Offroading

[Thebeastlives]

Question what type of offroading do you prefer? Do you like the slow highly technical rock crawling stuff? Do you prefer the easy cruising safe fire road stuff? Or do u get excited over the high speed 70+ mph high speed vehicle catching air and suspension working over time in the rough stuff? Post your videos or maybe someone's else stuff. I personally like speed so when I'm in my can am x3 only when I'm running 60+ over whoops n high speed sweeping turns do I feel excited. My 5th gen can give me close to the same feeling on a good fire road but speed when offroading in the rough gets me going..lol

 

[Thebeastlives]

Crusing

Just a sunday cruise to Empire ranch

 

[MAST4R]

I am a one-vehicle do-it-all guy.

So I like most things except hardcore crawling (Axle Alley, Highway to Hell and similar, zero interest though walking Die Hard was fun) and generic dirt roads, especially if well-traveled.

Love especially narrow, steep mountain (CO) or canyon (UT) trails (Ridgeline, the interior loop on Montana Mountain is the closes AZ trail to what I like the most).

Generally, dislike crowded trails (Backway CK) though there are exceptions (Broken Arrow). I have no heart for very tight and nasty brush after getting pinstriped headlight to taillight in Week 3 since purchase.

My favorite AZ trail is Double Crater Volcano in Cinder Hills. Probably Ridgeline and Broken Arrow come next. Red Rock Powerline near Sedona is a less crowded gem, Z hill is deceptively easy. I really like the moderate desert trails that have great views and some rough sections but also some faster sections (New Water Mountain, New River Canyon, Bighorn Pass, Bighorn Mountain, Engesser Pass, etc).

I do NOT like crawling after going fast, that absolutely throws me off. The opposite is most welcome.

When it comes to constant crawling, Fins and Things and Elephant Hill are about it for me. So much fun. But would not enjoy Pritchett Canyon. Would rent a modded Rubicon for the Trifecta instead of modifying too much mine. In AZ, none of the very difficult trails (not extreme but worse than Broken Arrow or Backaway to CK) appeal to me. Maybe Devil's Canyon but I am not sure it is that much harder than those. EDIT: Charouleau Gap near where you are is of potential interest one day but not until the vehicle is much older.

The 6112 with 650lb springs and Icon shocks on Eibach rear springs made me like the desert even more.

All in all, I think I am very lucky to live in AZ but I do like UT and CO offroading even better. Then, again, CO offroading is 3 months per year.

 

[Thebeastlives]

Az does have some great places to offroad and places to explore. Like California it seems to offer some of everything. You can go out and do your best Robbie Gordon impression or slow it down and rock crawl for a few hours. The temps are now hot as hell but bringing tons of beers does help.

 

[LandCruiser]

I drove a lot of fire roads in CO and WY mostly to get places rather than "wanting" to do it. Probably would have preferred it if those roads were paved rather than washboarded by storms and road graders. Haven't driven down a proper "technical trail" in ages. I started building an FJ Cruiser for that purpose when I moved to CA, but then some people ate bats.

 

[Bumbo]

Cruising, Crawling, Desert / Sand Dunes, Exploration

I have built my 4Runner to more or less a "Jack of all trades, master of none"

I say this because it takes a tremendous amount of resources (both time and money) to take some of these categories to the extreme. At least for those who want to mod using off the shelf bolt-on parts. If there is any welding or fabrication is generally kept to a minimum. Beyond this, it takes custom fabricated builds.

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that while the 4Runner is an excellent platform, it does a lot and is versatile, but it will never be what I really wanted it to be, desert go-fast “trophy truck” or even a hard core crawler (SAS required). I like going fast, I like the desert, and no amount of money I throw into this thing is going to be fiscally feasible way to build what I want. I am literally better off buying a tube chassis car or long travel sports utility like a Can-Am XRS. Turn key and will hold better resale.

I had to keep my desert expectations within reason, and almost went long travel up front and considered fabricating in the rear with shock towers that move into the car, but I fell out of love with the idea after talking price with some shops. Not to mention to cost of the cage too.

These days I just put a cap on speed for the purpose of safety because most of us are not going to cage these trucks. You can have a lot of fun, but you cant have a street legal truck and expect to keep up with the real toys.

These days if I can get through a trip without breaking something or hurting myself, I call it good.

 

[3rdCoast Runner]

I like a little bit of everything from moderate/hard trails outside Moab to the ranch in Southwest Texas. The 4Runner is a very competent all around vehicle.

 

[Ray Dunakin]

My primary interest in off-road driving is to get me where I want to go. I like anything from a graded dirt road to a moderately tricky trail. I can do some rock crawling when needed but don't seek it out, and when possible I prefer to avoid the really sphincter-puckering stuff where one wrong move ends in disaster.

 

[patkelly4370]

I went to a meeting of a local 4wd group.
It seems they had, sort of, two sub-groups.
Those that want to off-road with the least amount of damage (preferably none), and the "crash and roll" bunch. The "c&r" bunch look for spots along the trail to unnecessarily challenge themselves and entertain the others.
I think I'm in the "least damage" category.
I haven't been able to go on any outings with them, or anyone else. I've had to do everything solo, so I haven't come close to the capabilities of my 4runner. I also don't know the trails around here.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Bumbo]

I went to a meeting of a local 4wd group.
It seems they had, sort of, two sub-groups.
Those that want to off-road with the least amount of damage (preferably none), and the "crash and roll" bunch. The "c&r" bunch look for spots along the trail to unnecessarily challenge themselves and entertain the others.
I think I'm in the "least damage" category.
I haven't been able to go on any outings with them, or anyone else. I've had to do everything solo, so I haven't come close to the capabilities of my 4runner. I also don't know the trails around here.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

I know the type and your assessment is comically accurate. I remember my first time wheeling as a passenger before I had my 4Runner.

We finally get to the "end" of the trail after driving on all sorts of pucker inducing sketchy stuff, our path was blocked by large rock boulders, and I naively asked "is this the end of the trail".

My buddy gave me a smirk and just said, "dude, this is where it starts". The amount of carnage, and constant steel on rock scraping was enlightening.

Some people are not "off-road" until there is imminent chance for danger and damage, generally on a trail so slow it takes 4 hours to do 1/4 mile.

I think that was the day I developed a new respect for what these trucks can do, if you so choose to do it.

 

[Thebeastlives]

Cruising, Crawling, Desert / Sand Dunes, Exploration

I have built my 4Runner to more or less a "Jack of all trades, master of none"

I say this because it takes a tremendous amount of resources (both time and money) to take some of these categories to the extreme. At least for those who want to mod using off the shelf bolt-on parts. If there is any welding or fabrication is generally kept to a minimum. Beyond this, it takes custom fabricated builds.

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that while the 4Runner is an excellent platform, it does a lot and is versatile, but it will never be what I really wanted it to be, desert go-fast “trophy truck” or even a hard core crawler (SAS required). I like going fast, I like the desert, and no amount of money I throw into this thing is going to be fiscally feasible way to build what I want. I am literally better off buying a tube chassis car or long travel sports utility like a Can-Am XRS. Turn key and will hold better resale.

I had to keep my desert expectations within reason, and almost went long travel up front and considered fabricating in the rear with shock towers that move into the car, but I fell out of love with the idea after talking price with some shops. Not to mention to cost of the cage too.

These days I just put a cap on speed for the purpose of safety because most of us are not going to cage these trucks. You can have a lot of fun, but you cant have a street legal truck and expect to keep up with the real toys.

These days if I can get through a trip without breaking something or hurting myself, I call it good.

I feel your need for speed. Driving my bmw m4 around the track at 150 mphs just didn't do so i got rid of it. The can am x3 xrs did the trick. Driving 80+ mph in the desert is just a high that you can't describe especially when you got 3 passengers, beer and gear and every rut or rock is no more than a minor after thought. I can ride fast hard and hit stuff that my 4 runners can't hit 1/4 the speed. Breaking the x3 can be done but after 10 years of riding different can am at high speeds it is always a driving lack of experience or error. They are built rock solid and fast. It is nice at times to have a solid 4 runner to take out with even more gear and people and slow it down. Having a balance between insane offroad desert speeds and traditional slow offroad in a street vehicle like the 4 runner is a good balance for me

 

[Thebeastlives]

Cruising, Crawling, Desert / Sand Dunes, Exploration

I have built my 4Runner to more or less a "Jack of all trades, master of none"

I say this because it takes a tremendous amount of resources (both time and money) to take some of these categories to the extreme. At least for those who want to mod using off the shelf bolt-on parts. If there is any welding or fabrication is generally kept to a minimum. Beyond this, it takes custom fabricated builds.

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that while the 4Runner is an excellent platform, it does a lot and is versatile, but it will never be what I really wanted it to be, desert go-fast “trophy truck” or even a hard core crawler (SAS required). I like going fast, I like the desert, and no amount of money I throw into this thing is going to be fiscally feasible way to build what I want. I am literally better off buying a tube chassis car or long travel sports utility like a Can-Am XRS. Turn key and will hold better resale.

I had to keep my desert expectations within reason, and almost went long travel up front and considered fabricating in the rear with shock towers that move into the car, but I fell out of love with the idea after talking price with some shops. Not to mention to cost of the cage too.

These days I just put a cap on speed for the purpose of safety because most of us are not going to cage these trucks. You can have a lot of fun, but you cant have a street legal truck and expect to keep up with the real toys.

These days if I can get through a trip without breaking something or hurting myself, I call it good.

I feel your need for speed. Driving my bmw m4 around the track at 150 mphs just didn't do so i got rid of it. The can am x3 xrs did the trick. Driving 80+ mph in the desert is just a high that you can't describe especially when you got 3 passengers, beer and gear and every rut or rock is no more than a minor after thought. I can ride fast hard and hit stuff that my 4 runners can't hit 1/4 the speed. Breaking the x3 can be done but after 10 years of riding different can am at high speeds it is always a driver lack of experience or error. They are built rock solid and fast. It is nice at times to have a solid 4 runner to take out with even more gear and people and slow it down. Having a balance between insane offroad desert speeds and traditional slow offroad in a street vehicle like the 4 runner is a good balance for me

 

[Ogre75]

I feel your need for speed. Driving my bmw m4 around the track at 150 mphs just didn't do so i got rid of it. The can am x3 xrs did the trick. Driving 80+ mph in the desert is just a high that you can't describe especially when you got 3 passengers, beer and gear and every rut or rock is no more than a minor after thought. I can ride fast hard and hit stuff that my 4 runners can't hit 1/4 the speed. Breaking the x3 can be done but after 10 years of riding different can am at high speeds it is always a driver lack of experience or error. They are built rock solid and fast. It is nice at times to have a solid 4 runner to take out with even more gear and people and slow it down. Having a balance between insane offroad desert speeds and traditional slow offroad in a street vehicle like the 4 runner is a good balance for me

That Can AM looks fun

 

[Inv4drZm]

Rock Crawling! Rock Crawling! Rock Crawling!
And driving to work.

 

[Bumbo]

Did anyone mention Rock Crawling?

 

[maximus95]

I'm definitely a cruising kinda guy. Throw in some dirt roads and light trails and that's about it for me, in the 4Runner at least..

 

[Bumbo]

Xtreme

This guy know what hes doing... FS: Lightly used 4Runner.

 

[Thebeastlives]

This guy know what hes doing... FS: Lightly used 4Runner.

Lmaoooo...could be very expensive if he lands wrong

 

[Bluesky 07]

My primary interest in off-road driving is to get me where I want to go. I like anything from a graded dirt road to a moderately tricky trail. I can do some rock crawling when needed but don't seek it out, and when possible I prefer to avoid the really sphincter-puckering stuff where one wrong move ends in disaster.

This. Stuff like the Kentucky Toyota Trail Ride (vids are on my YT channel linked in my sig) & just exploring. Can’t wait to get my truck out west. I’ve done Shafer Trail at Canyonlands National Park & Georgia Pass on the Continental Divide in rented 4x4s and my dream would be to start around May one year in Texas & end up in Alaska by midsummer, exploring as much as possible along the way, then do the same headed back south.

 

[miller507]

I don't care much for rock crawling, usually go for trails that go from village to village. That's my go to stuff [emoji1787] can't guarantee you're gonna get back the same day but man its fun.

Weekend beach runs and nice fire roads are always fun when I can't get my offroad fix.

You can guess who took the 9 hour tough trail and who took the easy 2 hour route. [emoji28]