Capability of stock Tacoma?

My stock tacoma does more than most lifted trucks in the sense that I actually use mine. I would suggest that the majority of people are lifting their trucks and putting armour on them for image more than function. I look at the multitude of lifted big bumper Tacomas in my area and they are shiny pretty trucks. They may have some mud splashed on the side occasionally from driving down a muddy road, but are otherwise perfect. Even saw a guy on kijiji selling his OME lift kit cuz he wanted to go bigger. His sales pitch included the fact that the suspension had never been used off road even though he had it for a year before that. Ha.
I use my stock truck as a truck. I've made the commitment to myself that I won't spend big money on any major aftermarket stuff until I've broken the stock component or found something I was unable to accomplish in stock form. So far just broken antennas, some grill damage, and a paint job that is more scratched than clear. This has been from pushing through bush in remote areas where a breakdown or getting stuck could be a serious issue. Always made it through.
All this being said, my suspension is now feeling pretty shot. I've hauled some big loads over some long distances and over some rough logging and bush trails. I think I'm close to having the justification to increase my load capacity and rough road handling abilities. I don't see a need for armour as I'm not recreationally rock crawling and have always been able to find the correct route through whatever obstacle has been in my way. I have had to use my chains in some deep wet snow areas but have only ever gotten "stuck" when I wanted to use my new hitch mount winch (which was an expenditure that was contrary to my previous stated commitment and I have had no REAL need for it since).
If you want to navigate technical rock areas in some recreation trails built for that, or you just have money to burn, all the power to you to throw on the most aggressive bumpers, slides, skids, tires and lifts. But if you just want to do truck things in some rough country, your stock truck should get it done for ya.

 

The stock Tacoma 4WD Off Road truck is perhaps the best stock off road vehicle made?





Here are just a couple You Tubes of my stock truck, no lift:

PULLING JAMES UP DIABLO DROPOFF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m1u1pba4Ps
CLIMBING PANCAKE ROCK 2014: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8K1MTS4-ic

(these are in my signature)

 

Umm.... Perhaps you forgot about the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and the 4Runner Trail and the Toyota Landcruiser.

Tacoma is a really good off road vehicle, but I wouldn't say it is the best.

 

Ford Raptor....

I plan on finding out how capable one of the 16 models is soon... not sure which model yet

 

Actually because I put it here by mistake

 

I should have said best stock off road "truck" and not "vehicle", my bad.

Raptors have weak spindles... upgrade before you go to Baja with one! Otherwise, they are nice full size trucks.

 

I found my Tacoma to be fairly poor off road.

Over rough terrain there was excessive steering wheel feedback and the ABS was too sensitive. Not enough weight over the rear tires meant little traction in 2wd and the rear frame section wasn't rigid enough for the rear suspension to do its job. The access cab doors came out of adjustment once in awhile and would make a ton of noise. The e-brake jammed with dust and grit a few times. All in all it made me not want to buy another when it came time to replace it.

I picked up a Frontier Pro-4x and actually figured it would be worse (having never owned a Nissan) but it was a really good price. It's very competent offroad, no issues. Having owned Toyota trucks for years it's hard to admit I actually prefer the Nissan in every way, it drIves like the old Toyota pickups I was used to . Of course my opinion might change with the more refined '16 Tacoma coming soon.

 

Wow, I think you're the first??? If the pickup bed has little or no weight in the back, the traction is going to be poor... a truck is designed to carry cargo back there. That is why we get 4WD in these trucks when we use them for off road transportation and not hauling cargo... so the heavier half axle (under the engine) can have the pulling tires. Glad you like the Nissan... they really need some sales!

 

Mine was 4wd so lacking traction in 2wd wasn't a big deal, it was just surprising how often I needed 4wd. It was an 06 SR5 so no a-trac, LSD or locker. The other issues though we're not expected or easily remedied. The steering feed back and sensitive abs were particularly annoying. I didn't mention the idler pulleys, tsb spring upgrade or mud flaps breaking because those were easily fixed.

 

They are fantastic in stock form, plus all TRD accessories minus the S/C of course lol... Mine does everything I ask it to do and more... and its basically stock.. It's a base model but has all mis matched TRD trim level parts and other toyota/trd accessories

 

What tires were you running? One of the complaints of the Tacoma is the stock tires that come with the truck from the factory. There are complaints on the 4Runner as well about the tires. From the preproduction pics I have seen so far it looks like Toyota has addressed this issue.

 

The Tacoma will beat the Raptor in every aspect except going fast.

 

265/75R16 Bfg AT KO. That's another thing, the Frontier Pro-4x comes with standard 265/75R16's with a matching spare rim and tire.

 

It's okay, you got a Nissan and are happy. I had a 2005 and it had issues with abs the techs said was normal. It also had a couple other issues (too soft rear suspension, clock spring wire fail). However, the good outweighed the bad and after 4 years and 102,000 miles, I traded it for my 2010 and it has been near perfect and the best of my 3 Tacomas.

 

MY stock sport does great.

 

my 2016 DCLB trd Sport 2wd stock ! 4k miles