Tim's Taco Tales

Got a rooftop tent on Friday, took it out yesterday for a trip to Tucson to hangout with my buddy from high school. Wheeled out in the Redington Pass area, camped out last night. He left early this morning, and I tried out a loop I saw on the map. Halfway and an hour in, I realize that OnX Off-road has it classified as an “advanced” trail, but I was determined to go on. Made it through everything, even the rock gardens and a part that resembles a mini hells gate in Moab. Beat up my sliders and skids a bit. It was definitely sketchy to do solo.

 

Picked up a christmas gift from my parents this afternoon! Can't wait to get it installed, it's gonna be so sweet.

 

Quick one nighter up to my family's cabin last night with my girlfriend. Good to get away before all the holiday festivities.

 

Got back from a Caribbean cruise with my girlfriend and her family, I took some pics of the island trucks I saw. Man, I wish we could have Hiluxes in the US!

This dude rocks out:















Nice X-Runner:

 

Did some snow camping with my buddies this weekend! Had to pull my friend's AWD Acura MDX out of the ditch when he couldn't stop on the icy road. We ended up in the driveway to my girlfriend's cabin after we ran out of time and couldn't find any good camp spots hid Acura could get to. We hiked to a frozen waterfall this morning before heading home!

 

After realizing how much of a PITA it is to dig into the box at the very back of my bed for my recovery gear this past weekend, I decided to do something about it. I got this Plano rifle case a while back for super cheap on the old FB marketplace, and just got around to installing it after class today. Works great, and fits perfectly with the overhang from my RTT!

 

So I complain about having a heavy rear and needing new leaf springs, and then I go around and do something like this. It was too good a deal to pass up though, and I've wanted a storage system for a while now. I got this decked system for cheaper than just the plywood to build my own.

 

Got a set of seat jackers, and let me tell you, they work as advertised! At 6'1", I'm kinda tall, and these make it so much more comfortable.

 

Those Plano cases are made in my hometown

Their factory store is a lot of fun to walk through!

 

Swapped my RTT with a lady who wanted a lower profile tent for her FJ cruiser. Got a barely used Tepui Low Pro 2 now!

 

160,000 mile oil change today. Two things I have seen since I got my Taco that I wish I had gotten sooner are Seat Jackers and a Fumoto valve. This was the quickest, cleanest, and all around easiest oil change ever!

 

Did a quick little bulldog canyon run with my girlfriend today, was itching to go touch some dirt. Got her a tad dirty.

 

Got back today from my road trip to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Three days of camping on the way up, swinging through Moab and over the rockies. Two days on the way home through New Mexico and back home. It was an absolute blast! Brought back a bit of each state with me on the outside of the truck!

 

Wash day today, cleaned probably 15 pounds of mud off the Taco!

 

Swapped my leaf springs for a heavy duty leaf pack from @Sixthelement and installed a wheelers u-bolt flip kit and bump stops from @Weap0nR. Holds my heavy rear end up much better now!

New leaf springs after I cleaned them up and painted them:



Before:



After (forgot to get a good pic until after I already put the tires back on):

 

Did you end up pulling a leaf?
Also after 500/1000 mile re torque can cut the u bolts down as well

 

I ended up doing the full HD pack, and I'm glad I did. I don't think it is giving me the full 2 inches, it's perfect. And it rides really nice!

I already retorqued at 50 miles, I'm going to do it again at 500. Thanks!

 

Tested the new springs this past weekend, wheeled the heck out of my truck with some buddies. We wheeled for 9 total hours in two days around the Rolls OHV area, camping overnight at the Saguaro Lake Coves. I had a lot of fun, I used skids, sliders and my rear hitch multiple times. Caught a bit of air accidentally, and I scraped a tree. I love this freakig truck!

My brother in his F-150 hit just about everything he's got on his truck, bumpers, skids, side steps, everything. I had to tow my friend's 2wd ranger up 5 different hills. The front drive shaft on our friends '79 K10 decided it no longer wanted to be connected to the transfer case, so that was fun! A good way to spend a weekend.

 

Looks like a fun trip. The springs look good holding the weight well all packed up!
Yea, they do ride nice.

 

They're absolutely fantastic! They are giving me the exact amount of lift I wanted, and they handle so much better than the old cobbled together leafs I had before.