So how off road capable are stock TRDs?

Hey does anyone have pics of stock TRDs out there wheeling and flexing? I have never done any 4 wheeling in my truck and I don't really know it's limits.

 

I know absolutely nothing about this, except what I can garner from common sense. I wouldn't try any big off-road hijinx without modification. Oh, sure, you can have a little fun on a muddy dirt road after a rainstorm, or fart around in a field somewhere, but keeping in mind exactly what percentage of actual Tacoma buyers go out and do any offroading at all, I would expect that the stock truck would not be designed to film the next Mountain Dew commercial or anything.

 

Agreed

 

A stock TRD 4x4 with locker is extremely capable right off the showroom floor. I ride trails rated Moderate or less and the truck doesn't even break a sweat. Can do many in 2 wheel drive as well.

But really, the answer is not found in the web. It's found out on the trail, in the woods, in the sand, mud... whatever you've got in your area. Go out and test the limits. You'll quickly have a big smile on your face.

 

The A-trac system on OR versions does amazing things.

Biggest shortcoming on a stock truck is the lack of ground clearance and delicate underbelly.

Get a recovery strap and a buddy and go find out how far your truck will go.

 

Stock tires and suspension...No lift. My only problem is the tires need better tread.

 

I think a stock TRDOR is plenty capable.

This is stock other than new tires because the Rugged Trails were worn and dry rotted when I bought it used.

 

Extremely capable... Really, nothing needs to be done for most off roading. That is why the Off Road TRD is such a great value.

I have purchased a new truck, and the same day took it 250 miles down into Baja for a long weekend on the beach.

The other two of my three Tacomas were in Baja before the new plates arrived.

See my video in my sig, pulling James up the Diablo DropOff... That is a stock truck: A-TRAC makes it unstoppable. Before A-TRAC, the rear locker was what made the Off Road a step ahead of other models.

Mods I have done:
1) Rear differential breather mod (keeps water out of diff oil during water crossings).
2) 265/75-16 tires (1" taller than stock without rub) when stock BFGs were done.
3) Custom made light bar on front (4: 7" round Cree LED lamps now).
4) Replace stock Bilstein TRD shocks with Bilstein 5100 shocks (at 80,000 miles).
5) Add Ride Rite Air Shocks (bags) to boost rear leaf springs, lift body.

Here is my 2005, four wheeling in Baja before it even saw my driveway... dealer to Baja the same day! Here, near El Rosario:



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's my 2010 Tacoma, less than a month old, on the beach south of San Felipe. Where I first discovered how super TRAC (traction control) was four wheeling.. no air removed to drive on sand (first time here):





Take it CAMPING!!!

 

What are you wanting to do in way of Off Road Recreation? We got our TRD OR for remote hiking destinations.

 

In stock form, these are pretty capable trucks. Their biggest weakness is the the lousy factory tires. With a decent set of all-terrains (upsized to 265/70/17 for added bonus), you'll be able to go a lot of places.

Just make sure you have recovery gear in case you find the limits.

 

Off road all over the place. State run vehicle parks are great places to get your feet (or 265/70/16s) wet.
I'd make the same suggestions for off roading that i would to someone going on a hiking trip.
Plan where you're going to be, when you expect to return, and share your plan with a few people.
Bring more food & water than you think you'll need.
Bring at least some basic first aid gear.
Fill your gas tank as close to the trail head as possible.
+extra credit to bring a friend or two along
+extra credit for taking a class
+extra credit for pics/vids shared on TW

 

Pretty much the main reason why I bought my TRD OR:

 

I wouldn't take a TRD sport off road in stock form without hiking boots.

If you're talking about the TRD Offroad, they virtually are unstoppable.
















Really though, the limiting factors 99% of the time are going to be one of the following:
#1 driver skill
#2 crappy stock tires
#3 ground clearance

 

I've beat the piss out of my truck with no mods (back in the day), it did pretty well. Now I've replaced a lot of parts and it hasn't been cheap.

 

My wife and I tried to find the Grand Staircase National Monument, thinking it was like Mount Rushmore or something during a camping/hiking trip out west last year. I'm not an off roader, other than to camp or hunt and fish. But I'm sticking to forest, dirt or gravel roads for the most part.

We have a 2014 TRDORDC 6 speed manual. On our trip, we didn't really understand what the Grand Staircase was. We thought monument meant there would be something monumental, something to see. It's actually a trail much more difficult than I was expecting. Again, I'm not a hardcore off roader, I just wanted the locking diff for not getting stuck on remote mud roads.

The further we went, the worse it got, but gradually and we saw a sign that said it was 20 miles long or so, and we had to be over half way, so we kept going. Then we saw a sign that said the road was closed ahead, so we had to turn around. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking the worst was over, so keep going. It was tough, especially in one spot:



It's hard to tell from the pictures, but that was steep, especially having to go slow due to approach angles and that dark spot in the middle at the bottom is raised higher than the rest of the road.

Looking back, the truck wasn't the issue; I was, because I'm not familiar with this type of driving. I didn't need or use the locker, but I'm glad I had it. Our truck is totally stock, tires and all.

Here are some more pictures that don't do it justice:

 

looks like a fun trip.
I gopro most of my trips and it's just silly how tame many trails look in pic/video form.

 

I agree with you there. We were both a little on edge, me especially as the driver. It was a great trip and we did a lot out there. Ten days total, camped the whole time. Looking back, I wish we had done more. We will go back sometime in the next few years.

 

You can take a stock Tacoma 90% of the places 90% of the modified trucks go. Almost all of the lifted, large tired, vehicles you see with all sorts of accessories bolted on them are mostly for show. Decent tires around 32" tall and driving skill will get you into and out of a lot of places.

You just don't get that much advantage and keep it street legal. The 4X4's you see trailered into off road areas that have been modified to the point they are no longer street legal are a different story.

I've been driving various 4X4's since the 1970's. Right off the lot my Tacoma is the best performing off road vehicle I've ever owned. I've had Wranglers that were pretty good and the shorter wheelbase helps them do better in certain situations. But the longer Tacoma has the advantage in others.

 

Load of crap - too many variables to mention, but a load of crap nonetheless.

 

I love my14 trd off-road. When it was stock it would go anywhere I pointed it. Love my rear locker. It's gotten me out of a lot of ruts. When I did the lift and bigger tires. it became a more capable rig.