Going to start wheeling, but very nervous.

Show her this video and make sure she knows it's the same vehicle with different sheet metal. It's built for this and it shows. Good luck! Have fun. Also Toyota needs to make some good ads for the USA market.

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/csFo0c5-21k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i3D8gvPpYXs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Ok, Just to calibrate l'm a driving instructor for Porsche club and teach students at Watkins Glen, Limerock etc. The fact that you are taking a class almost guarantees that you and your vehicle will be fine. As many have stated before, take it slow and go in eyes wide open. As an instructor for driving, I want my student to leave an event with a super positive outcome. Your instructor will have the same mindset. This is all about fun and learning. Have a great time and listen to everything your instructor has to say!

Cheers, James
 
Having been to Rausch 30+ times, you're doing the right thing by taking the class first to learn how to do it right. They'll teach you the basics and get you feeling more confident in yourself and your 4R.

With that said, there are some blues there that will tear you up if you don't have skids at least on the tank and IFS. Take your time & learn as you build up your rig. It's an inevitable result from you trying it out... you'll have a blast.
 
Like anything else, go with someone else who is more experienced as you so they can show you the ropes. That's how I learned. I'm close by in Longmont, feel free to ping me if you ever want to meet up and go explore.
 
Runn4est said:
Thanks all for the words of advice and encouragement. It's good to hear from first hand experience that it is likely easily, but cautiously, manageable for our ride. I appreciate the honesty too, and not just dismissing any little trail rash.

I definitely plan on going about the ride cautiously and don't aim for being the next YouTube viral sensation. I expect that my wife will still cringe and maybe be mad about a little scrape, but I think I can manage that as long as we are able to drive home in one piece. Would an extra coat of wax help the pinstriping?

I figured the skirting would be in the line of fire most, and I was hoping to remove the bottom portion, but it looks like it's all one piece of molded plastic now? Looks like only the piece that covers the hooks is removable.
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The early SR5's had the same low-hanging trim as the LE's. I tore my front air dam my very first trip off road, and over time dragged my running board bracket enough to bend the underside of my rocker panel.

Before going off road, I cannot emphasize enough:
- Take off the front air dam unless you want to drag and tear it. It can be removed. After 3-4 trips off road mine was torn beyond salvage so I just tossed it.
- Take off the rocker panel trim. Get a pair of ramps so you'll have room to work. If you don't have running boards, on each side you'll find (6) 12mm bolts (brackets to rocker panel), (3) 10mm screws (front and rear wheel wells), (2) stainless Phillip's screws (one behind the lower edge of each door), and (2) plastic push-rivets (front wheel well, use a flat screwdriver to gently pry out). Maybe a 15-20-minute process to remove and again to put back on.

Incidentally, your situation sounds just like mine. My wife hates it when I go off road. I see trail pinstriping (light tree scratches) as a sign of honor, she sees it as tearing up a perfectly good vehicle. My family is the same... "a 4-yr-old vehicle should never leave the mall parking lot". But fortunately it's my vehicle, and I bought it for the purpose of taking it off road (hunting, camping, etc.). That said, as soon as I get the funds together I'll be upgrading the armor.
 
You can easily off-road and be careful and not scratch anything if you do it within reason.

Trust me on that. I am the most anal M.F. you'll probably ever find. Just know your limits and what your level of pain is and you'll be fine.
 
Yeah I'm very new to this also. My 2015 Trail that I picked up in June is my first real offroad vehical. It's still pretty much stock and the only modifications I have made that improve offroad capability are tires (275/70r17 BFG KO2s) and sliders MetalTech). I was just out today on some forest service roads (217, 105, and 216) off of highway 72 NW of Jamestown. And I have to say that I am always impressed with what this vehical can do. Every time I go out I push it a little further and the vehical comes through. I was even on part of a trail rated as Difficult by the guide book I have, "Guide to Northern Colorado Backroads and 4-wheel-drive Trails" and I just went as far as I felt comfortable especially since there was still snow on portions and then just turned around. The only part that was uncomfortable was when a yahoo on a 4 wheeler came tearing around a corner too fast and was in my opinion too close to hitting me. Of course taking a class is the right thing to do, and I will look into it myself, but I have been very impressed with where I can get in a nearly stock vehical, taking it slow, and a little common sense. I have acquired some pinstripes, but oh well, the paint is so thin on this thing that I have scratched it by accidentally brushing it with my wedding ring. I can't see really damaging anything unless I really push past my capability, but of course this is all from my very limited experience.
 
jwkilgore said:
The early SR5's had the same low-hanging trim as the LE's. I tore my front air dam my very first trip off road, and over time dragged my running board bracket enough to bend the underside of my rocker panel.

Before going off road, I cannot emphasize enough:
- Take off the front air dam unless you want to drag and tear it. It can be removed. After 3-4 trips off road mine was torn beyond salvage so I just tossed it.
- Take off the rocker panel trim. Get a pair of ramps so you'll have room to work. If you don't have running boards, on each side you'll find (6) 12mm bolts (brackets to rocker panel), (3) 10mm screws (front and rear wheel wells), (2) stainless Phillip's screws (one behind the lower edge of each door), and (2) plastic push-rivets (front wheel well, use a flat screwdriver to gently pry out). Maybe a 15-20-minute process to remove and again to put back on.

Incidentally, your situation sounds just like mine. My wife hates it when I go off road. I see trail pinstriping (light tree scratches) as a sign of honor, she sees it as tearing up a perfectly good vehicle. My family is the same... "a 4-yr-old vehicle should never leave the mall parking lot". But fortunately it's my vehicle, and I bought it for the purpose of taking it off road (hunting, camping, etc.). That said, as soon as I get the funds together I'll be upgrading the armor.
Click to expand...

I have sliders on order so the rocker panel is coming off. The front air dam really seems to be one piece of plastic... There is no seam in the plastic at all. The only part that comes off is to expose the recovery points.
 

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If you're as cautious in real life as you are online, you'll run out of testicular fortitude long before your truck runs out of capability and that's not a bad thing. Don't listen to the Jeep nerds, these trucks have a ton of capability.
 
Phoenix4R said:
If you're as cautious in real life as you are online, you'll run out of testicular fortitude long before your truck runs out of capability and that's not a bad thing. Don't listen to the Jeep nerds, these trucks have a ton of capability.
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^^^ This.

I have no issue with the guys that mod the hell out of their 4Runners, but in all likelihood, that truck box stock has way more capability than 95% of those that own them do.

Lift kits, big tires, blah, blah, blah... 98% of the time it's all for looks. I've gone places in my stock 4WD vehicles that many would say "No way".

It's true. It is really true.

Go out, start slow and move at YOUR pace and you will be amazed at what a good 4WD can do right off the showroom floor.
 
I am basically in the same boat as you. I just bought my first 4x4 and got the KO2's and headed out this past weekend to try it all out. I took my wife and ended up trying to show off for her. We ended up going down some Level-3 trails which were definitely beyond my experience level (0) and combined with very muddy conditions it turned out to be a very stressful situation. Ultimately, we made it through and it felt incredibly great. Each time I thought something was unpassable, I just put all my trust in the truck and it never failed. We were both impressed with the performance of the truck.

In short, I agree with Blitzkrieg. Know your limits and know your trucks limits. As you get more comfortable, things will be more fun.
 
DannyLlama said:
I'm not familiar with the area you are going..

I took my LE all stock to a local place and did fine.. Like you, I was nervous. But I just took easy to moderate trails and it wasn't bad.

I will tell you this. Try to go without your wife at first, take her when she gets comfortable. If your nervous she will naturally get nervous. If your more confident, it will help the situation. My wife didn't go until the 5th time.

4R's are very capable trucks, but they are only as capable as their drivers. Know your limits and don't push more than what your comfortable with. Listen to your guy, there's science behind that.

Have fun and post photos.
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This is excellent advice. Go for it. Once you get out there and see how capable the T4R really is you will wonder why you did not get out there sooner. 101 classes are perfect because you can ask questions and the experts will tailor the trails to beginners.

The first 10 hard hits will make you pucker like never before, but you'll start to recognize a loud bang from a BAD loud bang. I thought I would find bent everything under my T4R after my first trail run. But everything was totally fine. Our Toyotas were designed to be used offroad. Go have fun with it!
 
ST1FLER said:
tell your inlaws to STFU and get out there an enjoy the vehicle YOU are paying for
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Worst advice in the history of this forum, but maybe Stifler is a bit jaded.

OP, offroading is fun and a great way to explore some less traveled areas. Do you have any friends who are into offroading? If so, go do a few easy trails with them rather than pay for a 101 class. If not, the 101 class should be a decent way to get your feet wet.

If you stick to easy trails/roads, the risk of damage to your vehicle should be minimal. Just understand that if you start to look for more challenging and/or remote roads, there is always the possibility that you might get into a bad situation. Traveling in groups, having the proper recovery gear are great ways to mitigate that risk, but anyone who goes off the beaten path should be willing to accept that risk. Pin-striping, scraped skid plates, dirty vehicle, worn tires are the norm for regular offroading, and breaking parts is always a possibility as you get into more challenging terrain. If you and your wife can't live with those possibilities, I'd say don't offroad. If you can, you'll have a great time and learn a lot about your rig.

Your 4runner is extremely capable in stock form, and if you treat like a truck, instead of like a garage queen (like some do on this forum), you'll be more than surprised with where it can safely get you.
 
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I've never done it but looks like the Rausch Creek class would be of big help to ease your nerves.

Without a lift and any experience I would only stay on the Green trails but be warned because of weather some of the previously graded Greens are actually Blue.

And yes, taking your truck off road DOES open up the potential of serious damage AND injury. There is just no way around it. At the very least you WILL get scratches. No way around that either.

So, time to decide - if you spend more time here reading the Pro threads about how to keep it clean and which wax works best then maybe off roading is not for you. On the other hand if you do get a dent and yell Yippee That Was Fun then welcome!!!!

Youtube has tons of videos. Search 'damage', 'roll over', etc. and watch them with your wife so both go into it with both eyes wide open.

I've off roaded all over the world. Also all over the US in my 4R. We go to RC mostly to test something or just for giggles but during my last trip on a very easy trail the rock shifted and BANG!
 
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ST1FLER said:
someone hasn't heard its cool to make INLAW jokes..... but on a serious note if my inlaws told me not to wheel my 4runner..... I'd say shut the fuq up
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I have the same issue with my in-laws. They don't know what a 4Runner is and think it's just another mid-size SUV. The pick-up owners are the worst.

I took a brother-in-law on a rough climb over a pass on the Mojave Road and he finally understood. I did not have to hear about his old 2WD pick-up with Posi-Traction any more.
 
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