offroading beginner

[ghastings93]

Whats up ladies and gentlemen,

i've been lurking and reading around this forum here for a couple of day now.
And i have a few questions, Now i dont know much but im hoping you could me out.

i have a 1992 toyota 4Runner 3.0 automatic transmission. ( got for free from my father)

Im looking to getting into offroading, i believe everything is stock except for the tires which are a little bigger than the stock ones.

This 4runner is my daily vehicle, I live in the snow during the winter and it gets extremely muddy during the summer, and i would like to be able to crawl overs some decent size rocks and go through decent size puddles of mud !

1)How big of a lift do i need 4" inches or 6" inches ?

2)What kind of tires or how big the tire i should get for my situation ?

3)Should i get lockers ?
- If i get lockers do i need to replace the differentials ?


How do i get some more power out of it ?
- my dads 2000 toyota carolla climbs a paved hill faster than my 4runner ?

Any help is appreciated !

 

[KidVermicious]

Don't mod your truck at all. Not yet, I mean. It's already way more truck than you know what to do with - with a decent set of AT tires, it can handle moderate mud and snow with ease, and has enough flex to get up a decently rocky trail in stock form. Learn to drive what you've got before you start throwing money at your truck - by the time you're good enough that the truck is holding you back, you won't need to ask questions like "should I get lockers" or "how much lift do I need".

If you have to do stuff now, start with the tires. If you don't have a good set of all-terrain tires and a solid spare, do that first. Then get armor and recovery gear - rock sliders, skid plate, and belly pans are awesome ways to surf over the rocks instead of getting hung up. A collection of straps and d-rings never hurt, a high lift and/or exhaust jack can help you out of a jam if you know how to use them, and maybe a winch if you plan on wheeling alone.

Speaking of wheeling alone, don't. Find a crew to tag along with and show you the ropes. Toyota Territory Off Road Association and Toyota Land Cruiser Association are both national clubs with chapters in your area, start with them. There's no better way to learn how to wheel than with a crew of experienced drivers, and I've never met a wheeler that wasn't willing to teach a new guy.

Stay out of the mud. Not only is it a real quick way to destroy your truck, but thrashing around in the mud is not low-impact wheeling. Check out TreadLightly.com for awesome tips on how to get the most out of your truck without contributing to environmental damage and trail closures. Always make sure you're wheeling on open trails - check with the Forest Service or BLM or whoever owns the land BEFORE you go, and respect trail closures and No Trespassing signs. The future of the sport of offroading depends on everybody wheeling responsibly.

Oh, and your engine power? Forget it . The 3.0 isn't a racecar motor, and the automatic transmission is a dog. Exhaust headers will open up the motor a bit, but you'll never ever beat your dad's Corolla in a race with that truck. It's built for reliability and torque, not speed.

Welcome to the forum! Be sure and post pictures of your explorations once you get out there, I love North Dakota.

 

[Sponge Bob]

X2 the best way to learn is take it slow. Fast and hard = broken parts. KidVermicious is right on point!

 

[ghastings93]

Should i go for winches rated for my vehicle weight or should i go for higher rated weights?
Should i get a winch for front and back of my vehicle ?

Rock-Sliders and skid plates are removable right if i ever have to work on the vehicle ?
Are they welded on or bolted in there ?

What are the D-Rings used for ?

 

[having fun]

Should i go for winches rated for my vehicle weight or should i go for higher rated weights?
Should i get a winch for front and back of my vehicle ?

Rock-Sliders and skid plates are removable right if i ever have to work on the vehicle ?
Are they welded on or bolted in there ?

What are the D-Rings used for ?

Nothing personal, but, most have done off road running even if it was a logging trails, ect. before modding our rides.

Most have done research, which there is a search box above. And click on to the sponsors, they will describe and willing to sell you these things. Using the above suggestions will answer a lot for you and then what little your not sure of, people would be willing to help with answers. So far what you have asked, KID was being nice and telling you your going to get yourself into trouble if you try to jump into the lake , before the pond.

Remember also, GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND. We have all been in your shoes at one time. OH, WELCOME ABOARD.

 

[Tresvn]

Hey ghastings, I was/am in a similar situation, I got the runner in Dec and wanted to lift it immediately, get bumpers, winches etc. Instead I picked up some new tires, a tow strap and hooked up with a few guys from here to see what wheeling was all about.

I have gone out 4 or 5 times in my stock 03 and am surprised each time at what the truck can do. I've learned that the off road community is pretty cool and if you watch, learn and listen you'll soon be able to differentiate between what you need and what you want.
I want a lift, I need belly protection and sliders. I got stuck the first time I went out and got to learn that digging under the truck in icy water looking for a tow point is not fun so I installed a front hitch receiver, and a heavy D-ring/shackle :

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Next on my list is sliders then new skids.
Go slow , take it easy and have fun of course.

psssst, between you and me, it feels great to hear someone say "That's a stock truck" after you do something you didn't think you could.

 

[KidVermicious]

Damned straight, Tresvn.

What everybody is saying, G, is wheel first. Mod later.

 

[JB.]

KidVermicious --> Learn to drive what you've got before you start throwing money at your truck - by the time you're good enough that the truck is holding you back, you won't need to ask questions like "should I get lockers" or "how much lift do I need".

Repeating this 'cause it's so true. Very happy I started this way.

Talked to a guy once on a dowhill trail with many successive hairpin switchback turns. The trail wasn't steep but the terrain off the sides was (as in leave the road, roll to a stop 1,000 feet later). He had a massively built and equippied Rubicon. He was talking to me like we were both hard core wheelers (neither of us was). I kept thinking, "Dude, don't you see the difference between what you're driving and what I'm driving?". Turns out he was fully locked front to rear. A disaster waiting to happen.

ghastings93, you don't want to be that guy.