Free The Beast - 2011 DCSB Manual

Meet "The Beast" or "Nelly Mae" or "Mae"

Now: October 18th


Currently Beasty has been upgraded to include:

Fox 2.5 IFP Coil Over Non-res
Fox adjustable rear shock
Deaver Expedition Leaf Pack
MT ATZ 285/70R17

CBI Offroad front & tcase skids
CBI Offroad rock sliders

Recovery equipment: TJM
Air: TJM

I am just getting started with my "Free the Beast" project. My "To Do" list is pretty long. I was told these types of projects are a slippery slope but have since found myself on a polished steel saucer toboggan going down hill covered in shear ice! Think National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rMcRJVY1-0

A little history of this truck:

I bought it new in 2010, a dealership had ordered this truck for a client but the deal fell through and the dealership was worried they'd never get rid of it, after all who wants a black DCSB manual transmission? They were relieved to hear some person in Alberta wanted it. I picked up my truck on December 31, 2010.

How did a stock Tacoma get the name "Beast". Well, many years ago, I had a small compact car, it was black. It was nick named "Little Black Beast". My mother had nicknamed the car that because I could get it through anything, specifically snow drifts on the highway that were 2 feet tall. Unfortunately, it could not find its way through the SUV it plowed into one day. The car was written off and I finally bought my Tacoma which my mom now calls "The Black Beast". There's a lot of Tacomas that are named "The Beast" and I like to be different so I have given her the name "Nelly Mae" or Mae for short. The renaming process started with Mae. The idea of Mae came to me when it was suggested that I consider my hobbies. I am a burlesque dancer and I love Mae West. Ellie Mae was a character on a TV show I barely recall (name that show) and I thought that blending my family name with Ellie would give the name a personal touch. Thus we have Nelly Mae.

In 2012 I took my truck on its first really big road trip. I went to Race Sonoma in June for the Toyota Save Mart 350. Toyota Racing hooked me up with hot passes and I got to meet many of the Toyota Racing drivers. The best part: I got to be in Victory Lane when Clint Bowyer won! Pics or it didn't happen? Fine.





I traveled to San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno, Yosemite and made my way back to Canada. She has many road trips to go on now as I plan to do more wheeling down south.

It was always my plan to convert this truck into a daily driving off road machine. In July I did my first off road trail with my truck completely stock. In August of 2014 I started "Free the Beast".

 

Before any mods and the day that I picked her up. Yeah, they put a bow on her! Awwwwwe

 

First trail run (completely stock) where we came up with the tag line "Stock Not Stuck" and apparently I am the Queen of Three Wheeling.


Image credit: Marc (Burning Chrome)

 

From the first trail run (completely stock). It was said that this picture should be a reference for the preferred line. Don't ask me what I was doing. I am pretty sure my eyes were closed and I stomped on the gas.

Photo credit: Marc Maguet

 

Trail awards!

No clue what I did or how I got that but we like to think I ran over Wolverine from X-men.

 

More Trail Awards!!

For the record: my rock sliders have been on order since July.... <insert jeopardy theme>

 

Someone spent some more money..... standby.....

 

Got a phone call today. Some goodies arrived! I am very excited!!!

 

'The beast' has been reserved already

 

LOL There's more than one John in the world too. I've found "Beast" is a pretty common name so, oddly enough, I've been tossing around ideas.... Mae is topping the list right now.

 

Sorry there hasn't been an update. Had to hit the pause button due an emergency family situation. Check back in a couple Saturdays; stuff should be settled by then and hopefully the next bit of upgrades done.

 

family first, truck second

 

Nice build Pam!

 

Yes, definitely. Just waiting to see what happens with this stuff.

In the meantime the truck... Beasty/Mae... is scheduled for Friday to have stuff done but we'll see how the family thing comes together.

 

Thank you!

 

Wow. It's been a crazy week. Family member released from ICU but still needs another surgery. I was hoping to go to my southern home for Christmas but that doesn't look like that's going to happen, oh well, at least the family is OK! ☺. For now back to the regularly scheduled program....

 

So what's happened with my truck...

Cochrane Image took away my trail trophies...





These arrived



Stay tuned for more pictures soon!

 

So.... I was going to upload some more pictures but I am at the pub and the bartender introduced me to a slutty red head....



Oh wait that's my hair...

Slutty red head is a shot....

 

Oh look! My check liver light is on!

 

Did some work to the truck on Friday. Is it just me or does finding more stuff to work on/fix/adjust always come up when you work on something else.

I'll just add all of that to my list of stuff to do.

Back in July I ordered my skids and sliders from CBI Offroad Fab. Wow! They sure look nice! Went on easy!







What's next? OK where did I put that list?