Tacoma off-roading club

I’ve seen a few old posts on TW about Tacoma clubs in FL, but nothing recent. Is there a Tacoma off-roading club in Florida? I’m on the treasure coast and would like to either join or form a Florida Tacoma off-roading club. There are tons of groups and clubs for Jeep’s but none for Tacoma owners. Would be great to take group rides to the various FL wma’s and national parks where there is good off-roading. Any ideas or interest?

 

There are some Facebook groups, Toyota Mafia, Central Florida Toyotas and some others, problem is there's not too much "good" wheeling to be had in Florida that isn't wet and or muddy, we don't have mountains or rocks, not even dunes for hucking and fasting, just... Swamp.

Folks don't want to swim their trucks and having done it I don't blame them.

Beyond that just seems like the Florida TW'ers are flakes, everyone wants to go but come dirt day life always seems to happen.

Only routine events I'm aware of are the Fall and Spring Citrus camp and rides and Covid kinda put the kabosh on those last few years.

What we really need is a headcount reference thread of @Usernames so anyone who wants to get some dirt in their wheels can ping everyone in the area who might be remotely interested and hope you don't show up alone as I've done before.

But if you wanna head that up add me to the top of the list.

 

I don't have or or FB either, but would definitely be down to go wheel so hit me up next time.

 

I'm down until I move to Delaware in June lol

 

I'm in a few FL groups which seem to be mostly jeep people with other brands mixed in, which is fine. Haven't been out much because I was waiting for my new suspension to come in and install it. That and general gun season to end in ONF, which is one of the only places to go. Kinda boring. FL sucks for real trail riding.

 

You want to go again next week?

Pictures of obstacles and terrain from your trip?

Bull Creek is really close to me.

 

We used to trail ride quite a bit. That's why I joined Tacoma forums in the first place. Didn't even have a Tacoma (still don't). I would pick a day and a spot and put the invite out, any more than 4 or 5 trucks is a pain so keeping the rides small is actually better in my opinion. Comms and recovery gear are a good idea. Most Florida trails can be done in 2 wheel drive, but I recommend have a couple 4 wheel D's in the group. Pack a nice lunch and have fun exploring.


Too bad there's still a big empty spot where my motor should be or else, I would be down for a trip.

 

That's cleaner than my truck and I haven't been off road in way too damn long.

Yeah man I'm down to go next week if assuming all my move stuff is handled by then which it should be.

More than happy to try the severe trails with you.

 

Yeap, and I've done it at Richloam WMA (@0:40 in the vid below) just to justify the snorkel purchase but I wouldn't exactly say I'm itching to go swimming again...

I might accept wading, if it gets up to the floor though I'll probably pass, already played the wet carpet game, now I don't even have carpet.

https://youtu.be/GMb1D83tqic

As you can clearly see something posed me enough to confirm the hypothesis that trucks don't swim well via the scientific method of fuck about and find out.

Had a whole day of that and got stuck in a swamp buggy hole roughly up to the indent in the doors for about 3 minutes before getting snatched out, actually by @GuyHuey as a matter of fact, my 2" lift and 32" A/T's weren't up to the snuff his 35 MT's and 6" lift was in the same hole!


My drivers carpet was soaked and I had about 2" of standing water in my passenger side floor, pulled the plugs on the trail and still shop vac'ed 5 gallons out of the carpet when I got home, I pulled the door sill trim propped the carpet up with the doors open and left blower fans cross blowing for two days got 4 damp rid buckets one for each floor area and still had to drive around and park with the windows down for a month.

Never stank or molded and eventually did dry out clean up, or so I thought...

Last summer I completely gutted all of my interior, (minus the dash) and did an all out Dynamat Dynaliner and Dynapad sound stuffs treatment and replaced the carpet with the OEM vinyl all weather flooring instead.

My carpet was still honestly disgusting, I knew it was kinda dirty hidden under the Husky mats but after getting it completely out and seeing the few spots that have always been covered since it rolled off the factory and that the jute on the backside still had moisture from Richloam I'm certain trapped between the vapor barrier I was...



So glad I wasn't planning on keeping it anyway and went to the all weather flooring, the humidity in the cab dropped considerably after getting rid of the carpet.

Moral if the story, trucks don't swim and I don't feel the need to supply even more evidence to support that theory.

 

That was a fun day, I had never been to Richloam before. Had an alligator swim past me on the "Trail".

Current stat is actually a little further along that this pic. It has the right motor mounts and some paint under the hood.

I've just lost my mojo on getting it swapped.

 

I standardized my coms stuff with the other off road groups in FL. Everyone is running FRS/GMRS radios, no CB radios

 

Do you have a recommendation on what one to pick up, I only have CB.

 

I've been wondering about this. I figured everyone would go GMRS. Tons of power, able to setup repeaters, easy cheap license.

My old 4Runner will be getting one when its up and running again.

 

Why in the hell would you move to Delaware? Obviously not by choice. I’m sorry.

 

Eh, wasn't by choice. I'm active Air Force and got PCS orders to Dover AFB. At least I'll be closer to AOAA

 

I have an old Pre Ban

$18 Baofeng UV5R BAOFENG UV-5R VHF/UHF Dual Band Radio 144-148MHz 420-450MHz Transceiver

Baofeng UV5R that can operate on those frequencies but I eventually want to replace it with a cab mounted midlands radio of some sort. I have my HAM and GMRS licenses so I can operate GMRS radios that are more powerful than your blister pack radio

 

Where did you get your ham license in florida? I'm not afraid to Pirate radio but I'd rather get a license I just don't know how to go about it.

 

Depending on where you are local ham clubs do tests. I got mine during covid shut down days and did it through a zoom session. Had to do it in my bathroom, lol.

so dumb. But this website lists all posted tests online and in person

https://hamstudy.org/sessions

I went for just my technicians license, no need to go fancy since I just want it for off road use and fooling around.

then to study for the test I just went through all of these flash cards and ngl, they were right from the test if not slightly different

https://hamstudy.org/tech2018

you might need to know how to calculate volts, amps, etc but those are cake and simple circuit analysis.



For the GMRS license you just pay the FCC a license fee, no test. Good for 10 years and covers you and your immediate family. very useful if you plan on using a truck mounted midlands GMRS radio since those do more than the .5 watts (I think) and have removable antenna.

 

I’m about an hour and a half out, I’d possibly be down. What is the terrain out there? Ill see if I can find any. YouTube videos of it.

 

@FloridaCementTaco add me and my also cement taco to the ping list. I'm still on stock tires and stock intake so I have to pass on any swimming holes for now.

I'm camping/wheeling Ocala NF this weekend if anyone wants to join. I'm also planning for Southeast Overland (Stuarte, FL) with a possible run through Ocala March 4/5. I made a thread about FTS's Canaveral Grove ride March 19th but didn't get any TW takers.