Ryan's Tacoma Build and Adventures Thread

Finally got around to mounting up the Powertank bracket and 11lb propane tank. My swingout hot water system is now complete!

 

Back before COVID happened, we had made reservations to camp at Silverwood themepark over in Idaho. Scheduled a couple days off work for it. They did open at the end of May but we decided to cancel anyhow. Instead I booked 4 nights down at Priest Rapids Recreation Area, right on the Columbia River. Was only the second time we've ever stayed at a campground. Being so close to the river was great for taking out our inflatable kayak. Unfortunately, on our second night stormy weather came in. Lightning right on top of us with high winds. The next day got off to an OK start, but then the wind started picking up, and forecasts only showed it getting worse, so we decided to call it. Our Habitat just wasn't comfortable in the high winds. But instead of wasting our weekend, we decided to look elsewhere...

 

We stopped at the Beverly Dunes first, but there was a lot of standing water and a bzillion mosquitos so we kept on towards Ellensburg. After some Taco Bell we headed up towards Blewett Pass. I knew there was a manhunt going on to the west of 97, but figured we'd find something on the east side. Well, the first few roads we went on were posted as closed to public access so I tried a couple more til we found one open. Had a good nights rest, and morning. Early afternoon, though, and the Forest Service checked in with us, just making sure we knew what was going on and giving us a little warning (they were super cool about it, I definitely appreciated them being out and talking with us). After that, we decided to pack up and head home ... Via Leavenworth!

 

The wind driving us out of Priest Rapids was ultimately a good thing. Was great to be flexible on our plans and it ended up making for an awesome weekend. Gotta love Washington State. Luckily for us the Baren Haus was open for some Schnitzel! Only at like 50% capacity, so there were like 5 tables open. Luckily we snagged one with only a 20 minute wait. We heard the host telling new arrivals it was an hour plus as we were being seated.





And that is 40 nights in the Habitat!

 

Here's a couple short vids to show what the wind was like for us in the Habitat. Weather online said it was only 12-15 mph winds with gusts of 25. No idea if that was accurate, but it was plenty rough for us to call it a day. Was definitely not easy closing up the ARB awning in this wind. Habitat was a bit interesting, too, but pretty manageable with two people.



This second video is after we took down the awning and turned the truck to face into the wind, hoping it would help.

 

Friend invited us to come hang out for a night at Ranger Creek... we were not impressed. Might have been nicer with about 80% fewer people there, and the trash left by previous campers was off-putting for sure. I should have expected this somewhere so close to civilization, and accessible by any low slung car. O well, not every camping spot can be a winner.

Wasn't even worth taking any pics apparently, so here's a Google satellite shot, lol.



41 nights

 

For the 4th of July weekend we headed out to Bethel Ridge again. Unlike last year, when we had 2 other rigs and about a dozen Adventure Bikes meeting us, it was just us. This is definitely one of our favorite spots to camp. Hoping to head back up here again in August.



Wife wanted to bring the Hammock. It's pretty heavy with it's metal frame, but honestly it was SOO worth it. We lazed in it for hours listening to an audio book.





Our Flexopower 100 watt solar panel was really cranking out the power, more than keeping up with our fridge and other electrical device usage.



I think the highest I saw was about 14.72V, which might be the highest I've seen since install.




Three more nights, for a total of 44!

 

Instead of heading back out towards Rimrock lake, we decided to instead head southeast towards Naches and Yakima.

While walking around the day before leaving, we actually saw a stock Subaru Outback out here. And after seeing what was coming up next in those trees, we knew why he turned around and went back the way he came.



This hill was gnarly with all the loose rocks. At the base of it was a 90 degree or tighter corner meaning I had 0 momentum at the bottom. I was just sitting there spinning my tires in 4 low not going anywhere. My wife admits she was a bit freaked out as she was trying to film from up above me. I was able to get straight, and back up as close to the edge behind me as I could and got just enough momentum to keep myself moving to the top. The winch sitting at home, having arrived the day we left, would probably have been good to have in case I slipped a little too far back. It was probably about 10 minutes after making it through here I realized I didn't even put in the E-locker for the rear axle... I did have A-trac on though. But yeah... I'm betting it woulda been quite a bit easier with the locker engaged... D'oh...








Another "fun" section was a rock garden with a pretty steep downhill. Driving across it sounded like glass chattering together. I'm very glad my tires held up. I'm really looking forward to getting some non SL tires when these need replaced, but I can't complain about them too much. They made it, even with the ridiculous weight of my truck.





The rest of the way out towards 410 was nothing special, but a nice drive nonetheless.

 

what mount are you using for your propane tank?

 

After hitting Yakima for DQ, we headed to Eburg for gas, then hit I90 for home. Traffic SUCKED due to a couple accidents. One of which was this rolled over travel trailer. It looked brand new.

They had been letting traffic by on the shoulder, but we were stopped just before passing as they righted the TT. I couldn't get the dang video going, but did manage to get three pics as they brought it upright. Hopefully everyone involved was OK. Seemed everything else had been hauled away by the time we got here. Sad weekend for someone

 

I really need to move out west so i can make weekend trips like this. There’s no where decent really within 6-8 hours of here... and its hot af outside.

I should work on getting mine setup to live out of for an extended period of time, then ill just work from it during the week and explore the nights and weekends.

 

It's a Powertank Propane Bracket. Well worth it, IMO.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Propane-Ta...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

 

Bethel Ridge is a little less than 3 hours from my place in Kent, WA. We are very lucky having such an awesome place so close. It still amazes me how a lil over 3 hours one way and you are on the ocean, or in a rainforest. An hour the other way you're in the mountains. 3 hours and in the desert! The PNW is awesome!

 

Yeah for sure. I’ve got a couple buddies out there I was planning on going to visit this spring before COVID ground everything to a half. I’m thinking my next trip should be Idaho and Washington, I haven’t spent much time up there. I need to change it up from always going to Colorado lol

 

I definitely understand not getting to explore that far from home. I really want to hit south-eastern Oregon, but I need at least a week to make it worthwhile.

 

Headed out to Moses Lake Thursday night. Got in a bit after dark, but luckily we know our camping spot well, and no one else had taken it. I think this was probably the first time I really used my Baja Design Squadron Sports. Still need to adjust their angles a little bit, but they made it much easier as is.



Ended up being an unprepared idiot on Friday... Went out mapping swimming holes along Potholes Reservoir and slid off the top of some ruts in our Teryx ... Thank goodness a helpful woman from Dune Star Whips found us. She tried pulling me out, but her RS1 winch just didn't have the oomph. Her son ended up pulling up nearby in a RZR Turbo, but couldn't reach us due to the deep water crossing. I ended up walking across the 2-3 foot water for a ride back to my camp, a good few miles away, where I could pull the Maxtrax out from under my truck and head back out in my wife's Ace. On the way, the entire end of the exhaust fell off and disappeared in the sand. Was a deafening ride... like couldn't hardly hear out of my right ear until the following evening. Maxtrax, 15 minutes of shoveling while crouched in the water, and tension from the Ace's winch and the Teryx was free...









Another 3 nights so we are up to 47 in the Habitat.

 

Smittybilt X20, 10k with Synthetic line installed tonight!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Smittybilt...fff706b2|iid:1&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236


That rhodie didn't fair too well... Its barely in the ground now.

Luckily this one was strong enough to help me get my line spooled on halfway decent.


Now to start collecting winching accessories!

 

Headed back down to the dunes just north of Coos Bay, Oregon for some riding on a long weekend. Having the Habitat and Tacoma make camping on the sand easy and comfortable.




When loading up the night before we left, I noticed a failing valve stem on my wife's Ace.




Luckily there is a shop right off the dunes, Steve's ATV Rentals. We took the tire in and they fixed it real quick, and I was able to pick up a new helmet. I lost about 35lbs and my old helmet was bouncing all over the place. I musta lost ten pounds outta my face or something, lol.

 

First stop we made was out on the ocean. We learned a couple trips ago the Teryx makes a great windbreak. The log along the side and some well placed sand and it was perfect.











And we FINALLY got an opportunity to fly our stunt kite! We bought it last year down in California on vacation... but there was literally no wind the two days we were at the beach. It was weird.

But yeah, these things are FUN. I'm no expert, but was still able to perform loop loops and good dives. Way better than a standard kite that just hangs in the wind doing whatever it wants. Was only 45 bucks. Well worth it. Go buy one.

 

Sadly... After riding as far from our camp site as we could get...



The sidewall had given out. Driving it back was going to be fun... It was super squirrelly and just about impossible to keep moving straight, even with the 4wd engaged. The wife swapped me and took the Teryx. The whooped out trails made me worry so I got on the beach as quick as I could, then swapped back and towed the Ace with the Teryx down the length of the beach and back inland. We ended up hitting a dune closer to camp that the Teryx just couldn't tow the Ace up (not a huge surprise at this point). So I hopped in the Ace and got a good run and made it... only to shortly after blow out the other rear tire But hey, at least it drove in a much more straight line now that the tires were even!!!




The rest of the trip we stuck to running around with the Teryx, but overall it was still a great trip. No matter what, it's an adventure and will be a fun memory.


That makes 50 nights in the Habitat!!!