New England B.S. Thread

Yeah. It looks like the frame was coated with Toyota goop. That would give it 12 years of frame warranty. Still a few years left. Everything else underneath is still very rusty though.

 

Does anyone know of decent aftermarket center caps for the 2nd gen 16" alloy factory wheels? This style:



I'm gonna paint mine soon and I want to debadge them at the same time. My center caps are the last logo on the truck, and after looking at mine I think getting some blanks will be a hell of a lot easier than trying to remove the factory logo - I just want them to fit well.

 

Pop them out and then from the back you should be able to push the logo off.

Then something like this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134003770020

No idea what size you'd need. Or if you want the logo. They make TRD ones too.

 

Anybody here remived their SAI. I got block off plates but cant get nuts off the pipes. Also wanted to check the valves but cant get that separated either. Removed the actual pump at least and will be getting a block of some sort on the end of the hose

 

I have boxes and foam inserts for (5) 17” wheels. Before I throw them away, I figured I’d ask if anyone needs them? Great if you need to ship or store wheels. Pick up in Swampscott.

 

The alt and water pump were crunchier than I thought. Up over 1MPG since the change. Getting better mileage than before adding armor. Jeez.

 

That’s a good point I wouldn’t have thought of. Main reason I want to do an electric fan.

 

I've been back and forth on an electric fan. I think if (when!) this thing stops being a DD I'll go for it. It would be fun to roll my own fan controller and there's some other systems level stuff I want to tinker with re: the tronics, but not until I have another set of wheels to rely on. There's a place in NH that always seems to have ex-cop Explorers that I've been eyeing...

 

I want to get one of the K9 ones so I can haul my dog around in it

One thing I want to do is tap into the HVAC fan with a switch w/ low voltage cutoff, same as a fridge. Run the fan at night to get some air flow from the outside. It's a thought, I'm sure it's pretty easy to do, just haven't spent any time really looking into it.

 

Ex cop cars both scare me and intrigue me. They spend so long idling every day but they're also really cheap.

 

Shouldn't be difficult at all, based on my understanding of the wiring. I'm actually planning to put a small AGM in the shell with a solar panel separate from the main truck circuits specifically to run reading lights, vent fan, and device charging.

Yeah, they usually have high miles but they're "easy" miles (unless you get one used at the academy) and all the maintenance has been done for sure. I'm not so worried about the Exploders - for what I can get one for, I can also afford to lay up a low-miles drivetrain to stick to the side, something I never got around to for the Taco and low miles plants are getting scarce for those, one of my chief worries as I start getting into real high mileage. For what a motor costs that I would bother to buy, I can pick up a cop Exploder, which brings us full circle to why I want one soon.

 

I agree. It seems like they're either idling or running balls to the wall. I live down the street from the police station and, when they take off to a call, I can smell the car after they haul ass down the street.

 

Yeah - I am HOPING to be able to use just a single battery - I know with a solar panel, plenty of people have hooked up fridges w/ a low voltage cutoff and been able to keep them running a-okay. Maybe an upgrade battery, but no need for a dual battery setup. Adding in the fan, I don't know if that would tip the scales or not.

Solar would be for if I don't move the truck during the day for the alternator to top up the battery. Far from the "norm", but enough that for about 100$ I would be happy to strap a panel to the roof for that. Panel and charger, plus an upgraded battery, and I can have no ice and cold beers all the time?

Problem for me is where to put the damn fridge.

They're far from easy miles, and the constant idling. BUT they do have a pretty decent maintenance schedule.

 

When my current leaded battery dies Im going to get one of these. Should have enough power for me.

https://www.northstarbattery.com/product/nsb-agm27f

Maybe one of these to trickle charge, roof is a no go cause of the kayaks and when I get steel in 20' sticks it usually goes up there.

https://www.cascadia4x4.com/collect...nd-gen-tacoma-vss-system-90w-hood-solar-panel

The fridges also fit pretty good on the 40% side

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-road-trips-build.712648/page-2#post-26178916

The 40" is where the dog goes, the 60% has been occupied

In theory it can be a bit modular, moving things around as needed. I'd like to do it in the bed but that's TBD. I'd have to find a good dog setup, she can sleep on the driver seat but that's less than ideal. In the 40% she gets plenty of space.

This weekend actually, I have a hammock tent to try. She'll be in the cab if I do that. We'll see, I would love to have the fridge but it's one of those things where I'd rather my sleeping arrangements over it. But, I can slap a tonneau cover on and put it in the bed. Only downside with that is running power to realistically, the back of the bed by the tailgate.

 

Happy Birthday Eammon @BadDNA!

 

Happy Birthday Eammon!

 

Happy birthday Eammon! @BadDNA

 

AWD v8 charger

 

Passed on an ex-fire service 1st gen charger with only 28k miles for $3000... and it looked like about 25k of them had been done at redline over fire roads.