bet in most scenarios (compared to A/S street tires).

 

I’d rather have a 2wd with good tires than a 4x4 with shitty ones. Especially if there is a locker involved.


Doesn’t mean it’ll always get tbe job done (especially if it’s steep and 4lo would have been helpful), but there sure is a lot that can be done in 2wd

 

I'd be more likely to get stuck with 2x4 and good tires out here.

Off kilter and one tire in the air even locked means stuck.

I've offoraded with street tires in a 4x4 before, just means using speed bouncing up obstacles.

Neither are ideal, I wouldn't suggest M/T aggressive tires on a pre-runner. Put on a top grade all terrain and some good shocks and it will handle a ton of trails no issue.

 

My problem typically is I can’t get enough speed bc I’m spinning and sliding all over the place.

 

There is no wrong answer . in the end it seems to always come down to budget!!

Up grade the rear tires put at least 400 pounds secured weight over the rear axle .

Have on board air to be able to lower tire pressure and reinflated for the drive home.

Common sense and experience for Prerunner off road adventures.

Good luck!

 

Tires help both 2WD and 4WD.
4WD helps the tires.
I’d go swap first , but only if selling your current truck and buying a 4WD wasn’t an option.

You got a lot of questions to ask yourself.
1. Can you do the swap.
2. Do you have the time to do the swap?
3. Can you afford the swap?
4. Can you afford tires and a swap?

 

Experience.

 

Reminds me of long ago camp fire talk.

The more capable your off road vehicle the worse you will be able to get stuck.

This really holds true!! Really reinforces the never go alone policy.

 

Honestly in the same boat as you, currently a prerunner with A/T's, 3 inch lift, and it gets the job done in snow, ice, mud, and most trails ive hit in Hollister or trails around CA. I really agree with Bivouac, as much places I can get to with a prerunner, sometimes it ends up screwing me over, havent got stuck yet, but have gotten quite close, which would be even worse since when im out wheeling im by myself. Im going the route of a 4WD swap soon, and that is literally the only reason why I bought all the upgrades on my truck, knowing it will be 4WD soon.

 

4wd with crappy tires > 2wd with good tires

 

1. No not enough experience yet.
2. Yes it’s summertime .
3. Yes.
4. No it’s one or the other.

I’m not selling bc i bought it last year with 127k on the odo with 1 owner and and maintenance logs since it was bought. (It was owned by an electrical engineer so that’s how you know it was taken care of)

it was babied as well, never towed anything or left the asphalt

 

3. Offroad driving lessons.

 

Or learn from mistakes. It’s free and you’ll remember it better.

 

I’m not crazy offroad I’m just tired of getting stuck on flat ground when it’s wet.

so far my friends have recovered me 3 times. It’s been a very good learning experience everytime but I am starting to feel like a burden. One of my buddies has a 98 Land Cruiser 4wd on MT’s with a 12k winch. He’s never even spun but he’s pulled me out all 3 times.

 

This is the current condition of my tires

 

The answer to #4 has me concerned.
Every project I’ve ever done cost more than the original estimate.
Usually by 20-30 percent more.

 

Too expensive

 

This, driver mod for sure.

A winch 2nd

After that I would take a 4wd with street tires over a 2wd with MTs as I could get it further down the trail and through more difficult obstacles.

 

By tires I mean a 3 inch lift with new wheels and tires. My estimate is 3k so I’m saving 3.5k. All the swaps I’ve read up on have costed around 2-3k. The reason the lift is going to cost $3000 is because my ride is shot, so I’m getting new struts and if I’m gonna get a new struts then I need new springs to achieve the lift then I’m getting new wheels as well because I don’t like the way the stock five spoke look, and of course for any actual benefit, I’ll need to get new tires. While this is mostly backed by the purpose of function, I also don’t want to go into my senior year with a stock looking truck, which gives another motive for wanting to do the lift first, and the swap after.

Both will be done, it’s just a matter of which is more reasonable for a 17 year old to do first