4wd – DCHENSTER.COM

There are a lot of people going Off-road, many people learned by experience, some by trial & error, and some are learned by wheeling with experienced driver. For me, since I like drive off-road and do go off-road once in a while. But frankly, I am a really bad driver, on road and off road, and I figure maybe take a class will be beneficial for me and my vehicle.

After in depth research on the web and forums, many hour of comparison and carefully compared. Few are available in southern California, especially with time & budget constrict. There are two that are standout :

Badlands Off Road Adventure – Find that from fellow TundraSolutions member

Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America– Read from 4WD Toyota owner magazine which he was the editor

The Badlands Off Road Adventure by Tom Severin was chosen due to budget, location, and availability.

I registered the Basic Clinic for Sept. 20th, which he contacted me to notify me about equipment, and some safety information, Release of waiver of liability, survey of vehicle form, and some other forms. Few days before the event, there are some fire near hungry valley CA, so he had to move the class to Anza Borrego with brand new schedule, and since I am going to stay there, I signed up for second day too. I arrived on Friday night atPalm Canyon Inn at Borrego Spring at 9 Friday morning, because the lecture class was hosting there Saturday morning at 7:30.

I drove there after work on Friday the 29th, which it’s excellent drive. There is not too much traffic for Friday afternoon at 5 south (in California), get on 76 on Oceanside, 70, S2, and than S22. On the way down S22 which was a stretch of road coming down to Borrego Spring (next to Anza Borrego), there are no one on the road, so I was driving very slowly with window down. It’s not too warm, and the weather is just lightly warm with distant light around the Borrego Spring, and it’s great with light dry wind in the cabin. The Palm Canyon Inn are just at exit of the S22, which I checked in and to the room and get to sleep for early day tomorrow.

Waked up a little early, but since I was new at location, so I didn’t get the breakfast, but it’s okay, I usually don’t do breakfast. Walked around a little, took some picture near the Inn and find Mr. Serverin’s vehicle and chat a little before we start the class. We check my vehicle out to make sure it’s safe. we follow the Badland’s own check list, but the check list works basic check list for most standard check list for most of the clubs. Then we started the class, and first few Hours are the lectures and afternoon will be off-road driving.

There are three vehicles besides instructor’s highly modified vehicle:

Jeep wrangler – large tires, raised, suspended, changed axels.

2006 Toyota FJ cruiser 4×4- from what I know it’s pretty stock but with a little option

2005 Toyota Tundra 4×4 limit access cab – Just in case you don’t know… that’s mine

Caution:

This class was usually held at Hungry Valley, but due to fire hazzard around the area, Tom hosted at Anza Borrego, also there will be body damage on the vehicles

Links to other useful sites:

Anza-Borrego state park website

Badlands Off Road Adventure

Tundra Solutions

4WD Toyota owner magazine

Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America

Palm Canyon Inn

Hi-Lift Jack

Here it goes:

This is the Palm Canyon Inn's main office building right next to S22 and Palm Canyon Road, the building has few meeting rooms, bar and lounge, and a small store. — This is the Palm Canyon Inn’s main office building right next to S22 and Palm Canyon Road, the building has few meeting rooms, bar and lounge, and a small store.

View from main office to Palm canyon roadSign of the Inn

one of the Inn's building and the vehicle in the front is own by Badlands — one of the Inn’s building and the vehicle in the front is own by Badlands

Palm Canyon Inn's Swimming Pool — Palm Canyon Inn’s Swimming Pool

The Inn also have RV park with picnic table

While we took a break we did the bubble test, which it demonstrate how far we can see the ground from inside the cab. The view of the field are pretty bad, we can't see nothing around passenger side, but right side is pretty good if we took a look with our head out of the window. — While we took a break we did the bubble test, which it demonstrate how far we can see the ground from inside the cab. The view of the field are pretty bad, we can’t see nothing around passenger side, but right side is pretty good if we took a look with our head out of the window.

The Driver's View on the front — The Driver’s View on the front

We drove for half an hour to get to the road that leads "land fill" — We drove for half an hour to get to the road that leads “land fill”

we find a place to get off the paved road to get to off road location

There are few ATV, utility vehicles around.

Stopped and lower the tires, and take a break

Drift on the side — A quick Lecture before going up the proper and safe way.

Flat area — Take in the detail and lesson.

since it's first day, we just slowing drive around — Got up easily and safe

drive side steep — Instruction on how to spot the unknown and lower gear

getting around other vehicle — getting around

filling up air in the — filling up sand in the engine cover, which means it’s too steep. Lucky it’s just soft sand, so it won’t hurt the vehicle. Just in case you don’t know, mine got sand in there too

it's actually very steep — it’s actually very steep, with rocky, dry rot in between. But with all the vehicles ability, it’s easily done.

fast driving in the sand, through the canyon

drift a little — getting a little narrow

Since we are near dark, so we go for the wash, sands, and easier stuff, but still give some demonstration and different terrains.

Around 7, we finish up and get back to the Inn. We had an excellent rib dinner at Inn, we chatted a little and that’s it for the first day.

Day 2 next.

Toyota’s Tundra is very great truck. Especially the TRD Off-Road Package, there are some horses power, torque, and large size.

Mechanical:

4.7 liter DOHL 32 Valve V8 – 282@5400 rpm; 315 lb-ft@3400 rpm.

Automatic 5 speed transmission.

ABS break: front disc, rear drum.

Overall height/width/length/wheel base/bed length (in): 71.7/79.3/218.3/128.3/74.4.

Interior dimension head front rear / shoulder front rear / hip front rear / leg front rear (inches):

40.3 38.3 / 62.4 63.2 / 59.3 56.6 / 41.5/ 28.6

Weights – Curb weight/GVWR/Payload/Towing Capacity/GCWR (lb):

4735 / 6300 / 1565 / 6900 / 11,800

fuel: tank size / MPG city / MPG highway: 26 gal / 15/18

Options (copied from Tundra Brochure also): California Access Cab 4 X 4 Package A

All weather guard package – includes heavy-duty battery, starter and heater (include heated mirrors when power mirrors are offered).

V8 towing package – include Class IV (explained in rvtowingtips.com) towing hitch receiver, 7 – pin connector with converter, heavy-duty 130 amp alternator and supplemental transmission oil cooler.

TRD off-road package – include off-road-tuned suspension, Bilstein® shock absorbers, 16-in. 5 spoke aluminum alloy wheels (6 spoke for limited series) with P265/70R16 BFGoodrich® tires, color keyed fender flaires with integrated mudguards and fog lamps.

Works Great, drive really nice, big engine, and best of all, it will last.

So far, this is my review.

Excellent:

Toyota quality, fit, and conservative design ( could be bad if prefer modern design)

Quite V8, smooth transmission

Size: full size compare to other manufactures

Made in USA except engine

Great looking track

Excellent optional package (package A) for 4×4 off-road

Drive like a car (unless prefer a truck feeling)

comfortable chair

Pre-wire most accessories

Clean engine compartment, nothing hang down

Fewer recall or TSB (technical support bulletin) for the Tundra since introduction of 2000

Reliable, reliable, reliable.

Limited series perks – power rear window, 6 CD changer, color trends, steering wheel radio control, power mirror, and excellent control and smooth system

LSD

ABS

4X4

Tow Package

Not so Excellent:

Not enough power compare to others

Not strong brake

Ride hard (Due to TRD package, as expected, but still is a bad)

Use lots Gas money

Could use better tires

Small rear space for seats, 90 degree chair

Bench seats front and back

No storage space

The Story ….

I drove this truck for about a month now, I went to few places, add few accessories in the truck, and have a wonderful time on it. I don’t pretend that I am a hard core Off-Road driver, because I am not, and I am worst driver in the world. but I do love occasionally get off the pavement and shake the leg off once a while without destroy the vehicle. I also love to make the ride different than others, so I often purchase something that others don’t do, but still maintain all the warranty, and I will review all the little accessories that I got in the future. The accessories & Prices that I added are following:

The Truck – $31500 out the door with registration and license

Toyota Hood Protector – $146

Line-x bed spread – $488

Westin Black tube Side Step – $270

Undercover Tonneau Cover – $700

Installation fee & tax for that – $118

Cargo Net – $20

Carpet (Dealer forgot to give some)- $16

Concave mirror – $4

So far the total on the Truck is about $ 33262.00. This is not include the expense on the wax, car wash soap, Mr. Clean auto wash and other items to maintain the truck with, it’s just the item for the truck listed. Which if I did my math correctly with my $0.99 calculator, the accessories are $1762, and that is a lot of money for the truck.

Which all these will be reviewed in the near future, but for right now, this is the Toyota Tundra Review Part II with basic light Off-road and the Tundra 2005 Brochure.

Review

Toyota’s Tundra is very great truck. Especially the TRD Off-Road Package, there are some horses power, torque, and large size. There are lots issues with other owner that generated through out years of Tundra 2005 model years, which my truck is too new to experience those issues, and the possible issue are following:

Break vibration, O2 sensor, slip yoke under greased, Early break usage, sound from center , engine ping, and rear window shake.

Ok, these sound a lot, but all of them are TSB (Technical Support Bulletin), which for any major manufactures is consider minor, they will fix them if you have that issue under warranty, but it is not consider recall (Federal Government mandate repair), and TSBs will not compromise the safety of vehicle.

The truck is very well built, it runs pretty good with the V8, and the Bilstine shacks doing very well absorb all the bump very well with Off Road package, they takes light off-road well, and the trip to the Anza-Borrego’s coyote canyon are mostly Rate 1 to 3 section on where we were going, but if going deeper down, then it will be difficult for the new truck due to the width.

Everything on this truck is good, a little noisy when start, but it will be quiet after a couple minutes after the pressure built up. The Computer in the Tundra controls everything, so it’s pretty advanced. The ride is harsh for some road if there are some pothole at that, and most time, it is pretty good. The Chair hold up pretty well with long time driving, but a captain chair is more preferred. The 284 hp @ 3400 and 310 really shows when drop the hammer to get into the freeway entrance, and really can pound in the pavement or dirt road.

This is very comfortable and good truck, but it does has one problem that need immediate attention, which it is the brake, it get soft too easy, and it would require some redesign. Also there is a minor re-grease on the slip yoke due to sitting in the dealer’s parking lot for 6 month. So far the mileages are averaging 15.5, but once a while it drops to 13.4, and up to 16.7. The reasonably installed Tonneau cover will increase the mileage by estimation of a mile or two in the long run.

Just in case you are wondering, here are the brochure.