Most Important Mods?

@Smooth_Oper8or , I find myself in a near identical place as you so am watching the great advice given closely. I do have decent AT tires. I put my sliders on after experiencing rapid unplanned sideways acceleration. I also have learned that the edges of deep ruts can collapse and bottom the undercarriage hard. I would love some real training but in the meantime, I keep trying the obstacles which are one step beyond what I was just able to do. I can't see that ending well for me. As a driver, I must mitigate the threat as more performance and more protection are not likely to change my nature, only the severity of the spots I end up going too far. A slippery slope for sure!

 

That's a great attitude, and the only way you progress: by pushing your limits. That's also where you end up finding the weak spots. Maybe that's your driving skills, your bravery, or a physical weakness in the truck (breaking things).

If you haven't already, I'd also start practicing recoveries. If you have a winch, definitely use it in non-stress inducing/non emergency situations. Or use whatever other recovery tools you have at your disposal.

 

Tires
Navigation
Communication (HAM/Sat)
Knowledge / training

 

Yes, I think that's an excellent idea. We gained a little experience on one of our last outings while going up an in and out trail that had a good amount of snow at higher elevations. I was feeling super confident on a fresh snow climb, 20psi in my tires and carefully crawling up the grade. I hit a small rock which stoped my forward progress so without a thought I gave it a very gentle "bump" which sent me sliding back down the track in reverse with only the tracks keeping me from going off the steep drop to my right. Eye opener for sure. Anyhow, I had chains with me the only one in the group with those I almost didn't employ them. I did put the chains on after my fright and backing down to a creek crossing where I could turn around. We had a group of bad-azz Jeep Wranglers on lifts and giant tires behind us and we had to wait over 3 hours for them to turn around. They actually used their winches to winch down the hill as the sun was setting and the compressed snow we had come up froze. I was a little panicked and talked to them to see if I could help. I couldn't but I also could tell that I wasn't likely to learn much from their techniques. Short wheel base is nice for turning around on narrow shelf type trails but are not as good as being bobsleds as our long Tacoma's

my chains made me the only one to not free-slide down about 100 yards of track. Fortunately it was like tracks. When I got home I ordered a super-duty hand winch because of the low weight and the fact that a bumper winch would have been useless unless it was in the correct place in the procession. If someone dropped a wheel or couldn't negotiate a side slope, I think that may have helped. I plan to do a test under controlled conditions and your advice is spot on. The thing is, my nature and procrastination may find me in a situation of using it for the first time when needed. I have used come-alongs and high-lift jacks on vehicles, buildings and tractors for 50 years and I'm damn sure I don't know much! That physics stuff has bitten me before and I know it is a serious matter. Lots of mechanical advantage and desperate humans are a spooky mix.

 

I'll make a list of what I think are important (random order)

• Winch
• Traction Boards
• Upper Control Arms
• 2"-3" true suspension lift
• CMC (Cab Mount Chop) If you want 75s there is good chance you'll rub off-road without a small CMC (cheap mod you can get done for around $250 max)
• Off road front winch bumper
• Storage, roof rack maybe if you need extra room for camping supplies.
• High Clearance bumper (if you like the look and need the clearance for off-roading)
• A friend with another 4x4 so you can go harder offroad together (one with winch is best)
• Kinetic tow Rope

 

One of the mods I think I would like but just am not sure of how important it is would be the differential vent modifications. I have been in water up to the bottom of the door sills and driven slowly. This seems an inexpensive mod which has no downside. I don't want to be in water deeper but I also don't want to worry about having potentially contaminated my gearboxes. Am I being too much a worry wart?

 

No. You should definitely do this. Especially if you're in water, you can really screw things up.

Here are the parts you need, and it takes only half an hour or so.

Rear Diff Breather Mod – Why didn’t I do this sooner?

 

When doing this mod are you just doing the rear diff, or also doing front diff, transfer case, and transmission case?

 

Good tires make a huge difference
Deflate them off road so they spread out like tank tracks and give u amazing traction
Buy an an compressor, doesnt need to be a fancy ARB compressor, i use a

$91 viair 88p portable compressor kit (12V, 120 psi, forup to 33" tires)

viair 88p
And buy a shovel in case u get stuck

 

^^ nailed it. Air is air

 

Rear diff is really the only* thing that needs it. Front diff is already extended up into the engine bay on the driver side wheel well. Transfer case and transmission are on the top of each of those cases and in the tunnel, so reasonably safe, but also reasonably hard to access to extend.

* I've hear that newer (5th gen) 4Runners also need to extend the rear e-locker, which has its own breather. I'm not sure if the same is true for 3d gen Tacos, and I don't really get why there isn't just one breather for the rear diff/locker, since they are not sealed from each other.

Make sense?

 

When I extended the rear diff breather on my 3rd gen I didn’t notice any breather on the eLocker actuator. Ditto with my 80 Series. I’m curious what others say and if I overlooked it. I assume the actuator is sealed from the rear end lube but not sure why it would need a breather.

 

I’d recommend finding a local off road group. I’ve been talking with a few guys that do a lot of off-roading that said they’ll take me on some lighter trails and work my way up, grabbing new stuff as I need it. Pretty much just started with a lift and tires. Gonna grab an air compressor or tank and traction boards next (just going to use theirs for now) and go from there. Seems like the guys I’ve met like adding new folks to the crew to re-experience starting fresh and have some more guys to wheel with.

 

Improve your off road driving skills. That's the best thing you can invest on.

 

I didn't even think about looking for classes. I will say I have spent countless hours watching people do stupid stuff on youtube and it seems like it has helped. I would also echo traction boards and a shovel (I have used these two items more than anything else in my kit with the exception of the air compressor). I'm still a total noob myself so I've been learning as I go. I got skids and sliders though because I figured I would rather not break something while I'm learning.

I got some $75 boards off of Amazon and they have been terrific:

ORCISH New 2PCS 42''x12.2'' Large Recovery Traction Boards with Jack Lift Base (Black-2Gen)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MLRCHYN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8

I also have 1/2 size shovel that works pretty damn well: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Anvil-D-Handle-Utility-Shovel-3531800/307828180

 

Most important mod, is to bring a buddy in a second vehicle. That way if you get stuck, can't get out, need help, or have to leave your vehicle, you have a way out. Equally as important, a first aid kit, and some form of mid to long range communications. Priority one is life.

Also as others have said, find a local 101 course on spotting and offroading so you can build some confidence in doing so. If you can't find a class, find some locals here on TW who can teach you. Ride along, or stand with someone spotting then attempt yourself as they walk you through.

 

Suspension