1st Time Off Road ( Big pile of Fail )

First I'd like to say I wasn't technically off roading. I went to a regional park near me and I was driving around looking at the park, seeing where I wanted to set up for the day for the family. I got to the back of the park and noticed a big area full of mud. So i decided maybe I could go "play" and get a little dirty. Well theres a little ...lip? curb?.. not big. but full of mud. And I didn't even make it up the damn thing.. I was just wondering was it my tires? not being 4x4? Made me start to regret not getting a 4x4..

I don't do much off roading, But it seemed my truck should have been capable to handle something like that.. Maybe it was too muddy and i misjudged it?

Truck Info :
2010 Pre Runner
Off Road package
Cooper Discovery AT/R
265/75/16
Plenty of tread, only about 10k miles on them.

Here's a picture of the spot.


Close up of the front



Full truck look, I thought I had a few more pictures.

 

Yeap, shoulda got a 4x4. Or, when in doubt, throttle out.

 

Looks to me like you got burned trying to add more damage to the lawn.

 

Yeah, I won't be going off roading much. But, When I do. I would like to actually be able to... I may trade this back in and get a 4x4. Doubt it.. But it's possible.. Although I did notice better traction when i hit the rear locker on. Should i have been in a different gear? I was just in Drive..

 

Yeah that was the first thing i noticed when I backed out. Tires were caked with mud. I didn't get stuck.. Just couldn't get to where i wanted to go.. Haha. I didn't use my rear locker until i noticed I wasn't going to make it up. so i turned it on and backed out easily.

 

Most guys do 4x4 and mud tires for mudding.

On another note:

Orange County?! Where's this at...

 

Yeah, Ill just have to know my limits of off road with pre runner.

Haha. Forgot the name. Down in brea, off state college. There's a big park and its all the way in the back.

 

Craig Park, just south of Imperial Hwy? I didn't even know you could drive in there.

 

Possibly ? I really don't remember the name, that doesn't sound familiar though. It's like 3 dollars to go in. It's a huge park, has a small lake.

Edit: Just looked it up, Yeah its Craig regional park

 

Also, I doubt your ALLOWED to go drive where I attempted. I just saw a small trail and got a bit of curiosity built up. Haha

 

Why would you want to ruin a nice meadow?

 

My Tacoma is 4wd (although no diff locker like yours) and I can tell you that having the front end pull the truck forward is a life saver in mud. You've gotta understand how light these trucks are in the rear (just like almost all trucks), but up front the engine and tranny are sitting almost on top of the front tires, so they have much more weight and traction than the rears. So, yes, 4wd is very helpful. If you have the cash, trade your PreRunner in for a 4wd Tacoma. You don't necessarily even need the TRD package if you're not going to be going offroad often, in my opinion. Nice truck, by the way. I think the white ones look the best

 

It was a open area with half dead grass and mud with tracks already all over it.. its a path for utility vehicles. What do you think trails were before people started off roading through them?

Yeah, I'm starting to notice that. I was just curious what peoples input was on my predicament. Haha.

 

Yes, I understand the 4x4 capabilities. Just don't think I will utilize it. I live in So. Cali. So no snow or anything crazy like that here.

also, Thanks, I love the white. Looks the cleanest IMO. It was between White and red. Been addicted to modding it since I got it.

My DIY Satoshi



Full View, Crap cell pic.

 

Just glad you had the locker to help you back out of the mud.

 

Looks like you just needed a little momentum to get you over the hump

 

Yeah. I had couple different thought. Like back up. drive around get the mud off try again with locker on.. Or maybe try with a little more momentum. But i didn't want to get stuck by my self .. Probably not where I'm supposed to be going anyways. Lol.

 

do us a favor? only go off-road in park areas marked for off-road vehicles? other folks might want to enjoy the meadow.

Howard

 

I live in Southern California too, does that mean one can't drive out of the city and have some recreation with the truck? You live just an hour or two from great areas for 4WD and the desert...

As for tires that work in mud... and are all terrain, not noisy mud tires, and are cheap: Hankook Dynapro ATM.

Also, when you get stuck again in 2WD, deflate your tires! Seriously will make a difference... also adding weight over the drive axle to add to the traction. Press the VSC button quickly for AUTO LSD, or better is the locker.

 

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