Building a crawler from a 2017 trd sport

Photos of your truck? First thing I would recommend is taking off your mud flaps if they are hard plastic. Second I would recommend taking it out at least once or twice on an easy trail. Third I would recommend a suspension lift, something like the OME full kit. After that I would get some sliders because those OEM side steps are going to get beat on easy trails. Speaking from the experience that my brother and his friend both have 2018 TRD OR and PRO. I've seen the damages both of these trucks of taking on easy trails. Keep on taking it out on trails or the beach etc. If you are still interested in the hobby add more as you go. This way you don't spend a ton of money on something that you didn't need. Don't add on all the goodies first then go out and flip your truck

I do agree with others, a newer truck isn't the best platform to make it into a "crawler". Parts are still new and haven't worn out so your losing out when you replace them. Your truck is not worn yet so getting any kind of damage or scratches sucks more than if it was a well used truck. However I've seen many people on the roads with new trucks and all the IG and mall crawler add on. If you got the money and that's your priority by all means go for it. It would suck to do all this stuff and not use it to its full potential or worst, lose interest and try to unload everything at a huge lost which happens all the time in every hobby.

 

I get that, and know im not intending to go off of any one persons advice here, this is strictly a feeler post to gather knowledge which is exactly what ive recieved so far.

I know exactly what i want to be using this truck for and have a basic idea of what im going to need. Im also going to talk to several shops and have friends who are in the scene and have been for a while, i just want to see if theres any toyota specific things i need to know before making any purchases

 

ive removed the air dam and side rails since i took this pic

and yeah i agree with not adding too much, but i do know i need a lift, tires and some rails/skid plates regardless and want to find out the best route to go down so im doing my best to not waste money

 

I would leave those side steps on until you get sliders. Better to have some protection and let those steps take a beating than have your rocker panel get damage. What's that plastic guard under your bumper by the front wheel? I would take that off as well to give you more clearance.

 

No one is calling you a moron.

I’m just saying, from my experience, it is best to hold of on the cool looking mods that everyone and their mother get for their mall crawler (lift and tires) until you understand how different brands of suspension work better for the type of driving you do, or better yet focus on protecting that beautiful truck from damage to help get you back home, too.

Ideally, you would piece together your own system of shocks, control arms, springs, etc... “kits” (even high end kits) always make compromises that may not be ideal for you. The problem with piecing together your own kit is that it is really easy to completely fuck up your truck, so you really need to be careful.

If you want a lift to just have a lift, just throw some 5100s on it with some OME springs and go wheelin. Then, once you have a lot of dirt miles in, you’ll have a much better understanding of what your “needs” are. Hell, 5100s served me well, and serve most people well for a long time. I eventually went with some Kings and the rest is still a work in progress, but I don’t regret buying the 5100s first at all.

 

IMO, side steps will do more damage than not having anything. They are weak, flimsy pieces of metal attached to the BODY. Tag the step and you’ll like damage the body where it mounts, too. Without the steps, yeah you might dent the rocker panel, but that’s why you get sliders, lol

 

Well, yeah, a lift puts your belly more out of the way, but you are still unprotected. You go on trails limited by your weekest link (least capable rig) which would be the stock rig with sliders. Go on a trail more appropriate for 33s or 35s and guess what...

Besides, the trail I was on that inspired me to get sliders was on a fire road section and I flipped a half buried log into my rocker panel and gave me a nice big dent.

So just driving down a fire road and you can put a hole in your tranny pan. The “skid plates” on tacomas are a joke; barely thicker than body paneling and don’t even cover the tranny.

 

Not the best, but they're easily accessible videos. The 4wdaction vids have a Hilux that drives with it. It's set up very similar to how our trucks are though. Ronny Dahl has a few good vids on equipment walk through and concepts.

The gear is the first step. Experience and knowledge is most likely the more important factor. As said previously, hit up some group rides in your area. Be polite and friendly, and I'm sure they'll point you in the right direction.

And welcome to TW!


https://www.youtube.com/user/4wdaction

https://www.youtube.com/user/RonBacardi666

 

Good deal man.

If you’re ever in the San Diego area and want to go wheeling we have a pretty active group down here. We also go to Big Bear and Joshua Tree quite often.

I wish you the best in your adventure. Nice looking truck!

 

My experience is the side steps protected both trucks on the trails. Like you said, those steps are thin metal and will bend on impact, which I've already seen them dented and such. They will give a lot before any damage is done to the truck's body. I'll chance it with the side steps which is a less expensive repair/replacement any day than chance my rocker panel getting damage. I have yet to see an OEM side step damage the body of a Tacoma from scraping on a rock. Of course having saying this, everyone's opinions will be different base on their own experiences.
I do think that sometimes we overthink things too much and with all the information on the forums we spend too much time planning our build. Instead we should just go out there, drive, and then decide from our adventures what we should do next. If you're in it for the long haul this will not be an issue.

 

I do also forget how long the Tacoma is. It loves to drag its belly. My 4runner wheelbase is much better for crawling.

 

For sure. My doublecab is a bit of a limo! And it’s a first gen before there was an option for the dbl cab long bed. Yikes that’s long!

That’s why the single cabs are ideal for true “crawlimg.” I do miss my 1st gen trubo 4runner. That truck was fun.

 

*UPDATE*

So I took the patient route, decided the only upgrade I was to add for now was bed bars and a smittybilt overlander tent and see just what this truck can do.

I’m going to go with a full icon stage 7 kit soon and some wheels tires and armor I want, but until then I can’t get over how much this truck can do stock. I’m more in love with it now by a long shot

I’ll add some pics and vids of my first off-road adventureni took her on, I went up the eye of god trail in big bear and ended up exploring all the mountains had to offer me

 

Here’s some pics

 

And some more

 

Screenshot of a vid I took

 

I take back doubting you, being patient and just getting out there to explore was the best choice I made