Any Members to meet who offroad?

[Senor_Taylor]

Hey guys, I was just wondering who the offroad people in MM are. I really would love to meet some people I could start wheeling with and could show me the ropes and maybe take me with them some time. From seeing older posts, I know they exist, I just don't know who's still active.

[Kaan]

Cabell and Sylvia wheel... the local trails are "boring" compared to places like Rausche Creek. I just run around and take pictures and help spot. I dont know what you have done to your rig yet (and i know zero about toyotas) but you might want to start on the local trails and see if you really like it. Built right and driven right you wont break much for a long time... but offroading is abusive to a vehicle.



He even made it up

[Senor_Taylor]

Thanks! I haven't done anything suspension wise, yet. I have slider as my first on my "to buy" list. So those will be soon.

I would like to start small. I've done trail riding on REALLY tame trails, but never with other people and anything serious. I think it'd be cool to wheel with MM people.

A stock Tacoma can do a ton. I'm running 265/70/16s on my truck and I've got the TRD package so I have a locker on the rear.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Sylvia and I are probably the biggest "4wd" enthusiasts in the club. Like Kaan said, once you've run places like Rasuch Creek all the other local stuff is kinda lame. Not to say it isn't fun banging through the woods and what-not but the challenge isn't like the purpose built offroad parks.

I would be interested in coming up and running you through Flag Pole and a few other "trails".

Any other students would be welcome to ride along or drive if they have the vehicle.

I'd say you're rig is fine for the local stuff. Plenty of bypasses and nothing is hard. Mainly, I'd just be prepared to get you're paint scratched/scuffed up a lot from the trail and all things overgrown. I've run a completely stock 97 Tahoe through Flag Pole on All seasons. With the right spotting almost anything is possible.

Like driving on the track, you need seat time to gain an understanding about wheel placement. This is KEY. I cannot reiterate the importance of understanding where you're vehicle will take it's next "step". Pick the wrong line and you may never make it up. But, proper tire placement and application of the skinny pedal and you can about drive over anything.

Here's the XJ at the second meadow of Flag Pole.

[Senor_Taylor]

Sylvia and I are probably the biggest "4wd" enthusiasts in the club. Like Kaan said, once you've run places like Rasuch Creek all the other local stuff is kinda lame. Not to say it isn't fun banging through the woods and what-not but the challenge isn't like the purpose built offroad parks.

I would be interested in coming up and running you through Flag Pole and a few other "trails".

Any other students would be welcome to ride along or drive if they have the vehicle.

I'd say you're rig is fine for the local stuff. Plenty of bypasses and nothing is hard. Mainly, I'd just be prepared to get you're paint scratched/scuffed up a lot from the trail and all things overgrown. I've run a completely stock 97 Tahoe through Flag Pole on All seasons. With the right spotting almost anything is possible.

Like driving on the track, you need seat time to gain an understanding about wheel placement. This is KEY. I cannot reiterate the importance of understanding where you're vehicle will take it's next "step". Pick the wrong line and you may never make it up. But, proper tire placement and application of the skinny pedal and you can about drive over anything.

Here's the XJ at the second meadow of Flag Pole.

Oh hell yes! I understand what your saying about picking the right lines. I've been on Tacomaworld for over a year now and I've learned a lot from them, but nothing replaces seat time. I'd really appreciate a trail run with you! I'm assuming sliders wouldn't be very necessary for these trails? I'm fine with paint scuffing and light scratches, I've got finger nail polish to cover up scratches in my truck all the time because... well, it's a truck. They get scratches. As long as I'm not snapping leaves and such.

I have the parts for my lift picked out already because my springs and shocks are all just about done and need to be replaced, so whenever I get the money for it all, I'll get them. That might not be soon, though.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Nope. No sliders are necessary. Honestly, I would hold off on putting your money into a lift until you've gotten seat time. You'd be surprised what a stock vehicle with a decent set of AT's could do for you. As I recall, Tacoma's already have a decent amount of ground clearance and tire clearance.

I'd wheel your truck and then plan from there. I'm not really familiar with Toyota's other than their IFS and pretty damn reliable/capable.

If I were you' Id save my money, wheel, and then spend accordingly on:

Recovery (tow hooks etc.)
Sliders
Tires (Decent AT, I have BFG's but Goodspeed and Kaan can chime in on General Grabbers. Identical tire just less $$)
More armor (TC skid, engine skid, etc.)

If you're dead set on lifting it I'd recommend going "Expo" style. Mild lift generally not much more than 2", 30's or 31 AT's, essential armor, and recovery.

Just like car parts, 4x4 parts are the same exact way. Buy once, cry once. Buy quality. That way in a year or so you won't be replacing things like springs, shocks, or whatever else cause of a cheap brand.

For a Taco.. Just buy Old Man Emu. It's pricey but dammit does it ride like a Cadillac.
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One final point to make on lifting your Taco. If you think you want 3" and 31's or whatever combo. GO BIGGER. I promise you'll save yourself time and money by just going bigger if you even think you'll want to go bigger in the future..

I'm at that point now with the XJ. I planned for 3" and 31's and after wheeling hard I need more armor. I'm planning on 3.5/4" of lift and 33x10.5s. I should have gone big in the beginning. The only hold back is now you have to start messing with a million other things as drive-line, suspension, drive-train angles all start to change.

[Senor_Taylor]

Stock tacos have a lot of clearance.

I already have 265/75/16s (31s) BFG Rugged Terrains (Couldn't justify the price on getting ATs).

I have an engine skid plate, a skid plate under the tranny, and a gas tank skid plate.

I'm only going 2 or 3 inches because after that, I'll have to extend brake lines, bump stops, do a diff drop on the front, and I'll have to get MUCH larger tires, which will mean new wheels.

Here are the sliders and suspension parts. I'm doing it right if I do it.

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And I have a 6 ton two strap, jacks, ropes, and all those good things in my toolbox. It's filled to the brim.

The absolute SOONEST I'd buy the stuff for the lift would be when it was time for new tires, since I'd go bigger. These only have about 4k on them at most. So not soon.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I don't see the point in new wheels because of new tires. Are you going to have issues with offset or tires rubbing fenders?

If anything I would drop rim size to 15" which would open you up to a greater selection of tires and reduced cost. Buying a set of steel wheels (Think Cragar) is going to be the best bang for the buck to get you down to a 15" wheel with the right offset and bolt pattern.

THEN you can scourge CL all day to find yourself a decent set of pulloffs. I bought my 4 31's (80% tread) mounted on wheels with a spare wheel at the stupid low cost of like $500 or something. I can't even buy 4 tires brand new for that much..You just have to look around..

As for your lift you've pieced it together with a good selection of parts and it looks like it's going to set you back ~$900+ after shipping and all that..

My 2cent. Buy something that has already been engineered to all work together.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/Old-Man-Emu-Tacoma-suspension_p_225.html">http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/Old ... p_225.html</a><!-- m -->

This kit puts you at the 3" lift range and has all been engineered by OME to work together. That means no headaches about fitment or quality. OME has gone through all the work of making sure the spring rates are right, the shocks are valved properly, etc. etc. If this is your DD, you're going to want that bitch to at least be as comfortable as it can (being a truck and all) for DD duty. Not to mention you'll probably never have to worry about it wearing out.

Start with a well manufactured, high quality kit and then once you actually dive off the deep end you (and hopefully your wallet) can start investing in choice parts where you see fit. But for right now, I just don't see the point yet to invest in a blingy set of adjustable Bilstein shocks. Obviously it's not the right now but it's something to think about...

[Senor_Taylor]

I don't see the point in new wheels because of new tires. Are you going to have issues with offset or tires rubbing fenders?

If anything I would drop rim size to 15" which would open you up to a greater selection of tires and reduced cost. Buying a set of steel wheels (Think Cragar) is going to be the best bang for the buck to get you down to a 15" wheel with the right offset and bolt pattern.

THEN you can scourge CL all day to find yourself a decent set of pulloffs. I bought my 4 31's (80% tread) mounted on wheels with a spare wheel at the stupid low cost of like $500 or something. I can't even buy 4 tires brand new for that much..You just have to look around..

As for your lift you've pieced it together with a good selection of parts and it looks like it's going to set you back ~$900+ after shipping and all that..

My 2cent. Buy something that has already been engineered to all work together.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/Old-Man-Emu-Tacoma-suspension_p_225.html">http://toyteclifts.3dcartstores.com/Old ... p_225.html</a><!-- m -->

This kit puts you at the 3" lift range and has all been engineered by OME to work together. That means no headaches about fitment or quality. OME has gone through all the work of making sure the spring rates are right, the shocks are valved properly, etc. etc. If this is your DD, you're going to want that bitch to at least be as comfortable as it can (being a truck and all) for DD duty. Not to mention you'll probably never have to worry about it wearing out.

Start with a well manufactured, high quality kit and then once you actually dive off the deep end you (and hopefully your wallet) can start investing in choice parts where you see fit. But for right now, I just don't see the point yet to invest in a blingy set of adjustable Bilstein shocks. Obviously it's not the right now but it's something to think about...

The parts I have selected are the go-to with Tacoma owners.

That kit there you posted will set me back over $1000 easy because I can't do an AAL since my leaves have negative arch now. I can't go much bigger tire wise anyway because of rubbing unless I want to trim fenders.