TRD Off Road Prerunner Capabilities

Hello All,

I just purchased a 2012 Toyota Tacoma with the TRD Off Road Package. I am really happy about the purchase and I have been looking at buying a Tacoma for years. I have one quick question/concern, the dealer really sold me on the capabilities of the truck with just the TRD Off Road Package. The 4x4 was an added expense I could not really afford both in terms of initial cost, insurance and fuel cost. I am curious though how capable the truck will be off road without the 4 wheel drive.

I took my first trip in it two days ago and covered some surprisingly difficult terrain including a serious wash and some loose rock without issue - just kept my momentum up and picked the best path. It only got squirrelly in the snow when driving up to four peaks after the storm here in central AZ. Given that I was now off roading in 3-4 inches of snow in a 2 wheel drive truck I opted to turn back.

Since I have really been second guessing myself on the Prerunner - not that it lacked capability just that maybe I should have held out for the 4x4. Wanted to air my concern here and hopefully get some positive feedback - not much I can do about it now. In the end I plan on mostly driving on road or on fire roads in and around Arizona without too much serious wheeling. Between the locker and a good winch I think the truck will have more capability than I can put to use, but what do you guys think? Also down the line if I ever want to seriously wheel I would want a solid axle anyways so someday I may swap out the front end and rebuild the rear.

Here are some pictures of the drive, it was a beautiful way to break in the new truck.

 

this topic has been beat to death. but yes, your trd pre runner does pretty darn good off road and provided the driver is competant and you choose good lines it will suffice for much light off roading. however even with the locker it is not as good as a 4x4 with open diffs. a locked 2wd will get you in and stuck, and all 4x4 does is get you in and stuck further down the trail. enjoy the new truck and have fun with it

for doing logging roads like you want, with a winch, your pre runner will do just fine. its still a good idea to bring a friend incase anything goes wrong. imo if you didnt have the funds to buy a 4x4 right now it is not likley you will have the funds to do a full axle swap on anything any where in the next 5+ years lol. plus why the heck yould you do it to such a new truck anyway? that is a very bad idea. i would go check out the SAS thread if you are interested in that option

 

Good tires will be a help... and often lowering the air pressure 50% will make you get to those previously 'only 4x4' places... You should see where the 2WD SoCalTacomas go... Only one of the 4x2s couldn't climb the Diablo Dropoff as he didn't have a rear locker.

 

x2 on airing down. tires will for sure help, and if you go to the mountain alot a set of chains is always good to have.

 

X3. Good tires and airing down make big difference. In your situation, I would've gone without the TRD OR package and put that money towards 4x4 because it sounds like you would really use it. But don't sweat it now, just enjoy your truck.

Guy at the alignment shop today questioned Duratracs on my Prerunner. My answer: "Because I wanted them."

 

Thanks for the responses. They really pushed me into that truck and while I am sure it's very capable I have been second guessing the choice since.

Quick question, I asked the dealer about it today and he said they actually could probably get me into a 4x4 since the truck is only a week old. What do you guys think about that option? It will probably cost a fair amount, the 4x4 alone is a $3,000 option and I am sure they will get me for having driven it off the lot and put some miles on it. Should I pursue this or count it as too expensive? I got my prerunner for 25,800 - so it was a pretty great price.

 

I think that really depends on your intended use, if it's going to be heavily weighed towards off road use, then it may worth to pony up the bones for a 4x4- you have some serious soul searching to do my friend

I would at the very least play it out a bit with the dealership and see exactly what the costs are going to be, no cost in haggling

 

Typically, I'd tell someone in your shoes to have confidence in your choice and enjoy your truck.

But Youre already second guessing and it's only been a week.

$25k is a lot of money to spend on something that gives you remorse instead of happiness.

Switching at this point probably means you waste 500 to a thousand that goes to the next guy as a discount.

That sounds like a lot, but only 4% of the total. Might be worth it if it means your truck makes you happy.

But not if you're on of those guys who beats themselves up for not getting the best deal.

 

Go 4x4 so you can offroad with confidence!!! I would go back and get the 4wd if I were you...totally your choice.

 

Tires. The stock ones are garbage. The BFG A/Ts I had replaced them with made a huge difference on and off road.

 

There's no price for haggling. I bought a prerunner cause I didn't see myself needing it. It doesn't snow much here in MD, and I never needed 4wd in all the cars I had prior to the tacoma.

The only time I have any remorse about not getting a 4wd is when I come on here and read about it lol. I do plan on buying some better tires before next winter. I threw 200lbs of sand in the back this winter just in case. I didn't need it though.

I didn't even get the off-road package, I got the sport package because I rarely leave pavement.

Bottom line is: get what you are going to use. Don't use 4wd just to lube up the parts from time to time.

David K: I'd be interested in seeing some footage/pics of the SoCal prerunners doing some off-roading. Any links?

 

OP. Get the 4x4. Then come join us on some trails here in Az.. I've lived here in Az my whole life, and have encountered numerous situations where I needed it. And like the saying goes.. its better to have it and not need it, then to need It and not have it. from the sand washes and dunes, to the snow covered mountains and forests, you'll find a place in Az youll need that 4x4. You wont regret it. If nothing else, its peace of mind.

 

^^^ what he said. 4x4!!!

 

this!!! before i had my 4x4 i had a 2wd because at the time it was all i thought i needed. i drove it for 2 1/2 years just fine, but after i seriously got the idea of selling it and buying a 4x4 that was the end of it. even though i loved the hell out of that truck every day i wished it was a 4x4 more and more. eventually i resented the truck and couldn't wait to get rid of it and was checking craigslist every day checking out different trucks. after i sold it i knew i made the right choice and am even more happy with my 4x4 (and wouldn't trade it for anything) than i was with my street queen (which i didnt think was possible).

moral of the story: if it has already been a week and you are secretly resenting it hoping it was a 4x4 then you should probably just go and get what you want so you can drive it for the next 4 years without thinking about what could have been.



also OP your name is Born to Run, did you happen to read the book lol?

 

Go 4x4..

 

Go back and get your 4x4!

 

You can't use "better to have and not need..." as the single criteria to justify anything. When you go offroading, do you carry every item possible to get you out of every situation? Probably not. It's because you weigh each possibility for how much you think you would need it vs the cost. You can "what if..." yourself crazy and end up with too much doubt in your capabilities/skills.

If you're not going to use it as much for the cost you're debating, then don't get it. Plain and simple.

 

Tires, tires, tires

 

I never said it was the single criteria. But knowing the terrain out here, and the fact that the OP is already out at Four Peaks in the snow, gives me the idea that one day, he will be out there, pushing the limits, and not have 4wd to get him home. Sure, he can go tons of places with a locked 2wd, but as soon as he gets stuck, he's gonna say... wish I had a 4wd.

Now I am a little biased tho. I've never owned a 2wd vehicle. So maybe the 2wd off roads are enough to get around most places. I also know that we have had to tow a lot of 2wd guys up and over obstacles out on the trails.

 

I agree, I've never bought into the "better to have and not need" argument either. I typically just ignore it because it doesn't make sense to me but to each their own. You can never plan for every contingency.

These debates will go on forever, or at least until some government bureaucrat decides 4X4's are a danger to society, lol