Lone Star Toyota Jamboree Live! (2018)

And not to anyone's surprise the huge FJ C took first place for the day with a time I think under 20 seconds!! (Average time for everyone was probably around 50-60 seconds)





He put on an impressive show. Video is already circulating on Instagram. Once I get back to my laptop I'll see if I can post it up here.

There was also an older 1st gen on maybe 44s or taller that did really well too but I only managed this one photo...

 

@Blender in the bobbed 1st gen Tundra on 34s taking the small tire win!

 

By this time a few vendors had already completed the course so Wyatt from RST and I grabbed our rigs and got lined up

Here is Wyatt getting ready to start his run. 2005 6cyl auto Tacoma 4-linked live axle F&R on 42" IROKs and a MC TacoBox



Wyatt had a good strategy. He had his TacoBox in low and his transfer case in low, which, for an automatic is usually reserved only for very slow technical Crawling, not a timed run like this. But instead of dropping his auto into 1st, he simply shifted out of overdrive so that the very moment he hit the gas it rapidly upshifted 1-2-3-4 and off he went

This way, he would have the good wheel speed of a tall gear but under any load from perhaps a sudden rock he wasn't expecting, he would have gobs and gobs of torque from the Marlin Crawler eargly waiting that would instantly carry and roll over the obstacale on its own rather than Wyatt having to take time feathering the throttle.

He had a very smooth run with a really good time, I think somewhere in the 30-second range. Afterwards he told me people were asking how he was able to complete to the course so smoothly without losing forward momentum. He would simply say, TacoBox.

Heck yeah Wyatt nice work brother!!

 

Right awn! He had a very good run, looked like he really knew what he was doing. I don't see many Tundras out wheel'n and I'm happy to hear he got first!

@Blender Congrats man!

If you're ever looking to do some crawling, we've had the TacoBox compatible with both 6 & 8cyl 1st gen Tundras since July of 2000 *nudge* *nudge* *wink* *wink*

 

Big Mike on the Rock Crawl.

https://youtu.be/C-TF1tx_VwY

 

How is this possible? My 05+ 4.0 with a 6 speed, 4.88s and 37s gets about 10mpg? Is the new engine that much more efficient?

Really wondering if I can get 40s under mine witha LT front and better rear diff. I'm clearing 37s now with a cab mount relocate, tubed firewall and just the right backspacing on my wheels.

 

Prior to lining up with the truck, I was already contemplating what I was going to do. I knew I wasn't going to go fast. I still had half our display booth in the truck and currently do not have any bump stops.

Of course what I wanted to do is just put it in Triple Low and stand outside the truck the entire course. But judging by its length it would take over 15 minutes to complete lol

I decided I would shoot for an average pace by using 2nd transmission gear with low range + high range + low range. I knew this ratio would put me slightly lower than 2nd gear of a single 4.70 case which is a good gear choice when it's semi-rocky and you need to make up some time.

This also meant that should I choose to do any Triple Low shenanigans, I'd only need to engage one lever and grab 1st gear at the trans to downshift 16 gears at once.

Here is the view out the hood of the why-did-Toyota-make-it-so-big 3rd Gen

Minus 10 points for the worst over-the-hood visibility of any Tacoma



Plus 5 points for split screen dual cameras monitoring each front tire



In a timed competition like this these cameras are precisely a huge distraction. Watching the screen only makes me drive slower. But without a spotter, it was nice to know that I wasn't running off the rock pile on my passenger's side.

It didn't take long to realize I was going slower than average so I planned to hold the pace steady until the course worker cried out 60 seconds.

At that moment I looked him straight in the eyes and with a I engaged Triple Low 1st gear and hopped out of the truck. He immediately started laughing and it was awesome. I walked around the truck and got up on my passengers front tire, standing on it while it was still in gear crawling forward. I hollered back to the clock operator a few times concerned about my course time

There was still some course remaining so I did what everyone else does at the end which is to PIN IT TO WIN IT except I did so at 580:1. I bounced my engine off the rev limiter the whole way off the course at less than 1 MPH. I was laughing like crazy!

That was a highlight for me and it sucks to say this but that was the only time I put the truck in 4WD. Doing this solo on only a two day travel schedule was an exhausting idea. Next year I'll plan time to checkout what Barnwell Mtn has to offer.

@cooper4x4 that is awesome!!! Thank you so much for uploading and sharing this!! I spent some time yesterday looking around for any footage of my run and came up empty. Would you happen to have the entire recording? I'd love to get a hold of it! Thanks!!

There were many cameras out there so if anyone else sees my run pop up somewhere then please let me know, thank you!!

 

The nice 1st gen is a TTR member. I'm really bad with names but have wheeled with and met him a few times over the past year or so. @Naveronski or @hoarder23 should know his name.

 

Definitely good to meet you Mike! I'm glad my prediction of us ending up front and center came to fruition. Just wait till the full size images come out from Jambo. Your Turtle will show up just fine! @BigMike

Like we talked about Mike, we'll make sure you get down here earlier next year. There's plenty at Barnwell to keep you entertained and some that will be too much, but that's what it's all about.

 

The 3.5 is more efficient however Wyatt who I've mentioned above has a 2005 4.0 auto DC and with 5.13:1 R&P and 42" he says he is getting almost as good as me on the flats.

I do have a manual transmission but I can't see it adding any more than 1 MPG max over an auto.

Tires can make a difference but Wyatt is even running IROKs which are ok on-road but not the best. I'm running my Coopers a bit high at 35 PSI and I'm running premium fuel which in my truck makes +1 MPG.

Another argument is that once you get large tires up to speed you've got more stored energy but this only holds true at constant acceleration which we don't experience when going uphill....yet even my last tank climbing up into a windy 7,000 ft Flagstaff, AZ did pretty well:



This is a "hand calculation" (Fuelly iP app) using my miles traveled instead of the dash reading....and I have calibrated my speedometer to within 1/2 MPH using my iPhone's GPS and Hypertech controller.

Other variables are my truck is relatively light for a (still being built) built Taco, as it's only an AC, does not have full body armor, and has zero skid plates. I see you've got a bed tent, snorkel, larger profile front bumper than me. Air resistance adds up....

Your truck looks really cool man. I like the matching hood and roof color.

If you can somehow wait about a year I think I'll have something of great interest to you

How has your steering been holding up with the 37s?

Regards,
BigMike

 

Few more before I left the area

I love seeing more and more GX's outside the city!!

 

Even got to see the 70-series in action, and in this poster's opinion the Land Cruiser is the only TRUE off-road Toyota vehicle!



....and he had a twin along with a killer 40-series



And come to find out this was non other than Joe from Belgium and Shane Morrell, two names I've heard at work as long time customers who I've not yet had the pleasure to meet until today!!



We chatted for a while and these guys had some incredibly nice things to say about Marlin including Shane remembering Marlin helping him back in 1996 at the Great Smokey Trail Ride in TN

If you guys are reading this, I txt'd Marlin that I met you gentlemen and he was super excited to hear that you both where at this event!

Group photo for Marlin

 

Thank you. I'm assuming it's the steering system you've mentioned and it will be of great interest to me. So far my steering hasn't been as bad as expected. Nothing bent or broken yet but I've knocked it way out of alignment more than once. I drove home about 300 miles two weeks ago with me wheel clocked at 9:30 to go straight. This truck was neglected for a couple of years while my driveway decoration took up all my time and money. I'm just getting back to focusing on it as the "drive it, wheel it, drive it home rig". Getting the steering more bulletproof and adding a few MPG would help a lot. I have an Inchworm crawlbox (Bought when Marlins were unavailable) in my other truck that will probably get pulled out and stuck into this one.


Other truck (Basketcase):

Sorry for the highjack, probably should continue this in PM, but I would like to pick your brain at some point.

Last question. Any idea what your truck weighed loaded for the trip to Texas?

 

thanks @BigMike a crawl box is actually the final piece I've been wanting.

I was hoping to convert the prize raffle tickets to a Marlin crawlbox, but luck wasn't on my side. no problem, I don't mind paying for quality parts

 

So that yellow truck is now owned by Dan Rushing. Did it used to be yours?

 

He's @cooper4x4

 

That's me.

 

Backing up a steep hill with my welding trailer. Set the park brake to get out and look at something and when I went back up further I had the park brake lever up like 1- 2 clicks because my tape measure got under the handle.