First Time Offroad

Just wanted to share my first time off road in case anyone else is on the fence about giving it a try. I must admit I was a bit nervous. I bought a brand new 2015 DCSB SR5 last month and still don't even have a proper license plate. I really didn't want to mess up my new truck.



I put together a recovery kit from the local Tractor Supply. I didn't want to spend too much money to get my feet wet, but I wanted to be somewhat prepared.

I got a plastic tub/toolbox type thing and filled it with:

2 20' tow straps
30' recovery strap
2 4' lifting slings (to wrap around front frame as a recovery point)
10' 5/16 binder chain
receiver shackle adapter
3 additional shackles
5,000 lb come-a-long with 20 ft of cable
heavy wool blanket
a few random blocks of wood
shovel




and off I went.

This was at Kansas Rock Park in eastern KS. Most of the other vehicles I saw heading into the park were jeeps with big tires and lots of armor. A little intimidating to be sure. The fellow at the check in desk advised me to stay on the main "road" or the green trails. The road was a bit rutted out due to the wet spring.

Heading into the park:






Ruts getting a little deeper here. I swapped my stock dunlops for BF KO2 265/75/16 tires, but other than that I'm completely stock. I started worrying about my under-bits at this point. No room to turn around either.




My wife had to get out and spot for me here. Those ruts up ahead were ~18" deep. The Tacoma was barely wide enough to straddle them. The place was filled with horse flies, so I offered to spot while she drove... no dice.




A little easier going through here




lots of rock




Let a jeep go by




There were some big rocks up ahead, so I got out to check things out.




Watched a guy get stuck in the mud right before I got there...I went around.




Made it unscathed




Overall I had a good time. It definitely got the blood flowing, and we kept to the "road". I think the main thing was that I was nervous about trashing my truck before reaching 2k miles. After we got back I checked the undercarriage. No marks on the LCA, rear diff, exhaust, etc. It probably felt worse than it was (looks less intimidating in pictures too). I'll definitely do it again.

I'm glad I didn't get stuck. I'm not sure how I would have gotten myself unstuck with what I took with me (except maybe digging out with the shovel). Most of the substantial trees were quite a ways off the road.

Ill probably get a 2" lift and some lightweight skid plates as my first mods.

 

Man your ballsy taking the new rig out on the trails. I got 100k on mine and I hate going through gravel drives for fear of scratching the paint. I'm over anal about it sometimes, but the few times I've gone down trails I enjoyed the trip. I prefer using the prowler for off-road, so I don't have to worry about breaking truck parts.

 

No better way of breaking your off road cherry. At least you were somewhat prepared. Looks like fun! My '14 has less than 20k miles and has trail pinstripes out the wazoo. Sometimes I almost tear up... then I remember its a truck, I off road with it, and have a hell of a time doing it. Gives her some character!

 

From what my friends say it gets easier and more fun driving the more you do it!

You bought a truck not a corvette off-road it have fun! Lol

 

Looks fun!

I took mine to the dirt for the first time at just under 100 miles. Tried the 4wd and rear locker the next day. Had to make sure it worked, lol.

Its very nerve wrecking to do it just a couple days after dropping that kind of money.

Good job on trying to be prepared. I know you stayed on the road but I always practice the rule of having at least one other vehicle when I go out.

 

Get stuck, learn how to get unstuck, break something, learn how to fix it. So far I am good at getting stuck, getting better at getting unstuck. Have not broke anything, so.... i will call it lucky. Its tough taking a brand new ride down a trail. But...... it sure is fun, and why you bought it.

 

My first time "off roading" was in 1973, in a Chevy C20 long bed that belonged to my dad. That "adventure" didn't quite turn out as well as I would have liked. (Rolled the truck) But I was hooked. That led to me buying my first 4wd. a new 1974 Jeep CJ5. It got hammered! And the fun hasn't stopped since. I'm currently on 4wd #17. What I consider "enough" now isn't quite as daring as it was back then, but I still enjoy getting out into the woods. You'll gradually get a little less intimidated. That leads to tackling a few more difficult trails. It never ends.....

Hope you have fun in your future trail exploration!

 

Well your screwed now. Welcome to the addiction!

 

Indeed. Had my truck for less than a year and been in mud 5times.

 

Looks like fun!! Scratches give it character. I took mine out and really put it through the paces this weekend. Some tight brushy areas have caused a ton of long light scratches down the side. Hope they'll buff out. Not brand new, but at 1700miles, it sure feels like it. No more and that's OK with me.

 

I see you have the same model I have. Don't try to use any of the front hooks as a recovery point. They're meant to be tie downs from the factory to the dealer. If you get it stuck enough those could break if you try to use them for recovery.

 

Off topic but in the first picture of what I can assume to be you checking the ruts it took a second to realize you colored in your head to hide your face. I thought you had some crazy ass hair haha.

 

lol week 3 of owning mine I engaged the button that doesn't deploy your air bags off road... ( what ever its called) because a friend and I were down a trail and the climb back up was a motorcycle hill climb

I also thought it was crazy hair!

I Have a friend who just bought a 06 tacoma, sr5,with like 140xxxmiles, put rims tires and spacers on it and won't even take it on a gravel road and I'm over here with a 14

I can promise you I have more fun! Use it for what its used for man and don't worry about the little things!

 

Bought a '13 and took it off road the next day on a hunting trip. It's gone downhill since. You will now suffer the TW Curse and all of your money will mysteriously vanish into your truck!

 

I had my 2015 Sport off road within 24 hours of owning it. I heard a scrape in the first dicey bit I came to and my heart sank...until I realized it was just the mudflap. As others have said- it's a 4x4, that's what it's for.

 

Awesome! You are light years ahead of where I was when I started for off road preparation. But like yourself, I had my truck off road in the rocks in less than 24 hours after taking delivery. The Tacoma is a great truck! Enjoy and welcome to TW!

 

Yea.. I looked into buying the TRD recovery hook. Dealer wanted $130. That's why I got 2 4' 6000 lb lifting slings. I plan to wrap them around the frame where the hooks mount (should the need arise).

Pretty sure I am screwed. The wife and I are headed out to Colorado Springs this weekend. We are going to give "Rampart Range Road" ( http://www.traildamage.com/trails/index.php?id=154 ) and the adjacent trials a go.

I'll be pushing 3k miles by the time I get back. I think that is plenty of "wear off the newness" time before doing some mods.

 

FTFY

 

Nice! Wish we had a few more off-road options like that here...

When I got my 4x4 I planned on going camping. Loaded up my truck; 2006 Pre-runner, and stopped at the dealer to "take a look" at a 2013 4x4. Three hours later I find myself on a mild dirt road freaking out because of the scraping like lorne317...just mudflaps whew...