The BRWNTRD (Hasn't flopped yet)

I was about to ask that question, it’s in the fridge now to start thawing for tomorrow afternoon.

Also, how do you feel about fresh Tuna? I’m trying to work a deal to get your cooler back to you and it’s better to have some weight in it.

 

Bud that’s was a donor cooler. I love tuna and will take some.

 

Second mod was the new dog hammock. The old one was trashed.

I ordered two different versions from Duluth Trading Company, Scout’s Mobile Mudroom and the Deluxe Seat Saver. Belle is currently at a boarding company and I wanted to install the new one before I headed that way.

I tried the mobile mudroom first and it seems to be a bit too big for the rear of my double cab. Really nice construction but the seams didn’t line up in the few minutes I spent playing with it.

The deluxe seat saver is just a flat piece, no wings but it has a much better design for how I hook Belle into her harness. I didn’t spend to much time getting the fit right but I think some fine tuning with all the random stuff currently in the back removed will result in a solid setup.


Now I just need @BlueRidgeOverlandGear to make one that’s a perfect fit. I know I’m not the only person willing to throw money at a company that makes a high quality well fitting seat cover for a backseat dog.

 

It took me about 6 hours to heat an entire brisket to 145 degrees at 200. Pork butt took 4 or 5, I don’t remember

 

The patch haul from this trip

 

Got the dual swing outs installed on the @Mobtown Offroad High Clearance Rear Bumper. Powder coated Red Baron because subtlety is an important part of this build and I don’t want the Rotopax to stand out.

 

Nice

 

Rotopax? I dont see no stinking rotopax

 

Success

 

Fully loaded, over landing to the max

 

Who can point me towards some good threads discussing brake upgrades? Don't really care to move to a big brake kit as I like my current tire and wheel setup, so just rotors and pads. Currently leaning towards the TRD pads and Stoptech rotors discussed by @crashnburn80 here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/brake-upgrade-stoptech-rotors-trd-performance-pads.523829/

This weekend I got out air up after a trail to find my front brakes smoking. Apparently when you shed 1,300 ft straight downhill for 2 miles as part of a 4941 foot descent in 8.93 miles your brakes get a little warm. I have no idea whats currently on the truck, likely the stock rotors and some OEM equivalent pads. I didn't notice any fade but they smoked for a few minutes after parking.

 

This weekend was the BRWNTRDs first true off road adventure. Friday morning I finished loading and Belle and I headed to @eccracer104 place to pick up Axel for @desertjunkie760 was a little concerned about what might happen in the back seat but apparently he’s a calming influence on Belle. Next stop was Mountain Hatch in Lake Elsinore to get a chunk of plastic for the truck. The @Mobtown Offroad Tailgate Reinforcement Plate is well made but is a bit too heavy and makes opening and closing the tailgate difficult. Picked up a red one as subtle is the name of the game with this build.

Met @AY_ARONTRD in the parking lot and we headed north, first to Adelanto, The city of unlimited possibilities, and then Bishop to meet @Prayn4surf

The dogs were quite happy in the back seat, even if Belle got less window time than normal. Driving through all the smoke in Riverside and San Bernardino was crazy.


After meeting up with Tim we headed north on US 6 into Nevada were we waited for Shane before turning into the mountains. While we waited we were treated to a bit of sprinkles and then a double rainbow.

My route planning worked out well as we had a fun drive up into the trees and then got lucky and found an awesome campsite.

The next morning we went to the end of the route I’d mapped out finding another spot that had potential for a good spot if the wind stayed calm.We decided to follow a different set of FS roads back to the pavement which was interesting. Very lightly traveled meant overgrown and a few less defined bypasses around extremely rutted sections. I missed a turn once and got farther in then I should have to everyone’s delight.

We continued through, all getting some new pinstripes from sections that were two wheel tracks with brush touching in the center and then a rocky climb over a hill back to the highway.

To be continued...

 

Note in the last few pages of the thread, StopTech has updated the rotors and they no longer weigh more than stock. Rotors are still a good cooling upgrade.

Note that steep mountain trail descents require the use of gears and engine braking, otherwise you will overheat the brakes. If 4 high does not slow you down enough in a low gear, then use 4 low. Allow the engine to slow you descent. Brakes will need cooling eventually, you cannot go down a steep mountain at slow speed with inadequate cooling airflow and expect them not to over heat.

 

Next was a quick drive south back into CA and a trail that would take the BRWNTRD up to 10,000 feet for the first time.

The way up involved transmission temps in the 240s, a gashed sidewall on some dudes 35s and a poop tent.

We ran out of road at a little over 10,300 ft and broke out stuff for lunch, except that dude that made a turkey sandwich as another guy changed a tire.

The trip back down was much faster and ended with the previously noted smoking brakes.
A return to town for fresh ice, ice cream and gas before we headed up Wheelers Creat was next.

To Be Continued....

 

4 Lo and lower gears were used most of the way down, if I had relied on brakes the whole way they would have given out halfway down. The last bit was shenanigans and while they smoked, I didn’t notice any lack of performance. The fact I kept my speed below 25 probably kept it from being a bigger issue.

I’m going to spend some time reading through the full thread and hopefully find some others where smart experienced people talk about brakes. The black truck currently has OEM rotors and Hawk LTS pads that served me well but are dusty.

 

Looks like a fun trip! Belle looks to have made a great new friend.

 

Interesting you had trouble with the brakes, even using low gear. Was it "spirited" driving?

Are you running 17's?

 

Slow speed braking wasn’t the issue. The last quarter mile of the trail allowed higher speeds at a lesser decent then the rest of the trail. I want to say we averaged mid 20s for that quarter mile and dropped 500 ft in elevation.

It was too fast for 4Lo but I didn’t have this issue because I used engine braking in 4Hi.

 

So Shay just needs to learn to drive.