2WD go off-road?

hey guys, I have a 2016 trd sport. Went with the 2wd cause I never do off-roading. But for some reason I just recently got the bug to go out and hit the trails. I live in AZ so it’s mostly hard dry rocky areas out here I believe. Anyways, I was wondering how a 2wd would hold up out in the Sonoran desert? Also, would it cause any safety issues? Like I said, no off-road experience at all but want to learn. Thanks in advance!!!

 

Welcome to TW! Get out there and use that truck. You are fine offroad, just remember you aren't 4x4. So no extreme trails for you. Plenty of 2wd stuff in AZ.
Take a look in the regional section for the Arizona threads.
Edit. https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/arizona.84/

 

2wd can be quite capable. But sand, loose terrain can be troublesome. Technical sections as well, which you will need speed to get through. Which means more risk of breaking things.

The best thing you can do is go with other experienced 4x4’s. They will help navigate and pull you out and through obstacles.

Living where you are, I’d bet you will start to love wheeling. Which means, save your pennies for when you go to trade yours in for a 4wd.

 

This dude wheels in a Crown Vic

 

I wheeled my truck just about every weekend, until I broke my rack and pinion. Sent it one to many times. Now I am in the hole trying to dig out of the repair.

 

Just don’t be like this d-bag and give us Toyota guys a bad name. Go to 4:55

https://youtu.be/cgNjgkp5Px0

 

Awesome guys! Thanks for the tips and confidence. That guy in the crown Vic is awesome haha. But yea, I’m more or less a pretty sensible person so I don’t think I’ll be going up trails like that guy with 2wd haha.

 

I’m gonna hit some light trails to start with and see what happens. I’m pretty excited to see what it’s all about.

 

There is another story I know of about that trail and a stuck 2wd. They had to spend the night out there.

 

Stick to fire roads and small obstacles. Get out and walk the area / road / trail if you are unsure. Things look smaller from the driver seat than they actually are.

 

2wd here too. Just keep up momentum but not too much. Get out there and find that fine line between too little and too much. Try to keep the truck from bouncing too much. Tires spinning in the air and making contact with the ground is what causes a lot of gear problems/failures.

Clearance and skids are your friends.

 

Does that even have any parts of a Tacoma on it....... maybe the grill / sombrero logo.

 

Im just going to go ahead and call out that he was quick to jump on the "overland" bandwagon like he was some experienced wheeler yet couldn't figure out how to winch a truck up the hill and used his drone for most of that video.

 

This is inspiring. Must be an Overland Bound member.

 

Do homework before. Park it if needed and use your two feet and a backpack. Way mo fun than that overrated "off roading". And you actually did something challenging.

 

The guy seems legit based on a couple of other videos I watched. A few years ago, I saw a video of a fairly tame trail and laughed when the trucks were struggling through it. Spotting, crawling so slow over what seemed like nothing. Then I got out there. I was doing that exact same thing. I can’t and won’t ever judge based on a video. Things look different in person, much like, I’m sure, in this video.

 

I figure if OP really wants to OR but already has his truck. He could use his truck to tow a offroad buggy.

 

@t.hornstra

 

Does the 2wd OR have the differential locker?