jeffryscott
2006 Rally Course Champion: Expedition Trophy
Three trucks showed up ... here is a preview ...off to holiday parties, more later ...
Dec. 16 trail run ...
- Thread starter jeffryscott
- Start date
ShottsCruisers
Explorer
jeffryscott said:
That is the funnest spot!
jeffryscott
2006 Rally Course Champion: Expedition Trophy
trip report - long
Saturday's trip was my first chance to really try the new 4Runner out. Mike McDonald, an old Land Rover friend with his sweet 96 Discovery, Dean, a friend and coworker who recently bought a Tacoma, with the rear locker option, and myself.
The 4Runner was an adjustment for me. Having been used to the little Zuk, which I had complete confidence in and knew quite well, the size and unknowns of the 4Runner made me a little hesitant compared to normal.
Charouleau Gap has a lot of twisty, cross-axle situations that I was able to drive through in the Zuk, because of its rear locker. I tried the first few in the Runner and found myself spinning tires. Reverting to old school technique, I started applying brake and gas to try to get through with difficulty. A few rocks were being stacked to get me through a few sections. This was, afterall, a feeler to see how the completely stock 4Runner would do before better suspension and tires are added. I have to say, I wasn't terribly impressed early on.
The diff-lock was on, but without the rear locker I felt a bit inadequate, especially seeing the Tacoma, with the locker on, go through the same spots.
However, after the first couple of obstacles, I started feeling the ATRAC kick in, something I knew I had, but wasn't too sure how it worked. I was defeating it every time I put my foot on the brake. My stubborness to keep taking the harder lines paid off as I learned a light, steady throttle in those situations would kick in the ATRAC and before long I was just cruising through the rutted washed-out, cross-axle situations - gaining confidence in what I know is a supremely capable truck.
It was a short day relatively speaking and I definitely saw the need to quickly replace the street queen tires for something more off-road worthy (as if i didn't already know that
) but the three of us had a great time and it gave Dean his first real trip in his Tacoma as well.
Saturday's trip was my first chance to really try the new 4Runner out. Mike McDonald, an old Land Rover friend with his sweet 96 Discovery, Dean, a friend and coworker who recently bought a Tacoma, with the rear locker option, and myself.
The 4Runner was an adjustment for me. Having been used to the little Zuk, which I had complete confidence in and knew quite well, the size and unknowns of the 4Runner made me a little hesitant compared to normal.
Charouleau Gap has a lot of twisty, cross-axle situations that I was able to drive through in the Zuk, because of its rear locker. I tried the first few in the Runner and found myself spinning tires. Reverting to old school technique, I started applying brake and gas to try to get through with difficulty. A few rocks were being stacked to get me through a few sections. This was, afterall, a feeler to see how the completely stock 4Runner would do before better suspension and tires are added. I have to say, I wasn't terribly impressed early on.
The diff-lock was on, but without the rear locker I felt a bit inadequate, especially seeing the Tacoma, with the locker on, go through the same spots.
However, after the first couple of obstacles, I started feeling the ATRAC kick in, something I knew I had, but wasn't too sure how it worked. I was defeating it every time I put my foot on the brake. My stubborness to keep taking the harder lines paid off as I learned a light, steady throttle in those situations would kick in the ATRAC and before long I was just cruising through the rutted washed-out, cross-axle situations - gaining confidence in what I know is a supremely capable truck.
It was a short day relatively speaking and I definitely saw the need to quickly replace the street queen tires for something more off-road worthy (as if i didn't already know that
) but the three of us had a great time and it gave Dean his first real trip in his Tacoma as well.
Scott Brady
Founder
Great pics Jeff!
Glad the ATRAC is working well. I think with some better tires and improved flex the truck will really perform.
Glad the ATRAC is working well. I think with some better tires and improved flex the truck will really perform.
jeffryscott
2006 Rally Course Champion: Expedition Trophy
Kermit said:
Oh yes, a very modded Suzuki 4-door Vitara, about as modded as one could get short of a complete SAS.
I purposely wanted to run a fairly challenging trail completely stock just to get a feel for the 4Runner. To me it is a good idea to know where you are starting to get a better feel for where you want to go.
We didn't make it too far up the trail, just past the actual Gap a short ways, stopped for lunch then came back out. I tell you though, I like going up that rutted stuff better than going down ...
After I got a feel for the traction control, I was pleased with the trucks performance. Even with 4-6-inches of lift on the Zuk I would bang around on some of the rocks and stuff. The increased clearance of the stock 4Runner was great, only hit the underside once or twice.
Now to get the sliders. TJM and probably about a 2 to 2.5-inch suspension lift (Tundra front springs/shocks and Old Man Emu rear shocks (found used on all so far, $140 invested) and my friend with the Disco has set of new (less than 5K) Dunlop MT's I can get for a good price. Eventually, I will do coilovers up front, but I think I will stick with about 2-2.5-inches of lift.
We did see an FJ Cruiser while we were eating lunch but didn't do anything more than wave.
It really was a fun trip for me, and quite a learning experenice for Jeff. But it was really cool that Jeff wanted to take it out stock and see exactly what it could do. I think he'll have no problem with that rig.
And it was a learning experience for me as well, being as I have never taken the Tacoma out and haven't been off highway for over a year (I'm a recovering Land Rover owner). But I was really impressed with the Tacoma, in no way as capable as my old modified Rover, but still for just putting tires (BFG ATs) on and having a rear locker, it's great.
It was neat comparing Jeff and my Toyotas, where his rear tires would slip mine would just grip and go. The locker is such a great addition I'm really lucky to have.
But after hitting my diff a few times I feel like I'd like to get a diff guard, any suggestions of a good one?
And it was a learning experience for me as well, being as I have never taken the Tacoma out and haven't been off highway for over a year (I'm a recovering Land Rover owner). But I was really impressed with the Tacoma, in no way as capable as my old modified Rover, but still for just putting tires (BFG ATs) on and having a rear locker, it's great.
It was neat comparing Jeff and my Toyotas, where his rear tires would slip mine would just grip and go. The locker is such a great addition I'm really lucky to have.
But after hitting my diff a few times I feel like I'd like to get a diff guard, any suggestions of a good one?
BogusBlake
2006 Expedition Trophy Champion
knuth said:
I've had great luck with an 8" weldable pipe cap cut in half on older Toyota axles, but I'm not sure if it will fit as well on the Taco housing. I need one too, but Ill probably just make one out of plate.
Yeah, a locker makes all the difference!
edit- I just went out and measured and it looks like the pipe cap will work on the Taco housing. Ill start a thread in the Taco section about this so we don't hijack this thread
Last edited:
MaddBaggins
Explorer
Obviously I didn't make it. Sorry Jeff.
My daughter came down with strep(?) throat thursday and my wife worked all weekend. So I Had to spend the weekend at home with sick kid.
I ended up working on my rig saturday and my house on sunday.
Lately, one family thing after another keeps me off the trails and stuck at home, workin on the house. Funny, my wife keeps telling me to quit workin on the house so much and take some time off for fun, but everytime I make a plan...BAMM.
I'm planning on hitting C-gap on the 31st, we'll see.
My daughter came down with strep(?) throat thursday and my wife worked all weekend. So I Had to spend the weekend at home with sick kid.
I ended up working on my rig saturday and my house on sunday.
Lately, one family thing after another keeps me off the trails and stuck at home, workin on the house. Funny, my wife keeps telling me to quit workin on the house so much and take some time off for fun, but everytime I make a plan...BAMM.
I'm planning on hitting C-gap on the 31st, we'll see.
jeffryscott
2006 Rally Course Champion: Expedition Trophy
Alvin, we'll hook up sometime. Sorry you couldn't make it and hope your daughter is feeling better ... and that none of you have received that most precious of gifts children can give - their illness.
My two have had minor colds, I'm just hoping now that work is done until Tuesday I can hang in there and not get it.
Have fun on the 31st ... I can't wait to hit that trail again once I get tires, suspension, sliders all sorted out. Should be soon for all that ...
My two have had minor colds, I'm just hoping now that work is done until Tuesday I can hang in there and not get it.
Have fun on the 31st ... I can't wait to hit that trail again once I get tires, suspension, sliders all sorted out. Should be soon for all that ...
MaddBaggins
Explorer
You're welcome along on the 31st. Check here for the when and where.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=123972
Zoe is over the illness now and somehow I managed to escape it unscathed. I may do a scouting run on sunday with Ross.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=123972
Zoe is over the illness now and somehow I managed to escape it unscathed. I may do a scouting run on sunday with Ross.