Hi , this is my first post here at Yotatech, so go easy on me. I have been pouring over various threads, using the search function, just trying to learn as much as I can about my 93 Toyota 4x4. Please check out the video of me trying to make it out of this little riverbed and respond to the following:

1) I know I have a stock open rear differential (correct terminology?). The back wheels are not being powered although it looks as though they have traction with the ground. I don't understand this.

2) If I had a locked rear differential, I am assuming the rear wheels would be spinning regardless of traction , correct? If I had front and rear lockers, all four wheels would be spinning at the same speed , correct?

[YOUTUBE]v8ZUoY47_8k[/YOUTUBE]

Obviously I am in the beginning stages of gathering knowledge to see if and how I want to build up this truck at all(I currently have 216,000 miles on original engine). I love checking out forest service roads, gnarly back roads, but not so much trying to crawl over boulders. Thanks in advance for all the help you can give this overworked teacher .

BTW I was in 2nd gear in 4 low in this video .

 

yes you are running open diffs. get an aussie locker and call it a day. they run around 300$

 

protip: street tires on loose dirt dont work.

 

Getting a locker...

One of the best improvements for offroad ability.
And one of the WORST modifications for an inexperienced wheeler.

If you get a locker, you will get yourself into situations you dont know how to handle. Do some wheeling, and build your truck up to your skill level.

I would start with some 15" wheels and a good set of 31" or 33" tires(and air down). Armor. Then wheel the piss out of it. Once you feel confident with your offroad ability, and know what you are doing, and how your rig works. THEN start with the bigger modifications such as lockers, big tires, t-case gears, etc.

Click the link in my sig and do some reading. You wont feel like such a newbie and you will learn alot if you read through it all.

 

Get some new wheels and tires on that thing, and if you would have just gone off the loose dirt into some of those rocks on the left and crawled it, you would have been fine and more fun IMO. There is a trick with putting the brake on when not getting any traction to help direct the power to the wheel with traction.

 

better tires and hammer down

oh a locker will help too

 

^ Yeah dude, hammer down like this!

http://s737.photobucket.com/albums/x...rstProject.mp4

If you're just going on some back roads just get offroad tires, getting a locker would be awesome, but probably not necessary.

 

A locker is always necessary.

Read this one:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f31/locker-faq-43572/

 

I have that same truck, same paint job! I've climbed much more knarly stuff than that,1st gear,4 wheel low & barely on the gas. Sometimes speed is not your friend!

 

your first problem is your wheels and tires.youll never go anywhere on streets. second, like mentioned so many times, get a locker and call it a day.

 

A locker would get you over that. Tires are important also, but not as important as a locker.

 

Your truck should have made it through that without any trouble. Before you go spending money on anything learn how to drive it.

I have run multiple trucks with bald tires and open diffs through way gnarlier stuff then that, hell the ground was dry you could have had slicks on and still made it.

Take the time to learn your truck before you start throwing money at it.

 

this /thread

 

go to that spot again, back up, rev it til the valves float, then dump the clutch and steer. you should made it up that all day

 

i like the rims there very "RICE"

 

I disagree..
Try running street tires on loose soil like that.
Even with a locker he'd still spin.

 

Thanks everyone for the info . I found these videos at the ARB website to be interesting and very helpful in understanding open vs. locked diffs.

http://www.arbusa.com/Products/Air-L...ootage/18.aspx

And I always Hammer Down !

[YOUTUBE]c0pW55Zrt70[/YOUTUBE]

 

From what your doing i would probably say go with a set of tire like a good all terrain or if you want the heavier traction a mud terrain a locker sounds like it may be a little extreme for what your doing right now. Although it would be great and also unless u get a selectable locker on the road driving will eat ur tires up faster then usual

 

Try building this truck in stages, first decide what your "end game" is going to be though, and wheel it through each stage.

1) Better tires (if you were closer I've got a set of 5 31/10.50/15 OTR's on SR5 alloys that I'm trying to sell ) perhaps something like a good all terrain tire, not too crazy aggressive.
2) Change your wheeling style just a little and use more finesse and a little less long pedal.
3) If you find that you're worried about damage start looking at armor.
4) Rear locker when you get to where you are comfortable with the rig and what it can/can't do.

Oh and number 5) Always tread lightly and always have fun!

 

like everyone else said locker is best bet there a little spendy if you dont really have the money at the time you can always put a spool in the rear or weld the gears its not a bad upgrade for the price but it will wear your tires quickly also tires will help of coarse