Took her out offroading for the first time!

Finally got the chance to take the Tacoma out for some offroading (besides crappy forest service roads back in CA). Drove out in the Utah west desert to go do some long range shooting with my college buddies. Wasn't bad except for some really rocky technical portions on the road, but the truck handled it just fine (and so did I, after I realized those popping/banging noises were just my mudflaps slapping against stuff!). I definitely want to get a 2-3 inch lift with either 265/75/16s or 255/85/16s. Not sure which yet. And now my friends and I all want to get CBs for when we go offroading together. We're all just Smokey and the Bandit wannabes at heart.

 

The first time i went i ended up pulling off the flaps. Broke 2 of the 4 first time truck saw dirt. Save the pain of messing up your wheel wells and remove or shorten them. Nice rifle by the way.

 

Thanks, nice to get all the CA compliant crud off my guns I dunno if they've changed the flaps or something-I've read all sorts of stuff about them breaking, but mine are pretty flexible and seem to be working ok. Prob wouldn't hurt to get a shorter set though.

 

Welcome to the dark side I think a lot of people underestimate the offroad capability of Tacomas.

Also x2 on the CB, you don't realize how useful they are until you're in a convoy of Taco's all chatting on CB's.

 

Yup, same here. Replaced the stockers with more flexible rubber flaps.

Good looking Rig, OP!

 

Nice rifle, I have a National Match that I'm trying to sell. Looks like you had fun. I just removed my front flaps last week, but initially I just cut 6 inches off and they worked a lot better. You'd be surprised how much a good set of tires will improve the off road capability of our trucks too.

 

Do what i do for the stock flaps.

drill a small hole center bottom of the flap. Then use a piece of bailing wire to pull the flap back and up and hook the bailing wire in the frame.

That way you can keep the long flap to protect the truck 99% of the time and pull it up when you need the clearance.

 

That's actually a neat idea, might have to try that today.