2WD offroading?

Stuck CAPS

Stuck CAPS

New member
I have a 2004 4runner sr5 with the 2wd v6. My question is, is how well will I be able to offroad with it? I've ran several small paths, with water, and mud, but nothing too extreme, mainly because nothing's close. The truck's stock right now, except for a k&n air filter, and the hydrocarbon filter removed. Any advice would be nice. Thanks :)
 
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With some decent tires you can do mild stuff as you've found.
If you want to put some money into it you could make it more offroadable, like a locker, suspension, etc.
 
fourwd1 said:
With some decent tires you can do mild stuff as you've found.
If you want to put some money into it you could make it more offroadable, like a locker, suspension, etc.
Click to expand...

I was planning on suspension, but I'm not exactly sure on what a locker does...
 
I do it all the time, everytime I forget to lock the front hubs :D

Does a 2WD 4Th Gen have a 2Low...or ATRAC? It will come in really handy for climbing steep hills or even moderate obstacles. Without low gear you would need too much gas pedal if you even make it.

You could make it more offroad capable with a lift, tires, rear locker, and winch. That is for my version of offroading, some guys call blasting through the sand offroading too, and rock crawling just plain crazy.

Where ever you go, don't go alone, 4x4 or not if not really prepared. On the 4th Gen you could be looking at 1000$+++ for front winch bumper to house a 700-1200$ winch, and 400-1200$ for a rear locker plus install labour. Having got to that point with my 4x4 4th Gen I opted for sinking that money into a 1st gen strictly dedicated to offroading instead. That could be another option. Get a 1st/2nd gen 4x4 for offroading. You could bolt up a winch plate for less than 200$ and a 600$ winch of some sort that will pull you out when stuck or just help you along. Maybe a simple spool or lunch box locker in the rear for 300-600$ and you're set. Unless you become an addict then there is no limit. :driving:

You could stick with your 2wd and make sure to go with some other guys or a club that won't mind pulling or winching you out when you need it. I did a trail one time with a guy and an old landcruiser. He wanted to test it out stock pre any mods. He had no lift, and baldish 28" tires...maybe 29"....anyways, at some point we just kept him tied to the truck I was in and everytime he got a little stuck or had trouble climbing a hill we just tugged on him to help him along. It worked, and he still had a good time. Besides it all really about fireing up the BBQ with family and friends on the mountain top in the woods anyway, isn't it?
 
Stuck CAPS said:
Thank you so much! That explains a lot, so basically, it will stop you from getting excess wheel spin?
Click to expand...

A locker gives you 100% 50/50 split of power transfer'd to the rear wheels where as without a locker all the power transfers to the wheel with the least traction.. Open center differentials sending power to the wheels that don't need it since 1827...
 
no LS on the 4th gens even the 2wd's. They do have a traction control system, I'm uncertain if it operates the same as ATRAC.
 
Hyde802 said:
You know when your stuck and only 1 wheel is spinning, lockers prevent that, so both wheels spin all the time.
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With an open (standard) diff the wheel that has no traction is the one that's spinning.
An open diff sends all the power to the wheel with the least amount of traction (opposite of what you want), so that wheel just spins, and you don't move.
A locked diff sends power to both wheels, so the wheel with traction turns, and you move.
An LSD is kind of between open and locked. An LSD sends some power to the wheel with traction.
 
Stuck CAPS said:
I have a 2004 4runner sr5 with the 2wd v6. My question is, is how well will I be able to offroad with it? I've ran several small paths, with water, and mud, but nothing too extreme, mainly because nothing's close. The truck's stock right now, except for a k&n air filter, and the hydrocarbon filter removed. Any advice would be nice. Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Climbing on fairly dry inclines, you'd be surprised what the 2wd can do since the weight shifts rearward (where the suspension flex is) going uphill and 1st gear high range is a fairly low gear (equiv to 3rd low) that works pretty well both up and down hills that aren't too steep.

As mentioned, good tires will help a lot.
 
2wd offroading can be way more fun if you have the right stuff on the truck like these guys
131_0706_01_z+2003_toyota_4runner+front_view.jpg

0908or_24_z+2003_toyota_4runner+long_travel_front_end.jpg

24917d1265783659-finally-got-my-tc-long-travel-kit-my-4th-gen-peep-sideways.jpg
 
I do most of my offroading in 2wd. I only engage the 4wd when I need the low gearing. Someday I will have twin sticks that allow me to use 2wd low. I can cheat and just leave my hubs unlocked, but.....
 
Foot, ya know how I wheel:hello:

Hey looking at going out somewhere later next week. It's been too long... Lets play:guitar3:
 
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