Very hesitant about doing some LIGHT wheeling,is it ok?What are some do's & do not's?

thats a big check mark, got it, but... still intersted in just light wheeling.. but.. truth is anything can happen i suppose, thanks

 

make sure you have tow strap most important thing.

 

haha whats up bro, i keep hearing about forked river up north, gonna see if i can scrounge up some more info lol

 

This will KEEP you & your truck friends for a long time....

I have been asked ;
"Have you ever wheeled before ?",
"Do you always drive this slow ?"
and the BEST ONE..." Why don't you spin those tires to get over that rock quicker ?"
My 2002 Tacoma has brought me home EVERY time we have been out and after 10 years of ownership has co$t me nothing but normal maintainence and MOD's expense.....

 

when in doubt, throttle out.

 

Have a good Spotter!!
Enjoy your truck!

 

Yeah. I guess as with anything. All things in moderation. For a newbie I think it helps them mentally, particularly with steep descents. Less of the "oh shit" when you release the brake a little.

 

Basically as everyone said above. I love going out but you won't see my truck at any meets that are beyond beginner. Not worth it to wreck your daily driver. Since we are in JJ, definitely plan on some redneck pinstripes.

I would also do the rear breather mod if you haven't already.

 

hey bro whats up?? and thats the thing, i agree with your completely, it is my daily, and i dont think i really wanna jeopardize it, and parking lot meets are fun as hell anyway, so now i gotta decide if i want to use my money i saved on a project g-body cutlass supreme or a beater off road truck lol xD hmmmm decisions.. decisions lol

 

Drive it like you stole it!

 

I don't like your method

As far as your first time goes this is about the best advice, summed up very well in here. The most important thing for you, is going with someone who actually knows what they are doing. You should be able to trust them when they are guiding you. Trusting your spotter is important when you are doing something out of your comfort zone. Also trust your truck. It will surprise you.

FINALLY, someone understands!

 

Most of it's been covered already, but if it's your first time I'd suggest going out when it's dry. Rain can make a simple trail a lot harder, and loss of traction can mean the difference between driving up an easy hill and sliding down it sideways.

Since you have a manual, another tip is that if you're in first gear and find yourself constantly riding the clutch in an effort to go slower switch to 4 Low.

When in 4 Low start in 3rd gear instead of 1st. The only reason to use 1st is if you need the extra torque to get moving, or you want to reduce your speed to a crawl to get over something safely.

When in 4 Low try to avoid switching gears while on a hill. It can be really hard on the drive train. As much as possible attempt to pre-select the gear you want to be in while on the hill and stick with it. If you're bogging out in 3rd gear uphill then chances are you'll be stopped by the time you get it into 1st and dropping the clutch like you were still rolling will send a shudder through the drive train.

When descending a steep hill put the tranny in 1st and let the engine compression control your decent. If the truck starts to slip sideways steer it towards the bottom of the hill and hit the gas.

If you see/feel your tranny bouncing (your gear shift will lurch sideways) back off the throttle. It's really hard on the drive train and you can break things doing it. Typically you're just loosing traction and the wheels start spinning before they sink back in and regain traction. Reducing throttle will reduce the wheel spin.

Don't be a hero. It's a 4x4 not a race truck, and it's cheaper to get pulled out than it is to replace broken parts because you wouldn't admit you're stuck.

 

Huh? Taking advantage of engine braking to ease down a steep is NOT excessively hard on the transmission, or likely to cause it to fail. It's proper use of the system as it is designed.

 

may have already been asked, but how light are you talking? I go to a creek by my friends house on a regular basis and it involves going down a long flat dirt road, and turning off that road onto a slightly rougher dirt path through a single spash of mud and I'm there. and I drive a prerunner no lockers. but of course my truck is nowhere near brand new either

 

Meh, Technically that would be considered off road because its not a paved road. But when i think of OR, I think of something at least a little technical. I wouldn't even bring straps for that. But that's just me. That sounds like a drive to a fishing hole.

 

pretty much lol and you're correct. the only straps I carry with me are the ones I use to tie down my ferwhiller

 

A ton of great advice and good common sense. Trust your instincts, if your spidey senses are tingling, don't do it. A couple weeks ago I was on vacation in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee; I went to a place called Royal Blue. I told the attendant at the registration office that I have a mild lift, no winch or skids, but that I have 4x4, good tires and sliders. Her recommendation was to stay on the white roads = 2 lane gravel roads in really good condition. BORING!

In no time I was taking the next level of difficulty trails which led to yet the next level of difficulty before I could return to a gravel road. Which by the way by the time I got there I was happy to see.

There were a few occasions that were white knuckle moments however I took my time, stopped to assess each obstacle and plot the best possible course even to the point of checking the depth of muddy water holes with a tree branch before proceeding.

Quite frankly I had a ball. Did I mention that I was the only vehicle on the trail - Risky...

I did get a few branch scrapes down the driver’s side of the truck but they should buff out ok. Soon I will be heading to Wisconsin and am looking forward to doing it again, this time with skids and a winch.

One last comment, these trucks are AMAZING when you drop them into 4Low and low gear; it feels like you could climb a vertical wall, great power and traction.

So go have some fun, get her dirty, be smart and take your time and you won't likely tear up your baby.

 

All of the above info is great, but if you aren't experienced, I would see if you have a local off-road group that has monthly trail runs that are stock friendly. We have a group out here called the Nevada Backroaders. The monthly club runs are on trails that are less than a 2.5. What that means is they are trails that may require the use of 4 wheel drive, but are not supposed to cause body damage of any kind. This group is very kind to beginners and will offer help and advice, as well as spotting if needed. You may be required to have a minimum amount of recovery, or safety gear.

 

^^^ This is the best advice. Learning directly from trustworthy experience beats any of us forum jockeys.

For the most part, the advice here has been very good. However, I am disappointed in the few here who take it as a joke and advise that liberal use of speed is the answer. This is either sarcasm (which doesn't translate well on a forum), or inexperience. The correct answer is always, "as slow as possible, as fast as necessary." A driver who is uses controlled speed will accomplish more than the slow driver. A driver who is moderate with speed will show finesse and vehicle preservation, rather than the driver who uses too much and ends up flailing through.

When discussing brakes vs. transmission, the best part is to use the compression braking of lower gears, but assist with controlled braking. Our trucks still have high enough gears in 4L 1st that brakes may be necessary. Don't lock them up! just apply some light pressure. If the back end starts catching up, apply a tap of gas to correct.

When going over terrain, braking may also be necessary. It helps descend over rocks, prevent rolling back on an obstacle, and can help control speed. Manuals can set their parking brake, autos can use two-foot driving. If the situation allows for it, manuals can also two-foot.

Another topic that hasn't been discussed is recovery. Recovery is made of three parts:
1. Being prepared. Have the correct gear, and know how to use it. Learn your technique before going on the trip
2. Stuck Assessment. Correctly assess your situation and determine the best course of action. What tools are necessary? How do you eliminate risks? What is the gameplan as the recovery unfolds?
3. The actual recovery. You should be generally confident and secure. If not, try reviewing your stuck assessment.


If you don't have a local club, you may consider training videos and events. There are several options out there; the one I am most familiar with is Bill Burke's 4 Wheeling America. The class expense can be hefty, but it is top of the line. Bill trains the border patrol, forestry departments, and military, along with many offroad groups. He was consulted by Toyota for the prototype run of the FJC, and trained the Toyota Trail Teams.
I've personally taken the intro course from him, which I unfortunately took a few months later than I started into offroading. Even with experience, I learned how I could be doing things better.
In October, I will be taking another course with him, this time his Advanced Offroad course.
Training DVDs
Training Events

 

Lots of good info here. I'm taking notes.