God Bless the Rains

Thanks again to everyone sharing your unique experiences and ideas. I've spent a lot of the weekend reading more into what has been suggested in this thread.

@Exracer2 Those are some amazing photos and I look forward to sharing in similar experiences. You're absolutely not wrong about the stuff getting stolen. When the truck ships it'll have on it just what it needs to roll, the rest we'll ship in separately and throw on to try and hedge our losses.


@stun gun & @killthehippies I'm not sure if I should apologize or say your welcome? Glad someone got it by page 2!


New thoughts on gear:

I feel as though its cheap insurance and will be adding a snorkel to the list.

Toyota Tacoma Safari Armax Snorkel by ARB - $525

Also to that end, are there fording kits for the Tacoma? I imagine things like differential breathers would be needed. All this to say I am not planning on regularly dunking the thing, but if I ended up needing to do it, I don't want to brick the engine.

Roof top tent - Here I am looking for suggestions, I think I'll have the Leer topper factory reinforced and ride the tent toward the back of the rig.

Next steps -

This week I'll begin trying to line up parts manufactures to see if I can't get things started. I'm going to start with the OME suspension and go from there. I also had the idea that its probably a good idea to do a shakeout run or to with the rig before putting it on the boat. To that end, I'm starting to look at trails in Colorado, as I have family there I'd like to see before I go, so any trail suggestions out that way is appreciated. We'll be basing out of Colorado Springs but willing to drive to most of the state.

 

When the temp is above 85F and the humidity is above 70%, your dogs are going to hate riding in the bed. It will be downright dangerous for them above 90F.

 

Dogs?! If they are good guards then maybe. If not, don't bring them. If you can't live without them, cancel your trip. When you brought them home from wherever you took the responsibility to be their steward and that means not putting them in the hold of an airplane for 18-22hr flights. Also not bringing them to such an inappropriate environment for a house pet as just about anywhere in the 4th-world "no chinese roads here" part of Africa you describe as your destination.

 

See https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/god-bless-the-rains.503008/page-2#post-15700387

 

If your bringing dogs I would get a bestop, folds up and down and can remove the side and back windows. If you need RRT just get a front runner for the front and put it on that

 

The responses are making me feel as though I should remove the story element from this thread. A whole lot of judgment on personal decisions vs. truck advice.

Work has, on retainer, three western trained veterinarians with a full surgical suite. Dogs will not, much like they do not in the states, ride in the bed of the truck when it would be unsafe or uncomfortable to do so.

The primary purpose of this build is insurance so if everything goes to shit we can bug out and make it to safety regardless of conditions everything else is just a nice to have.

All that to say, we're not going into this blindly or without aforethought to the many aspects and consequences of bringing stuff, animals, and family to this place. I don't know much about 4x4s and this seemed like a place I could come and learn. That's why I'm here.

 

That first two sentences above...you are not wrong. I concur...

Please continue the technical aspect, and a journey log as well. I'm following

 

Thanks for the update. Looks like you will have a blast. Being with a company with full security makes ALL the difference. As far as the naysayers go you know your trip and the conditions better than anyone. If you feel it is safe for your animals do what you feel is best. Anyone can call the plays from their keyboard and have absolutely no idea what the actual details are. Unfortunately we live in a society that revels in despair and criticism and most find it easier to be negative than positive. TW is especially bad for this.

I wouldn’t worry about the truck much. Get GOOD AT’s or a mild MT. Remember there are 2 seasons. Hot OR wet. I only experienced hot (and non-stop 70% humidity) so I can’t claim to know much about the rainy season. I can claim Nigeria is very dry and scrub like based on flying over and landing there. Ghana on the slave coast is a mix of tropical forest and dry clay like soil. No idea what this turns into when wet. I only saw brief rains that only served to increase humidity but didn’t turn the soil wet. I do know it can be harder than concrete when hard packed based on having to dig through it and jackhammers were required when the excavators couldn’t dig it. Other spots are lush rich soil with silt sand as a base.

I NEVER saw any lifted or heavily modified vehicles anywhere. They drive everything everywhere. Now if you are in deep desert that may change things but otherwise mild mods would suffice. I know in the Jeep world instead of lengthening diff breathers there are these accordion type breathers that expand and contract and are fully sealed to your diff vent. They are the way to go IMO. https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/tgi-140207-1-kit/overview/. Snorkels are only necessary in deeper waters. Look at the inlet to your airbox. On Jeeps we used to turn the inlet up to suck air higher up and leave it at that. Some guys routed the inlet via flexible hose to the cab but it can be noisy. I just hated the look of snorkels on anything but the most heavily modded trailer queens.

 

Agreed. Watching this as well should be a good insight to some interesting experiences.

 

This is a public forum. When I asked why a truck versus 4Runner, you indicated to haul the dogs in the bed and cited their musty smell. Sorry man, but that sounded like you were another bad dog owner I see all too often.

Have fun on your adventure. Good luck.

 

Sorry OP. Passing judgement is what we do Have a great adventure.

 

I agree man. I've spent a fair amount of time in W. Africa. People don't understand Africa unless they've been there.

 

EXACTLY. It can be as modern as anywhere in the world and as primitive as you see on National Geographic. Not everything is like a zoo. I never saw an elephant, monkey, zebra etc. I did see a German shepherd, goat and chicken.

Africa is a CONTINENT not a country. As diverse as the US in terms of landscape, soil, vegetation, climate, mountains, deserts and so on. Louisiana is not Maine nor is Texas similar to Michigan (my buddies wife learned that her first winter in Detroit.)

I am excited to see reports back from the OP once he lands and gets settled in. It has been 19 years since I was over. 26 years old and was refered to as the virgin because it was my first time overseas and as green as they come. Looking back I was in over my head.

 

Possibly on your plate...

Both days in Uganda at breakfast I swear one of the dishes was stewed chicken feet and mushrooms... I couldnt even bring myself to put it on my plate and see what it really was.

The Africa discussion is a lot like one I have had with a few Europeans who dont understand why American's dont speak 3 or 4 languages... I have to explain that the USA is larger than all of Europe and we all generally speak the same language, English. We dont have the problem of driving from one state to another and the next state over speaks a completely different language. So its useless for Americans to really speak anything but English or MAYBE Spanish. I think the number I saw once was 90% of Americans will never leave the country in their lifetime.

 

Almost........ One day driving "home" from the job site I made mention of the goats and chickens eating from the open sewer (notch cut into hlllside where refuse, feces, urine etc run down into the concrete sewer). Later on I said instead of eating at our place let's go into town and eat some local stuff. The medic looks at me and say remember the goats and chickens eating from the sewer? That's the local stuff. So what do you feel like imported or local? IMPORTED IT IS!!!!

 

New leaf springs to support all that weight.

 

I for one can’t wait for the trip to get started, but unlike OP I wouldn’t over-think it, or over modify my truck, the truck is awesome off & on road right out the box anywhere in the world.
Having said that, since I wouldn’t be from that part of the world, a fact that will be well known as soon as I set foot in the ground by the western clothing, body language and speech, I’d leave the Taco at home and get one of these…




Notice there’s no lift needed, (its high center already) no eggs bushing or any mods to worry about, no big tires needed stock will do well, or CPS sensor or any electronic device to be concerned with no armor except for some old tires all around for protection lmao!

But again, if I was dead set on taking the Taco, I would take just like it came but take a spare CPS and its good enuff for everything this continent can throw at it stock and can handle anything there too.

And most of all remember, there’s plenty of lesser equipped vehicles surviving & making it there daily now that may make the TRDOR Taco look like overkill in comparison, just like here for most folk.

Now let’s get the show on the road and DO NOT forget the most important thing...The camera!
Can't wait!
Cheers!

 

OP, I think you should consider a soft topper for the versatility. I don't think I've ever seen a hard topper over there.

 

I'm surprised there have been no updates. I'm very interested in this.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this earlier, but the group I've worked with uses bone stock 4x4 Hiluxes and those trucks get into some REMOTE locations even in the rainy season.