geekhouse23's "LIFE'S WAITING TO BEGIN" Overland & Home build and all the Adventures in between!

Plan is to have you tell me which Harbor Freight welder you recommend for a n00b to get most of the shit done I need to and then send it.

 

I asked him that and him knowing me, he said JB Weld.

 

Fuckin A, my man. Get the one I got. Titanium 140 and search https://www.hfqpdb.com/ for a coupon before you purchase. It comes with a 1lb spool of flux core which is plenty to get practice in.

Then, get some 1/8" thick bar stock and cut it into 6" strips, and practice some various joints. Watch a lot of youtube videos. I bet by the end of that 1lb spool you'll be laying decent welds.

 

Congrats man! I hope to be in a similar boat in the next few months.

If you don't have a pair already, the SLEE terminals I ordered are fuckin beefy.Would highly recommend to a friend.

 

I have a plastic welder for motorcycle fairings...

HELL YEAH. I am excited. Once the move it over with. Gotta focus on that first haha.

Congrats my friend!

I have some, they just need to get into the engine bay somehow...

 

Just let me know what weekends you’re free and bring the truck down. Actually not super covered up right now and the weather is finally breaking.

If you’re looking at welders, Hobart Handler 140 all the way.

$500 from Farm and Fleet

 

Will do! We are one week out from the big move!! I will definitely be hitting you up! Hope you are ready!!








With moving and getting in and out of the bed a lot more than usual, the wife commented on the tailgate after she just let it drop open. Was researching the EZ down tailgate mod and thanks to @ovrlndkull he gave me the kick in the d!ck to get everything ordered up:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2302682&cc=3015100&jsn=10428

Install plan:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-and-adventures.362772/page-127#post-13369293

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-and-adventures.362772/page-128#post-13377427

Brackets:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-with-bs-thread.220278/page-407#post-13371902

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bracket-90...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bracket-90...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Got everything ordered and it should come in early next week. Hoping I can have it installed mid next week, but I am not holding my breath. I have been considering a riv-nut tool, however, I cannot justify spending the $80. Might cruise the Harbor Freight this weekend.

 

You can make a DIY Rivnut tool using a bolt and a piece of flatstock or a few fender washers. Has worked well enough for me in the past.

 

That would be awesome. Overall, meaning rivnuts, I am worried about the weight of the tailgate with a steel plate. The one I linked was aluminium.

 

I wouldn’t worry about that in the slightest. You know the bedslides you see people with? Yeah, those are secured to the bed with like 6 rivnuts.....and can support an extended load of like 1k pounds. Which is insane. I wouldn’t hesitate to use rivnuts in that application.

 

You're welcome for spending your money

 

Good to know. A bedslide is definitely on my list. I thought they mounted to the bed using the bolts that connect the bed to the frame.

Always a good time

 

That's a negative ghost rider, unless they changed something recently. That would be a much better mounting solution though.

 

Interesting. I'm sure there hasn't been any issues with a well known company like that, however, for the price point and piece of mind, I'd assume the bed frame bolts would be a no brainer.

The more you know...

 

Yeah you'd think. I guess it just allows them to keep a similar product across a lot of platforms. And I just went and double checked, and sure enough it's 6 rivnuts.

http://www.cargoglide.com/support/installation/

 

Interesting. I seem to remember that someone utilized the bed bolts in a DIY way. I'll have to look into it. But it's good to know. Kind of a bummer but still interested nonetheless.

 

Yeah I mean if it works it works. I haven't read any reports of it failing. If it were me though, I'd through bolt it with some 3/8" grade 8 hardware, and large washers on the backside, and some nylock nuts.

 

Same. Overkill for peace of mind is always a good thing.

 

Yep, especially on something like that. That much weight when extended puts a lot of stress on those mounting points.

 

Well, now that the big TREE-OHHHHH is over and done with, I can focus on what I have been more anxious and excited for; the new house!!

The party on Saturday was great and the wife surprised me with a trip to Nashville in May!! Good food, great people and a fantastic night overall.

Two more full work days ahead of me then it's go time. I will be loading what I can into the truck tomorrow might before I pick up the trailer Thursday morning basically making the swingout all but useful at that point. Then, gym Thursday morning (can't miss a day) and loading the trailer alone for most of Thursday and making trips back and forth to the mother in law's house and dumping shit there. Got some friends coming Thursday after work to help load the bigger items then it is final cleaning of the old house and final walk-through of the new house. It sucks when the sale of our old house will be first thing Friday morning and the purchase signing will not be until 1pm.

Going to be a hectic few days, but when it's all said and done with, it will be worth every sacrifice and all the pain.

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!