The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

Thanks for the info and the insight. I got my first couple lengths of L-track installed so I could get a bike rack built, and I'm really happy with how it turned out. The tip for making a MSAT made it a pretty easy 1-man project.

 

Great execution! I'm glad my old posts helped. Thanks for sharing your photos. Much appreciated

 

@Crom - going back a ways here, but in your post about dampening your roof I didn't see how you installed the Reflectix (I assume this is the newer version of the product) and was wondering if you could confirm if you used some sort of spray adhesive or something else.

Also, I'm assuming the

$30 Noico Red 150 mil 18 sqft Car Sound Insulation, Heat and Cool Liner, Self-Adhesive Closed Cell Deadening Material (PE Foam Sound Deadener)

Noico Red liner is the newer version of the CC PE Foam that you used in your installs

 

Hi, yes, those products appear substantially similar. For the roof, I press fitted the Reflectix insulation into place and applied some foam in select locations to hold it into place. If you look at the picture of the Reflectix you can see three (3) small pieces used in that manner. I hope this helps and good luck with your install!

 

these things?

 

Yep!

 

Tire update 84,717 mi

It is time to rotate the tires. I am actually overdue.

Code:

Front Driver (FD) 8/32" center, 9/32" outer
Front Pass.. (FP) 5/32"  center, 6/32" outer
Rear Driver. (RD) 9/32"  center & outer
Rear Pass... (RP) 5.5/32"  center & outer
Spare........(SP) 10/32"  center & outer

Almost time for new tars.

I surveyed the market. I see supply chain issues; and identical replacements are $329 each. I paid $266 each in Aug. 2016. That's about a 24% rise.

For tars, I budget $60 a month for about 32 months now and have $1,866 in that fund. This will pay for 5 new tars, new dyna beads, and cover tax.

 

And for folks like you and me with low annual mileage, remember most manufacturers and regulatory agencies recommend replacing tires at an age of six years regardless of mileage. This is especially true in warmer climates as oxidation happens faster the higher the temperature.

Looks like your tread wear and tire age almost line up! Thanks to COVID keeping me away from my truck for a year mine will almost certainly age out before running out of tread.

 

I was talking with my sister the other day who was complaining about paying $1100 for a new set of tires for Highlander. I found that hard to believe, until I checked Les Schwab for her zip code and name brand OEM size replacements (18”) were about $250. Add tax etc and now I see how they got $1100. I have a little over 40K miles on my KO2’s and they’re holding up well, but won’t last forever. I think I paid under $200 each (LT265/75-16) about four years ago. I’d like to stick with KO2 and LT’s but drop to 245/75-16 to consume less of that $6/gallon gas … any opinions? I put in quite a few rough off pavement miles but not any hard core stuff, and with my stock suspension worn out at 80K I think replacing that with a small lift would regain any ground clearance lost to tire size.

 

@DVexile runs a same tire but at 245/85-16 (i think). He may be able to advise.

The six dollar gas is going to suck. I paid $93.40 @ $5.59 yesterday at the local Costco and that may be the most expensive fill up I can recall for the Tacoma.

I still have my commuter car, which is amazing. I occasionally feed it Denso, Bosh, and Dorman parts, and it just keeps going Although it is time to replace it too. I tried to replace it last November and I could not. I was going to pickup a hybrid truck for the 40+ mpg'ees, but they would not take my money. Told me order books were closed, and to come back in 10 months.

 

I finally got fed up enough with my beenie sticking to the headrest over the winter to do this, thanks!

 

Actually my Tacoma has been getting less road trip and exploring mileage recently since we bought a van. Lots of pro’s and con’s, but for us the luxuries of the van plus ability to store bikes inside mean that it has seen 22K miles since we bought it, over 90 camping nights, while the Taco has made just two trips in that period, albeit with a bit rougher terrain, maybe just 8K miles over 18 months. But the van gets 15mpg max vs 20 for the Taco, and it has a 31 gallon tank. That means many pumps shut off at a pre-set limit, $75 or $100. I just keep reminding myself that most couples our age are flying and staying in hotels (or resorts) and are flying, which isn’t cheap. Luckily my lovely wife likes dispersed camping, though she still prefers forested mountains to the desert. Though an Anza Borrego trip (including a briefly stuck van) last winter was a big win with her.

 

235/85R16 actually. I ran KO2 for a first set, which got chewed up by a bad alignment I didn't properly monitor. Right now running Cooper S/T Maxx in the same size.

My build thread has a post on selecting that particular size in the KO2. And a follow up post on the S/T Maxx.

 

Thanks. Turns out that BFG now has the OEM Tacoma size of 265/70-16 in an LT load rating 121 tire which I assume is like Load Range E. But the 235/85 is intriguing, and lighter than the 265/75 or 70, though still about 10 lbs heavier than the OEM Goodyears. My KO2’s have worn very evenly with only one rotation after 35K miles and still have the original balance, no vibration.

 

I went on a nice family vacation recently. Desert trails, shooting, swimming, yummy food, games and family fun. I experienced life threating weather, but was well prepared. I witnessed the sun rise over a hellscape. I was instantly reminded of the film Apocalypse Now (1979). If you have never seen the film, you should. It is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential films ever made (Wikipedia).

Apocalyptic hellscape May, 2022


Photo Credit: United Artists​

 

I broke a weld in the summer on the webbing that the basket mounts to for the gate. Heavy shit ultimately took its toll. I was climbing a rough ruted trail at moderate pace with about 25 lbs of water in the basket when the weld came apart lol​

Got to get it fixed. Also need to swap in a new windshield as mine has a crack that's been growing for too long

 

I bought myself a MIG Welder from Harbor Freight. I proceeded to teach myself how to weld on some scrap and then repaired the swing gate.

I also welded up some joints on the gate webbing to make it stronger than it was before. Those joints were difficult to clean with a grinder, so I put some muriatic acid in there, and that did the trick.















^All repainted and back in action

 

Welcome to the welding world! So much fun.

 

Nice! Looks like a compact economical unit? Yea I can think of a few things I could use that for. Been many years but why not. Runs on 120VAC?