AdventureTaco - turbodb's build and adventures

I'm starting to think we need to start a crowdfunding campaign for a pair of traction mats... just to force you to take them and find a spot on the rig

 

@turbodb Did you identify the snake?

 

Hahahahaha, if it's crowdfunded, I probably don't need to start looking for a place to stash them any time soon!

Just a gopher / bull snake, I'm pretty sure. Definitely hissed like one. Enjoying the warmth of the asphalt.

 

Rock with barbed wire is called a Deadman, used to anchor fencelines. Usually they are buried for extra strength, hence the name.

 

Rig Review: Alvord Desert - What worked and what didn't?
April 29, 2019.

The trip to the Alvord Desert and Hart Mountain Antelope National Wildlife Refuge was one that we threw together relatively quickly and without much work on the truck after the previous trip. The only work really was maintenance - an oil change, tire rotation, and re-booting the passenger CV axle. That said, as the trip progressed, there were still several items worth noting.

ADS Coilovers - Pre-Load Removed
TL;DR - I recommend running front suspension with as little pre-load as possible. Having removed about a third of the pre-load from my ADS setup for this trip, the ride was much better and the suspension felt like it was able to work in situations where it was previously hitting full-droop.

On the Utah trip (as well as Anza-Borrego), I'd noticed that my new front suspension from ADS didn't seem quite right. When I'd go over the back side of a bump and the wheel had to travel down to meet the lower ground, I was frequently getting a "clunk" sound that I'd previously not heard (with the Toytec BOSS setup). On talking to Monte (who got the same setup a few months after I did), he mentioned that he too heard the clunk now sometimes - but not nearly as much as I was hearing it.

The only difference as far as I could tell was that he'd removed some pre-load from his springs.

Keen to stop the bump and get a bit smoother ride, I took the opportunity to use the Branick spring compressor to remove approximately one-third of the pre-load from my coilovers (about ¾" of front lift). Needless to say it was satisfying to be able to turn the collar on the shock body without any punch or pry bar, all of the spring tension held in check by the compressor.

And, removing that tension seems to have fixed most of the clunking I was hearing. Where previously I got on the order of 10-15 clunks/day even when I was being careful, on this trip I was less careful and still got no more than 1 clunk each day.

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Re-booted CV Axles with OEM Boots (new)
The CVs performed flawlessly on this trip - something I was a little concerned abouts given my surprise when rebooting the passenger side. The boots - as expected from an OEM kit (04438-04021) - are holding up well, and the Moog Universal CV boot clamps that I got for the inner joint are holding just fine. I expect these boots to last for many years, especially since I've taken some of the pre-load out of the ADS coilovers.

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Miscellaneous Great Stuff
I think I often overlook the little stuff that I take on trips that just does it's job, or that may not be used every trip, but is really handy when the time comes. A few of those things saved the day this time and I think it's worth highlighting their value:

1. Full-Size Shovel - I think most folks recommend taking a shovel, but often it's of the folding variety, or a short shovel to save on space. The full-size shovel this time really saved our bacon when we got stuck in the mud, and that's the third time it's gotten us out of a "sticky" situation - it also happened on the OBDR and in Montana last year. Digging with a full-size shovel is so much more efficient, and you have so much more leverage, it really reinforces for me the value of this simple tool.
2. Muck Boots - I've only had my Arctic Sport Muck Boots for a few trips now, but the peace of mind they allow when you're in a muddy, snowy, or wet situation is totally worth their reasonably-expensive price tag. In the past, I'd be hesitant to get out and walk a water crossing because it would mean getting my shoes wet or going barefoot (which means cold, drying off, and risky footing). Same for muddy situations - I wouldn't want to get my one pair of shoes all nasty just to scout a short length of trail. Muck boots change all that and they allowed me to spend half an hour digging out the truck in over a foot of mud without giving it a second thought. Big thumbs-up from me.
   
   
   
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3. Differential Lockers - This may seem strange, but I feel like lockers are something that people just don't like to talk about or acknowledge. Those that don't have them boast about how great they are because they don't need them; those that do have them hesitate to use them (or admit they used them) even though we all paid a pretty penny to get them. On this trip, my ability to lock both the front and rear axles is a big part of what allowed me to get the truck unstuck from the mud. Nearly all the traction was on the passenger side, and without lockers I would have simply dug myself further and further into the mud. I may not use them often, but like the Muck boots and shovel, even at several hundred bucks, the lockers paid for themselves (or paid for my mistake) by avoiding an expensive tow truck.
   
   
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Recovery Tracks - Something to Consider in the Future (?)
I've avoiding getting any type of recovery traction device - like MaxTrax or TRED PRO - because they're super expensive and because I feel like any time I'd use them, they'd be so disgustingly dirty that I wouldn't know what to do with them.

Both of those things would have been true on this trip as well - using a traction board may have even resulted in the board being buried and unrecoverable due to mud suction - but I think they may have gone a long way to helping me get out of the situation I was in, more easily.

So then, the question becomes - are they worth it? For me, I think the answer is still "not yet," but I'm more on the fence than I've been in the past.

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Unchanged / Still an issue 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 Bed is Cracking - the crack isn't worsening (that I can tell) but still needs to be addressed.
5. Front ADS Reservoirs Too Close to Tires - I've still got rubbing in sharp turns each direction.
6. 4Runner Wheels - still silver, which doesn't look as good as the Bronze SCS Stealth6s.

 

Great trip report and photos!
I picked up a Garmin In-reach at Christmas and got the most basic plan for those moments in the middle of nowhere and things are going bad.
Here in BC its pretty easy to be out of cel service.
Have you thought about picking one up or not something you want to spend your cash on?

 

Great reports as always. You've got me looking at muck boots now -- we've had a pretty wet spring and so far I haven't had to get out in deep mud, but I've driven through plenty that I would not have wanted to step in with good shoes on.

On the spring thing, I think the rule is that if you have to use too much preload to get the right height, you probably need a stronger spring. Apparently lots of debate on the issue, and no rule for how much preload is too much. Sounds like you are finding the sweet spot for your dynamic ride height.

 

I've learned one thing from full-size trucks and that's to place them upside down stuffed between the cab and the bed.

 

That's how all the farmers around here carry them on their trucks.

 

Thanks!

I've considered a PED/EPIRB like device a few times, but haven't ever pulled the trigger. In general, I don't feel that my travels take me far enough away from help that I'll need one... Famous last words.

One thing I did do last year was change cell networks from At&T to Verizon. Amazing difference. I feel like I've always got cell service now! Not sure if that's good or bad when you're trying to escape, but it's definitely a nice extra level of safety.

Yeah, the preload I had previously was what ADS put on them from the shop - I didn't think to adjust them. I think they pump then up to the "Max" lift ... 3" or so, because most people want that look.

I don't care about the look - actually, I like a bit less lift... So removing the preload was what I should have done at the beginning.

Springs are 650s, so plenty of lift there for what I've got going on!

In the cab, behind the driver seat, on their sides, to fill the space in the foot well... Which is great keeps because it keeps other stuff from falling down in there. If they get dirty, I have a bag for them.

Nice. Might try this when they get dirty. Would be a little worried about water in fast puddles... But otherwise, great!

 

Mine go in the back seat standing up with the toes under the front seat. Couple of walmart type bags go on them to keep dirt of of shit if I have other stuff back there. Otherwise I have a floor mat back there anyways. (in Igor of course)

Like them in the truck so I can put them on in the truck if needed. Have had to do that several times.

 

Funny, I have a locker, and I use it any time I hit the dirt, mostly because it disables all of the electro-BS for traction control, ABS, etc. I knew I wanted one thing when getting my taco, and that was the E-locker, preferably via the OR package. I don't hesitate to use it whatsoever.

 

Wait, you're locking your diff on just normal dirt roads???

 

All the time. Anything with less traction than pavement and without tight turns I lock it, again, because it disables all the electronic stuff that keeps me from having fun. No real change in handling to me, and before people get all scared of wear, these things see WAY more abuse under rock crawlers with 35-42s and hold up just fine.

 

My thoughts as well, it's only supposed to be used to get you out of trouble. I haven't even tested my e-locker on this truck, probably need to just to keep things lubed. I've never used it, but glad to have it if needed -- but with all the MTS and Crawl control, I don't know if it is even that necessary. I've found 4L and the right line is usually all that is needed.

 

I wasnt even aware 2nd gens had that much electronic stuff other than ATRAC stuff which shouldn't really change how it drives on dirt roads that much I thought.

Certainly straining the drive line more but actually Id be more concerned with the tire wear than that. But if you don't care then so be it. I know Ben and Mike used to do that. I never saw the point.

 

I used to daily drive a 3rd gen pickup on 35s with a lunchbox locker in college. A toyota axle can take a LOT of abuse. I'm not worried about drivetrain stress, unless im on switchback roads with a little more traction, where the locker usually isnt needed. Most of the places I go the locker isn't needed, but if it helps me hold a line and use less throttle, i'm all for it.

I wired mine through a new relay that lets me engage the locker whenever I need, not just 4lo. Still turns off ABS and traction control, which have gotten me into way more trouble than the locker has. I can't tell you how many times ABS has caused me to triple my stopping distance as it takes away all my pedal control on a loose surface. You can wire in a switch to turn those off, but it won't let you also turn on the locker.

Now if only I'd held out for a manual so that the trans didn't upshift at the slightest bit of wheelspin in sand...

 

Yeah, but as long as the wheels rotate at different speeds, it will lock up when it rotates around and things line up -- like if one wheel is in the air. A-TRAC would brake that wheel and send power to the other one, which is why I wonder how useful having the locker really is. When testing mine in a gravel lot, I always had to turn back and forth to get it to line up and lock in.

 

LOL, who am I kidding anyway, I'm unlikely to get in a situation where I would need it. I'm too chicken.

 

It's actually two bags. Here's the situation - you can see how they "puzzle" in there; keeps the box (usually full of misc stuff - snacks, etc. - on a trip) from tipping down in front when headed downhill over bumps, etc.

Same - was nice to jump out of the truck with them on.

I used to keep them in the bed (under the tent in a little cubby I have behind the fridge). But I found that the sliders were nice and muddy a lot of times when I wanted them, which defeated the purpose.