I crashed

Sucks to have an accident but on the bright side, if totaled buy it back and you have a nice off-road beater!!

 

This actually happened to me one month ago. Basically the roads were wet, but it wasn't raining. I was in the Texas hill country where the roads are curvy and hilly. I was coming around a right hand sharp curve probably around 10 mph taking it extra slow because the ass end of the Tacoma always felt a little light. I accelerated around the curve fine, then gave it gas to get up the hill that followed directly after the curve. This is where Newton's laws of physics comes in and as I slightly gave it gas the tires start slipping and the weight and momentum of the truck coming around the curve the rear gave way. I ended of almost doing a 180 until I slightly regained control then lost it again and ended up in a small ditch. Thankfully the truck had zero damage but was was more surprising was I put the E-Locker on and the truck dug it self out of the ditch like it was nothing. I was thinking I was going to have to call a tow truck, but damn I was impressed.

 

that's almost like a tornado coming through and tearing apart a brick house and a mobile home trailer sitting next door untouched... seen it happen... lol

op: glad your ok

 

Glad you're ok. The other guys are right, no need for 4x4 unless ice or snow is a consideration. Just add and extra 50-100 pounds in the back and you should be good to go. I have about 200 pounds of snow in the back of my truck right now. I shoveled it in there after it snowed here, (I've only had Tali for about 3 months) and I'm amazed at how differently it handles.

 

Weight in the back is def good. I have about 150# back there all winter. Check your tires. And you will learn to control the throttle around the turns. The back end is very light on these. 4x4 is only for snow as others have said. Good luck.

 

In May, 1991, I was driving my buddy's xtra cab toyo and we were returning from a spring turkey hunt in W.KY. Lost traction on a curve that merged onto the Parkway. Bad deal. Dont remember the accident itself but the truck spun off the road, causing it to roll over three times down the hwy. Buddy had a few scratches and minor cuts. I, on the other hand, was a different story. T11 & T12 Vertebras were shattered; Spinal Cord severed at the T10 level; a open head injury that left me with the inability to smell. I was very thankful that the good Lord saw fit to allow me to stay around for a while.

Talking about 4wd and spinning: a few years back I had a Ford Ranger x-cab and was driving in 4wd with 3-4 inches of snow on the road. I was dring in a straight line when the rear end turned loose and I did a 90 degree turn off the road. Fortunately I stopped on a side road and no damage was done to the truck, but spinning out can happen in 2wd or 4wd.

Sorry for the hijack, and glad you weren't injured. Trucks are replaceable, a life is not.

 

ya + 1 for the sand bags. where i drive that roads are completly covered with snow/ice 5 months a year. i drive around with 300 lbs in my bed but i have 3/4 ton suspension. should probally put 50 more on. but i take it all out in april.

 

Thats too bad. I just got a 96 Tacoma 3 days ago. 45 minutes after getting insurance I was coming around a corner doing about 80km/hr when I hit some ice. The back of the truck just whipped around and I rolled it into the ditch. Easily a write off technically but way too good of a truck to let a few dings and dents put it in the scrap yard. In the process of Banging in the panels out and looking for a passenger side door replacement. I now have sandbags in the tray

 

Most Tacoma first gen trucks will have a greatly reduced rear tire to road contact patch at side wall (Max inflation) pressures. Sooo many folks take the Max inflation that the tire mfg rates the tire for carying it's MAX weight (say 1800lbs per tire) as the pressure they need to run. This MAX pressure is to great for an unloaded truck and will cause folks to spin out.

Along with adding a little weight I'd seriously consider a more detailed study on tires / tire design and dialing in your tire pressure. If you study tire pressure / contact patch / chassis weight balance from an auto cross ~ performance point of view it will give you great insight on how to prevent this from happening again. Your condition in racing terms is over-steer.

http://www.autocross.us/forums/lofiversion/index.php?t46.html

 

Good Point!