Tips for mild offroading in a 2WD?

I don't plan on doing a lot of OR'ing in my 13' Prerunner TRD Off-Road, and when I do it will be pretty tame but I want to make sure I do it "correctly"...so a few questions...

Is it better to switch from "D" as soon as you leave pavement? To something lower? Depending on incline I am guessing?

Is it good to activate the Rear Locker as soon as you leave the pavement? Or only if you feel you aren't going to "make" a section, then switch it on, drive, then switch it back off?

Again, this won't be anything too crazy...but it would be fun to actually take it off pavement once in a while.

Thanks!

 

me, the drive selector really only would help you going down-hill, but not by much.

I would only use the locker "as needed" unless your out in the sand or a loose dirt. driving around with it locked on grippy surfaces can really stress the rear-end out. then its "pop"

 

Define mild off-roading. Only reason I've shifted down in "mild off-roading" was when I go back down the mountain. The F150 I used to drive didn't even have a locker and I rarely ran it in 4wd, except on the rockiest parts of the mountain. I'm sure you'll be fine. Off-pavement sounds like forest/fire roads, mild stuff-not rock crawling. Just be careful of ruts and ditches, can be a pain getting a 2wd unstuck!

 

Yep, that's really basically it. I know it's not a rock crawler and don't intend to even try stuff like that.

Thanks for the tips

 

Personally the locker should only be used when or fording a situation where you may get stuck. Having it on in a gravel lot, or fire road would cause undue wear on the components. Your PreRunner should be able to handle most dry conditions, that don't envolve crawling rocks, or mud bogging.

When I was 16, I had a '92 22RE, 5-Lug reg cab. I went absolutely everywhere in that truck off road, mostly because I was making min wage, and it was all I had to work with. Really never got stuck with that, unless I was showing off or absolutely wanted to.

 

Buy a 4X4


All kidding aside... D should be fine and locker only if you get stuck.

 

Turn off the traction control

 

The locker may not engage if u are already stuck so i would engage before approaching obstacles, i drove with mine on for a few hours but it was all sand stone and chirp rock, and a spash of mud here and there