Dirtbag Build

Having to move out of your house during a worldwide pandemic is not ideal. Eska really did not want the couch to go to the storage unit.

 

Whats the biggest difference in ride youve noticed since switching from Sway Aways to ADS? I got Sway Away 2.0's and was wondering how much better of a ride is available

 

Love the build y'all! Just upgraded the canopy on my rig to better fit our crew: GF, all-white husky, and occasionally an adventure cat. The black carpeting is now also "all white". Classic. Also laughed at the picture of your switches because your cup holders look exactly like my fur- I mean cup holders.

Some questions for ya, did you paint the bumpers yourself or have them powder coated or what? They Look sweet and if shopping still keeps them cheaper than ARB version I may start dreaming of that instead!

You mention a platform for Eska a few times, is it similar to the seat delete for the new tacos? Any way I could get a picture??

Anyways love the build man, keep up the good work and give that good girl some chin scratchies for me!

 

The ADS are worlds better. I don't know if it's necessarily a fair comparison though because the SAW's were on the truck when I bought it and I don't know the history of them (how long they were on there or if they were ever rebuilt). I know they are currently in really bad need of a rebuild they were getting pretty rough at the end. The plan is to put them on our 4runner after getting them rebuilt (if parts are still available).

The ADS though are absolutely incredible. I didn't think it was possible for an old truck to drive that well. They soak up everything all while being very composed. They are firm so you don't blow through the travel on big hits but are in no way jarring like the SAW's were sometimes. I didn't really think that kind of suspension performance was possible.

 

I love it! You should throw up a picture of your setup with the pup.

I had the bumpers powdercoated and ecoated by a place in Wisconsin called central wisconsin finishing. They normally do giant industrial jobs but they gave me a good price and it came out really well. Also seems really durable, theres no rock chips at all even after a whole winter daily driving through Idaho gravel.

I would highly recommend 4xinnovations. I had the luxury of being able to pick up the bumpers and avoid shipping but Adam makes awesome stuff. He also normally gives a pretty big discount if you get a front and rear bumper together.

In terms of the dog platform I'm not too familiar with the newer tacos but its just a wooden platform with some short legs that makes the backseat area entirely flat while providing some storage underneath. I will see if I can get you some pictures.

 

@DustyT22







It was really quick and easy, definitely one of the best things we’ve done to the truck.

Just followed the dimensions in these threads

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dog-platform.357086/#post-9735910

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-xtra-cab-dog-platform.498899/

 

Good to hear! It's going to be really hard not to use my stimulus check on a bumper...or suspension. Uh oh.

Great platform though, that's what I've been thinking of doing, and could just be with scrap wood lying around! Figuring out how to best use that extra cab space has been interesting, but ill trade you this mod I did for that platform info!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/your-unique-mod-on-the-1st-gens.118241/page-82#post-22901297

Here are some pictures of the current setup, without the sleeping pad and stuff it's a big drawer I made with some storage around the wheel wells. The brand new canopy that arrived last week to replace the cab flush fiberglass beast that was on there. Being able to sit straight up is v nice.


And more importantly, here's the doggo- Nootka, a husky mix (we think) that we adopted from a local shelter in November.



She loves going on adventures and just started going on rides with me (still figuring out leashed vs. not), makes a great co-pilot and can somehow snuggle up into a tight little ball to take up as little room as possible in the truck...bonus!

Looking forward to seeing how your truck progresses, gotta keep these old ones running as long as possible!

How many miles are you at now?

 

I really like that super strut idea. I think thats going to have to get added to the to-do list. Is your new topper that much lighter than the fiberglass toppers? I would be afraid the aluminum would get too hot? haven't looked into them much but I've been keeping my eye out for a different topper. Ours is not in very good shape and its made for a different truck so it doesn't fit very well.

The Tacoma is just gettin broken in, its only at 189k. I hope its as durable as our 2000 4runner which is currently at 333k.

Nootka is awesome! I hear ya on the off-leash though, arctic breeds are tough in that way. It took forever for us to work up to being able to do off-leash stuff with ska.

 

Yeah, struts are cool! The topper is wicked light. I had a struggle of a time getting the fiberglass one off with the two women I sold it to. We backed the trucks as close as possible and I thought we weren't going to make it. Felt like it could be north of 300lbs. When they put the alumnium one on the guys at the shop wouldnt let me help, but the two of them lifted it easily onto the truck, looked like it couldn't weigh much more than 100.

I think they are a great way to go because they have so many customizable options, I almost got one off craigslist that had the dual opening back door, could be cool but you lose your tailgate, so would have to make some fold-out tables from the door or something. All of the super nice new adventure made aluminum and steel ones are really cool too like alu-cab and the wedge top babes of GFC and Vagabond outdoors, but most dirtbags don't have $5000+ layin around. I don't foresee it being that hot, mine in particular has 2 slider windows for venting, and one big thing is the front side isnt angled to match the cab like most fiberglass. Since it's straight vertical the space between the cab window and front of the canopy is a few inches wider, allowing for more airflow on the head end when sleeping, that's all assumption though since we haven't slept in it yet.

Hell yeah that's a sweet deal then! I got mine a year ago at a little under that, I think ~182,000, and just rolled past 200,000, and ready for more! From all I've learned in the last few years they can go twice as far as that! I love hearing the stories about people's high mileage rigs, my uncle has been driving a 1999 Runner he got 10+ years ago for around $5000 from a used car lot in a tiny town in central oregon. It had like 120,000 on it when he bought it, last time I asked him he was at 525,000. He said it feels a little more "loose" lol. But it's still chuggin along! It's the 4cyl so that helps but these things are bomb proof. I really like reading through the 200,000 mile club 1st gen thread for those stories.

 

Hey Sean, do you recall what paint you used on the front bumper? It looks great.

 

Ill have to look more into the aluminum ones. Not sure what we will end up doing. Like you said the GFC's and others like it are awesome but they cost as much as the truck did. 525k is amazing I love stories like that.

I had it e-coated and powdercoated at a big industrial powdercoating place in Wisconsin. The original plan was to use por-15 and some sort of topcoat but they gave me a good price and its way better than I could have done.

 

Not sure if I saw it on your thread but what springs are you running with the additional weight?

 

650lb and they handle it great with pretty minimal preload

Also ADS was kind enough to swap out my resi hoses for the correct length

Before, too short


After, much better

 

Nice thanks for the quick response on that. I'm looking to do a similar set up for armor and want to make sure I'm not going too stiff on springs.

 

I meant to ask, what did you end up doing with your license plate lights?

 

4xinnovations provides little led lights that screw into the bumper. You just have to connect em into the existing license plate light wires. They replace the screws that hold the plate

 

Like that topper- ARE or snug top?

 

Thanks, actually brand is RoyEl, essentially a knock off Leer/ARE made Canopy World, a local company here in W. Washington. https://www.canopy-world.com/canopies/royel-canopies/
Better prices and very similar product, even customized all the options based off a Leer catalog!

 

Livin' the dream! Awesome thread. As you know, I just bought pretty much the same truck. Planning on living out of it for a a few months with my dog, within the next year. Did you build a platform for your dog in the back of the cab? What did you do for heat in the canopy, and food refrigeration?

 

Thanks man! Exciting stuff, thats what I like to hear. Make sure you post lots of pictures.

Yeah that platform we built was one of the best things we've done to the truck. It was quick and easy and Eska loves it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dirtbag-build.590410/page-3#post-23153184

In terms of staying warm we sleep on a foam mattress topper and just use blankets and sleeping bags. Also Eska makes a great foot warmer. The only bad part is with the way our topper is shaped, sometimes condensation collects at the part right above our heads and will drip on us. I don't know if your topper is carpeted but I feel like that would help a ton.

For food we just live the cooler life. We got a yeti last year and now ice lasts forever. It works for us and we like that we can take it out of the topper when we sleep so there's a lot more room.

If you find yourselves up in northern Idaho on your travels hit us up! Looking forward to see what ya come up with for the truck.