Went off roading for the first time

Read the card in your sun visor!!! Then when you are home, read the owner's manual on the process, too. H4 for sand and L4 for steep crawling, real tough stuff. Where in Baja were you, Cantamar? Also, as stated, get an air pump, as sand usually needs the tires deflated to 15 psi. Other rough roads, 20 psi helps. Fill back up when you return to pavement. In L4, push the A-TRAC button for super traction and to get anywhere. The rear locker is a last resort, if you get stuck, it works in L4 when you press the RR Lock button. Then unlock them once you are out. A-TRAC will probably keep you from ever getting stuck, however... only works in L4 (low range).

 

Thanks for the advice, I have been reading the manual, and never noticed the little card on the visor I will look for a good portable compressor, I don't know exactly what that place is called but its between Rosarito and Ensenada, off of the highway and just south of Primo Tapia on google maps.
Lots of buttons on the truck

 

Yah, that is Cantamar... Hope you had fun...

See my links below my posts? There is one to help you with the traction control options. Basically, you don't need to do anything in 2WD or 4WD-Hi*, but in 4WD-Lo press the A-TRAC button just one time and each time you are in L4, it will be active and only works should you get stuck (wheel spin/ loss of traction) and stops the spin so power is shared with the other tire(s) that do have traction to move you on!

On 2012+ Tacomas there was an additional mode, so until I am clear on what they did, you may need to play a bit with it off road. In 2009-2011 Tacomas, the mode in H4 is called TRAC, but without any engine output regulation (which is called AUTO LSD in 2WD). Your truck will either be in TRAC (with regulation) or AUTO LSD without... No regulation gives more power to the traction control (limited slip) system, so is better off road.

Some like the wheels to spin so they can do donuts and drive crazy, and turn off all traction control... If you are so inclined (in H2 or H4) then stop the truck, press and then hold in the VSC OFF switch for a few seconds. In L4, re-press the A-TRAC button to turn it off (if you turned it on). The VSC OFF switch is the button with a car and wavy/ skidding lines under it. A quick push of it in H2 is how you turn on AUTO LSD, from the normal TRAC mode.

Have fun!