Simple yet Satisfying DCLB

Good to hear on all accounts!

 

Time for an overdue update. My needs from the truck have changed a little. I use it more for work and everyday life activities now. Also, there is a bit more stuff that goes along on trips, so I have cleaned the bed out some.

First off, I moved the spare tire out of the bed and back under the truck. This proved to be a little bit of a challenge, as the new full size spare (255/ 80/ 17) was nearly touching the rear diff at ride height. It would have made contact under normal suspension travel, and that's no good. Here is an okay write up of how I moved the spare away from the diff a little while still under the bed: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/255-85-r16-owners-experience.155849/page-156#post-10903568
I basically just drilled some new holes to move the tire hanger.



Crappy picture, I know.

Next up was to find a better spot for the high lift jack...

My jack is only the 48" one, and I had to remove the plastic bins and the lift's foot to make it fit. I also had to make a small "adjustment" to one of the seats (crappy picture again).

I really like it hidden in there. As an added benefit, I won't need to clean and grease it very often.

 

Also, here's a small update to the quick removal hinge pins on the back seat. Original post of this mod: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/simple-yet-satisfying-dclb.369779/page-2#post-10308380

I took off the little ring that was rattling and replaced it with a zip tie. Works flawless! I will soon do this mod to the passenger side as well.

 

Here's a few pictures of a small trip I made solo to Uwharrie National Forest.
It was a very wet day, and the new Cooper S/T Max tires worked great! I aired down to somewhere between 10-20psi (I badly need a reliable tire gauge, haha).

Front tire (255/ 80/ 17) stuffed without fender flare. Plenty of room...

Stuffed rear.

Yes, I know my bedside is bent a little out.


Spent a few hours on the water and didn't see a single person.

Then sat down and had a beer (Unless you're not supposed to have a beer in a national forest. In that case I found this empty bottle). North Carolina is home to me, but since I grew up near Sacramento, I had to enjoy an old local favorite of mine.

 

Almost forgot: Front bumper is finally ordered! I had made a trade a while ago that included my factory bumper and another TW member's winch (more on that later). After a lot of studying, I went with a new ARB front bumper that is made for the '05-'11 Tacoma (mine is a '14 ). I did this on purpose, but I wait till it's on the truck to explain.

 

I know of a spot to put the spare tire and hi lift that wouldn't be in your way at all.. Swing out on that rear bumper

 

I know, but DCLB parked in the garage...

 

Jesse, looking good! Nice updates.

 

I was a little bored on the phone this evening, so I thought I'd update the first post of this build a little. I'm not at the computer, so the wrong year front bumper install write-up will have to wait a bit longer. I ended up cutting both the bumper and the truck to make it fit, but the results are exactly as I had hoped.

My schedule will continue to be (happily) stupid busy for a couple more months, so don't expect much for a little bit.

 

So, this is how an ARB bumper made for a '05-'11 Tacoma looks on a '14.

 

I chose this bumper over the 'correct' one simply because it's smaller and doesn't hurt the approach angle as bad. This style hangs out the front a few inches less than the correct one and the hoops are a little lower. I think it looks better, as it fits the size of the truck better.

 

Well done. How difficult was it to mod it to make it fit?

 

Bumper looks great. Definitely doesn't look like it hurts the approach angles as bad as the proper one. Do you think using the improper year model would effect how the airbag deploys?

 

Thanks! It wasn't too difficult. My main goal was to not adjust anything that effects the way it mounts to the truck. I did this by cutting a little clearance into both the bumper and the grill/ headlight supports. I'll put together a write up this evening.

Thanks! There should be no additional effects to the airbag system caused be using the wrong year bumper. All the trucks from '05-'15 use the same frame, body, and core support. Also, I haven't read anywhere that they changed the front airbag sensors.

 

The install is still not complete. I still need to finish the winch install, install the lights, and wire everything up. Just stupid busy....

 

Had to get a 40lb propane tank filled for work and discovered a neat little 'feature' of bed stiffeners. It holds the tank VERY stable tied down like this:


I would recommend adding some sort of isolator if you keep a tank mounted this way to keep from chafing your tank. I like simple solutions to things, so this was a good find. I'm not sure the brand of the stiffeners. I got them used off @hetkind when he bought my camper shell, so maybe he will remember.

 

Don't those look nice all painted silver...and I bought them from a vendor off this website. I think a piece of inner tube would make a fine isolator...

Howard

 

I didn't paint them. That side gets used a lot, so the powder coating came off, haha. I hope things are going good for you and wife.

 

We are doing just fine on the mountain, love the cap...

Howard

 

Subd for great local build, truck looks great