AdventureTaco - turbodb's build and adventures

EPIC!!!!

 

Wow you guys love mud aye? Certainly got enough of it this trip. I'm gonna say it again but please consider take your stories to a publisher. I know I would buy it & a great many other on here would also.

 

Like this? Haha

 

Well more after you drive on pavement for a few miles, but you've got to get the tires dirty first ha

 

Me RN too lol

 

Petrified sanddunes is close enough to pavement haha

 

Not bad, not bad. Prefer staying in the dirt though!

Thanks very much. The lake is definitely a cool place, and there's so much more to explore. Can't wait to head back myself; wish it were closer, or I could teleport there!

Glad you enjoyed - was definitely a fun trip. And will be fun to look back on later!

Well, we definitely got a lot of it. I don't actually mind it when it stays on the side of the truck - but this time was a bit much for me - it was in the bed, on the tent, all over the windshield. When I got home, I pulled something like 13 gallons of it off the truck before washing. No thanks! Going to have to do something about that for the future.

It'd be fun to publish something. Not sure there's a cost-effective way to do that though, with all the photos.

Absolutely, glad you enjoyed! If you haven't, go back and read some of the earlier ones. They're fun too: https://adventuretaco.com/tag/big-trip-start/

LOL, you guys. Yes, there are more coming - several trips have happened since October. Actually, there's one more post related to this trip (I'm going to do another Rig Review of what worked/didn't) and then we'll get on to more adventures.

 

SO IN for the rig review.

 

Take it to a publisher. Tell him you want it publisher. Either as a travel log, or as a just a story.

 

Rig Review: F.U.Rain Trip - What worked and what didn't?
Rig Review is a new type of post that I'm going to try to write up after most trips, where I'll note any things that worked really well, or could have been better. The idea has always been to optimize the Tacoma build and setup over time, so there's nothing really new from that perspective.

I won't talk about everything I've got going on - just new equipment to the trip and/or any outliers that deserve a mention. At the very least, I figure that long-term, real-world reviews of the products I use are good for everyone!

October 16, 2018.

F.U.Rain 2018 was two more weeks in the wild, hot on the heels of The Re-Tour. The truck once again performed well, getting me everywhere I needed to be with relative ease. The difference with this trip was the wet and muddy weather. Certain pieces of kit worked well in those situations, while others ...didn't.

Coleman Camp Stove/Grill (new this trip)

I like this new Coleman Camp Stove/Grill. Seems to have the benefits of a smaller camp stove from a packing and propane usage perspective, while retaining the ability to grill (for a family of 3-4). Definitely better than the previous setup. Two non-ideal things that I'll need to fix over time: the dials for the burners seem overly sensitive - they seem to have "off" and "high." More importantly though, the latches to keep the wind screens attached to the top are very easily dislodged, causing the whole thing to "fall apart." It's loud, and inconvenient, though doesn't affect the cook performance.

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Military Medical Storage Containers (new this trip)

These are some new containers that I got on a recommendation from Monte @Blackdawg, because they fit well in the bed of a first gen Tacoma. I've got to say, so far I'm impressed. They are relatively light (for their size), waterproof, and durable. Oh, and they fit really well in the bed (as expected).

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Stealth Custom Series (SCS) Stealth6 Wheels (long term)

TL;DR - I love the look of these Stealth6's, but I'm on the hunt for new wheels; or at least some solution to the amount of mud that gets thrown into/onto the truck when I run around in wet weather.

I've really loved the look of the SCS Stealth6 wheels since I installed them. They are 16"x8" with 3.5" backspacing, which means they sit about an inch further outboard than stock wheels. That means that in muddy terrain, the mud gets everywhere, since they protrude an inch or so past the fender flares.

Apparently I haven't been on a really muddy trip since I installed them, until the F.U.Rain 2018 trip. Actually, it's probably more correct to say that the type of mud was different on this trip - it was clay-based, and so clumps up in the tires, gets flung up into the air, and then sticks to whatever it lands on - in my case, the sides of the truck, the roof, the windshield, and the bed (the parts that aren't fully covered by the tent).

When I returned from the last trip, I had over 13 gallons of dry mud I removed from the truck before I even started washing it, and another 10+ gallons that were removed by the pressure washer. It was a colossal mess - especially in the bed, where it gets on everything - and an issue I want to solve moving forward.

I don't as yet know how. New wheels? Bigger fender flares? A combination?

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CVT Roof Top Tent - Rubber Cover Zipper (long term)

The zipper for the rubber cover got dirty (muddy, not dusty) and that made it really hard to get closed. I'm going to clean it well, and then keep an eye on it over time, since I've never had an issue with it before.

Seemingly solved from previous Rig Reviews

1. The Coleman Classic Camp Stove and Lodge Cast Iron Grill/Griddle - details above.

Unchanged from previous Rig Reviews

There are some things that have been featured in Rig Reviews that are - as yet - unchanged from when I originally reviewed them. Rather than highlight those things again, I'll simply link to them here.

1. The Swing-Out Table - as expected, it was unusable on this trip.
2. The Electrical System - continues to have the limitations of a single battery system.
3. The Ham Radio Antenna - continues to have the shortcoming mentioned.
4. The CVT Roof Top Tent - stargazer windows in the rain fly continued to be a significant issue.

 

Man Id hate to have to use that hi lift with it looking like that.

 

That is MUD AND ROCKS AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF SHIT.

 

Good to know. I've been thinking about getting a Stargazer Rain Fly for my Tepui because I have skylights, but a solid rainfly with no windows. Maybe I'll hold off on that.

 

I'm sure you know this, but beeswax on the zipper will help keep it smooth (after cleaning)

 

That's why I got the neoprene jack cover for mine.

Hi-Lift Jack NJC Neoprene Jack Cover

https://www.amazon.com/Hi-Lift-Jack-NJC-Neoprene-Cover/dp/B003CEFJ2A

Another option is the complete jack cover.

$57 Hi-Lift JP-360 Jack Protector

https://www.amazon.com/Hi-Lift-JP-360-Jack-Protector/dp/B00ZRE8QQO

 

The Jungle Flares don't look horrible, IMO. I like that they don't have all the reliefs for bolts that Bushwacker does. They are wider than Bushwacker tho.

Jungle Flares are half the price of the Bushwacker flares too. $250 vs $519.

Jungle Flares:
https://www.junglefenderflares.com/toyota-tacoma/95-04-toyota-tacoma-fender-flares.html



Bushwacker Cutout Flares (can be installed without cutting from what I have read):
https://www.bushwacker.com/bushwacker-31919-02-cut-out-fender-flares-front-and-rear

 

Yeah, I'd clean it off before using it for sure. I've looked at the neoprene, but it feels expensive for what it is, and it would get super dirty as well and would be in the sun all the time. In the end, felt like six of one, half dozen of the other to me. ...wouldn't complain if I got one for free though, hahahhaaha

Yes, bleh.

Yeah, not a fan. I'd love to trade mine to someone who wants the windows. Hopefully can get it taken care of in the next year...we'll see.

Yeah, I looked into Bushwackers but not sure they'd stick out quite far enough. And Bushwacker couldn't tell me if the extended ones would give me an extra half inch compared to 98-00 or 01-04. And I'd need it compared to 01-04, which is already half an inch wider than 98-00.

Thanks for posting this. I'd never seen the Jungle Flares. I too am not a fan of the bolts on the really wide Bushwackers. The Jungles look a bit heavy to me though...of course, they'd have to be to stick out as far as necessary.
Decisions.

 

I will probably get the Jungle Flares at some point. According to the site, they extend a total of 6" from the fender, so are pretty wide. They are made from fiberglass as well, like the OEM 98-00 flares. They have additional pictures in the gallery as well, so be sure to check those out if you haven't already.

 

Do you carry a lube for it as well?