1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Skid-Plates, Tires, or Lift to start light Off-Roading?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by SLOKS, Jun 8, 2025 at 11:26 AM.

  1. Jun 8, 2025 at 11:26 AM
    #1
    SLOKS

    SLOKS [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2025
    Member:
    #469026
    Messages:
    10
    Gender:
    Female
    SF Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2014 Tacoma Access Cab 4WD 2.4L-i4
    I'm planning a 2 week long road trip at the end of July going from California up through Washington and back down again. What would you prioritize to start light off-roading, no rock crawling or anything more advanced than beginner level for now.Currently running stock suspension and tires/wheels on 2014 2.7L 4WD Tacoma.

    What would you guys prioritize getting for this trip? I'm thinking that maybe bigger tires are the move? I don't have the money to do all these things so I have to slowly chip away at it until I get the perfect setup!
     
    nicolman2013 likes this.
  2. Jun 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
    #2
    deanosaurus

    deanosaurus Caveman

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2018
    Member:
    #260241
    Messages:
    2,144
    Northeast Region
    Vehicle:
    09 TRD OR AC
    Tires, absolutely tires. A decent set of pizza cutters will do more for you right off the bat and will pay dividends any time you're driving, on and off road, and street tires will hold back any other upgrades.

    You can also probably find some pie tin style skids (factory takeoffs or OEM-ish aftermarkets) used for very cheap, and they will be better than nothing. They won't stop you from dripping onto a bigass rock or taking a pan-eater at 40 MPH, but it doesn't sound like you are doing that kind of driving yet.

    These trucks, stock, are far more capable than a lot of people think. Check my build thread (link in sig) for pics of what I was doing comfortably and easily with a stock 4wd and 1" larger tires.
     
  3. Jun 8, 2025 at 1:07 PM
    #3
    TXpro4X4

    TXpro4X4 Fuck Cancer!

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2011
    Member:
    #66093
    Messages:
    28,919
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Costa Mesa, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 TOY
    Toy Stuff..... Faktor Amber lights on in the grill. Under front bumper led rock lighting. Center counsel c.b mod with under the hood p.a. Anytime foglight mod. R.G.B tape light for inside toekick lighting. Front and back. Front weathertech floor mats. De-Baged except TOY on tailgate. FJ style 6 speed shifter knob. Rubber tacoma bed mat. Trd exhaust. Trd 16in beadlocker style wheels. Electrical a/c 115volt plug/usb mod next to passenger knee. Fox 2.5 coilovers. Icon 2.0's in the rear. Rear locker any-time mod. Abs kill switch mod. All Pro ISF front skid Pelfrey built front differential skid Baja design pro pods Rigid pods CBI pods brackets Mobtown tailgate guard RIP Mobtown Caliraised rear amber pod lights CJ Jumper- map, running, amber fog, reverse, and license plate led bulbs Pedal Commander
    This 100%
     
    DoubleB likes this.
  4. Jun 8, 2025 at 1:07 PM
    #4
    alwzdfnt

    alwzdfnt Active Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2025
    Member:
    #471380
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2025 TRD Sport
    I agree, I think tires would be the best thing right off the bat.
     
  5. Jun 8, 2025 at 3:29 PM
    #5
    RockinU

    RockinU Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2020
    Member:
    #318454
    Messages:
    194
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Tires. Good tires.
     
    DoubleB likes this.
  6. Jun 8, 2025 at 3:46 PM
    #6
    tacoman45

    tacoman45 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2019
    Member:
    #283801
    Messages:
    1,365
    Gender:
    Male
    Orygun
    Vehicle:
    2014 TRD OR DCSB - MGM
    Agree with this. I've seen stock Tacomas and 4Runners do some serious wheeling in stock form. A decent set of tires is really all you need to get going.

    I'd suggest picking up a set of 265 75 R16 or R17 all terrain tires (depending on your wheel diameter) to start out with since that'll give you 1" of lift without rubbing or doing anything else to your truck. Pizza cutter tires are great too, although I'm not familiar with what size you would need to achieve a 'tire lift' over the stock 265 70 R16 tires.

    If you can, bring some means of airing down & reinflating your tires. Airing down is usually a good way to get yourself unstuck. The Viair 88p is a great beginner unit and is fairly cheap.

    I'd also suggest watching some Austrailian offroading YouTube videos to learn what & what not to do when you're out in the sticks. The Aussies know their shit, much more so than the 'Instalander' folks you'll find on there.

    $0.02 of opinion, of course
     
    OnHartung'sRoad likes this.
  7. Jun 8, 2025 at 3:49 PM
    #7
    alwzdfnt

    alwzdfnt Active Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2025
    Member:
    #471380
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2025 TRD Sport
    I’ve seen some of those Australian videos :rofl:
     
    TXpro4X4 likes this.
  8. Jun 8, 2025 at 3:53 PM
    #8
    TXpro4X4

    TXpro4X4 Fuck Cancer!

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2011
    Member:
    #66093
    Messages:
    28,919
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bryan
    Costa Mesa, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 TOY
    Toy Stuff..... Faktor Amber lights on in the grill. Under front bumper led rock lighting. Center counsel c.b mod with under the hood p.a. Anytime foglight mod. R.G.B tape light for inside toekick lighting. Front and back. Front weathertech floor mats. De-Baged except TOY on tailgate. FJ style 6 speed shifter knob. Rubber tacoma bed mat. Trd exhaust. Trd 16in beadlocker style wheels. Electrical a/c 115volt plug/usb mod next to passenger knee. Fox 2.5 coilovers. Icon 2.0's in the rear. Rear locker any-time mod. Abs kill switch mod. All Pro ISF front skid Pelfrey built front differential skid Baja design pro pods Rigid pods CBI pods brackets Mobtown tailgate guard RIP Mobtown Caliraised rear amber pod lights CJ Jumper- map, running, amber fog, reverse, and license plate led bulbs Pedal Commander
    :mudding::laugh:
     
  9. Jun 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
    #9
    RockinU

    RockinU Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2020
    Member:
    #318454
    Messages:
    194
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    You can get rental/exchange CO2 canisters from your local fountain drink distributor for airing up really cheap. Way easier than waiting on a 12V compressor. Regulators are all over eBay for not much…
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #9
  10. Jun 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
    #10
    RockinU

    RockinU Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2020
    Member:
    #318454
    Messages:
    194
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas

    Ever see the one where they “splinted” together a driveshaft by welding wrenches to it?:facepalm::rofl:
     
  11. Jun 8, 2025 at 3:59 PM
    #11
    tacoman45

    tacoman45 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2019
    Member:
    #283801
    Messages:
    1,365
    Gender:
    Male
    Orygun
    Vehicle:
    2014 TRD OR DCSB - MGM
    I think you and I watch different types of videos bud lol
     
  12. Jun 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
    #12
    tacomavan

    tacomavan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2017
    Member:
    #238463
    Messages:
    514
    Gender:
    Male
    Oregon
    tires including full size spare on the same wheel setup
     
    tacoman45 likes this.
  13. Jun 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
    #13
    RockinU

    RockinU Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2020
    Member:
    #318454
    Messages:
    194
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas

    :eek:
     
    tacoman45[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Jun 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
    #14
    tacoman45

    tacoman45 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2019
    Member:
    #283801
    Messages:
    1,365
    Gender:
    Male
    Orygun
    Vehicle:
    2014 TRD OR DCSB - MGM
    Didn't mean any disrespect. Post a link to the video if you got it, sounds like a funny one
     
    RockinU[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Jun 8, 2025 at 4:08 PM
    #15
    RockinU

    RockinU Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2020
    Member:
    #318454
    Messages:
    194
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas

    Didn’t take any disrespect…just kinda concerned what your browser history might look like, lol!

    Im not sure I can find it again, but it was a very innovative way to limp off the trail. Guys that take welding tools with them when they go wheeling are pretty top end hard.
     
    tacoman45[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Jun 8, 2025 at 4:14 PM
    #16
    Sprig

    Sprig Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2017
    Member:
    #231426
    Messages:
    2,865
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ken
    N. Calif. The Twilight Zone
    Vehicle:
    Tacoma TRD double cab 4x4, Barcelona Red
    I agree with the others, Tires. Get a decent set of AT’s including the spare.Also use your instincts, if you don’t feel comfortable going on a certain road or trail then follow your instincts and don’t.
     
  17. Jun 8, 2025 at 4:32 PM
    #17
    alwzdfnt

    alwzdfnt Active Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2025
    Member:
    #471380
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2025 TRD Sport
    No but now I’m interested, the original McGuyvers :rofl:
     
    RockinU[QUOTED] likes this.
  18. Jun 8, 2025 at 4:38 PM
    #18
    OnHartung'sRoad

    OnHartung'sRoad -So glad I didn't take the other...

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2017
    Member:
    #224878
    Messages:
    9,473
    Somewhere in the Mojave Desert...
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma OR 4x4 (formerly 2002 OR 4x4, 1995 4x4 4Runner, 1985 4x4 Toy PU) ... and RIP’s (rust in pieces) to a Bronco II 4x4 & S10 Blazer 4x4
    That and the Fosters exhaust pipe patches! :cheers:
     
    RockinU[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. Jun 8, 2025 at 7:15 PM
    #19
    Hay Lobos

    Hay Lobos Let's be friends.

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2025
    Member:
    #464003
    Messages:
    226
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ben
    The Great State of Maine
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma SR5 Access cab
    Tires and make sure you check and complete any maintenance items. Check your fluids including differential. Use your 4WD in dirt somewhere if you haven't engaged it in a while. Grease your driveshaft lol. Clean your MAF and throttle body. Just whatever you can to make sure the truck is in good mechanical shape before you stress it out with a long drive and fun stuff. You don't want a problem to show up on the road or trail.
     
    RockinU likes this.
  20. Jun 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
    #20
    Cudgel

    Cudgel “Tonka”

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2017
    Member:
    #214640
    Messages:
    4,310
    Gender:
    Male
    Live in: An Ocean of Plastic Trash
    Vehicle:
    2017 OR DCLB
    ICON8 Lift -285s. upTOPoverland rack.
    Gas.
     
    JohnDoeFasho and essjay like this.

Products Discussed in

To Top