Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

I guess the question is, "How long do you want it to last?"

 

Thanks for the conversation tonight from all active participants. lol
No hard feelings.
My '16 is getting the discoloration around welds.
My hard charghing is how I get the best answers.

Much obliged.

 

Preferably forever.

Kidding aside, I definitely wouldn't be thrilled if the frame fell apart after 10-15 years.

I also say this as someone who hasn't done anything to my frame. But, the 4Runner frames haven't been as problematic as the Taco frames.

Still, I wouldn't blame anyone for wool waxing a 4Runner frame.

Think of it like waxing the car (or ceramic, or whatever paint protection you like). Your paint will still be there in 20 years without it. But, it will be in much better shape with some protection.

 

Question for the hive mind: For those of you that carry a tree saver strap in your kit for recoveries, how long of a strap do you have? And how long do you think is sufficient for the Wisconsin north woods? I'm seeing most on the market are 8 feet long, personally I'd feel better having 10-12 feet instead, then they jump up to like 15-16 feet which seems excessive and cumbersome to pack away. Weight ratings are a whole 'nother ball of wax so I'm not getting into that to start fights. Just curious on thoughts about length of a tree saver strap alone. TIA.

 

Ok, here’s the perfect starting platform for off road adventures in Taiwan!
Add some lift, 33s, winch and away you go!

 

@pearing Were you thinking woolwax for all of it? It would be a greasy mess anytime you touched it! My thought is to absolutely paint it with something. I’d go with rattle can rustoleum on top of a good self-etching primer base. Even with rattle cans, it’s easy to spend a couple hundred bucks doing it, but it’s just too pretty to leave to the elements.

The only thing that sucks, is that paint is about being meticulous with prepping. Even the nooks and crannies. What sucks even more is that cleaning will involve stripping the mill scale off the steel with a stripper disk or flap wheel on a grinder. If you used cold roll steel, then the mill scale will be minimal to none, but you’ll still need to roughen the surface for paint. After roughing the surface, washing it with simple green will get the grease off. Even expensive paint or powdercoat will not last on an unprepped surface.

If you have the time, grind non structural welds flat, and look for pinholes and tack them closed. Pinholes/porosity will be a source of rust even when painted, because paint doesn’t get in there.

If the paint is well applied, there should be little need for woolwax, (except maybe underneath in areas where the paint will get eroded by gravel). Scratches could be easily touched up, and they wood be sticking to good paint surrounding the scratch.

The other option, is to clean/prep it, like a normal non-OCD person would, then prime and paint rustoleum by hand with a brush…just like a farm truck. Not kidding. It will still look badass and it will be better cheaper than rattle cans, and better than woolwax (if you dont want grease all over your clothes all the time).

 

One thing I read somewhere is that longer straps can be used for bridles if you ever want to winch on both front (or rear) recovery points. The longer bridles will reduce inward pulling forces on the recovery points (towards the center of the vehicle).

 

Paint first. Have some fun

Better investments than preventative maintenance? Negative, sir.

Japan made vs American made. Body covers up most of the frame vs all the exposure under the Tacos.

And

4th gens are virtually non existent now. Same with pre facelift 5th gens.

 

I'm probably the oddball here, but I don't have a specific tree saver strap. I have two 20-30' (I forget exactly how long they are) tow straps that I use for whatever I need them for. Depending on how far away and how thick the tree is, I'll wrap it around several times if necessary.

Maybe a good solution would be to have a shorter tree saver, and a longer tow strap that could serve as a tree saver or a winch extension, or whatever you need it for.

 

@pearing
Pat,
It's looking real real nice. I can't wait to see it.
Lots of discussion on surface prep and rust reduction. What about paint? Are you planning on a close paint match to the rest of the truck?
I've had some idea's, but they wouldn't be proper for this crew.

 

Me thinks you are holding this crew in far too high of regard!

Or is it the opposite???

 

I wonder if it has anything to do with the 4runner frame being fully boxed, while the Taco frame is a C-channel in the rear.

I never treated my fourth gen, either. And, it was never garaged. The frame definitely had some surface rust, but nothing concerning when I traded it in.

 

I currently have a hard on for WoolWax Hard On... Just saying. Only underneath. Exposed surfaces will get some good old rattle can.

 

As a person who regularly uses one, my opinion is longer is better. I had an 8' footer but have run into several instances where it wasn't enough (especially out west where the trees (and rocks!) get big!) The 20' gives more length to the system (if needed-and sometimes it is.) It can also double as a tow strap. I also recommend the 20' because they are bigger in size. Having been out there alone I don't want any monkey business! Make sure you have at least two (but four is better) soft shackles!

Edit: The shorter ones are useful too. I say get every size. Still won't have what you need at the moment, but you'll have something!

 

I really love this group-you guys are awesome. Ideas get bantered about, often with absolute disregard for what was said or asked. The answers come through though, and that is great! We even have are own grammar nazi (@CygnusX191) to keep us on our toes (I am sure the teachers in his world have stories... (I had one a few years ago that he reminds me of who also happens to be a Toyota mechanic-GO FIGURE!))

Looks like Arkansas is ON! For those who have time and interest. I am hoping to get out of Wisconsin the evening Wednesday March 20. Have a couple dates with a notorious TW persona in Missouri to plan and then down to Arkansas. Planning to be back in Wisconsin by the 30th of March. Once I have a big list of folks I will ask the moderators to let me open a page for us-when I originally threw this out there were more than I could invite to the discussion-but we shall see now that we are closer to the event horizon. Doesn't have to be this long either, just what I have off and I try and plan all of it and see what I get to. No broken Taco's this year is my motto! At least mine. I can hopefully control that...

Have a FANTASTIC Turkxxx, I mean Thanksgiving everyone. Pork roast sounds stellar by the way!

 

Do tell?

 

This or something a little more permanent that doesn't require me to crawl underneath every year is what I would be more interested in.

 

I just picked up a 20' nylon kinetic strap to go with the come along.
It's better than the nothing I had before.

 

Ya. Ya. Ya.
Coming from the guy that just told us a $16k set back would put him on the streets.....
stick to the yotas.

 

I agree