Burzp4WD's Build Thread

Just came back from a weekend in Big Bear! Wife wanted to camp one more time before the baby comes so we made it happen haha. Originally was supposed to go to Mammoth but changed plans to Big Bear due to rain in the forecast. It still rained so I'm glad we brought the canopy-- was able to set up dry. First stop was SkyPark and then we moved to Serrano Campground the next day. We hit Big Pine Flat trail on the way after linking up with another buddy of mine.
I have to say, with the baby on the way my Softopper and Toppertent set up (though convenient) is not as practical anymore trying to get in and out with the wife being pregnant let alone the rain. Might have to sell the setup with my bed platform and switch to a bed rack with RTT hahah; of course a ground tent would do the trick too but you know

 

We did a thing! Basically traded my Softopper for a RTT w/ rack!

 

Set up the RTT to show it off to the wife and fam(and to take photos haha). Looking forward to the next camping trip!

 

Got some ditch lights from my buddy who let go of his truck— installed the lights during my lunch break and ran the harness after work!
Waiting on the oem switch to add it next to my light bar switch and also a new pair of amber driving combo lenses

 

First night sleeping in the RTT— can’t wait to take my wife and baby in it next spring! Definitely will be more comfortable for my family as far as space and ease of access.

 

I love what you’ve done with the truck!

I used to have the 285/75/16 G003’s but I went back down to 265’s because of the acceleration/braking.

I think about going back up to 285’s on a daily basis haha

 

Thanks man! Yea terrible daily but it looks great and performs so well off road I gladly take it. I’m just planning to regear and supercharge down the line.

 

Thats awesome, I’m sure you won’t even feel the 33’s at that point.

I think once my 265’s wear down I’ll be going to a 285 all terrain. Maybe even the same tire so there wouldn’t be as much change as previously when went from a 265 all terrain to the 33” G003’s like you.

I will say, as far as a MT goes, those things are super quiet. This was mine with the Yoko’s:



Like you said…looked great lol

 

That’s the hope haha, I heard we should at least get close to stock mpg’s.

Yea 33” all terrains should be a nice transition. It’s an easy 10+ lbs heavier on the G003’s.

Rig looked great with them! Love the shell

 

Yeahh the weight and tread pattern really affected the road performance more than I expected, but that was 100% on me because I’d never run mud terrains before. I don’t regret trying them out because it was a good learning experience.

Thanks man! I’m trying to keep it nice and clean and functional. That’s awesome about the MPGs…is that supposedly because of the re-gear? I don’t know much about superchargers but I can’t imagine it would help the mileage?

 

I had KO2’s on my 2nd Gen before I got my 3rd Gen and I loved them but always knew I wanted to try the G003’s when I first saw how aggressive they looked. Always heard great things about them too.

Yea the regear helps all Taco’s with the added weight including steel bumpers. I heard stock Tacos running 5.29 gears and they’re just that much more peppy without all the weight.
The supercharger obviously won’t help mpg if you’re heavy footed but my book knowledge says it’s more efficient if you drive it normally since it’s got a little more oomph.

 

That’s good to know. Right now I’m eyeing the Cooper Discoverer XLTs because they’re super light and have great reviews. I’m thinking I won’t need a re-gear with those since my only other extra weight is the shell but we’ll see.

I’m sure yours will drive like a dream with the 5.29’s. I just don’t want to spend the money lol

 

Yea weight is everything, the G003’s in 33 weigh 61 lbs iirc, probably more heavier than a lot of other MT’s.

Truth! I don’t want to let go of the MT 33’s and I’m trying to convince myself that the money I’m using filling up the tank at 14mpg can be money saved from a regear haha.

 

That’s actually not a bad point haha, I never thought about it that way. If you drive the truck enough, I’m sure it would even out!

 

It would eventually pay off haha, I do plan to keep this truck for as long as it lives.

 

That’s upsetting because now I have a way to justify spending the money on a re-gear

 

Hahaha do it! Even if you don’t do G003s again your truck will feel like a truck— I’ve always been a bit disappointed in the 3.5 versus my old 4.0 in the 2nd gen, there was a point that I had both before selling the old truck and every time I drove the old truck I actually preferred the old engine.

I just did a quick calculation
Between 14mpg average now and 18mpg(about stock for me), a regear would pay itself off in about 2 years

 

Yeah my truck was terrible until I got the KDmaxx tune. I came from a Ram 1500 with the Hemi so I was used to the power.

That’s some impressive math skills haha. I bet with how much I drive, it would be even quicker.



The last time I mentioned gears at the shop I use, they immediately were like “well you might as well add a locker while you’re at it” so I’m gonna have to resist that urge too haha.

 

Haha definitely could be!

Yea I do know it’s always advisable to add the front locker since it saves labor opening it up again. But with the off roading that I do I don’t think I absolutely need it now so I feel like I can just do that down the line when the truck becomes more dedicated to off road versus being my daily.

 

My thoughts are exactly the same.

I know it’s probably more cost effective to do them both together, but I don’t do any rock crawling or anything technical. I’ve never even come close to needing lockers so I’ll probably just save the money. I really only do light-medium trails that are dirt/gravel.