Norcal Spotted and BS Thread

The maritime industry is hurting for qualified workers. Licensed and unlicensed. All union jobs, benefits, pensions, garaunteed vacation time... the one thing about the jobs available is that you must be willing to be away from home for months at a time. Some people just can't handle that part. I worked for Chevron for a bit and it was a pretty good stint. I parked at the Richmond refinery and I would get into the long wharf weekly, hop in my jalopy and amble on home for a few hours a week.

 

Need your advice too @jberry813. Haven't driven my truck since getting home from Slickrock. Under acceleration, I'm getting crazy torque steer. Not necessarily more left or right. Weird.


You think maybe it could be because I'm in 4wd with no rear driveshaft? Actually, that's probably what it is.

#frontwheeldriveondirtyfives

 

The extended contracts at sea are actually pretty easy to get nowadays. There just aren't as many qualified personnel available as there are jobs available. I was being asked to stay on for an extra month or two on many contracts as they just didn't have a replacement for me. That's when the real money starts.

 

If I wasn't married with kids I'd have probably slipped in to a maritime job. Deployments are easy money. I saw to many guys get divorced or cheated on to want a family while I was deployed. Waited until I got out.

 

Someone in texas thought ahead and knows what's important in life I guess haha

 

I'm in a access cab first gen. Got my OME Dakars from Toytec along with their rear BOSS shocks. Idk how good the bosses are, never ridden in the back, but the OMEs are pretty cool. Decent flex for offroading too. I like my setup, but id price out different shocks than the bosses to get the best deal. Not saying the bosses aren't good, but if you can get bilsteins for half the cost....

And I've seen @Fernando's AllPros in action. They seem to be good springs too. I jumped the gun and bought my whole setup before I found TW. Long story short, I did little to no research.Found the Toytec website and asked them what they recommended. But I love my Dakars, whether its on road, hauling my little cargo trailer, or off road.

 

Right on man! I will have to set a date to get-er-dun

Love my expo's. I was gonna sell them when i got my setup and go dakars. Blake talked me into keeping them. They do great load and unloaded

 

defiantly. by next yr when I go mine should be done.

 

Not sure since I'm new here. Maybe installing this would help?



Definitely worth a shot...

Retubed with 0.095 wall. Stock is 0.060. This and not letting Jeepers spot me will hopefully prevent it from happening again.

 

If I pick these up, and also plan to replace the shocks, would I need to purchase the whole kit or any extra parts? Or could I just swap out the leaf springs and shocks with the kit or extra parts? I know these are N00b questions, bear with me.

So you would recommend the expos over the standards? Would I be able to run bilstein 5100s in front and rear with the expo leafs? or would that require different/longer shocks?

 

So are you going to start carrying a spare?

I found a stock driveline and a 1" spacer work pretty well as back up.

 

Depends on the lift they'll give you. The only other thing you may have to change is the brake line, I don't remember 1st gen specs, and the brake proportionate valve might need a lifter bracket. Google BPV bracket and you should see what I'm talking about.

As far as expo leafs they're really only recommended if you constantly have weight in the truck. Otherwise they'll ride really stiff. Some guys here like them bit they have bed racks, rtts, fridges, etc in the back. Without anything permanently in the bed, and the occasional camping, you should be fine with standards.

Hope this helps.

 

shit happens. Look at the side of my truck. Cheers to great times.

If you run the expos i think you should run the 5125. Kings would be better of course. Im running the 5125s for the time being. Shock relocation and kings in the rear are in my future. I dont run weight monday thru friday and shes my DD. No complaints about stiffness. When packed down with ALL my gear, she feels great

 

Looks short. DCLBFTMFW!

 

I do constantly have a camper shell on my truck. But that can't be much more than 200 pounds. Is that enough to justify the expos or will the standards enough? I definitely don't want to go overboard and get leaf springs that I don't need.

And this helps a lot! Thanks.

I think I am leaning towards the standards, unless a shell is enough weight to justify the expos. I usually camp as minimally as possible without much gear beyond tent, backpack, water, dog, etc. And I would love to get the kings but they are a bit out of my current price range. I blew all of my money in Central America this summer, doh!

 

I love this so much Ive always wanted my own rowdy

 

is there anything i need to bring to a HAM test? there is one tomorrow near me that I might go take.

 

Of course! Just need to find one. Or just buy one. My truck won't be lifted enough to necessarily require a longer driveshaft (it is now with the shackle flip), but I did have it lengthened 1".... last year when the same thing happened. Said I wanted "thicker-walked tubing" last year. They gave me 0.065. I made sure to specify this time.