Recently bought a 2012 Tacoma

Hey all,

I recently bought a 2012 base Tacoma 4x4, it does have a leveling kit and bigger tires.

I am loving it so far, but I will admit that I did buy it a bit impulsively because it only has 20k miles and is super clean (practically new).

What I am wondering about now is, what kind of off-road performance should I expect? I don't want to do anything crazy, just want to go on some mild trips and get to whatever camping spot I want. I am planning to add All-Pro bumpers, skid plate, and probably other protective measures too.

Does what I've described there sound reasonable for what I have? Or should I upgrade the shocks, ect? Will I be missing much for what I'd like to do without having the locker and the other TRD off-road features.

Thanks!

 

Congrats on the purchase!
About your question, I only have a 2.7 SR5 and stock tire and I am very glad of what I can do with my truck. I have no problem doing light offroad getting on hunting spots and entering small trails. I think you will be surprise of its capacities and maybe you could try to find the limit of your truck with a good buddy and recovery gear
Hope this help.

 

4X4 Tacoma's are quite capable in stock form, in the hands of an experienced driver. Why don't you see if you can get to your favorite camping spot, or a spot you would like to get to, before dropping a wad of dough to improve the off road capability that you won't need. - unless you just have bundle of bucks and want need to spend it on you new truck. Nice looking truck by the way.

 

Full skid plates, sliders and lockers will serve you better, but the bumpers sure do look good...

 

Thanks for the replies! From what I've gathered, it should be a pretty useful rig.

I plan on keeping it for a long time and if I end up doing more serious off-roading, there are always upgrades to make!

Since I know only the TRD Off-Road comes with the diff locker, is there a good alternative upgrade? Like air lockers?

What is the difference there? Thanks for any input, just like racking my brain with the possibilities

 

Welcome to TW and nice Tacoma you hooked up!I think for what you have in mind your truck will be very useful.Test out your truck in what you want to fullfill and make the determination in the future to make the changes or not.

 

I have the TRD Offroad in 4x4, I have yet to really take it out and give it a good test.
Of course, I have had it off road, most of that has been in the sand.

 

I have a 4 cyl manual 4WD 2012 and it's a very competent truck off road. I don't go crazy like some of these guys, as it's my only 4 wheeled conveyance and I plan on keeping it probably the duration of my life, so I'm trying to keep it nice. However, I do take it to some off road play areas (lots of abandoned mines, quarries, etc where I live) and keep it on the easier stuff and have been nothing but impressed with it's prowess.

Re: lockers and such, I think if you really ask most people using it under the conditions that you or I do (based on your post info), they aren't getting stuck and needing a locker. You can always do the free / 10 second yellow wire mod which essentially is a cheap and slightly less effective version of A-Trac, which is in itself kind of a cheater's locker. I have never actually needed it, but it can't hurt to do it..

For my purposes, some decent AT or off road specific tires were all I needed and I don't want for anything more from an "off road gear" standpoint.

 

I don't know where you are located but... last year I took an Off Road 101 course at Rausch Creek Off Road Park in Pennsylvania. I hadn't bought my Tacoma yet so I took the course in a bone stock 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ with crappy no-name A/T tires. The rest of the class had newer Wranglers and most of those were modified. I was surprised at what the stock Cherokee could do. There was only one obstacle that I couldn't make it through and that was one designed to show the how the Traction Control feature works. Well the XJ's don't have Traction Control. I was close to making it but no cigar.

Anyway, I think you will be surprised at what your Tacoma can do. I'm planning on taking the same class this year in my Tacoma to see how it does and to see what mods might be necessary. Rausch Creek is pretty rocky so I've already added All Pro HD sliders, removed the stock mud flaps, and plan on adding Pelfreybilt IFS & mid skids before the class. See if there is some sort of class near you. It's a lot of fun.

 

The base 4x4 with ARB air lockers would be every bit as capable as my TRD off road.

 

And for what we saved buying a base model, you can lock front and rear - making it way more capable.

 

I am one hour away from here and this looks like tons of fun! I literally just got my Tacoma yesterday and am looking to test its/my offroad capabilities when I have the chance. I will be sure to look into this more. Thanks for the post!