What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

I’ve had a lot of hot or miss with fridges, the ARB I bought used was a piece of shit, the Edgestar I got 10 years ago was still running strong when I got the ARB but now is too old (and moldy) to trust- I got an Iceco that has all the tech because it was the exact footprint as the ARB and didn’t want to rebuild the fridge slide.

A 100 watt panel made a huge amount of difference, now I’ve got a 200 watt panel, about to do a 9 day trip, we’ll see how it performs.

I’m about ready to recommend the Iceco if it has a successful trip, the price is great compared to ARB, Dometic

 

It uses 3M tape to attach to the hood. It was a kit Cascadia 4x4 sold for our trucks but I guess wasn't popular enough for ours to go in the V2 version. I'm hoping it can hold me over till I get a dual battery setup and considering I have been doing okay without one this long I do have high hopes it will.

This Dometic has been running strong since 2018. It seems to only have issues when the truck isn't running and is happening in both the Tacoma and Bronco intermittently lately. It doesn't happen on 120v only 12v. I thought it was the 12v cord but replaced that on this trip mid trip and it did work again but then had issues again. I came across a post about the 12v connections inside the fridge coming loose overtime so that is my next place to dig.

 

I bought this off of Amazon.
Learned about it from searching windshield reservoir relocation and didn't want to pay the rediculously high price for the Scarab kit.
I don't have ABS, but you can see it fits with cruise control.
There is one hole already there, I drilled another and put riv nuts in both.
I took the washer pump off the old reservoir, and it fits in the new one (pump wiring connectors were different). I drilled a hole in the bottom of the new pump for the low fluid sensor.
Clipped the washer hose short, connected the wiring, and done.
Very clean and works well.

$41 For Toyota Tacoma Windshield Washer Reservoir 1995 96 97 98 99 2000 | Small tank | 2.5L | TO1288134 | 8531504040

Amazon.com: For Toyota Tacoma Windshield Washer Reservoir 1995 96 97 98 99 2000 | Small tank | 2.5L | TO1288134 | 8531504040 : Automotive

 

How did you attach the bracket to the frame? Riv nuts?

 

Drilled and tapped, if the holes ever strip think I’d go to a rivnut, with there not being a lot of movement at the bracket I don’t think there’s a lot of stress at the fasteners

 

Got it. I have a long-term goal of making a fastback-style topper with a couple 250W panels, where the panel section can be propped up with struts for bed access/angling the panels toward the sun

Like this but solar in the center

 

Only one fastener into the frame per side?
I might have to re evaluate the mounting of mine because I do have to be mindful of how hard I turn on the trail because the tire side knobs will contact the hose.

 

@betterbuckleup Looks risky especially since you're hitting the rigid hose fitting and not the hose itself. The hose has some give to it.

 

Ya it's not ideal but I have gotten away with it like that for the last 5 years without issue, but my setup has changed a lot from the picture taken in 2020.
That situation also doesn't happen too often since it's at full compression and full lock

 

2 fasteners per side, countersunk 5/16-18 stainless (I think). The bar stock I think is 3/8”x1” 6061, bent to the angle with a press brake. Definitely some futzing around getting the clearance right.

I initially tried to mount the resis to the inner fenders, but my inner fenders are cracking in several places so I figured it wasn’t going to work

Now with the Solo lowers on (got it aligned today), there’s no stops for the lower ball joints to hit, so basically just maxing out the travel of the steering rack, no clearance issues, no rubbing at all at least under normal conditions, haven’t tested while suspension cycling.

I used to hit the frame at the back of the tire with enough bite from the tire lugs to stop the truck, that’s gone too, very happy with the results.

 

1996 2wd and am replacing my front shocks today and I snapped one of the bolts in the lower control arm I'm going to try to drill it out. Argh.

Need help sourcing the bolt size for a replacement.

 

I had an issue with mine when I moved it to the bed. It would run all day on 120v but after taking it for a drive it would quit cooling. Stuck some foam underneath the feet and it's been great. Is your mount rigid?

 

Nope it def wobbles a bit in the bed because it is only strapped down and against the spare. What did the foam do?

 

Finished boxing in the back half of the frame and replacing the cross members today.

 

Is that the Solo kit?

 

Good on ya for going all the way up. Since I see no provisions for a stock fuel tank are you planning a fuel cell or something similar?

 

It's actually a kit made by a fellow Tacoma world member. I will say that it's not welded in as intended though as I removed my stock cross members and replaced them with round tubing.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-taco-frame-box-plates.828718/

https://kpoffroad.com/product/tacoma-rear-frame-box-kit

 

I have a couple designs for a 37 gallon fuel tank to sit behind the axle and still use the factory fuel pump and sender. I just haven't gotten around to sending the file out to get cut and bent.

I originally had it designed for around 50 gallons but decided I didn't need that much.

 

Nice, same actually, but I went for an already made 35 gal tank.

 

I just finished up boxing the frame and tube crossmembers in mine. The solid feeling is pretty remarkable and the difference in ride quality is great.