Advice for off roading in a 2.7L prerunner

So at my job there’s only two other guys with Tacomas. One is my lead and the other my manager. I wanted to ask them for some tips on off roading but instead they invited me to go with them on a trail. The thing is that they have 3rd gen trd off roads while I still have my 2nd gen prerunner, with the 2.7 to boot. The two trails that they told me about was Azusa canyon and Rowher flats here in California. They’re the two closest since I live in LA. I heard Rowher has a 2wd friendly trail, not sure but I’ve also read that Azusa will deny entry to 2wd trucks. Any advice would be helpful. Except those that say should’ve gotten a 4x4 v6. I don’t have that type of money unfortunately. Here’s some things I’ve installed on the taco, maybe it’ll give me an edge to keep up with everyone else. Not by a lot though. Still on stock suspension and stock skid plate.

list:
Powerstop pads and rotors
Summit trail climber A/T tires 265/75R16
Black rhino shogun wheels
AFE air filter

 

My opinion ... not the final word by any means ...

Some places 4WD is required, based on my experience. You said you did not want to hear that statement, but my experience says so. This road in part of AZ called "Superstition Mountains" is an example. It is flat, a road that runs along a water-runoff stream in wet seasons, fine sand deep enough to cause problems for 2WD. I know because I was moving easily enough in 4WD, then shifted into 2WD for grins-and-giggles and progress stopped. I could hear the rear wheels spinning and making mechanical clunking noises as it gained traction for a split-second then slipped again. Back in 4WD and it moved again with still some very minor slipping occasionally.

 

I don't think the 2.7 would cause much of an issue, it's not like you need lots of power, most of time you're going < 20 mph and the most strain on your engine would be going up a steep grade, which it should have no problems with. I'm not super familiar with the Prerunner, is there a limited slip option on the rear differential? I would think your biggest issue will be if one of your rear tires gets off the ground, you're not going to go anywhere.

 

Yeah I can turn off the traction control and the auto lsd light comes on. Right I’m taking a look at some other trails that can go.

 

Not super close to LA, but you can definitely make it up Santiago Peak which has some nice views. Good length trail/fire road.

 

Definitely looking in on that one. I don’t really mind the drive. I’m also looking into sheep creek, sharpless ranch and city high line.

 

I'll list a few trails that i did with my 2003 tacoma prerunner V6 auto before i converted it to a 4x4.
I had 265/75/16 KO2s, a 2.5 inch lift on Bilsteins 5100, rear OEM elocker

Pioneer town to big bear trail 2N02
High Point Truck trail Cleveland national park (SD county)
Joshua Tree. There is like 2 dirt trails in the park that you can drive through. Nothing crazy
Holcomb Valley OHV Road up in Big Bear

Keep in mind these trails are 2wd friendly when they are dry. During rain/snow I would not recommend attempting to do these.

 

While I now have a 4WD 3rd gen TRD offroad most of my offroading experience has been in 2wd vehicles. My 2wd Jeep Grand Cherokee took me all over Texas including some crazy creek crossings with a 45 degree incline down and up again and through the deserts of Big Bend NP after a rain storm. I took my wifes old Saturn View which is a 4 cylinder front wheel drive SUV all over Hungry Valley OHV and a Lexus ES300 with only 3in of ground clearance managed to get me where I wanted to go in Carizo Plains and Anzo Borrego despite the roads being covered in foot deep ruts that wanted to constantly high center me so where there is a will there is a way.

The technique required is much different than what lots of people do in 4wd though. The key is to get really good at picking the right line and to remember that you wont get stuck if you have enough momentum to get you through any place where you might lose traction. This often requires a lot of speed so is a whole lot more dangerous to both you and your vehicle if you mess it up. Hungry Valley was only doable for me in 2wd because we had radios so my buddy would let me know the coast was clear before I got up enough speed to make it up a hill.

All that said you should absolutely take your truck out and just keep it in your comfort zone. There is no shame in turning around or picking a different route. If your buddies have recovery gear such as traction boards or the ability to tow you out you have even less to worry about. If you do get stuck your stock jack and some rocks, boards, branches or whatever you can scrounge up is often all you will need to get unstuck.

 

Just noticed that you have AT tires. Those and airing down will take you most places in SoCal with zero problems even without 4wd.