My story + questions

So i'll start with saying i'm brand new to the tacoma world, i have always seen these beautiful trucks driving down the road looking like they were meant to be blazing through trails and dunes! So i decided that i needed one, i worked my ass off for as many hours as my boss could give me and finally when i have a good amount of money saved up i went shopping.

Thats where my story begins, i ended up finding a 96 Xtra cab 4wd with 160,000 miles on the odometer. Asked to test drive it and went for a little ride, everything was flawless! Bought the truck and drove home.




Immediately i decided i need a toolbox as i was always used to having a trunk.




Thoughts of going out playing were keeping me up throughout the next couple weeks. I went with a K&N air filter and some bosch plugs, then put new wires on since they looked as old as the truck. Pulled my distributor cap and saw a huge amount of corrosion on the contacts and the rotor, so i replaced those and did an oil change.

Went out and played a bit but i still need more!





So my question is what should i do to prepare for the sand dunes? Any tips or anything i should add on? Mods?

Remember i am new to the tacoma world!!

thanks

 

You need to get an electric tire/air pump that clips onto the battery. For sand, it is all about air pressure and the stiffer sidewall tires like your BFGs need more air than others let out to achieve flotation. See my signature link on sand driving...

8-12 psi for your BFGs for the softest sand... all 4... and use 4WD-HIGH. Low Range will only dig you in deeper. On sand, it isn't horse power or torque... it is tire flotation.

 

For beach sand, on the Cortez side, these tires work great at 18psi. Remember, even 2WD, sand is the easiest thing to drive over if you let enough air out of the tires! Sometimes as low as 8-10 psi... whatever it takes to float on top.


Fresh out of the sea and dressed for the drive!


This little blow sand at the edge of the tidal mud flats, made a great/ clean place to air up the tires for the trip home.

 

I did buy a cheapo electric one for 20$ but im not sure if it could actually pump my tires back up. So tomorrow after i get off work will have to see how it does in my driveway!

Thank you for helping out, should i worry about sand getting through my intake or will it be ok?

 

Get some recovery equipment. Examples would be, tow strap(rated enough for you vehicle), shovel, hi-lift, flash light, and the list could go on forever. I have found these trucks to be very capable off-road in their stock form. Just drive smart and you will have fun.

 

I have tons of recovery stuff ready now!
-Shovel
-Handy Man Jack
-Plenty of tools
-Electric tire pump
-Flashlights
-2X4's incase i dig in

But my only worry is sand getting sucked into the motor...... am i stressing to much?

 

I just got back from Eugene on Wednesday. First thing I noticed when I got to OR was there was definitely a lot of 1st gen 4x4's around. I looked a the local ads and seems like the mileage are higher up there for the same price in Cali. Anyway, congrats on the truck!

 

I have no experience with dunes but that's a damn clean truck man!

 

You will be fine. Its real dusty where I live and I go to the sand dunes all the time with stock intake.

 

Yes ALOT, and i got a very good deal and i am proud to say i own a tacoma!

Most of the tacomas here have very high millage and they are priced very high, but people buy tacoma's left and right because they are trucks that get good gas millage.


And good to know that i don't have to worry about sand getting in! Thanks to all you guys for your input it is very much appreciated for a newby like me!

Me and my dad who owns an 87 jeep wrangler are planning a trip to moab already, i keep looking at the photos on here that were taken there and can not wait to be there personally!

 

So yesterday i went to the dunes for a couple hours, after about five minutes of being there i found a dakota sport stuck about 5 feet from the road.



The tacoma did really well pulling him out and it actually surprised me how well i pulled it out aha. All in all it was a very fun day!!

 

Awesome truck man! We have the same name and same truck pretty much! Haha you should come down for the TW glamis meet in october that might be a little far but do it anyways! Just playing but all I offroad in is pretty much sand dunes or really soft sand. I just got wider tires, a lift so I dont get high centered or slam the bottom of the truck on a hill that I go over. Also get some bright ass lights or something if you plan on driving offroad at night. Yesterday me and my friend rode through the desert at like 8 at night, I would have been lost without my hid hellas. All the other mods I have are just for looks and all that, you can check out my build if you want

Oh yeah and airing down + having wider tires is the best way to not get stuck!