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First time off roading in Colorado - New 2014 DC TRD 4x4 - Newb Questions

Discussion in 'Off-Roading & Trails' started by AZDre, Aug 3, 2014.

  1. Aug 3, 2014 at 9:38 AM
    #1
    AZDre

    AZDre [OP] Active Member

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    Hey Guys,

    I took my one week old 2014 DC TRD 4x4 on a moderate off road trail for the first time yesterday; very badass truck, very capable of climbing like a goat. Put it in 4 Low and hit the A-TRAC button, zero tire slip up some challenging stuff. I was amazed. Also looked ten times cooler than any jeeps on the trail.

    (If anyone is familiar with this trail - its called Pole Hill in Estes Park CO. Very fun, and a little challenging in some parts for my first time on a trail)


    I have a couple questions / concerns if someone could shed some advice


    1) Rock contact on undercarriage -- is any amount of rock scraping on the bottom of your truck acceptable? The noises certainly make you cringe at some parts... what is the general rule of thumb here?

    2) Mud flaps -- does everyone take their mud flaps for real off roading? They seemed to be scraping any decent size rocks i was going over, also contributing to some pretty uncomfortable noises (sometimes it was hard to tell if it was the undercarriage or mud flaps that were scraping rocks). Can taking off the mud flaps lead to chipping or damage on the lower body of your truck where debris should be stopped by the flap?

    3) 4x4/trailing upgrades -- a 4" lift seemed like it might really benefit here, but your center of gravity also goes much higher. Are there any specific lifts or lift heights that seem to be the best all around for trail driving and tough climbs?

    Check out the pic - beautiful day!


    2wqdav9_0d64b0c6fb6f131cdbbe523c05879a2fce5e4912.jpg
     
  2. Aug 3, 2014 at 3:11 PM
    #2
    Loony

    Loony Well-Known Member

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    how did you get license plates in a week ?
     
  3. Aug 3, 2014 at 7:34 PM
    #3
    AZDre

    AZDre [OP] Active Member

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    temp tag is in the back. Dealer said you can put the plates back on as long as the temp in the back still shows. In CO you can transfer your plates without getting new ones
     
  4. Aug 3, 2014 at 7:35 PM
    #4
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon Musk Moderator

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    Are you the one that just posted on the TW page?

    Come check out our CO section!
     
  5. Aug 3, 2014 at 7:45 PM
    #5
    GREEKBOY12295

    GREEKBOY12295 Well-Known Member

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    Are you from Az or Colorado?
     
  6. Aug 3, 2014 at 10:05 PM
    #6
    AZDre

    AZDre [OP] Active Member

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    Thanks for the info buddy. Sounds like the front flaps will be coming off. I think I am going to go with a 3" pro comp soon so hopefully I can avoid any scraping of vital components...

    Will do man, I need to road trip it back down... as soon as it isnt 115 degrees. You cant beat the summers up here (compared to AZ anyway) - winter will be a whole different story though... ha
     
  7. Aug 3, 2014 at 10:06 PM
    #7
    AZDre

    AZDre [OP] Active Member

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    Yeah I think so.. I haven't looked in the CO section yet though, thanks for the heads up!
     
  8. Aug 4, 2014 at 11:03 AM
    #8
    SIZZLE

    SIZZLE Pro-party

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    A little a this, a little a that...
    1. Scraping is ok. Dents or destruction is different. If you live in CO get under there and touch up the paint to prevent rust.

    2. Ditch the flaps if you're gonna do anything moderate. Yes you will get more paint chips but it's not that bad IMO.

    3. Do the lowest lift that will fit the size tires you want to run. The higher you go, the more problems you start to run into including CG. These trucks are very capable stock but a couple more inches are nice to have.

    Hope that helps!
     
  9. Aug 4, 2014 at 3:53 PM
    #9
    teamhypoxia

    teamhypoxia MichelinMan

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  10. Aug 4, 2014 at 5:08 PM
    #10
    AZDre

    AZDre [OP] Active Member

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    Big help. Thank you sir
     
  11. Aug 4, 2014 at 9:14 PM
    #11
    Ice Horse

    Ice Horse Stalking horse

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    x2 Don't straddle the rocks. You're supposed to try and make an attempt at putting a tire on the rock rather than straddling. Straddling can make you whack things underneath.

    Mud flaps? I kept mine for a while but they'll just get ripped off anyway. One did so took the other off.

    As far as lift, I don't know exact details on the second gens but the norm is usually about 3 inches. If you increase your tire size as well, the combination gives you a good amount of clearance.
     
  12. Aug 5, 2014 at 7:56 AM
    #12
    TACO CO

    TACO CO Well-Known Member

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    I did a 3" lift and 255/85/16 tires. So far I love it for CO offroading! I imagine the thinner tires wont do as well in deep snow or sand, but the increased height without having to trim sold me on skinny.
     
  13. Aug 5, 2014 at 10:31 AM
    #13
    WillT

    WillT Well-Known Member

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    Mud Flaps: I kept mine to keep debris from hitting the doors but I shortened them with some tin snips. Just marked a line about 5" up from the bottom and snipped them across and then rounded the corners. Still provides about 5" of mudflap to keep snow/ice/debris off the doors. I also shortened up the back ones as well.

    Lift: I've got the pro comp lift installed from 4WP and I don't know if it was installed wrong or what (shop has looked at it twice and says everything is fine) but I get a lot of popping noises almost like the springs aren't seated and move around when I stop hard/accelerate hard/go over bumps like speed bumps and curbs/etc. For the money, if I had it to do over I'd spend the extra $200 and go with an OME 3" and have the guys at Toytec install it.

    Rock Protection: If you can do it, spend the $500-600 and get some rock sliders. You can get weld on ones or bolt on (many of the bolt ons still require drilling holes in the frame for some of the bolts). Cheap protection for when you slide off a rock, pick the wrong line, etc.
     
  14. Aug 5, 2014 at 10:58 AM
    #14
    PS78

    PS78 I like beer, I brew beer!

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    to many to list, check the build thread
    X3 i read the straddle the rocks quote and was like WHOAAAA!!!! :eek: please no straddle rocks, thats a sure fire way to make your drive line look like a candy cane and or damage the vital parts under your truck, put a tire on the larger rocks if at all possible, and if you can afford it the first mod you do should be rock sliders to save your rocker panels.

    front mud flaps: REMOVED
    Rear mud flaps: Trimmed down like 6 inches

    Under carriage protection: if you can afford it and want to not worry so much get as much armor as you can handle under there!!
    Lift: plenty of 3" kits available check out toytec for plenty of options
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2014
  15. Aug 5, 2014 at 11:32 AM
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    Ice Horse

    Ice Horse Stalking horse

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    No mud flaps more me because YOLO! :D jk. It does make my tires look bigger :anonymous:

    Yes if you can save up, get some sliders. Great protection and eases your mind over a lot of obstacles.
     
  16. Aug 5, 2014 at 4:41 PM
    #16
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    You have some good advice here. Glad you discovered the A-TRAC makes the truck a super truck!

    Place your tires on the high parts of the road so things don't hit the bottom (as much). Also crawl over the rocks, slowly... the 4WD and A-TRAC allows you to not need momentum like the Prerunners do, and it is speed that can cause damage.

    Mud Flaps... say good by! They will snap off coming down on a rock or dropping into a ditch. Even heavy mud on them will rip them off the truck. I kept them on and replaced them on my 2005... a headache. I removed them from my 2010 soon after getting it (actually the first time one snapped off was when I was playing with the A-TRAC on the Welk Run). It's been 4 1/2 years and I see no special paint wear or gravel damage to the sides of my truck that you would think the mud flaps prevent.

    Have fun!!!
     
  17. Aug 5, 2014 at 4:47 PM
    #17
    asuchemist

    asuchemist My Hamstrings Hurt!

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    Very nice and brave.
     
  18. Aug 5, 2014 at 9:03 PM
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    Ice Horse

    Ice Horse Stalking horse

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    Dont forget about your locker too. Night and day difference. :thumbsup:
     
  19. Aug 6, 2014 at 8:19 AM
    #19
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    True... but A-TRAC also 'locks' (stops spin) the front as well as the rear... but automatically so you don't have any binding when you need to turn or need to turn it off, as you do with the mechanical locker. My '01 and '05 had the rear locker and my '10 has A-TRAC and the rear locker. A-TRAC is almost a night and day difference over the rear locker.
     
  20. Aug 6, 2014 at 8:00 PM
    #20
    AZDre

    AZDre [OP] Active Member

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    I know these are technically side steps... would they double as rock sliders though?

    http://www.carid.com/2005-toyota-ta...1015815.html?gclid=CMG9_-yTgMACFahj7AodAA4A4Q
     

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