It’s often said that life’s biggest irony is that it presents us with so many possibilities, yet so few opportunities to experience them all. But if some of the world’s most talented alternative athletes and one of its most capable off-road 4x4s can teach us anything, it’s that this doesn’t have to be the case. To demonstrate firsthand how the 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Double Cab V6 can bring some of life’s greatest experiences within reach, we handed one off to each of six accomplished outdoor adrenaline junkies and followed them on a weeklong excursion through the beautiful — but demanding — terrain of Moab, Utah.
Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary. “Payload capacity” is the calculation of GVWR minus curb weight and should be used for comparison purposes only. Do not exceed any Weight Ratings and follow all instructions in your Owner’s Manual. The maximum you can haul (payload) depends on base curb weight plus the total weight of any cargo, occupants, and added vehicle equipment. “Added vehicle equipment” includes additional standard/optional equipment and accessories added by the manufacturer, dealers, and/or vehicle owners. The only way to be certain of your vehicle’s exact curb weight is to weigh your vehicle without passengers or cargo.
Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary.
Brad Woodford and Claire Appel have decades of white-water kayaking experience between the two of them, which, in Brad’s words, have taken him to his favorite places in the world. Their drive to Moab’s Ida Gulch Rapid traversed paved and dirt roads, with some sections both rocky and wet enough to keep the curious at bay — perfect for the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road’s Multi-terrain Select, Crawl Control,* and on-/off-road tuned suspension.
* Crawl Control is designed for driving difficult terrain at low speeds. It assists the driver by controlling acceleration and braking, allowing the driver to focus on steering. Toyota 4x4s are designed to meet most off-road driving requirements, but off-roading is inherently dangerous. Abusive use may result in bodily harm or vehicle damage. Toyota encourages responsible operation to protect you, your vehicle and the environment. Seatbelts should be worn at all times.
Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary.
Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary.
As veteran climbers Dustin Eells and Riley Jordan explain, climbing is in its purest sense all about overcoming obstacles. Step by step, hand over hand, ascents up Moab’s steepest, tallest obstacles (known as “towers”) are made by taking every challenge in stride. So as they prepared themselves to tackle a fresh climb, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road’s 3.5L V6 engine and electronically locking rear differential tackled Utah’s vast outback and challenging climate to help them find one.
Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary. “Payload capacity” is the calculation of GVWR minus curb weight and should be used for comparison purposes only. Do not exceed any Weight Ratings and follow all instructions in your Owner’s Manual. The maximum you can haul (payload) depends on base curb weight plus the total weight of any cargo, occupants, and added vehicle equipment. “Added vehicle equipment” includes additional standard/optional equipment and accessories added by the manufacturer, dealers, and/or vehicle owners. The only way to be certain of your vehicle’s exact curb weight is to weigh your vehicle without passengers or cargo.
Prototype shown with options. Production model may vary.
If you’d never talked with Paul Basagoitia and Nick Pescetto before watching them free-ride the trails of Moab, you’d swear they were insane. Their adventures took them to — and down — the roughest and most unforgiving terrain encountered on this trip, and they handled it with a level of grace that seems impossible to most of us. Yet, as they’d attest, preparedness is just as much a part of a successful day on the trails as courage, and the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road’s frame that integrates high strength steel to enhance rigidity and overall strength, the body shell that contains ultra-high strength steel using a new hot stamping process to reduce weight, easy lowering and locking tailgate, and standard Deck Rail System prepared them for a truly monumental adventure.
On America’s highways and city streets, or as far away from them as you care to venture, the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road helps you explore more of life’s possibilities than ever before.
