Essential Mods Prior to First Offroad

Agreed. I'd say the best of both worlds is definitely flat sliders. For mine, the ass pivot and feet on sliders is more awkward than just stepping over them, but it would definitely be more viable if they were flat/lower/wider. I prefer the tucked look and the extra clearance, which is why I went with angled, but if I had kids/smaller dogs/short SO's where steps may be useful, flat is the way to go.

 

I also have the cali raised sliders with kickoff but the 25° ones. I like that they are right up against the truck and you don't lose clearance but I do wish they stuck out a bit farther to better protect the body as well.
OP if you're thinking about sliders flat or slightly angled may be a better choice. But that's just my opinion and everyone has different likes and thoughts on things.

 

As an aside, I've never been convinced on the clearance argument for the angled sliders. You're more likely to be dragging your rear pumpkin and the 25 degree still bolts at the same spot, so the bottom still has the same clearance. The clearance you're gaining is only over an area 2-3" out past the frame of the truck and as you get closer to the truck the clearance you gain gets less and less until it's equal at the frame.

I can't say I've ever been dragging my slider and thought that a 25 degree angle on the far edge would have solved my issue any better than just dragging the slider.

 

True, but I need to justify my mistake somehow! Lol honestly if anything the angle makes it feel worse when coming down on something and hearing a crunch or thunk. Was it the sliders or door.

Which is the opposite of my transmission skid. That thing hangs wayyyy below the transmission with a healthy gap so you definitely know it's just the skid.

 

Have you used any off-brand recovery boards that you would recommend?

I’m headed across country next week in the truck. I’ll be doing a lot of easy-medium trails and most likely won’t need them but I want to buy a set just in case.

I don’t want to pay hundreds just for the maxtrax name brand because I don’t need to look cool, but I’m concerned the sub $100 won’t hold up if needed.

 

Probably true for most cases. I haven't wheeled enough to have been able to compare flat vs. angled sliders (only driven with my angled), I just know that most people that are serious about rock crawling opt for the angled, so there must be some benefit to running them high and tight. As I mentioned before, I also think they look substantially better, but to each their own on that.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ultimate-true-crawlin-thread.613915/

 

Check out the video in the thread linked-to in post #133. I have TREDs but after watchin that video I regret NOT paying for MaxxTraxx. You will likely be alone when you need them to work. Just my humble opinion.

 

A friend of mine has used the Maxsa ones extensively. They've held up very well for about $150. I plan to get a pair eventually.

 

That's where I'm at. 265 tires. everything else is stock. I'm in the Wisconsin Tacomas group here and we go out of our way to find the wildest trails possible. Mine stock hangs with the group in all but the most extreme conditions. It's pretty shocking how capable the stock truck really is.

 

I ended up up with the Rhino brand from Amaon. I've used them about 10 times now. Only once for my own vehicle. The nice thing about off brand traction boards is it doesn't hurt as much when some stranger puts their foot in it and melts a few studs. With the stranger danger I put my boards in I suspect they have another 4-10 uses before becoming smooth.

 

I’ll check it out now, thanks!

Good to know, I’ll look into that brand.

I’ll check these out as well, thank you sir!

 

I've used the

$92 X-BULL New Recovery Traction Tracks Sand Mud Snow Track Tire Ladder 4WD (Orange, 3gen)

X-bull recovery boards from Amazon They are definitely on the cheaper side, but I've had to use them twice, once in the sand in the Outer Banks and once in a snow storm. They served their purpose pretty well. I wouldn't trust them for long, solo trips and is why I am now upgrading to Maxtrax, but for just starting out on the cheap, they are a decent solution.

 

Gasoline, everything else is a nice to have.

 

the sliders give you a jack point too.

 

FWIW I stopped overlanding with a hilift jack. It’s simply not necessary for me. I just have a bottle jack and some leveling blocks. I do have a winch though.

 

we carry one. It’s stupid heavy. I started thinking more about digging the truck out since my Wife and 6 year old daughter come. I’ve got the winch hook thing so worse case we can fumble and pull ourselves out by using it as a winch.

 

Okay awesome, thanks for the info! I do a decent amount of beach driving on Hatteras Island so that is a relevant use case for me.

 

Ah, that’s good to know. Was wondering what kickoff might be best. Don’t anticipate on hitting anything super crazy, but ya never know

 

That’s epic. Nice to hear the stock can wheel on some tougher stuff

 

I also have the 25 degree with kickout and the reason I went with those ones was because I wanted protection, not cab access.

I think if I were to change anything about them, I'd want them to be maybe 15 degrees? Just so the front door is protected from door dings in the parking lot.