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tips on making truck better?

Discussion in 'Off-Roading & Trails' started by cbr_aaron, Aug 24, 2010.

  1. Aug 24, 2010 at 11:04 AM
    #1
    cbr_aaron

    cbr_aaron [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey Guys
    Iam new to the truck road and i just got a tacoma but its 4x2, this weekened i went to the lake and had a hard time getting through the sand. Anything i could do to make it a little more off road ready besides buying a 4x4?
     
  2. Aug 24, 2010 at 11:06 AM
    #2
    Aggie97

    Aggie97 Well-Known Member

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    lower your tire pressure when driving in sand.
     
  3. Aug 24, 2010 at 11:11 AM
    #3
    PLC721

    PLC721 Well-Known Member

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    better tires
     
  4. Aug 24, 2010 at 11:12 AM
    #4
    YotaDan

    YotaDan Dan

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    Does your truck have a factory locker?
     
  5. Aug 24, 2010 at 11:35 AM
    #5
    WestonJ

    WestonJ Well-Known Member

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    4x4, haha. but i dont think a 2 wheel drive with a locker in sand wont work that great considering i pulled out a 2wd 2003 tundra with the trd off road package this weekend. he was stuck in some pretty soft sand and all the locker was doing was making the situation worse.
     
  6. Aug 24, 2010 at 1:58 PM
    #6
    BlueT

    BlueT Well-Known Member

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    I moded 1999 Taco so much it had turned to Land Cruiser
    1. Read the forums, get out on runs with offroad clubs let them school you.
    2. Come back to that forum and post your question again :D
     
  7. Aug 24, 2010 at 8:46 PM
    #7
    Kyouto42

    Kyouto42 Iron Beard

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    See build thread in signature
    These.

    If you have decent tires (I did rather well with my BFG AT KO's) and air down to about 20psi you should be ok. I had a locker though which makes it that much better (talking my old off road prerunner).

    The #1 thing though... momentum. Also carry a few plywood boards or something to put under the tires if they start digging in.
     
  8. Aug 24, 2010 at 9:53 PM
    #8
    cbr_aaron

    cbr_aaron [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Do you guys thing having a lift would help at all?
     
  9. Aug 24, 2010 at 11:16 PM
    #9
    SkyHighTacoma

    SkyHighTacoma Josh

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    Only if your bottoming out or are haveing to drag the differential (pumpkin on the rear axle) through the sand or are getting one tire up in the air from not enough suspension flex or your aproach angles are to low. Other then that a lift will do you nothing but look good. Get some good tires air down learn how to drive better on the sand and get a locker. Prerunners can be and are capable. Not as capable as a 4WD, but arent that bad.;)
     
  10. Aug 25, 2010 at 2:48 AM
    #10
    The_Hodge

    The_Hodge Volunteer Moderator

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    only thing that will lift the pumpkin is larger tires. the lift is above the rear axle
     
  11. Aug 25, 2010 at 9:53 AM
    #11
    cbr_aaron

    cbr_aaron [OP] Well-Known Member

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    What are some of the better tires that i can use? is there anything else besides tires? i like my truck and cant afford a 4x4 right now..
     
  12. Aug 25, 2010 at 11:01 AM
    #12
    Kyouto42

    Kyouto42 Iron Beard

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    See build thread in signature
    Tires are your direct link to the contact surface... there's nothing that improves traction than proper tires.

    On a mostly road/sometimes hitting a trail/sand I found the BFG All Terrain KO's to handle pretty well, but they didn't do so well on slick rock (light stream crossing ect). Still for a pre-runner they're about as good as it gets. I'd get some better traction than some 4x4's with crappy tires in some conditions just to give you a taste on how much tires can make a diff.
     
  13. Aug 25, 2010 at 11:23 AM
    #13
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Honestly, your best and cheapest option is air down your tires on sand and buy a cheap cig lighter air pump and keep it with you for when you need to go back on the road. Air down to about 15 psi, take it easy and don't forget that you have a 2wd, that'll get through a lot of sand. Getting through sand is more about floatation than traction in a lot of cases.
     
  14. Aug 26, 2010 at 12:52 PM
    #14
    cbr_aaron

    cbr_aaron [OP] Well-Known Member

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    My truck does have a factory locker, is there a certain speed that i have to go at?
     
  15. Aug 26, 2010 at 12:57 PM
    #15
    stucksucksnayota

    stucksucksnayota Well-Known Member

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    Just have a heavy foot be try not to spin the tires to much!
     
  16. Aug 26, 2010 at 1:08 PM
    #16
    sockmonkey

    sockmonkey Well-Known Member

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    or, a genuine set of sockmonkey bedside decals!

    they will get you out of any situation. :thumbsup:


    your results may vary. please consult a physician before consuming.
    side affects include but are not limited to: "awesome" comments from total strangers; severe headaches; attention from opposite sex; increase in horsepower; increase in ability to jump curbs; increased tolerance for pain.
    please see your doctor if an erection lasts more than 4 hours. some or none of these affects apply to you
     
  17. Aug 26, 2010 at 1:08 PM
    #17
    cbr_aaron

    cbr_aaron [OP] Well-Known Member

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    ok cool thanks for all the info guys, if u guys have any other suggestions on mods for my truck please let me know...
     
  18. Aug 26, 2010 at 2:08 PM
    #18
    Masada

    Masada Well-Known Member

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    All Pro Steel Plate Front Bumper| All Pro Light Bar| All Pro IFS Skid Plate| All Pro E-locker guard| PIAA 510 Fog Lights| Hella 700FF| Fox 2.5 Coilover| Bilstein 5100 on the rear| BHLM| Grill Craft MX Series insert| Added two D-rings to bed|AVID Off Road sliders| AFE Dry Flow S| Gibson Cat Back| Custom Bedbar with hilift mount| Camburg 1" Uni-Ball UCA's| Hi-Lift 48" Extreme
    Number one rule here, don't listen to answers like the one above :D

    Good questions and glad to see someone who is willing to learn without destroying their truck first.
     
  19. Aug 26, 2010 at 3:49 PM
    #19
    BlueT

    BlueT Well-Known Member

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    I moded 1999 Taco so much it had turned to Land Cruiser
    huh so its better to spend boat load of money on mods that may or may not work but were suggested by unknown source.
    if he tries the truck in stock form while going with the group of people they will tell him based on the location what he really needs. He will also figure out by himself what works for his type of the trips.

    I could write that he needs
    a.Solid axle o n the front, 1 tons ... + portals
    b 5.29's with ARB lockers
    c. Snorkel with diesel swap
    d. marlin crawler transfer case
    e. Full body exo
    f. Flat belly mod
    g 4 link everything
    aaa did I forgot something ???:rolleyes:
    He can put everything above and may last few minutes longer breaking something from over confidence
     
  20. Aug 26, 2010 at 5:07 PM
    #20
    Masada

    Masada Well-Known Member

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    So far your 0 for 2 on helpful posts...the guy asked what he could do to make his truck more off road capable. So instead of telling him he may want to try a few low-no cost things you tell him just in the seat and drive and then come back ask questions? How does that help him prepare for trail runs and getting out of a sticky situation? He wasn't asking if a lift will make it better or what new tires to run, but what are some thing a new to off roading person would need to know. Again how does that help he learn? There's tons of stuff on TW to read about getting out of stuck situation and what not, others were very helpful.

    Now post something helpful for the new guy and make a Friend ;)
     

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