The Automotive Thread

[Road Guy]

I dont disagree (about the driver ability) - the trails out here are 90% rock and any stock vehicle is going to have a bad time.

Ive owned a CJ, YJ, TJ, now a JKU - (but event the JK's are getting up there in age) - I really think my YJ was the best I had for straight up wheeling..

In reality the wheel base on the JKU's are almost too long for some of the harder trails here (Which are old mining roads that have lots of 90 degree turns and very limited room for error) - Id really like to get my daughters 08 JK (2 Door) lifted and take wheeling because they handle so much better..

I dont know if you are familiar with the more "legendary" routes in Ouray / Telluride (Engineer Pass and Black Bear Pass) - but there were so many people in Ouray this summer they had cops at the trail head and they turned away ANY stock vehicle, Jeep or Toyota ( I dont think anyone else makes anything that is really a stock off road vehicle) but there were plenty of pissed off people getting turned around - I was glad to get the nod to go ahead - but it started raining a few miles from the summit and I decided to not risk it and turned around short of the "summit" 

 

[Road Guy]

Oh ye of little faith

KIT would dig that!

 

[Orchid PE]

I dont disagree (about the driver ability) - the trails out here are 90% rock and any stock vehicle is going to have a bad time.

Ive owned a CJ, YJ, TJ, now a JKU - (but event the JK's are getting up there in age) - I really think my YJ was the best I had for straight up wheeling..

In reality the wheel base on the JKU's are almost too long for some of the harder trails here (Which are old mining roads that have lots of 90 degree turns and very limited room for error) - Id really like to get my daughters 08 JK (2 Door) lifted and take wheeling because they handle so much better..

I dont know if you are familiar with the more "legendary" routes in Ouray / Telluride (Engineer Pass and Black Bear Pass) - but there were so many people in Ouray this summer they had cops at the trail head and they turned away ANY stock vehicle, Jeep or Toyota ( I dont think anyone else makes anything that is really a stock off road vehicle) but there were plenty of pissed off people getting turned around - I was glad to get the nod to go ahead - but it started raining a few miles from the summit and I decided to not risk it and turned around short of the "summit" 

I haven't. I'd like to try some of the trails around here. I've been told a lot of good things about them. Actual rock crawling would be new to me. Growing up in FL, we had mud and red clay. The red clay would make for some nice climbing when the road eroded from rain. Now going through a swamp, I enjoy the enclosed cab of the truck. 1) To keep water and mud out, 2) to keep the heat out, and 3) to keep the mosquitoes out. Many times I have, and have seen Jeeps drive through the water just to get the inside soaked (because doors off). Not a whole lot of fun for the rest of the trip.

 

[Orchid PE]

Dang, all this off-road talk makes me want to get back together with my old club.

 

[Road Guy]

I am looking forward to seeing what the Tacoma does, I do think they are good vehicles (my wife said many times as we were driving this past weekend) "no way in hell, I am taking her truck here!"   

Whats the largest tire I can put on a Tacoma without a lift?

I never saw the desire to get soaking wet either - The wheeling in the SE is so different from here - when I lived in GA and would hit the Appalachian areas it was more of a mud / water obstacle but here its more of a "what part is going to break" or what are you going to snag off the bottom of the vehicle because you dont have enough clearance..

Google Image search "Black Bear Pass" you will want to make a trip this way one summer! 

 

[Orchid PE]

I am looking forward to seeing what the Tacoma does, I do think they are good vehicles (my wife said many times as we were driving this past weekend) "no way in hell, I am taking her truck here!"   

Whats the largest tire I can put on a Tacoma without a lift?

I never saw the desire to get soaking wet either - The wheeling in the SE is so different from here - when I lived in GA and would hit the Appalachian areas it was more of a mud / water obstacle but here its more of a "what part is going to break" or what are you going to snag off the bottom of the vehicle because you dont have enough clearance..

I think 31.

I'm running 33s with a 3" lift. You can fit 33s on stock ride height, but you'll hit the body mounts/frame during up travel. I've ran 35's on 3" before, but they barely fit. Anything > 35 you'll 100% need re-gearing. Now, you can get some 33s that can work, but you'll have to go with something thin (pizza cutters).

I think 33's are great; no re-gearing needed, and stock UCAs should work. Now, you will need wheels with -15 or less offset to work with stock UCAs. I believe all stock Tacoma wheels are -30. I stole some 4Runner wheels off a newer model and they work fantastically, plus they have the Toyota logo. Otherwise you'll hit the UCAs during up travel. Oh the woes of independent suspension. Great for clearance, though.

 

[Road Guy]

Good to know,  I dont know what size is on this one to be honest, will find out Friday when it 'arrives' 

I've got 35's and its similar where if you go to 37's you have to re-gear, If it wasn't my DD i would have gotten 37's.  I probably should re gear at 35's but its not very common with the JK - I still have good acceleration up hill out here.

We looked at a 2013 Tacoma before this one and I didn't really care for the front suspension set up,  but I think that is typical for most trucks?   

Were mainly looking at something we can crash in at trail heads and maybe for an early jump to ski day ( not sure how I will sleep in a 5 ft bed though) - Like anyplace else anything fun to do is crowded so we have learned that say if you want to bag a 14'er you need to leave at 0400 to not have a ton of people around you - so this initially will be a mini camper type vehicle.

 

[envirotex]

So this happened...

 

[Road Guy]

Made in China?

 

[envirotex]

Yep.

 

[Orchid PE]

 

[Road Guy]

But is that XJ for sale and where is it //content.invisioncic.com/r86644/emoticons/default_wink.png

 

[Road Guy]

pretty intense project over the weekend ( /s) .. the adding of 35 IN tires to the vehicle didnt leave a lot of room between the rock slider trim and the rear wheel, so pulled them off, cut about an inch off (thats what she said), and put them back on - off an on about an hour of work that lingered over two days for some reason.. end cap on this side took a beating getting it loose..

I actually liked the look of it without the rock sliders, may take them off, seems like they were a great source of dirt collection and rust mainly..

 

[Orchid PE]

Is this the Jeep?

 

[Road Guy]

yeah, supposed to pick up the Tacoma tonight..

 

[jeb6294]

I actually liked the look of it without the rock sliders, may take them off, seems like they were a great source of dirt collection and rust mainly.

If it's a mall crawler that's fine, but if there's a chance it could see any rocks...those rocker panels don't get along very well with rocks.

 

[Road Guy]

Everything here is a chance for rocks.. but its more so the 1000 ft cliff next to the rock you really have to worry about, I would like to replace them with something that sat a little lower from the body, when I removed them a huge pile of dirt and dust landed on the floor...

 

[Road Guy]

Here are some fun pics from a trail group that helps people out of dumb situations out here, Ive driven most of these routes!



Solid Weld job there @Supe



Assuming something gave way or turned too late?



The slant on this trail is pretty steep and all, but geesh..



I think this is Imogene Pass, I assume the guy / gal was trying to "flex" on the rocks to the left?

 

[Supe]

And that's why you box your rails, boy's and girls!  That setup is akin to fastening a 2x6 support to a foundation made of 1/8" veneer ply.

 

[Orchid PE]

View attachment 18395

I think this is Imogene Pass, I assume the guy / gal was trying to "flex" on the rocks to the left?

It's interesting to imagine what wouldn't caused this guy to be facing the opposite direction (I assumed all in the picture we traveling the same direction).