Offroading for the first time

So, I bought an 09 PreRunner new years ago. I am embarrassed to say, that it has been used as a grocery getter and commuter vehicle. Occasionally towing and carrying kayaks and bikes.

Well 12 years on, I have moved just south of Ocala NF, and would like to start to explore the off-roads. I have spent a lot of time reading forums, and have cannot decide what the hell I would need to do if i wanted to go play off road.

My truck comes with the stock TRD and towing packages. So I do not think that it would need much (since changing to 4x4 isn't realistic). Since I havent used the truck off-road, i put road tires on it (sadly to say, the same as the wife's minivan). I know I would need to change them out.

What I would like to know, after the tires, on a 12 year old truck (all be it, with only 65k miles and in good mechanical and physical shape), how much can I expect to spend making it trail worthy? I realize I wont be crawling up rocky inclines, and pushing through the deep mud puddles, but some off road, has to be practical? Is a bumper mounted winch a necessity?
I am willing to spend some money, but it does get to the point where, if we end up out in the dessert, I would get a 4x4.

Be gently on the new guy.

 

You need to start with someone with 4wd and recovery gear.

There are easy roads in OCF, but you will find areas of ball bearing or sugar sand, streams crossing the roads and large puddle areas (when it ever starts raining again) and stuff torn up from tuff guy offroaders.

A 2wd RWD truck (light in the rear) combined with an inexperienced driver could mean an occasional mishap.

In some of those conditions a FWD car will actually do as well or better than your truck, unless ground clearance becomes an issue for the car.

But if you have a rescue buddy, you can have a lot of fun learning.

Oh yea. Get paper maps of the forest, or even quadrangles. It's not hard to get turned around when it all starts looking the same.

 

You can do fire roads, if dry. Hard pack. Avoid mud and soft sand. Best to go with friends who have some OR experience. Get some extraction equipment, tow rope, a real shovel. Get a hitch with a shackel for extracting. Not sure if there is an extraction point on the front of your truck. Stay within cell phone distance until you get your sea legs. Enjoy