MrGrimm's Mall Crawler

What CANT this rig do?... jesus this thing is too damn badass

 

Amazing pics!

 

Hey dean, just noticed on T4R that you sold your trail. Mind if I ask why? I just picked up a trail premium a few days ago

 

It was just way too nice to take offroad. It was also eating into my money for the tacoma. In the end, I like the versatility of the Tacoma more than the 4runner. The 4runner was a beast off-road, but having 2 sub-17 mpg trucks was just not working out.

 

U just make the trails look "easy"! right sir? lol...bad ass for sure!

 

Nice winch! I remember talking to one of the FJ guys at the pancake rock trail trip during summer about the winch line placement. He changed his from hooking it to the shackle to just spooling it into the fairlead while we were eating lunch because he heard a story about someone nosing into a rock and cutting his line. I don't know if you have experienced any sort of contact in that area, but it's worth looking into changing that positioning to save a winch line.

Aaaand subbing, too.
Your truck looks freaking awesome! I really want to do what you did with the air nozzles on the bumpers.

 

Trucks looking hotter every time I see it! I agree with the above ^^^ comment too. Dont want to pinch that line anywhere also reduces UV exposure and any other crap getting flicked at it on hwys, dirt roads etc....

Whats next on the list for this Beast?

 

There should be a D ring inside the winch access hole on the drivers side of the bumper that is specifically for attaching the line hook to so it is up an out of harms way.

 

Damn, man, that bumper keeps getting better and better...gotta get my mom to go for it for her truck!

 

Yea I am getting a factor 55 safety thimble here soon to make sure I don't run into that situation. Damn things aren't cheap though.

Dual batteries are being installed next. I have both of the batteries, but I am waiting on the National Luna Isolator and Columbia Overland battery tray.

 

Just did a google search and no they are not cheap!
I just ordered a new line through Amsteel Blue to replace my steel cable. It ended up being around $250-290 for 85' of 3/8" and came with the safety thimble spliced on. Of course, with yours already spooled with synthetic, you're in a slightly different situation.

 

You didn't order the Factor 55 yet though did you?

I would recommend checking these thimbles out if you are going to have to splice your winch line. I wanted a thimble as well and after looking into the factor 55 realized that the hole on the thimble can only accommodate the pin end of a shackle. I think its 3/4" hole. Where the Viking Safety thimble will accept the actual Bow end of the shackle Just something to consider.

 

I like the Viking too, but it requires splicing your line or changing out the whole thing. With the factor 55 you just insert the existing thimble. I had a loaded ti pin factor55 thimble and then sold it. Sticks out too far. Plus it's kind weird having two thimbles...
When I need to change out my line, I will go with Viking. My Viking fairlead will be here tomorrow too

 

splicing line is very easy. you could watch a youtube video on the propper splice and peobably splice a viking thimble on in less than 5 minutes.

that being said, i agree with the thimbles sticking out too far. that's why i'm still pulling with a hook. i'll get a thinble once i have time to make an anchorpoint elsewhere on my bumper that makes it easy to secure the thimble out of the way, instead of protruding off the end of your fairlead.

 

Dean, Let me know on the Factor 55, I have one in the garage. I work with their Titanium supplier so I picked one up so to speak. I cannot install it on my line because the Masterpull has a hook that is fixed permanently on the end of the line and I prefer not to cut it.

 

I been running the Viking stuff for some time now on both my crawler and taco, every once in a while the thimble will touch on a rock, shopping cart, parking sign pole or whatever but never had any real issues with it sticking out

 

Pm'd!

 

hitting the thimble is still better than hitting the exposed rope in the configuration he has currently

they have the flat link now,



lays flat against the fairlead, but with the thickness of the rope, a concern is pinching the rope on the link and a rock..

 

That thing is ugly but obviously it works

 

Still has the same size 3/4" hole that only a shackle pin will fit through.
I know a pile of guys who bought the factor 55 and were not happy with it because of that. I say Viking FTW.
I also run with a few guys that do have the viking thimble and as stated above it does hit the odd thing but it takes the beating and does not bother the line at all. It sticks out less then the factor 55 as well.