Driving a Tacoma around the world

Cool. To be honest if we were sticking to North America, I think I’d pull it with 1/2 ton. But I certainly love the smallish size of the Tacoma. I’ve been going back and forth about getting the OV tune, just not sure how it would benefit while hauling my trucks weight and also burning some cruddy gas. We’re saving North America for last. I really want to spend a summer in Alaska

 

I agree, but also know that I’ll be lucky to tow 4-5 times a year so the other 350 days of the year I don’t want that 1/2 ton. I just want ‘the little red truck that could’.

OV just released beta of his octane learning tune so it can handle 87-93 and not worry. Before, you had to run the tune rating or higher.

His gear lock option is nice too (can’t recall if you’re AT or MT).

 

Thanks!

 

@Round the world that's funny that you are also a Porsche guy, I had a 2006 911 C2S 6 spd for several years and used to participate in many PCA events here in Northern CA. Love how the build turned out btw! Let me know if you have any shakedown trips planned down my way...we are going to do a big trip to Baja in November to work out any kinks in our setup.

 

After driving pickups all my professional career I was constantly looking over the fence at the greener Porsche pastures. Finally pulled the trigger, driving pickups now is such a letdown, sorry guys. But it’s pretty hard to have our home for three years in anything but a truck, the taco gives me smiles as well.

Need to find time to change the oil and head for the test hills. We’re heading next month down to Fresno to have our Scheel Mann seats installed at Cruiser Brothers, hopefully we’ll have time to head into the Sierras. Happy to meet up if it’s convenient. I like the thought of a shakedown trip to Baja for most people that’s a big trip in itself. It’s all a matter of perspective. Have you put on solar yet?

Having some electrical issues with the install, main power in the camper doesn’t work most of the time. Grr

 

We have a Fiesta ST as our DD now that will be up for sale soon and it makes me sad that I will be without a sports car for first time since I was 17, but sacrifices must be made in the name of adventure!

No electrical gremlins so far, but I have not yet installed the second battery, solar panel, charge controller, or rigid outdoor floodlights.

As far as your plans go PM me and let me know when you will be around.

 

Funny you mentioned custom springs. Our extreme duty Dobinson springs (model # L59-176-R) which are not even an option for Tacoma's and are designed for the 2,000 lbs loads on a Hilux aren't cutting it.

Notice that the spring is basically flat


And there's only 1 1/2 inches of clearance above the falcon bumpstop


So we've ordered a custom spring set from Deaver. Should have listened to you...

 

Yikes, I've got these and will have to watch them. How long did that take?

I guess you always get what you pay for, will probably end up doing some deavers and custom valved rear shocks at the same time...

 

Is that fully loaded with gear and provisions? To me, it looks like it's got over an inch of up travel until it hits the overload, at which point it will hit a more progressive spring rate. And the bump stops have quite a bit of compression to go through. I don't think it's that far off, but having a little more cushion than that seems reasonable.

 

Are you on Expedition Portal or ADV rider? If not you should look in to them, there is a ton of info about round the world travel on both sites as well as resources in most of the countries in case you have trouble. Who knows, you will probably bump into a few of them on their round the world travels as well.

 

Sweet!!! I think you'll like the Fiamma awning. Get the groundstake kit and if you can find a way to mount them, get the bodymount kit.
http://www.eurocampers.com/Fiamma-A...MIl8qasILt5AIVgobACh2iSA1ZEAQYAiABEgL5zPD_BwE

https://www.gowesty.com/product/-accessories/4436/fiamma-awning-ground-stake-plate-kit-

 

That pack looks like it could use one or two more leafs. 10+ leaf packs are pretty common to find in 70 series troopy campers and utes, as well as HD packs by Deaver. Given the distance and variety of terrain you're looking at, I'd also bring along an extra leaf or two.

Another handy item for fixes or just patching to get to the next town is a Ready Welder II. Pretty compact and capable but it requires either batteries mounted reasonably close, or removing them to get to 24V.

 

It happened basically immediately, truck now only has 500 miles since the install. What's too bad is a set of custom springs is maybe $600-$700 versus the Dobinsons at $400. Oh well better to figure it out now vs later. My rear axle weight is 3,980 lbs now, stock rear weight was 1,900 lbs so I'm at the limit of the Dobinsons

 

These pictures are with recovery gear and a full tank of gas, no propane, water, food, or people. I'm thinking that we'll add up to another 500 lbs. When going over a pretty deep pothole one of the rear tires hit one of the underbody boxes so knew i had a problem. We're going to put on a beefier bump stop, a Timbren

 

I cruise through Ex Ped a lot but have not repeated this thread on that site. I've haven't heard of ADV rider, will definitely check it out, thanks!

 

I like the ground stake kit. What I'm trying to find is a mosquito netting that Velcros to the awning, flying bugs like my wife. i guess i could make one

 

Oh yikes! Yeah I think the dobinsons just aren't the right spring for you. I'm pretty sure the 176 is only like a 550kg load rating.

I still need to weigh my rear but I have a slide in shell so much lighter than you and no flattening after a few thousand hard miles.

 

ADV Rider is motorcycle centric, but lots of good resources...I ride bikes as well..but there is lots of up to date info from people currently on the road from pretty much anywhere.

I would imagine Expedition Portal would have a ton of advice for a tacoma do's an don'ts as well.

 

I've done the Velcro-on-fiberglass screening on a small scale. Sewed Velcro tabs to the screen, glue or rivet Velcro to mounting surface, it worked on a trailer door.

Screen is available in 8' width rolls so a simple cheap method like that could work fine. Maybe sew canvas to the bottom to ground anchor it. Best of luck!

 

I am getting a Tern Overland camper built. The entire camper will weigh ~500#s (the bed comes off), so even with bumpers, winch, premium suspension sliders, skid plates, et., it won't be over GVWR.
Then add a King suspension and I'll be good to go.
Bed bigger than a queen size.
Spartan though.