---
title: "This Video of a Disastrous Toyota Tacoma Off-Road ‘Recovery’ Is Just So Painful"
description: "Here's the thing about off-roading: When things go wrong, they can go from bad to worse to completely unrecoverable in mere moments."
date: "2018-04-10"
modified: "2018-04-10"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/20013/this-video-of-a-disastrous-toyota-tacoma-off-road-recovery-is-just-so-painful"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Toyota News"
  - "Trucks"
  - "Watch This"
tags:
  - "Accident"
  - "Fail"
  - "Off-Road"
  - "pickup"
  - "Recovery"
  - "tacoma"
  - "Toyota"
---

# This Video of a Disastrous Toyota Tacoma Off-Road ‘Recovery’ Is Just So Painful

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/04/tacoma-new.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The [Toyota Tacoma](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/5646/toyotas-hardcore-tacoma-trd-pro-tackles-hawaii>) is a hardy little truck, but even its legendary reliability can't overcome the folly of man. And whether you're a master of off-road driving or a total stranger to the concept, [this painful video](<https://www.facebook.com/trophy20/videos/1813629412272535/>) of a new Tacoma losing its rear axle during a botched tow on a steep mountain trail is both captivating and excruciating to watch.

Here's the thing about off-roading: When things go wrong, they can go [from bad to worse to completely unrecoverable](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/10154/watch-an-idiot-do-everything-wrong-off-road-almost-destroy-ford-f250>) in mere moments. A single unforced error, something as simple as putting a wheel here instead of there, can send a truck tumbling end-over-end down a mountain. That's not what happens here, thankfully. But the end result is just as tragic a sight, and considering the potential recovery bill, probably just as expensive.

The video opens showing a grey Toyota Tacoma stuck on a rocky trail, with [an FJ Cruiser](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/17719/is-toyota-prepping-a-wrangler-fighting-body-on-frame-off-road-suv>) attempting to tow it back down the hill with its winch line. At first, the setup doesn't really make sense—why not let gravity do the work? However, it looks like driver has somehow locked up his rear axle. It's been speculated that a U-bolt broke and jammed everything, which would explain both the demonic groans and the way the axle begins to shift as the doomed pickup is dragged downhill.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhU1cXenmbj

With the encouragement of the crowd (*Keep going, you're doing it!*), the operation continues as the Tacoma's rear axle assumes an ever more grotesque angle. Eventually, it can take no more, violently detaching from the frame and slipping under the body like a roller as the truck slides further down the trail and lands in a heap.

It's not clear whether it hits the FJ, but either way, that is going to be one expensive recovery operation. It wouldn't have been cheap to pay someone who knows what they're doing to get an intact Tacoma off a mountain trail, but at least that option doesn't come with bonus repair bills.

The bottom line is this probably could have been easily avoided if someone present had enough experience to figure out a more optimal plan. Then again, that doesn't always work either; the video concludes with a man off camera sagely intoning that he knew that was going to happen.

**UPDATE:** Video surfaced by [*Jalopnik*](<https://jalopnik.com/that-doesnt-look-right-1825155281>) shows the crippled Tacoma was eventually pulled off the trail at Rowher Flats Off-Highway Vehicle Area in California by a few Good Samaritans. Teamwork really does make the dream work.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhVf7ObD5bo

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)