Tacomaworld.com Writing Challenge!

Any rules against campaigning?

 

How did this get bumped when no one posted?

 

I've been seeing that too & wondered the same.

Sean's up to some trickery I bet.

 

A trip report I posted on a local 4x4 forum last November....
With pictures!

I took a lot of pictures... I've been on several runs where I came home with maybe 2 or 3 but there was a whole lot of stuff going on that I really felt needed to be documented.
So I don't think photobucket will be done for a while, but here's a teaser pic that's managed to upload...
Rob is just sort of tiptoeing out onto the ice to see if it will hold him. This is the start of where things began to diverge from the tame little run I was expecting.


This is the first part of the trail were we saw extensive damage from the rains and floods.


To my amazement, Jim and Rob were seriously discussing things like shovels and ramps and such. I quickly volunteered to take pictures.

Fortunately, Jim's Barbie shovel broke and that idea was scrapped.


He must have had a pressing need to do something silly however as he promptly drove his rig into this.



Some good driving and some excellent spotting (by Rob) got him out of it though and we were on our way again.




A bit later, a small branch was blocking our way on the trail. I've seen this sort of thing fixed before with a hatchet or small saw or something. Not with this group. Jim whips out a set of jumper cables, a 1.1 gigawat inverter and an electric chainsaw. Most impressive! (and again, I helped out by taking pictures) For some reason this setup didn't work too well when hooked up to Rob's rig and I teased him a little bit about the inadequacies of his alternator. In retrospect this innocent, good natured ribbing may have led to some of the later shenanigans.


Then came the optional mud hole with a mud hole bypass.


We all made it through uneventfully which was entirely unacceptable to Rob so he decided to venture into the previously bypassed mud hole in the opposite direction.



He sort of wallowed around in there a bit going back and forth and not quite making it out the (very steep) other end.




It was painfully obvious to Chris and I that all that was needed was a little momentum so we jumped up and down and hollered about things like "the skinny pedal" and "hammering it" and made disparaging remarks about his manhood. (Again, in retrospect, I believe we may have started a fire smoldering)

When Rob finally gave up and backed out of there someone, probably Chris, decided it was my turn to try. After all the grief I had given Rob, I hardly had a choice but to give it a go myself.
So I closed my eyes, pushed the gas to the floor and somehow found myself on the other side. I was unable to get any pictures of myself accomplishing this remarkable feat so you'll either have to take my word for it, or someone else will have to post a picture.

Now it was time for Chris to step up to the plate. This is where things really started to take a turn. In fact, this is the aforementioned incident where Chris did NOT roll his rig. I am ashamed to say that in that brief period of time where it was really undecided if Chris was going to in fact flop in the mud or not I was torn between my picture taking duties and grabbing his slider. The internal conflict was so great that I managed to do neither. Jim made a move towards Chris' slider and was rewarded with a spray of mud as Chris (in full panic mode I'm sure) did what we had been jumping up and down and hollering at Rob to do and mashed the skinny pedal. I did manage to get a picture of him at this point as he was launching out of the mud hole.


I think Rob has good video of this incident and video would probably convey the pucker factor better than a still picture anyway so hopefully he'll post it soon.


edit: I see that post took me so damn long to make that the video has already been posted. Well, good.

So now Chris and I were on the wrong side of the mud hole (and it's mud hole bypass) and we had managed to sort of merge all the mud holes together. I spotted Chris back down through the mud, got him to put his front passenger tire in a deep hole that lifted his driver side rear in the air and made him NOT flop his rig again. I screamed at him to punch it and bravely ran away. I then took a much safer route through the mud and we continued down the trail.

Only to run into this.



We were forced to turn around and, you guessed it, go through the mud hole (or it's mud hole bypass) again.

I drew the short straw and quickly found the wrong line through our nicely stirred up cesspool.
I didn't want to shirk my photographic duties again, so I stood on my slider to get this picture.


Rob winched me backwards out of the hole and then spotted me a better line that got me through.

Then, with no Rob to spot for him, he got himself stuck too.


We hooked a strap between his rig and mine and I pulled him through. Chris and Jim, having witnessed the wrong way to do it, both got through on their own and we went off in search of less mud.

This is what we found


It may not be apparent from the picture, but basically what has happened here is that a ~10ft wide section of the hillside (along with the trees that inhabited it) has slid down on top of the trail. Another ~10ft wide section of the hillside slid down to replace that section.

It took Chris and I all of about 5 seconds to decide the smart thing to do was to turn around. Rob however (possibly provoked by previous jabs and feeling a need to prove himself) begins to brew an impossible plan to cross this mess. I'm pretty sure Jim just wanted to use his 1.1 gigawat inverter and electric chainsaw again.

Chris and I giggle to ourselves for about 20 minutes while Rob and Jim discuss the merits of bow saws and chainsaws and which trees need to go and which should stay so they can bounce off of them and all kinds of nonsense like that.

Eventually, Rob goes up and fetches his rig to see if he can make it through the first part while Jim begins his attack on the foliage further on.

Here's Chris "guiding" Rob off a cliff. (We had pretty much decided that after this was over we could each give one of them a ride home and they could come get their rigs next summer)



I don't even know how to explain what happened after this so here's a few more pictures (even though pictures never do this sort of thing justice)







Yeah Rob, you forgot a tree. (note the new custom body work in front of his rear tire)


Rob sawing the little tree while I helpfully took more pictures


Meanwhile.... at the other end of this mess... the thing that makes all of Rob's efforts so far an exercise in futility. Unless, of course, you happen to have a 1.1 gigawatt inverter, and an electric chainsaw.


Doesn't Jim look pleased with himself and his chainsaw?


The yellow jeep belongs to some people who came around the other way, ran into the other end of this mess and stayed to watch the madness unfold.



And he's through....


Unbelievable!

Rob guiding Jim through his labyrinth.








Chris watching in amazement. (and turning around)



And finally.... back at the trail head putting air back in our tires.



Thanks for an awesome Sunday morning and afternoon and early evening fellas!
I may not follow you everywhere, but I'd go wheeling with you anytime.

 

Well if we can do ones we have already posted i'll do this. My write up on how to cut the rear fenders for 35'' tires on a 1st gen tacoma.

Alright. So here is more on the process i did for cutting for a 35'' tire.

First..jack up the the axle and use a jackstand. Remember, jacks are not safe to keep something up on for extended periods of time.


IMG_7915.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Next, take the tire off!


IMG_7916.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7917.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickrv

Now you need to remove the inner plastic liner. If its anything like mine..be covering in dirt. I needed a screw driver and a 10mm socket to do so for the plastic connectors that once held my fender "flares" on.


IMG_7918.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7919.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


You will also have to pull off the mud flap, keep the bracket, ill explain why later.


IMG_7920.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Once the bolts and screw are off. Don't worry about being tender. Get a screw driver and bust em off. Who cares if they break, your not gonna be needing them again haha


IMG_7921.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

There are also too pop off one up above, just rip the liner down and they will bust off.


IMG_7922.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Done!


IMG_7923.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Now go over every hole there was a plastic clip and make sure nothing is left. You'll want a smooth surface for tracing your cut line.


IMG_7924.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Now apply your tape to draw on. Or you can skip this if you have a light colored truck or bright colored marker. I found this worked well. Make sure you have tape covering the area your gonna mark. So if your taking 1.5'' out or 1'' or 1.75 like me. it doesn't have to pretty and line up with the edge of the fender. You just want tape covering where the line goes.


IMG_7925.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

You can see here, there is gap. doesn't matter though as im only drawing 1.75'' out.


IMG_7927.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Now for how you mark the cut line. MUCH simpler then most think. All you need is piece of wood, or cardboard, even and old ruller or something. I choose wood as i have lots of little scrap pieces to choose from(thanks to my dad lol). I then marked a line and then measured 1.75'' from there. Used a square to draw the lines straight across the wood. Then measured .5'' in on the lines i drew and marked it for my center point for the drill bits.

I used a pencil and a sharpie for my marking tools. Each had a different bit size. The pencil was slightly smaller. You can't just drill a bigger hole though. Needs to fit snug so whatever your using make sure the holes are a tight fit.


IMG_7908.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

once drilled, my marker and pencil go like this.


IMG_7909.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7910.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

To use. You just put the pencil on the inside of the fender and draw with the sharpie!


IMG_7928.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

i used two hands, one on each..but had a camera so..yea..


IMG_7929.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Boom! perfect trace of the exact same arcs as the stock fender. You guys with stock front fenders can use this for a base cut as well but you'll end up cutting more off on the cab side.


IMG_7930.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Now on to the cutting! Don't forget your ear protection, eye protection and gloves. Long sleeve shirt can't hurt and even a dust mask if ya want.


IMG_7931.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Now start doing your relief cuts. Do them about ever inch or less. the more you have the easier it is to keep an arc.


IMG_7932.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

BUT! and this is just my advice..do NOT cut all the way through the line your drew! cut just too it or half way through it. You'll see why in a bit. This is what i did..


IMG_7933.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Now when you get here you'll notice its a bit harder.


IMG_7935.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

well thats due to this guy.



IMG_7936.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

don't worry about it too much. Cut like you have been and it'll be fine.


Now you can start cutting off the pieces you just did. Again, don't cut right on the line. If you did your cuts like i explained up above, just cut for the pieces to fall off. One of the reasons for this is your grinding disk is straight, not arced, so when you try and cut arced it always ends up cutting more on the back side. Leaving the wingle room helps assure a straight cut.



IMG_7938.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

these is how mine looked.



IMG_7939.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7940.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Once you are done cutting, remember that bracket? just grab it and bend it back and forth and twist it a bit and eventually the spot welds will bust right off.



IMG_7944.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

You've probably noticed the cut is not very straight looking at this point and very rough. Well thats easy to fix and now you'll see why i didn't cut all the way to the line.

I used an air powered tool with sand paper disks, but just a grinder with flapper wheel will work too. Im a bit spoiled so i can vary the speed of this tool which is why i chose it. your going to hold it perpendicular to your cut and slowly grind down the metal to your line.



IMG_7941.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

So you can see in these photos, the top part is unsanded and the bottom is sanded. go slow and do a little section at a time and you will end up with a smooth much cleaner cut.



IMG_7942.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7945.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

TIP! make sure the disk is rotating in a way that it pulls the tap into the fender. Or in other words throws the shards of metal way from you. You don't want the grinder ripping of the tape.

for the next part you'll need some of this:



IMG_7907.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

You can get it at any car parts store for about 12 bucks or so.

This stuff is going to help save your tires from getting shredded if by some chance they do hit your fender. It'll helps look good and helps hide the very small inconsistencies from your grinding. But if your really screwed up, it'll still show up.

Just press its on the the fender and cut to the right length.



IMG_7946.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7947.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7948.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7949.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

ahhh..now it looks freaking gooooooddd

but we aren't done.

remember the mud flap bracket? reinstall it without the mud flap.



IMG_7950.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


Why? the brack helps hold the bed side in place. I choose to keep it seeing as we already eliminated one up above. You don't HAVE to do this. But id consider it. You'll notice it moves a lot with out this there.

but looks like crap with no mud flap..so i cut it too



IMG_7951.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

NOTE! CHECK YOUR STATE LAWS! Wyoming doesn't require mudflaps on vehicles so i can get away with is and the super wide tires sticking out. Some states do NOT allow tires to stick out and mud flaps are required. So make sure you know whats what where you live before cutting these


Now..reinstall your need tire



IMG_7953.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

BOOM!!

more shots of the other side with trim on it.



IMG_7912.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

IMG_7913.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Some before shots with the 33 and after with the 35

all pics where taken with my camera on the tripod..it never moved.

33..


IMG_7895.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

getting ready to mark it up


IMG_7896.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Marked! i will get a shot of my tool i made tomorrow.


IMG_7900.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Relief cuts made.


IMG_7901.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

No going back now!


IMG_7902.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

I used an air powered spinal tool to finish getting the final 1/8'' to make sure it was as smooth as possible. turning out great.


IMG_7903.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

35


IMG_7904.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

these things are big..haha

also might get an axle relocate plate to push my axle forward .5''..not sure yet..

oh and i cut 1.75'' out of the fender.


And here is a fun vid i think you guys will enjoy haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPJ8aFnMmeo&feature=youtu.be