Colorado Daily Driver Build Thread

My running boards did surprisingly well serving as rock sliders while on wheeler lake trail this past weekend. Definitely don't want to depend on them for that going forward, but they saved my butt in a pinch. Prioritizing sliders over leaf pack now.

 

Nice Truck....and pics

 

Awesome! Love the practical and thoughtful modifications that keep it a reliable DD yet a real trail machine. Subscribed! I'm awaiting delivery of a DCSB lunar rock

 

Been getting some good use out of my front skid, might want to get a diff skid based on these scratches.

 

Finally got the two items I wanted to add this winter - heavy duty leaf pack and sliders.

I was able to buy the leaf springs (Old Man Emu Heavy Dakars, EL096R, with 15k miles) lightly used for $300, and got the 4WheelParts sliders on a huge discount also for $300. Pretty stoked on those savings!

Hoping to install the leaf springs in a week, and the sliders right before my next Moab trip.

 

Nice truck,I live in Firestone got a 2023 sport, I put RSG sliders made locally best mod so far definitely check them out.

 

Installed my Old Man Emu Heavy Dakar, EL096R leaf springs yesterday with the help of @hondarubiconowner. Also, shoutout to his write up, which I'm quoting here for posterity. I have about 500lbs of constant weight in the bed, and this leaf pack is made for 660+. I figured with the additional weight of occupants and camping gear on our frequent trips, this will be the most robust solution for my leaf pack. As I've previously noted, I was on my bump stops almost constantly getting to remote campsites with anyone in the back seat. My goal was to increase my load carrying capacity to make those trips a bit more comfortable and better on the truck.

The only minor hiccup we ran into on my truck was we had to remove passenger side running board to access the front leaf spring bolt due to the size of the impact we were using. I was planning on removing these to install my sliders anyway, so I ended up removing the driver side as well and keeping them off.

I'm still running my 255/80r17 Wildpeaks and had a 1" block in the back from my TRD lift kit, on the Bilstein 5100's. Here are my measurements and pictures:

Before:

Pictured in the San Juan's with some load in the bed and cab for camping, but I had a slight squat even without the additional camping weight.



Before measurement to top of wheel well, taken without any additional weight in bed/cab:

Driver Side - 37"
Passenger Side: 37.5"

After:



After measurement to top of wheel well:

Driver Side - 39.5"
Passenger Side: 40"

Overall I gained about 2.5" of lift over the 1" block with stock leaf pack, but more importantly the ride quality is tremendous in comparison. Given that this leaf pack was used, I think this amount of lift will be durable over time and not settle any more. I'm excited to hit some trails with a better departure angle and less time (hopefully none at all) on my bump stops!

 

Truck is looking so dialed my dude

 

Got my sliders installed! Installation process was far from smooth, but @hondarubiconowner let me borrow his jack and jack stands which made getting everything aligned a breeze.

I love how low profile these are when viewed from the side of the truck - they almost blend in where you would otherwise see the bottom of the frame. And for $300 brand new, can't complain about a thing!

 

Update:

The new leaf pack has been such a huge upgrade. I have yet to hit a bumpstop, even after going over a bunch of sandy whoops at decent speed with a full camping load in the back. The increased departure angle has also been incredible. I am hardly ever using my hitch skid plate now, even on steep descents and steps.

While running Wipeout Hill with @Tenmile Tacoma during the Easter Jeep Safari, I only barely touched my rear bumper on the side during the descent. Throwing some more pictures in here from that weekend as well.

Finally, @Tenmile Tacoma got a new RCI steel engine skid, so he gave me a screaming deal on his old aluminum engine skid. It's already taken a few hits, and it feels so much beefier than the stock TRD Off Road skid that came on the truck.

I think my next priorities for the truck are for livability. First, I'll be getting an OTT tune. This thing is a dog with the weight and 33's, especially going up mountain passes. Second, to improve trail livability I'm thinking about adding the anytime front camera. There are times where I don't want to get out and check, but think it might be close to hitting, where the camera would hopefully be nice to have. As I've been doing more wheeling though, I'm starting to get a super solid understanding of my dimensions and what the truck can do without damage. TBD still on the front camera, but it's on my mind.

Our Wipeout Hill group at EJS



The only Tacos in the group (as expected). Can also see the skid plate swap that happened with @Tenmile Tacoma



Small climb before the unnamed obstacle



This trail run was super scenic



First descent portion on Wipeout Hill



Second descent portion on Wipeout Hill



We ran Long Canyon on Sunday morning before heading home

 

Lets gooo man! Great update! The OTT tune will be super nice - do you know which version you're going with? I was reading they have a couple versions from mild to aggressive, but I don't know the specifics. Also, I support the addition of the front camera. I think that'd be a great upgrade for both of us, haha. That'll also give Theo less opportunities to come steal the driver seat each time I get out

 

Yeah the versions are just in reference to throttle response, so they are all the same mapping but just more or less touchy gas pedal. I'll probably do light/medium or mild/medium, they let you test them out which is nice.

 

cool story bro and build

 

Spent the weekend camping in the San Juan's, my favorite part of Colorado. This trip was more focused on getting out there for some incredible hikes and trail runs, so we only drove a few of the passes and didn't focus a whole lot on wheeling. We stayed at Cayton Campground, just south of the town of Ophir. The hikes and runs we did were near Silverton, so we drove Ophir Pass quite a few times. We also spent some time in Ouray, then drove Imogene Pass to Telluride. Imogene never gets old, the views up there are so beautiful and the trail is really a lot of fun. My friend was able to get her Crosstrek up and over Ophir Pass both directions as well - that thing is pretty surprising!

We had perfect weather all weekend until Saturday night, when we got rained and hailed on coming back down Ophir Pass. Saw a lightning bolt strike a tree about 200' below us - scary seeing lightning strike below you. Overall it was a perfect weekend of getting out to some epic alpine lakes, running part of the hardrock 100 course, and chilling with some brews at camp.

 

I took a five day solo camping / trail running trip throughout Colorado starting last weekend. I stopped in Buena Vista, Crested Butte, Lake City, and Telluride before heading back home. I got some super epic trail runs in as I am getting close to my ultra on Sept. 7th. Below are pictures of each stop on the journey.

1. Buena Vista - dispersed camped just south of town. Ran 22 miles, 7,000' vert by going up Mount Princeton once from the 2WD trailhead, and then doubling back up the 4WD road a second time. Rinsed off in the Arkansas river afterwards.




The morning sun hitting Mount Antero seen from the ridge on Mount Princeton


2. Crested Butte - dispersed camped just north of town, then drove to the Oh-Be-Joyful trailhead for a shakeout 9.5 mile run with 1250' vert. Couldn't believe how beautiful the views were from the campsite and on the run! It was raining for the second half of the run, so I only briefly had to rinse off in the Slate river after.







3. Lake City - drove up Nellie Creek 4WD road to the Uncompahgre Peak TH and camped there for the night around 11,500'. It rained all night and got quite chilly, but the tent kept me dry and my sleeping bag was warm enough. I hiked Uncompahgre the next morning for another shakeout, 7.75 miles and 3,000' vert.





Drove up the rest of Engineer Pass to complete the alpine loop! Finished the day by coming down Mineral Creek to Ouray for a well-earned beer at Ouray Brewery.





4. Telluride - Dispersed camped just northwest of town, having the first clear night of the trip! I did the most epic run of my life - bear creek, wasatch, and bridal veil loop over Oscar's Pass. It was 15.1 miles with 4500' vert, had about 50 waterfalls and as many stream/creek/river crossings. Part of the trail became a waterfall from all the rain and I had to run up that. Rinsed off in the freezing cold San Miguel river afterwards, and had another well-earned beer at Telluride Brewing Company. My legs were feeling so strong all week, I'm really excited for my race!

 

Fresh coat of wax, ready for winter! Every time I clean it up, I'm reminded how much I love this color.

 

Great write-up thanks for sharing. Beautiful truck, like the suttle mods, not loud with stuff added on every where. Thanks again

 

Great build great pics!!

 

Bro, this is exactly the information I was looking for. That rear block from the TRD lift is absolutely awful!! I was just having fun reading through a thread of a dude that is posting his build on his truck and upgrading things as needed along the way and loving it and then HUZZAH, one of the issues I've been trying to describe to others and research is just sitting right here in this lovely thread. Great looking truck btw! I was hoping that an AAL would help but it seems that just swapping out the entire leaf pack is easier/better, but just more $$ haha

 

Glad this was helpful! I definitely think if you are running additional constant weight like I am (RTT/topper/bed rack/tools) the new leaf pack is a great idea. It really future proofs the truck for any additional changes you want to make down the road, and they ride really nicely. They are definitely squeaky, but I don't mind too much. If you are able to find a deal on FB or somewhere else for some gently used leaf packs like I did, it's basically the same cost as an AAL anyway!