My new overpriced heaping pile

After adding a RTT, awning, shitter cube, and all my gear, my truck's rear squatted like a pregnant sumo wrestler. On the way to Idaho to put on a CBI front bumper it was way nose high into the wind. I was getting 13-14 mpg into a 40mph gust snow storm.

Here is a close up of said bumper:


Ahead of time the installer ordered up stiffer springs, Dobinsons rear coil springs, red, pair C59-817VB:


Phillip and his guys at Dirtslayers in Idaho Falls, ID. Did a great job.

Previously the rear squatted three inches from stock. I have regained all but a half inch:

My MPG on the road now is at 17-18.

 

FYI. The CBI front bumper installation was not without hiccups.

1) On my TH, the brackets holding the fog lights did not fit within the cutouts for the bumper. The installer had to grind down one side to get the other side bolt in and then drilled a hole to zip tie the other side.

2) Badlands 12K synthetic winch control box is ridiculously big. Will not fit behind the active shutter grill. A Smittybuilt X20 Gen 3 synthetic fits.

3) The install video provided by CBI has the bracket holding the control box facing the wrong way. For those installing themselves, ignore the orientation in the video.

4) Wiring harness was too short. Additional wiring length had to be spliced in.

 

Some photos in the sand:


Probably done with elevation. Headed down south to warm up. Maybe do El Camino Diablo.

 

First annoyance popped up. Tailgate says it is open when I can hear it latch. The instrument panel is mostly inoperable in that you can't switch screens or even back out of the warning. Had to get into settings to turn off the tailgate alert. I can bump the tailgate when it is shut and I can tell there is very fine line between latch and unlatch by the bed scene lights.

So annoying. Toyota took the time to lighten up the tailgate. Then turned around and made it into this Frankenstein. I hate lugging around dead weight when traveling. This thing is dead weight. Who ever answered yes to a survey about powered tailgates should be taken to the woodshed.

This vehicle has been perfection so far. And this is so totally not necessary.

 

lol I hate power tailgates - I like the auditory and physical feedback and speed of just being able to slam it shut

 

I am going to copy that front bumper.

 

Outside Vegas.

 

Red rock? Sloan? Blue diamond? Was at BD literally hours ago.

 

Yah. Blue Diamond.

 

Dang. On our way to Houston. Had I known I would have tried to find you lol.

 

Already on the move to Joshua Tree.

 

That’s a pretty good hit on mileage, how is the power now that it is loaded? Thanks for the report either way, it seems to be a 1-2mpg improvement over my fully loaded truck now that you have it built, food for thought for sure…

 

This thing is a beast. Going up mountain passes, the highest rpm I have seen is 2500. That is before I got my rear squat corrected. My 3G even without that weight that I carry now, well we all know it would be screaming.

 

Three hours into my current trip, I realized while driving that a I forgot my seat cushion. The one with a hole cut out for my coccyx. Damn it. I am going to be in pain. Then I kept driving and driving. Realized whatever the reason on the broke gen, I don't need that seat cushion anymore.

 

I do all this stuff just to see a pile of rocks


Going west to east. So far underwhelming. It shatters the illusion of remoteness when one can see I-15 constantly. Camping at this seemingly cool site. Turns out I can see vehicles on the road leading to Baker. And I am getting four bars. Maybe ten minutes away. I was expecting too much. Packed all this water and fuel.

 

I’m sure you’ve got more remote areas on your list. Do you come through Texas?

 

Not sure yet.

 

Palo duro - red mountains!
Caprock canyon - bison!
My ranch in west central Texas - yes really you can camp there
Big bend - underrated and extremely remote and dark sky certified

 

Come over to my place in Texas. You won’t see a highway camping here.

 

Hey thanks! I will look into those. I've been to Big Bend. Yes, it is a legit national park and is worth going.