What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

I replaced my tailgate cables. 15 minute job that was a decade overdue lol

 

Lol like flying a jet fighter, love it

 

Ha! To an extent. Trying to keep things clean and simple. Next up is deleting the ugly tube of an electronic mount I have lol

 

I, literally, drove around the block after torquing the thing down to 123 ft/lbs just to make sure I didn't f*%k it up so I cannot yet say one way or the other. Sorry.

 

I really wanted to believe that was a suppressor on the end of your truck gun...at least from the thumbnails

 

Now you need a steering rack shield to keep it from getting stolen

 

Curious too. Can't imagine it would. Most likely made to withstand offroad abuse?

 

You must live in some shithole city/metropolitan area to worry about that. I do not.

 

Had a scavenger hunt down by the border today and found some new leaf springs.
2500 commercial truck 63s



I think we have some options.

 

I'll find you and prove you wrong then


No, I just visit the 3rd gen forum once a month

 

Have cut up the bed “topper” frame. In the original configuration it is hard yo climb into the bed and loading up two bicycles is also hard. So I decided ti remove the middle section transverse and four longitudinal bits. Will add one longitudinal in the middle.
Starting with 4-½ cutting wheels I went through two wheels before it dawned on me I should use the plasma cutter.

 

Why not make it a "bolt on" application for those middle bars?

Looks good btw.

 

Will chop up the middle section, and make one long longitudinal connector between the two loops, then figure out smth on the sides, probably bolt on as you said. Maybe asymmetric even, I mostly climb up in the bed from my (drivers') side, so an obstacle on the passenger side will not be a problem.

The bed is an evolving solution, a.k.a. nightmare. Have decisional paralysis between a cap (limits the height, can't load bikes) vs flatbed ($$$) vs leave bed, add safari style custom canvas top.

 

Looks familiar but I took a different approach.

https://youtu.be/1YSQUJca4B4?t=115

 

Genius.

I have bought plans to build a tube bender, and have the hydraulic jack. Maybe this will give me the impetus to finally make the bender.

 

Plans you say?

 

Yeah I used cage bungs that were meant for SXS for the center section and a door latch and hinge for the back section. Also sawzall was my weapon of choice and it made quick work of it too. I do wish I had a plasma though.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

My whole rack/bed setup is probably one of my favorite parts of the truck now. It just works so well. I still need to get the soft top cover remade to fully close the bed to make it 100% waterproof though.

 

You could cut your own out on the table and use off the shelf dies

https://grabcad.com/library/tube-bender-pro105-1

 

I like those plans and will bookmark them, but I think manual benders might not work for 1.5" and so tube sizes (or I just got to go to the gym and lift more, first).

I bought the plans from EuroFrank over at http://www.gottrikes.com/. Works with an air-hydraulic cylinder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfJIFK2gaXY

 

Do you have a source for those connectors?