How Good are Tundras Off-Road - Really???

[taconow]

I currently own a '98 Taco (4x4, V6, TRD), but am seriously looking at trading it in for a Tundra. My reasons are simple: bigger and more powerful. I also love the Tundra's looks.

I love to off-road and my Taco really kicks butt out in the dirt. So my question is, how good are the Tundras off-road? I realize that I would be sacrificing some maneuverability due to the size difference, but if I ended up buying a new Tundra with the O/R package and LSD, what could I expect when taking it off the beaten path? Anyone gone from a Taco to a Tundra?

[fourtoys]

If you don't mind the extra size I think you'll be pleased,the tundra is much better offroad than the big 3 trucks and has similar ground clearance and 4x system to the taco.the only problem I've had has been maneuverability in the woods and I just like the truck too much to scratch it up.you might want to think about aftermarket skidplates though...

[Jwitz]

The tundra is very capable off road, maybe not as much as a taco, but it will keep up with stock jeeps! I've had my truck through every type of terrain imagineable, through sand, river, mud, trail, and over rocks... and I'm not talking about small rocks, I'm talking about rocks big enought that you have to have spotters and wheel placement or you will dent your muffler like I have. I don't even have the LSD and my truck is trail ready... and a little bit more money and some inginuity makes it even better... i.e. I have sway bar disconnects that help alot in the wheel travel department (10" front and 14" in back) as well as 31" tires and extended differential breathers. If you drive well and careful, I think you will surprize yourself where you can go with IFS... We may not have a hudge aftermarket following yet, but stock tundras beat out the same size fords and chevys out on the trail!

P.S. I don't even have the V8! - oh, and the front end is really soft, get some new coilovers for a small lift and firmness off road...

[taco]

I have owned both so I will give my opinion. My taco was stock all the way around, 5 spd v6 ext cab 4x4. It did good all around but the suspension never was any good. My tundra has no axle wrap as compared to my taco and handles everything (so far) much better than my taco. I have seen a bone stock reg cab 4 cyl 4x4 taco go the same exact places as a lifted(3 ") v6 4x4 isuzu rodeo with bfg all terrain tires and kept up with no problems. If I keep my tundra I will add things like suspension and other mods(possibly a locker) as well as the trd s/c and a good set of tires and I feel the tundra will go anywhere. NO rocks around but plenty of dunes/ powerlines and mud pits. If you run small tight trails and dont need any room get the taco but I needed a bigger truck and it is also better on road if that matters.

[Breathing Borla]

I have owned 3 tacomas and 2 tundras of the following types. (all 4x4) tacos..95.5 reg cab 4cyl 97 reg cab v6 98 ext cab v6 TRD tundras 2000 Access cab non-trd V8 2001 Access cab TRD V8 I can say that from just the offraoding stand point that the tacoma is much better. The tacoma has a stick trans and has the biggest advantage of a locking rear end that you can't get on the tundra. The front end is much stiffer on the tacoma and it did a much better job in high speed bumps. As far as hill climbing go the tundra is better if you have enough room and don't get to the point of needing the locking rear end. It sucks big time that they did not put the rear end locker in the tundra TRD. As far as every other aspect the tundra is better, ride, room, power, more doors etc. the king of them all would of been that 97 taco reg cab v6 if you could get the locker back then.

[Jwitz]

I HAVE A STICK!!!! and when I get the money, I'm going to put a powertrax locker in both ends!

[Cloud9]

Well boys, I don't know about getting a locker rear end, I'm not that hard core full-bore pedal to the metal when I'm offroad. But I do have the Limited slip rear end in my 2002 Tundra, and I'll tell you, it's a WORLD of difference over my old 1991 4x4 Taco (BTW, which I just sold yesterday, and it was my favorite ride up until this Tundra). My Tundra with the LSD stays a whole lot straighter and keeps that 'ol pucker factor down much more than my squirrelly taco did (I had 31 x 10.5" tires on the taco). I just feel a lot more in control when I'm not fishtailing, waiting for the front wheel to grab. The track of the Tundra is a full 13" wider than the taco, so you'll be a little more timid running thru the chapparal on those skinny jeep trails with new paint, but to me, there's no comparison between the two except they are offroad cousins. As far as having a stick shift, that's not an advantage, and I drove sticks for 35 years up until the Tundra. Those automatic clutches are a lot faster and smarter than I am, I've noticed. But I miss shifting, that's for sure. Also, having a V8 to power out when needed is the cherry on top of it all. Don't hesitate. Get your Tundra. I sure do enjoy the heck out of mine....

[BVS]

How Good are Tundras Off-Road - Really???

Well there getting better. I'm still working with Eric K on skid plates. I could use more tundra owner input Please check out http://www.tundrasolutions.com/cgi-b...=1&t=000124&p=

[DCCapen]

Unlike Marc J (Jwitz) Im going to have to say that it wont really keep up with a stock jeep. Have to face that fact that it is still IFS and solid axles are definitly better for offroading. No Contest. The first thing to do is to ask where you are going to be offroading. If you are considering large amounts of mud as true offroading then sure it will be better than the taco as you have the engine power to turn the meats. Sand, Not too shabby as the Tundra does weigh more but it is still none the less a truck with a light rear end. The engine maybe a fair amount heavier but thats to be expected. Rocks. Well we cant really go there. The taco is going to be much better on rocks due to the smaller size. The IFS is the limiter here. Both could be helped by the swap of a solid axle (but very few people do that on warrentied vehicles) Trails like in VA, TN, WA, those are different. It really matters how wide the trail is as to where you will be hendered there. The wider the trail then thats not quite as nice. But the fact remains that the Tundra will do nearly as well in these enviornments as flex is not a huge need and overhang I imagine is near identicle. In my opinion if you are not going to be doing serious offroading where you plan on denting body panels and snapping driveshafts that you should go ahead and get the tundra. That way you can haul more stuff and do about the same stuff stock.

P.S. If you ever want to get into serious offroadin get an old cruiser or a mini truck or jeep. Ive got the mini and a very nice jeep that I have started allowing to get dented and it makes a world of difference when it doesnt matter how beat up it gets.

[T'sTOY]

I have a lake I go to that's right at 12,000' in the collegiate peaks area down by Buena Vista. You have to take an old mining road to get to it and it's narrow, rocky and very twisty. I've taken three dfferent Toyota trucks up to the lake, the first was my '88 with the 3.0 and 5 speed, it did fine, a bit low on the power and I'd usually have a wheel up in the air, but I made it with only a few scratches on the skid plates and a torn off mud flap. I then moved on to a '97 with the 3.4 and 5 speed and it did even better. I suffered no damage, thanks to a better suspension and larger tires. I've taken my Tundra up there a couple of times as well and while I was concerned about it's larger size on the trail, I must say I was very impressed with how well it did. It has a more compliant suspension and power to spare. I was in four low near the top and there's one tricky part that's very steep with no way to get a run at it. The Tundra's power really helped in my mind. I only 4 wheel it a few times a year and the other 95% of it's life is spent getting me to work and running errands. Based on my needs, I wouldn't give up the extra room and the V8 for anything. While getting my truck serviced this week (30K), they gave me a Rav4 for the day. It was a nice vehicle sitting still, but on the road it was noisey, slow and it seemed to bounce around a lot. All I can say is I'm very happy to be back in my Tundra.
T

[taconow]

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate the info. I use my truck as a daily driver, and like to take it off-road on the weekends and sometimes for extended camping trips. I try not to get in so deep as to break things, but I have in the past. I would mostly be taking it into the mountains on back country trails. No rock climbing or extreme roading. Mostly just mud, snow and steep rutted grades. I really like the suspension and the rear locker on the Taco. I'm curious as to how the LSD on the Tundra will compare. The ground clearance looks to be just about the same on both trucks, just a wider track and more weight/power with the Tundra.

[Breathing Borla]

Originally posted by taconow:
Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate the info. I use my truck as a daily driver, and like to take it off-road on the weekends and sometimes for extended camping trips. I try not to get in so deep as to break things, but I have in the past. I would mostly be taking it into the mountains on back country trails. No rock climbing or extreme roading. Mostly just mud, snow and steep rutted grades. I really like the suspension and the rear locker on the Taco. I'm curious as to how the LSD on the Tundra will compare. The ground clearance looks to be just about the same on both trucks, just a wider track and more weight/power with the Tundra.

from what you say your needs are the tundra will do nicely. A LSD of any brand is not even close to the capabilities of a true locker in more extreame conditions. you will love the tundra for your needs, even if you find your tacoma better in some offroad applications. the everyday benefits of the tundra will far outweigh those few times the tacoma would out perform the tundra. I'm sure rear locker will become avialble in the furutre with nissan stating they will have front and rear lockers on thier full size when it comes out.

[Joe]

Originally posted by Breathing Borla
I'm sure rear locker will become avialble in the furutre with nissan stating they will have front and rear lockers on thier full size when it comes out.

The ARB rear has been available for the past four months (ARB part # RD89) and the front locker will be here probably in May 2002 (ARB part#RD90)

[rsalkeld]

Something I am concerned about off road is the breather on the axel. Mine just has a small cap crimped on the top. Seem like water over the axel could get into this with out any trouble. Has anybody had this trouble? Has anybody adapted a hose which would raise the inlet point to a higher height?

[Jwitz]

Originally posted by DCCapen:
Rocks. Well we cant really go there. The taco is going to be much better on rocks due to the smaller size. The IFS is the limiter here. Both could be helped by the swap of a solid axle (but very few people do that on warrentied vehicles)

HA Take that sway bar off! PICK A GOOD line and your set!!! just 'cause the suspension's IMAGINARY (IFS) doesn't mean it can't have wheel travel!