AT Habitat, Atlas, & Summit Pictures, ideas, aaand BS

I've been thinking of one of those low voltage electric blankets for my feet if it gets too cold. I usually use a metal water bottle with hot water, but I've had those leak a time or two, not fun.

 

I've driven through that area a few times, never got the chance to actually check it out though. Someday! And with the Habitat, I won't have any excuses to get out of road trips anymore

 

I bet you'll be fine as long as you have a decent sleeping bag. The bug screen we hung up at end of bed keeps a lot of body heat in, too. lotsa good options. I've looked at the heated blankets, but never found good info on power draw.

 

I've also been thinking about installing some kind of insulated reservoir/tank that I can hook up to a heat exchanger in the engine, mainly to keep the water from freezing and I was thinking that it might possibly add some thermal mass to keep the Hab a bit warmer, but I don't know how much volume I'd need to accomplish that and what it would do to weight/storage, let alone if it would even make a difference. Lots and lots of projects to research....

 

Oh I'm not too worried, I've slept in my truck cab with just a sleeping bag and some handwarmers when it was about -50, I've hammock camped when it got below 0, and I've spent a few fall nights in primitive shelters, so I know I could figure something out, but it would be nice to have one of the blankets just for the easy factor, and "just in case". Plus I do have a handy heater that's covered in fur and follows me everywhere lol. I haven't looked too far into the blankets power draw yet though, I just remember seeing some listed as "low draw" and "RV"

 

I really wanna get back out in the Habitat. Trying to decide whether or not to skip family Thanksgiving to go back down to Oregon and the dunes for the long weekend.

 

Why not bring thanksgiving with? lol

 

I don't think my grandparents or parents want to go camping lol.

 

Psh, their loss! lol

 

Does anyone with a swing out on their rear bumper have experience with the "death wobble" or whatever it's called? I'd love to pair one with the Hab, but as I was researching I came across that phenomenon, and it sounds like a bit of a deal breaker; driving on concrete highways is bumpy enough without adding that to the mix...

 

What is this "death wobble" you speak of? only ever heard of that in regard to a motorcycle.

 

I've only heard - and experienced - the death wobble with my old Wrangler, but never with the Tacoma.

 

I had death wobble in my wrangler as well... basically when the steering wheel shakes so hard it almost rips out of your hands and only way to stop it is to stop the car... never heard of it on a taco...


I have a swing out, but it weighs virtually nothing compared to off the shelf units... you can see a write up I did on it earlier in this thread. I just didn't want too much more weight behind the rear axle after already having a habitat and all my camping gear back there

 

I'm trying to find the original articles I read, but essentially it sounds like there's just enough flex in the swingout that it starts to "bounce" as you drive down the road, and this effect amplifies quite badly until you slow down or stop. Sounded to me like an extreme version of what you experience on cement highways, that constant vibration/flex up and down

 

Ah, here's the video I was looking for:

https://youtu.be/ulsWc3kDXy4

 

Yeah, I am worried about how heavy this truck is going to get with all the goodies I want, especially the back end. But damn if it wouldn't be convenient to carry the spare, hi-lift, some jerry's and most importantly the table for cooking back there... want want want lol

 

I've seen plenty of rigs that look insanely heavy on the back. Haven't heard of this before today. It must not be super common on the Taco?? Maybe proper rated springs and a good set of shocks could help.

 

Just watched. Maybe just don't buy a CBI? lol.

 

Lol, I had that thought to, but those articles I read (wherever they've disappeared to) made it sound like a fair number of people had this issue, not just with CBI. It was just enough to scare me from adding one to my "For sure" mods, I'd hate to drop the money on one and then have to start chasing smoke with suspension alteration and who knows what just to eliminate the wobble. Assuming it happened on my rig, anyways. Just figured I'd bounce it off you guys to see what y'all have experienced. I can definitely say that I had no idea this truck would be such a learning experience, everything from the garbage shifting and my current OVTune journey, to the rabbit holes of suspension, armor, lights, the idea of overlanding, etc.... I really appreciate y'alls knowledge and help though.

 

Rear swingout is still on my list of mods, but it's just less important as I start building. And when it does come time, there's no way I'm putting one on without a front bumper/winch to help keep the front end down. I tow a lot, so I've already noticed with the extra habitat weight and loaded trailer how much diff the tongue weight makes compared to before. too much and my front end feels like it's barely on the ground. Not fun at freeway speeds.