What would improve offroad performance the most

Either someone else has the same username on the 4runner forum, or this is a quote from you:

Wheeling with a Wrangler is boring. They're expected to make it up and over stuff. Wheeling with a vehicle that isn't meant to do certain things is way more fun.

Given that "a prerunner shouldn't offroad", I can agree with you I've had hella fun doing it so far. Lowkey, it looks boring when my friends just drive slowly with 100% traction. I've got stories and experiences now from the fact I'm 2wd. Whether it's caused moments where I'm going "that was retarded I know not to do that now" or "holy that was crazy", both me and my friends have learned things that we wouldn't have if I wasn't capable of getting stuck. Everyone's priorities are different. My number one priority is school which is why I don’t work during the school week. If I did, everything you can think of would have been done to this truck by now. (Minus SAS and LT, those don't appeal to me because it would no longer stay within the goal of "OEM+").

I hate to argue against such a petty statement about my comprehension skills, so I won't. It's called holding your tongue and I think it’s something you need to take note of. Insults help no one. On a side note, your exhaust sounds great on your Audi A4. Deep rumble while not being annoyingly loud. It's quite tasteful.

 

I try not to purposely abuse my car with mud puddles anymore. I got that out of my system within the first 3 months of owning a truck. I've got a good dad that's helped me learn how to work on cars since I was little. I've been over his shoulder from swapping new radiators to pulling a whole engine/transmission assembly. Fortunately my experience under a car will not plateau because I plan on going to school and studying mechanical engineering(And because I drive a 20 year old car haha). And you’re right I don’t want to hear what you said it sounds sooo boring. But I will take it into account over these next couple months as I save and study more on this forum. I don’t want to climb up a 70 degree rockface, I want to make it to the campsite with the rest of my friends so we can laugh and tell stories by the fire. There is also a part of me that wants to "look cool". I want to be proud of what I drive in everyday and I've driven the vehicle for a year now and I know its flaws. It can't hurt that much to spend a little extra mula to look cool my last year of highschool when the "cool" only provides function. New shocks to replace the horrible 20 year old shocks that are shot. New springs for a better approach angle. Better tires for more grip than bald street tires. If I am missing the point of your message I am so sorry and please let me know. But for the most part, I think I understand what you're saying and thank you for taking the time to write that message. Like I said, I will think over this message as I save and seek more advice.

 

Money isn't cool to me. The only reason I'm earning it is to work on my truck and improve it. If my job could pay me in car parts, I'd be estatic. But, I do already have a couple shares in a few different companies so I got that box checked off

 

Haha yes, the rear of these trucks are so light. However that does appeal to one of my favorite art forms, drawing circles on the ground.

 

True top-shelf AT or MT tires on a 2WD Tacoma in a non-ridiculous situation, should get you to where you are headed and back: "nine-times-out-of ten". >IF< you understand you and your truck's limits, and are willing to fold and turn around when the spot you're in is obviously getting over the top.

I go to remote places in Maine to hunt and fish every year. 75% of it are crappy dirt roads and "Jeep trails" (sorry ) that aren't threatening. I'm in 2H most of the time unless it's raining or has been snowing. When there's a mud-hole or a stream running down the Forest Service or logging road or ice and snow, I just turn the knob to 4H when my gut tells me to. Back in the clear: I shift back to 2H. My biggest worry when I'm off-road in the woods, is finding snow on the ground as I'm returning to the main roads. When it starts to rain a little too heavy or at the first hint of snow, I pack up the gear, turn around and head out.

This scenario happened to me one time: I was about 5 miles in. Flurries where I was and 2" where I started when I got back to the main road where I turned-off.

About a mile before that point, here comes a huge Forest Service Dodge Power Wagon in that nice shade of light green. The Ranger came in looking for me. He noticed my tracks leading off to the woods but no return ones. I expressed my deep appreciation and thanked him. He asked to see my licenses with a little smile. Offered him a cup of coffee from my Thermos hung out for a bit to tell him it was my belief that no one else was up there and I was on my way.

That said, IMO 4WD should always out-perform 2WD in a sketchy area of road, but not quite adequate in most situations off-road.

Do the conversion. It sounds like fun! Good luck and keep us posted.

 

What is it they say about imitation and flattery?

That is true, but being a burden on your friends and their rigs is not cool.

Never said a Prerunner shouldn't offroad, but there are trails where a 2wd should not enter.
You don't need all the fancy tech to offroad. My truck has minimal mods (33's, OME 882, Dakar HD springs, F/R lockers, 4.88 gears) and it handles all of Big Bear's hardest trails. It's not easy but it's fun, and I have way more fun than the Gladiator's and Wranglers I wheel with on 39's.

And thank you. I hate the way most 4cyl sound, so simplicity is what I was going for.

But yeah, do the 4wd swap, you'll slap yourself hard for not doing it sooner.

 

Unfortunately here in the Southwest there is a lack of trails. So only about 3% of the time I’m “offroad” I’m on a trail. Also unfortunate is that if I do the swap I will be without a vehicle and borrowing someone’s or riding with people for an extended time, which is more of a burden than spending 15 minutes to pull me out. It’s all about context though. I will eventually do the swap it’s just which will occur in the next 2 months.

The swap will happen in the next year, I just need the shop space, the tools in storage, the tools that I do not have access too, the parts that I have to find locally and the parts I can just order online.

 

No specialty tools are needed.

 

I’m not saying this in an offensive manner, but have you done the conversation? I’ve been meaning to message someone else who’s also done it.

If so is there really no specialty tools? No pullers, special pliers, tension checkers etc?

Also if you’ve done it can you give me a quick rundown of the tools I’ll need.

 

Where in the Southwest? Cause I'm in the southest westest there is (unless you count Hawaii) .

If you gather all the parts, you can finish it in a weekend. I've seen it done a few times. You just have to make sure you have literally everything. No need to borrow a vehicle.

 

I've pulled the parts that require the conversion.

I've pulled parts for others, and helped wrenched on a handful.

And I've had jotted down all the parts needed for varying swaps IE the difference in actuators if you go ADD because early variants are vacuum versus later variants are electric, or the difference between spindles being only that some are fitted for ABS and others not, and the speed sensor plug differences and cable lengths, and the fact that you can retrofit the ADD diff tube for a manual hub setup, etc.

Not to mention tons of people have done it, and it's documented many times over on this site. Hell I had all the parts minus the transmission and transfer case but I decided having a 5th car was even easier

It's easy stuff, and all of it is bolt-on.

 

I’m sorry haha I miss typed. I meant the Southeast. It’s hot and humid down here. And service roads for hundreds of miles but not many trails.

 

I want to keep ABS but have manual hubs as well. Do I need different spindles? (I have ABS right now).

 

The fortunate thing is, these vehicles are stupid easy to work on and take apart.

The hard part, which I haven't dealt with personally, is when you have to cut parts due to rust.

 

Spindles are all the same; you would disassemble your current set and press in new bearings as well as utilize the correct wheel hub.

There are three different styles - one for prerunner, one for ADD, and one for manual hub.

 

Like I miss typed, I’m in the deep Southeast. Not a single spot of rust on my truck.

 

My rust comment was just a general one.

 

Ah okay sorry. Hopefully I won’t have to deal with that but I got the pb blaster on standby

 

I like my 127k transmission so I’m going to have a shop swap the output shaft when the time comes.

Is there a part number for a 4x4 output shaft?

 

Sad part is, I got rid of my swap parts cheap and even threw a bunch of perfectly good parts away.