If I were going to do expert trails, i'd definately go with an older truck and mod it. I'll probably just do some moderate off-roading in my Taco.
That's not my point. My being worried of doing something to it because it's new and not paid off is taking away from my experience. I'd like to push my truck harder, but I'm afraid to, because of said reasons. At least with a beater, I can let it sit til I get the time/money to fix it. I can't with this, it's my daily driver. Although there was a couple spots where I did push my truck really hard, made it through unscathed, and had such an adrenaline rush afterwards. I loved it, and I wanted to keep pushing the limits. But that worry of am I gonna do something bad kept bothering me.BillBrasky said:Don't let them scare you. Running those "most difficult" trails in those beaters gets just as expensive as denting or scratching a new truck on moderate trails. Not to mention that it is way dangerous. You'd also most likely have to find a trailer to haul a beater with, too. Especially after you break it on those hard trails.
Here in a year, my truck will be paid off and completely built to my needs. I'll then take the money I spend on it now and buy a new truck and a trailer to haul my beater 05 taco around.![]()
If you're going all-out hardcore, then yeah. But for general trail use, I beg to differ. These new tacos are hardly the size of an old K5 Chevy (and lets not even get started on steering abillity), and they're all out there running trails. Range Rovers, Hummers, full-sized pick-ups. They all do it, too. Park that new taco next to a new F-150 and then tell me how big it is again.Calculus said:I understand where you're coming from entirely. While I recognize the pay to play dictum, these trucks are monsters on the trail. Give me a shorter wheelbased vehicle any day. Most of my wheeling has been in older Toyotas and Jeeps, and my new Tacoma is far from nimble offroad. Sturdy and stable, yes. Point and shoot, no. Ever tried difficult reverse maneuvers? Narrow trails with sheer drops and tight corners?
Enough, I love my truck and am not lighthearted offroad, but I've had to re think more than a couple of trails due to the size of my truck. If you're serious about wheeling, I definitely think an older dedicated rig is the way to go.
Yeah, I had similar feelings after my last outing. Frozen mud will make even the simplest of trails difficult and dangerous. I also learned that all the arrows in the mud point directly to trees.Rodge said:I definitely agree Bill. These trucks are very trail worthy, even in stock form. Although the way the trails were yesterday, I wouldn't of want to have been running with anything less than MTs. ATs would of got someone killed yesterday. There were plenty of times where our trucks had absolutley no lateral traction. And that's what caused my little incident.
I'll post pics after I get it washed. The rocker panel is mushed in about 6 inches from the end of the driver's door, and the door panel above it has a nice dent, paint rub/scratch thing going on. The paint on the rocker panel actually cracked off, and bare metal is showing. Oh, it wasn't frozen mud, it was 50 degrees out. It was goopy sticky mud. The kind that if you stand in it for too long, your boot pulls right off your shoe when you go to lift your leg.BillBrasky said:Yeah, I had similar feelings after my last outing. Frozen mud will make even the simplest of trails difficult and dangerous. I also learned that all the arrows in the mud point directly to trees.
Let's see the damage.:naughty:
:sosad: ouch. Sorry.Rodge said:I'll post pics after I get it washed. The rocker panel is mushed in about 6 inches from the end of the driver's door, and the door panel above it has a nice dent, paint rub/scratch thing going on. The paint on the rocker panel actually cracked off, and bare metal is showing. Oh, it wasn't frozen mud, it was 50 degrees out. It was goopy sticky mud. The kind that if you stand in it for too long, your boot pulls right off your shoe when you go to lift your leg.
I may be wrong, but I think my brother-in-law has a trailer that I could use if need be. I have to drive an hour and a half to get to Paragon, so even if I do break it, and don't have a ride, I'm still good. As the guys I go with would be more than willing to help me out. Hell, they already said get a beater and we'll help you build it up. So, the more I think about it, the more I'm going towards getting a beater. Plus I won't hold them back from having a better time since we'll be able to tackle tougher terrain.Adventure North said:Beater rigs are fine if don't mind trailering a rig to a local trail head or if you live close enough to drive it there solo, but if you are going thousands of miles into Mexico,South America, or even into remote areas of the US or Canada having a truck that is fully capable as well as being reliable is a major priority. It's all a matter of what your goals are while "Off-roading" and what you're willing to sacrifice. If just having some fun on the weekend is your thing then I would go with a beater as well.
LOL, I did, three days ago. Too late. :lol:BillBrasky said::sosad: ouch. Sorry.
reach: Dude, sliders, get some.
I guess I'm gonna try to find an older regular cab, with a good frame, and hopefully a solid axle up front. And then get a 5" lift spring kit, throw some 35s on it, and call it a day. Then I'll be able to ride with the big boys.BillBrasky said:So, whatcha gonna get?