Stock Tacoma Off-road capabilities

Im going to be purchasing a second gen 4x4 offroad tacoma here in the next couple of weeks and I was just wondering what the stock offroad capabilities were.
Im recently just had a Ford ranger with a 3" lift on 33's that I took out quite often so I know how to drive offroad im just curious of how it will act because I havent drove a stock truck in quite some time.
Thanks for the help

 

Mine really surprised me on a pretty difficult trail right after I got it.

 

When in doubt, gas it out.

 

By "4x4 offroad", do you mean a Tacoma with the "TRD Off Road" package? Or are you just saying 'offroad' in a more general term? Either way, though, it's perfectly capable off road in stock form. Stock tires are of course a weak point, if only because of tread design.

With your previous driving experience, you'll be able to tell what you like/don't like about the stock setup after a couple of runs with it. You'll more than likely end up with some sort of lift and 33's (don't we all...), maybe even a locker if you're not getting the TRD. I ran with an open diff '86 4Runner for a good number of years and hung with plenty of locked rigs.

Just because Toyota sells a $50,000 TRD Pro, doesn't mean that the "lesser" 4x4 models aren't just as capable off-road in the right hands.

 

First thing I'd do is swap out the stock tires for a good all terrain (AT) tire; stock 4x4's are plenty capable (especially if you get the TRD OR model with the rear locker), but the street tires they come with will not do you any favors offroad.

 

Also, if you're used to a lifted truck then you should be mindful of the lack of ground clearance a stock truck has, don't want to bottom out hard on anything. The stock skid plate protects some but it gets bent and trashed easily.

 

Good enuf to get into trouble.

 

You could say that about the '83 VW GTI my brother had in highschool, too...

 

Good enough to get you in trouble! With some good AT or MT tires and a capable driver a stock Tacoma will surprise you off road.

 

2nd gen is vague. Regular, access or double cab? Bed length?

Ranger is likely shorter, so there are those advantages in some situations. And Ranger parts are pretty cheap.

Other than that, an equivalent equipped Tacoma with the same driver skill will having nothing to fear from a Ranger. Its even likely that with a simple tire upgrade to out do what you had.

 

Thanks for all the responses, I'm looking at a 4 door short bed TRD offroad to be more specific. And where i live it snows alot so ill probobaly get some KO2s for the truck

 

Are you speaking of off road snow driving or pavement/gravel?

Actual winter tires are a better choice in many cases, and for sure if pavement/gravel is a high percentage of snow driving.

 

Actually, you would be surprised my old ranger was 2wd and did fantastic in the snow, better than some of my buddys fullsize 4x4s. I highly recommend those tires for snow driving

 

IMO, snow driving is more about driver skill than tires. Probably half or more of the vehicle I tend to see in the ditches are 4x4 SUVs trying to make it to the ski resort. Back when I drove a sedan, I would take great pleasure in driving my little front wheel drive Honda (no chains, even) past all the 4x4 SUVs that were slid off in the ditch. City slickers trying to go skiing in their leather-clad luxury SUVs don't realize that 4x4 doesn't actually give you any more traction when driving on the highway or when trying to stop, so they figure you can keep going 65.

 

Fact, I drove the piss out of my old 12 R/T AWD Charger in the snow, would get laughed at in blizzard like conditions driving around in a "4 door sports car" pulling up at a stop light next to a 4x4 Ram and out driving the shit out of him in my car....4 wheel drive just equals 4 wheel slide in the snow/ice if you don't know wtf you are doing.

 

At 34,000 miles I'm looking to replace the factory tires with something that will bite a little more on trails but not raise highway noise too much. Tough compromise. I do trail building and have been through mud holes, up steep logging trails, navigated horrible dirt roads with deep DEEP ruts from water flow, all with factory tires. Been amazed what I got thru and never stuck. The hard core folks with me in their jacked up trucks with heavy duty tires were equally amazed they didn't have to get me out of trouble.
That being said I still think better tires for off road is a good idea. Any thoughts on a compromise tire?

 

The BFG All Terrains (KO2) are REALLY great tires. There really isn't much road noise to speak of, and being E rated, are super durable and air-down nicely.

 

Pre brush bumper pix.
Thanks for the recommendation. Sorry if I jacked the thread. Just want to give OP another affirmation that a stock SR Taco 4x4 with factory tires can perform pretty well off road. Where I go, I think a 2in lift is in order too. Cheers all...

 

@jbrandt are you running 265/65/17? I think the 70's are C rated. Curious how many people are running 65 instead, seems like a lot of 70's

 

E-rated 265/75r16's on stock wheels.

The 265/70r16's are stock size (~31's) for the TRDs, and the 75's (~32" tires) are an easy way to get a little bit larger size without too much trouble, fender clearance wise. At the stock height and 1" lift, I had some rubbing, but on the frame behind the wheels, as seen here.

You can see the "old" rubbing (stock height), and the "new" rubbing (5100's on middle setting). "old" is slight surface rust marks, and "new" in clean wear mark.

Once I put these on, no rubbing at all.