Hi all, long time lurker, haven't really posted much because I don't get the time or money (money mostly) to go four-wheeling very often. I've been spending plenty of time 'off-road' on dirt trails hunting and camping, but so far as rock crawlin' (or any challenging trails) is concerned, I've never done it.

My '03 Prerunner 2wd has something to do with this and this weekend I finally encountered the frustration of my truck preventing me from taking it somewhere I wanted.

Headed up Coyote Canyon Sunday morning to assess the chances of getting my truck into Collins Valley for camping/hiking/etc with friends in the future.

Second crossing was higher than I had expected and some smaller suv's had already decided to call it there, but the water seemed only maybe a foot or so and the bottom firm enough.



Right around the bend though, I found a same generation Taco w/ 4wd who decided to call it quits before the third crossing. I didn't blame him.





From the backside



After I got back from hiking up the trail, another fella came along in his '07 Taco and we chatted a bit and I rode down the third crossing with him, water was up about to the bottom of the doors. Maybe 2.5' or so, not sure.

After the third crossing, I found the hump into Collins Valley, the actual difficult rock-crawling area. I think this trail might have been in better shape a few years ago based on the way some guys at work described it, but maybe they just have better trucks.







And finally back to comfy dirt trails.



So, was I right to avoid taking this trail? I probably would have tried it if I'd been with some friends. A more major concern than even my lack of 4wd is the fact that my truck is worth too much to my broke college ass to bash up on some rocks. This has gotten me so frustrated though that I'm once again considered selling it and getting an older Toyota that I won't mind beating up.

I understand lockers, how they work, 4wd, but w/o much trail experience I don't know exactly what even to do with them/what I can expect out of them.

Any tips?

 

Alright.

First tip: Don't ask people on the internet what is right for you and yours. You will get answers all across the board, and none of them useful.

Seems like you have it right. Basically, Wheel with others. If you are alone, don't try things you aren't really sure about. If you have others along, give it a shot, but don't get too far out of your comfort zone. The farther you get out of that, the more mistakes you'll make.

Good luck.

 

x2 for not wheeling alone

Sliders and skids would be a good investment for how you use your truck.

Locked 2WD will go A LOT of places, the limitations are:
- driver
- lack of low range transfer case (you're gonna have to take obstacles a lot faster than 4WD folks)

If you really want to go offroad regularly, might be a good idea to sell the prerunner and get a 4WD.

 

I also find 2WD/locked rear to be a little tricky on steep, even hill climbs. I once had a damaged front birfield joint on my '85 (found out when I got to an off-road park for a day trip). Not wanting to waste the drive down and the admission fee, I decided to play around in 2WD. Going up one rutted, steep hill I was going along fine and all of a sudden I was sideways. The truck just hopped a little bit (maybe a tire went over a softball sized rock or something) and then I was looking at the side of the road. With the steepness of the hill, my seatbelt was locked, but I was barely able to reach over and pop the t-case into 4WD for a couple of feet to get out of that nasty spot. In 4WD, that hill was nothing at all, but in 2WD it was a totally different thing.

 

Yeah - same thing happened to me on Murphy's Hogback on the White Rim trail ... thanks for reminding me Roger! (like the brown stain in the seat doesn't...)

 

Thanks for the input guys, I think I'm gonna put my prerunner up for sale and get myself an earlier 4wd model to replace it.

I just can't afford to take even small chances in such a relatively new truck.

 

GREAT idea! no need to trash your truck. it will just cost money and cause you frustration. get something that is meant to do the things you want to do.(camping, hiking, general exploring) that is what i use my 4 wheel drive the most for...taking me places a little further from civilization. getting there with no breakage/body damage makes the entire trip just that more enjoyable.
-cheers

 

You have found it's and your limitations with it. If you want more than it can offer, than yes, sell it and get yourself a 4WD. However, just because you have a 4WD does not mean you won't trash it. In reality you will come do find your new 4WD's limitations too, and will look at improvements to be made. The "bug" has bitten you. You're not likely to get away!

 

Amen to that, I'm planning to set a few thousand aside from the sale for future modifications.

 

Sounds like you are on the right track.... it is amazing what a little cash with alot of elbow grease with give you.... best advice for more bang for your buck... don't buy everything brand new. There is alot of good used parts out there if you are willing to look. Happy Huntting.

 

You can get 4wd on these trucks???

J/K.

I think you'll be happier with 4wd. A lot poorer, but a lot happier.

 

Yes a locked 2wd truck will go plenty of places. As stated though you will be loosing low range.

Another thing to think about is that having a driving wheel under the weight of your motor adds alot more to pulling your truck along than having an additional pushing wheel.

My idiot friend used to go down really really mild trails in his front wheel drive mini van. He would joke around an slam threw 5 foot little slick mud puddles that me and my buddy would have to gas it threw in 2wd. Thats when we realised that it is better to have wheels pulling then pushing...