@Socalexpeditions Vagabond Drifter Build Thread and Trip Reports

Yup definitely that too. I’ll take a picture of me next to the truck for a comparison!

 

QUARANTINE TACOMA MOD DAY

Today I got the new spindles installed, thank you @glorifiedwelder for doing all the hardwork for me.

God this install sucked. Tie rod stuck, CV’s stuck, and my deadblow ripped apart. Got it done though and that’s what matters!

Installed Gusseted Spindles



RIP 3lb Deadblow! (Few more hits after this and the beads exploded out of it).



This wraps up the front suspension minus a few more gussets and extended brake lines. I need to do another torque check and having minor rotor-on-dust shield rubbing I need to fix.

 

Height of truck next to me @ 5’11 with shoes on

And yes, I shaved my head

 

Who is that baldy next to your truck???

 

Running a Re-Gear Groupbuy!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...up-buy-socal-tacoma-4runner-jeeps-etc.662069/

 

Little getaway to Coronado. Very pleased with how the truck is driving on the freeway, but ready for new gears. I can say, the transmission shifting points with these stock gears is beyond horrible. Glad that I am doing it so early and that I can enjoy the 5.29's in the future.

 

Love this place. And for once it was semi-empty.

 

One-night Arizona Camping Trip Report

This was a quick trip we put together when I got to Arizona on Saturday morning. We had plans to rent a boat that fell through, so what better excuse is there to go camping? Packed up our trucks and headed out to an undisclosed location...



The lake was pretty damn dirty...Went for a quick swim and parked the trucks close to the lake! After sitting at the lake we realized that we'd be having a hell of a lot more fun on some jet ski's. More to come on that later...



Total we did 30-40 miles offroad. I didn't take too many photos, but the truck handled everything with such ease. I have to say, the front bumpstops were one of the smartest upgrades I did. In comparison to my old truck, this one is nowhere near the capability. Terrain I used to comfortably cruise through, I have to look at much more carefully to ensure there is nothing that will cause damage. I'm averaging around 10-15mph slower on washboard and can definitely notice the lack of travel from the front on the rocks. Crawling, three-wheeling occurs much more often than when I had +2. Overall, I'm happy with how this truck feels but miss my old setup dearly.



And yes, I did get to test out flex...setup everything perfectly and have 1” of uptravel limited by bumpstops in the rear. I do really want to stuff some 2.5x12’s back here, but those will have to wait a bit! I still need to do some more front bumper trimming to clear the tires, but nothing that would take more than 5 minutes per side. I'll be cutting bumpers wings anyways before going to a full bumper, so that should take care of any rubbing issues!

 

Did you get to see any of the wild horses out there?

 

Not where I was camping. They are more North/North East..too hot here

 

I’m not sure how far south you were, but if I recognize that spot and it’s outside of Phoenix, then they are all around there. That lake has a main entrance they frequently loiter if you ever go back and want to try and check them out, something fun about seeing them in the wild

 

Some people report the Dakar leaves rubbing on the hangers. Have you experienced or noticed that?

 

No way! Never seen them. Will keep an eye out!

 

Yes, you need to cut the leafs. It sits in the hanger

 

Sounds like a simple fix but seems ridiculous they can't address that themselves.

 

I know...

 

Anytime I've had that issue, it was a problem with the tie rods not having equal thread showing on each side. Is that the case here?

I would honestly just take it back if you just got an alignment.

 

Shoot my bad. I thought I posted this in the stl thread. My bad!

Yeah they are even on both sides. The shop is a buddy’s dads and he builds all kinds of cool stuff. So I don’t doubt his work, he just spend tons of time trying to get the wheel straight. Something is telling him/ me that something got twisted, tweaked, bent lol

 

Was it after wheeling? You may have jumped a tooth

 

Yeah climbed a double ledge section and it required a little more wheel speed, got to top and about 6 ft later, a very loud bang (hit wheel on rock sticking out of bluff. Of course I couldn’t see it and I was laying back in my seat lol