First Taco-How hard can I use it (and still keep it nice)?

Hey all! I'm gonna try to keep this short and sweet, but I wanted to say 'what up?' and get some advice.
I just got an '08 Taco DC LB V6 and it is pretty much bone-stock. Previous owner put slightly bigger tires on her, although they are good quality (BFG all-terrain T/A KO) They are 265s.
I live in CO and want to take advantage of the 4x4 trails for camping and just for 4 wheeling, but I don't want to damage my new girl, and I need her running because she is my daily driver.
I plan to eventually do a few mods, but the wife and I are both teachers so we don't have $$$ for too much.
I would like advice on: what my capabilities are right now? What sort of cheap easy mods would be suggested? And maybe some wheelin' location ideas for places I can go right now near Fort Collins (like I said, we are teachers and have the summer off for fun things!)

 

Welcome! The Tacoma is pretty damn capable in it's stock form. Depending on what type of trails you want to run, good body armor might be a very wise investment. Sliders and skid plates protect your expensive body panels, engine, transmission and IFS from sustaining damage.

 

welcome to tacomaworld!

i dont live in CO so i dont know anything about the trails but i will say that you truck is pretty damn capable being stock! (and assuming its 4x4)

 

I forgot to say that there is a skid plate in the front...

WOW, the welcome wagon is fast around here! Thanks guys!
The LB may be a killer on alot of the tight trails around here, but there should still be good places I can go. My 6-week old daughter will probably be with us most of the time, so I won't be attempting anything TOO crazy anyway. I hope the non-TRD trim level won't hold me back too much without the off-road specific upgrades.
Oh yeah, she is 4x4.

 

lol

ditto

 

Welcome from Alabama

 

well welcome brahh you'll have a blast with ya baby and is the front plate the stocj one or after market??

 

I believe it is the stock one. No brand badging, and I have seen the same on e on a lot of other tacos around here. Is the stock one worth a s*#t?

 

Welcome!

and the stock one...might as well have a piece of aluminum foil up there...

 

Thats kinda the feeling I got from it...
I think I will try to make the investment on armor a priority. Won't happen this summer, but I think there are places I can go without needing it. I took my '99 Jimmy to several places without damaging it, and it was nowhere near the vehicle that this one is.
My brother has a welding machine, maybe I can recruit him to make me some shtuff.

 

Matter of fact on the 2 gen Toyota refers to it as a bottom engine cover. Not a skid plate so yeah aluminum foil is correct.

 

What the truck can/can't handle is what I'm trying to find out, but you have great advice. I guess the best thing to do is to pick a relatively easy trail and just check it out. Then I can build my off road driving skills too.

 

Yeah I went out to go camping with the Jimmy and was doing some light wheeling "alone". I had my wife get out to spot several times, but did not have another 4x4 there to help out if the shit hit the fan. Got lucky, but will try to be with someone else in another capable vehicle.
I casted a line in the Colorado b.s. thread so I hope someone will have time to give me some info and possibly go show me around.

 

Thanks a lot partner, I really appreciate you answering some questions. Definitely look for a message from me when I start looking into making some armor

 

everyone has the issue pretty well covered just wanted to say its cool that you take your baby out with you. teach em young!