Well, Mr. Insurance Person, this is how it was (or at least might have been) ...

Explain Circumstances of accident:

"I drove 20 miles outside of normal city limits because I wanted to drive my new 4x4 high-clearance vehicle in an "interesting" place. I drove 15 miles on paved roads, then 5 miles on flat gravel roads. After turning south and passing into what off-road enthusiasts call "single-track, with moguls", I drove once through a herd of cattle. On the return trip the cattle were still there.

That should explain the connection to the scratches, dents and holes in the outer body panels of the truck."



Thankfully the cow thought better of attacking my truck ... beneath his dignity I guess.


I first encountered this road (well, up close to it) 2.5 years ago on my reconnaissance of Phoenix. At that time my Corolla could do it with caution but it has since become much worse. Still, this photo shows the far side of a junction I could not pass back then but did get past now. Left is a 45 degree hill I was too scared to take. Right is the "more level" moguls I did take. The cows were behind me at this point of my return.



But I was not a complete wimp. On the way back to the main road I saw this hill that just HAD to be climbed. Tried 2WD ... yeah even I was not dumb enough to think it work work. Then straight to 4Lo with "crawl". "Crawl" was jerky, clunking, slow ... but maybe that is how "crawl" works. Then just 4Lo and made it up. This picture is the downhill ... zoom in on the inclinometer for proof my spine did stiffen up briefly. The white smudge on the left is a camper-site at the bottom of the hill.



Feel free to question even my potential ability to off-road my Tacoma properly.

 

Looks like a fun time! Crawl control sounds like you threw a handful of nuts and bolts in a blender but it really does work as advertised.

 

Thanks for confirmation crawl mode just sounded bad. It made sense (it that was correct sound) that it ratcheted up the hill rather than creeping up.

 

Just kidding man, looks like fun trails to cruise around on! I am in no hurry whatsoever to beat on my new truck, there will be time enough for that when it's 10 years old.



.

 

normal, insert ear plugs, grab beer, and smile as you traverse.

 

That is the conclusion I mostly reached last weekend when I tried true nasty mogul trails. This truck is my daily-driver and I could seriously screw myself if I get stupid. The cows DID scare me ... I did not want body damage because El Toro was having a bad day but there were few options that deep in the wilderness.

But knowing something about 2H/4H/4L/crawl/multi-terrain seemed a good idea, and these "real roads" made more sense than "yahoo-ing" mogul paths.

I am constantly refining my ideas. Folding shovel (only $15), tire repair kit (these are big/different tires to me), traction boards as they may help in snow/mud, air compressor capable of filling these 31in beasts inside of 1 hour ($90 88P), quick deflator (why not?). Front skid plate could be handy in case my Tacoma does skid-out in daily or winter driving. Battery booster (can be needed any conditions or roads). And I have been carrying my old portable CB radio in my vehicle for years "just in case".

Not sure I can justify more because all that makes sense even when on-road at some point. But feel free to criticize if my ideas are silly.

 

Still scared me the way ABS sound/feel can ("just relax and keep pressing the brake pedal hard").

 

To be honest ... I was concerned but not scared about the bull. I previously was hiking (walking, not driving) on a trail and just about walked directly between two large beef-critters. I amscrayed calmly but rapidly and they seemed to not even react.

Holes gored into the the steel box would be an improvement over holes gored into me.

 

31in beasts….

 

I could swap my Matchbox car wheels onto my Corolla. For me, 31in are beasts ... until the "fever" really kicks in.

 

That the way to do it. It’s a learning process that never ends, and it’s good to be a bit nervous at first so you pay attention.

 

There is a great post explaining the various modes of the Tacoma.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-traction-control-modes-explained.530695/

Highly recommend reading it. I printed out his chart and crossed out all that DIDNT apply to my 2020 TRD OR DCLB and it made a lot of sense. I find that MTS (multi terrain select) is almost magical. Crawl control I just don't use because it is such a pain (noisy and slow). Also I find that I definitely go for MTS before I use my locker. Essentially 99% of the time I don't need the locker because of it. (One thing is that they seem to use the term ATRAC instead of MTS)

 

I was doing a roof claim for someone and he was a non stop talker douche guy. Not a nice area and he puts the cows water between his truck and house which he parks 4 ft away. He yells at the cow to show off and that cow turned so quick he smashed the bedside and broke his tail light. Asked me to put in claim which obviously is a separate policy then home. I promise we have heard it all. No accident is a surprise.

 

Thanks for that.

I have not been off-road really since because I wanted to get at least a from skid-plate (previous owner of this used one took even the splash guard). My RCI-steel chin-guard should be here I hope in a week so I can get out again. RCI is offering free cat-covers if you buy the transmission plate ...

 

I am not blaming the bovines or the owners. There is much land you can drive through that is either private or "county property" ("cow guard gates " keep them on land. Wandering onto off-roads can easily risk meeting with ear-tagged cows who are free to wander and find food.

It would have been sad if my driving on the single-track road (still a road, even if extremely primitive) with little-turnaround option in a small herd of a dozen had resulted in truck damage. But to be honest it was a risk I should be and will be more aware of.

 

Cows... Meh. Try camping in a bison pasture.

That was a one time experience that I will not repeat.

 

I can smell this picture.

 

Ya I ran across wild ones in Antelope island in Utah. No thanks they are mean

 

Cows are a domesticated version of something that is only beginning to re-emerge as they let more cows be wild. Bison break cars in Yellowstone.