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

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!

 

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.

edit -
For the OP (and others) - I neglected to link this post in my initial reply, so if you're wondering WTF is a "pizza cutter"...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-skinny-on-skinny-tires.529656/

 

This 100%

 

I agree, I think tires would be the best thing right off the bat.

 

Tires. Good tires.

 

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

$105 Viair 88p Portable Compressor Kit (12V, 120 Psi, Forup to 33" Tires)

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

 

I’ve seen some of those Australian videos

 

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…

 

Ever see the one where they “splinted” together a driveshaft by welding wrenches to it?

 

I think you and I watch different types of videos bud lol

 

tires including full size spare on the same wheel setup

 

Didn't mean any disrespect. Post a link to the video if you got it, sounds like a funny one

 

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.

 

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.

 

No but now I’m interested, the original McGuyvers

 

That and the Fosters exhaust pipe patches!

 

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.

 

Gas.