Hope you guys might throw a little help my way. Not a hard core 4X4er but a hunter and need to 4X4 to get away from most of the lazy hunters that crowd the easy areas. I have a 2006 Tundra 4X4. It is stock and the tires suck. What can I do in the the range a $2000 to make improvements. I'm not real familir with lifts and suspensions so go easy on me. I'm in Phx Az if any one wants to point me to a good shop.

Thanks!

 

Good off road tires are the single most dynamic improvement you can make on your vehicle, and the biigest bang for your buck. If you ditch the stock tires and install a set of B.F.Goodrich AT's or Mud Terrains you truck will be a totally different vehicle.

That should get you started.

Maybe consider a rear locking differential if you still want to spend more $$$.

 

spot on, of all the mods I've done on trucks, tires are always the most noticeable. I don't know if you have a locker on there, but you could always put a lunchbox locker in the rear if you find you need it. You could also get away with a spacer lift, but if your just running fire roads and easy trials, you probably won't even need it. I would say tires first, and then a locker, that should get you through a lot of stuff you wouldnt have been able to before. Just my .02, and I'm sure someone else will chime in.

 

I think I'll go with BFG All Terrain, if I put a level kit on the front, should I keep the stock size, or should I try to go with a different size?
Thanks

 

JHupp, also what is a lunchbox locker? I know it is a locking diff, but is the lunchbox part specific? Thanks

 

It is a locker that just replaces the spiders in your diff

Lockrite, aussie locker, etc

 

not sure its gogint o be easy to get away from those lazy hunters anymore. They have 4 wheelers and can ride to places you can't even get a truck too.

Just my thoughts on that.

Still funny to fix up your truck though. Good luck

 

what he said ^ BFG ATs are awesome, I've had mine for a year or so know, and I was very happy with their performance all around and treadwear. I scored mine cheap at Costco, and would buy again. I'd search around here and see what tires will fit on your truck with a level kit. Someone has probably done it either here or at tundra solutions.

 

Yea, I hear you on the quad hunters. I bow hunt and so I drive till the road stops and then backpack in on game trails. The western whitetail (couses) are pretty small and you can hump them out after a field dress. Thanks for the help, I'll post a pic with big AZ elk in the back of my truck as soon as I can get a tag.

 

You can proabably go up a size in tires, not sure what you have, but if it's 265's you could probably get 275s without any suspension.

I would suggest you get a come-a-long, if not a winch. Since you'll be on your own most of the time you won't want to get stuck out in the cold and have no way to get out.

 

I got a set of BFG AT's (285/75/16) for my F150. They're really great on the road...acceptable on the trail. I'm selling the truck, but my next set would probably be the MT's. Tread life wouldn't be quite as good, but still much better than the average tire. I've got close to 45K miles on my set (keep them rotated regularly, and the truck aligned), and they'll go another 10K before needing replacement. Just keep in mind gearing and fuel economy. I averaged 16mpg with the 235's that came w/ the truck. With stock gearing, I now avg 12mpg w/ the 285's.

IMO, though, nothing replaces an ATV. Matter of fact, I'm switching to a 2wd 4runner (will still get better tires and a LSD), because I now have a 4wheeler to get me wherever I need to go. Your experience may vary though. I hunt a private lease, and don't have to contend with a bunch of hunters, and there's decent roads providing ingress/egress.

Good advice already...get good tires first. Then think about an ATV or a diff upgrade.

 

Do you have running boards on your truck? If not get some, or a set of sliders. I hunt alot and I always run over limbs and stuff and they flip up and hit the bottom of my door. I good strong set of running boards or a set of sliders would protect your truck well.

 

If you're like me and learning how to offroad the hard way by making lots of mistakes you'll need the number of a good buddy who can pull you out. Fire roads/firebreaks love my 4runner's axles...

The last time I got stuck I had to get pulled about 15 feet to get out... A comealong would have taken a loooong time to get me out. The chevy duramax my friend has took about 15 seconds.

Hunting using a 4runner is nice, though. I have a ton of space that I can lock up easily and using plastic, I can also hide stuff that I don't want to tempt someone to steal.

 

don't forget some touch-up paint, trust me, you'll need it.

 

A couple years ago I did some research for my brothers who also own tundras, live in Az and hunt. Tundras are too low and scrape on everything so I'd suggest you lift it a couple inches. Check out wheelers off road: http://www.wheelersoffroad.com/tundra.htm

From the lift you can install bigger tires but then you'll also have to get different wheels or you will rub the control arms. Personally, I think going with different style tires is over rated. It's the size that matters more.

A locker would be nice, but a winch would probably be more useful.