Weakest link in the 3rd gen tacoma going off road?

Took my stock TRDOR DCLB down the Flint Trail in Canyonlands Nat Parks Maze District. No issues. I bottomed out twice on the transmission crossbar. Both times were my fault. Once for driving to fast and once for not taking the right angle.

It really depends on your end goal. If you want to build a trail vehicle for hardcore off-roading, sky’s the limit.
Although the stock truck will get you into a lot of places if you do it with care.

 

The front skid plate is always the first thing I add to our Tacomas and it seems to be the most used piece of armor, unless you count the hitch. Sliders get added when we decide the truck might go to an OHV park or a big trip. We wait till ~30k miles for the lift and tires.

We were in BBNP last month with our 3rd gen; drug the hitch several times, made contact with the front skid a couple of times, and the sliders were only used a steps. Ran Black Gap and a few others. On our 2nd gen I believe Black Bear is the only trail I've drug a slider on outside of OHV parks.

If you're not Rock Crawling Aluminum Skids are a good option to keep the weight down.

 

Do
Everything.


In my opinion the exhaust crossover is the weakest link when off-roading. The reroute was one of my first mods so I could get full skids.

 

Are those tires 255's?

 

The guy behind the wheel.

 

The Nut behind the wheel.

 

Hey you beat me to it. Hope you're ok up in Ventura Co.

 

Yes, I've been off-roading with many different vehicles for over 40 years, and the secret that seems most difficult to learn for newbies is go slow. Sometimes you need to gun it to get through a situation, but rarely.

 

Yes 255/80/17 cooper st maxx

 

I suppose if your ok with some pizza cutters, 255/85/r16 takes care of tires and small lift, then get some skids and sliders. That’s my plan at least.

 

At work, same kid, same 2005 landcruiser, same spindle, same rock, same month, probably same speed, twice.