My first and probably last Tacoma

For my 77th birthday in January, I gave my self a Silver 2019 TRD Off road Tacoma. My first 500 mile trip was to help out in a youth deer hunt. I put her through the some 4 wheel drive scenarios to get used to how she works. The next weekend I took my grandson deer hunting and found out that when you sink her in the mud up to the skid plate, ain't no way you can get her out with 4 wheel drive. But I carry a 20 foot tow rope so my son's big Chevy 4x4 on dry ground pulled her out easily. I did learn that you shouldn't let mud dry that is packed inside the wheels. When I got on to the highway the next day, the vibration was so bad above 20 mph that it shook the whole front end. I crawled to the closest car wash and after five dollars worth of quarters I managed to clean enough mud out so that it didn't vibrate any more. Today I hit her with the power washer for the third time and still got a gallon bucket of mud out from under her belly. I may be 77 years old, but I am still able to learn from my mistakes. So my next mod will be a heavy fount bumper and winch, so I can pull myself out of the mud. Any suggestion from you young fellows out there on an adequate bumper and winch combo?

 

Brute Force Fab front bumper with a Warn winch

 

Welcome to TW.

Glad you got it unstuck. How'd the Deer hunt go?

 

Welcome!

 

mud sucks - literally

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome

 

If you want the easiest, least expensive route have a front receiver hitch mounted on it then mount a winch on one of these removeable carriers. I could have direct wired mine to the battery, or I could have spent $70 for quick connectors. Instead I chose to pay $6 for jumper cable clamps. I can take the winch off during parts of the year when not needed very easily.

I COULD also buy some heavy duty jumper cables and rig up a way to use the winch from the rear receiver hitch. In fact some guys just keep the winch in the bed and only use it on the rear. 90% of the time it's easier to winch yourself out backwards anyway. The Harbor Freight winches are as good as anything else in the same price range. ALL of them under $1000 are made in China, even the ones with big name badges on them. I chose Smittybilt. It was only $20 more than the Harbor freight winch and had slightly better specs but I'm sure either would have worked.