I still definitly want a 4x4, but my Prerunner is doing an okay job. We have a National preserve where I live and it has a few trails that you can ride. Now It's no Rubicon trail but their are a few river crossings and their is one trail that would take a WELL BUILT 4x4. I went down a very steep hill yesterday and then had to climb back up the other side, which is also very steep and has a curve to it. The road is a dirt road that has become very rutted out. When I got to the bottom of the hill I noticed the very rough climb ahead and wondered if I would make it. I gave it all the gas I could and got the tires spinning fast enough to push me up the hill through the ruts, and complete the climb. I was IMPRESSED. I talked to a friend that has a Z-71 and he says that he uses 4wd to climb this. Although he goes slow. If I would have stopped at the bottom or went slowly I would have been stuck.

My prerunner is only a 4cly so thus No factory locker. If it does this well offroad then I can only imagine what a Factory TRD 4x4 w/locker could do.

I give a lot of credit to the suspension on my truck. Much better than the 92 Nissan 4x4 I used to have.

 

Amen to that. I've had a few people tell me how suprised they were that my truck could handle some of the things I've tackled, considering it is only 2wd. The strong suspension helps alot, as does the lift that most 2wd trucks dont have. The Prerunner is also built on a 4x4 frame, not sure what difference that makes though.
I have the V6 but was not smart enough to shop for the TRD e-locked version when I was looking :pat: I've got an auto-locker coming in the mail this week though, its a step below the selectable, but gives the same performance off-road.