Dan's Weekend Warrior Build Thread

How I'm currently rollin'...























Day 1: Nov 8, 2012



Summary:
I never thought I'd modify my truck, but thanks to TW, talking to some buddies, and one wheeling trip....well I think I'm hooked. I've still got quite a bit of learning to do, and I don't have a ton of experience working on cars/trucks, but I'm ready to get after it.

Truck:
2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport DCSB 4x4 4-liter V6 Automatic
~42,000k miles

Suspension:
- Toytec Boss 3" lift w/Light Racing UCA's and OME Dakar leaf pack (installed by Scotty at Addicted Offroad in FoCo, great guy, great work)

Wheels & Tires
- FJ Trail Team Wheels (black)
- 285/75/16 Duratracs

Exterior:
- BAMF sliders w/kickout
- Snugtop SuperSport camper shell w/Yakima racks
- Ski and bike racks
- Pop n Lock tailgate lock

Interior:
- Weathertecs front and rear
- Custom carpeted removable sleeping platform w/memory foam

Misc:
- http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-8536125-toyota-8-clamshell-bushing.html
- Derped badges and removed decals

Future Mods:
- Better Skid
- CB


More to come....

 

Maintenance Log:

40,000 - New Tires, Lift, Alignment
41,245 - Oil change, new wiper blades
43,xxx - ECGS Bushing installed
3/17/2015 - 45,xxx - Tires Rotated
3/18/2015 - 45,xxx

 

Truck looks great!

 

Nice looking truck!! How does the Boss suspension ride?

 

Welcome from Boulder

 

nice man. we have similar set ups but i have Icons and 275 Duratracs. i have a rack on the bed but i really want to do like you got with the cap w/rack on top. it seems super versatile for RTT, bikes, canoes, whatever. well done!

 

Thanks guys!

Thanks! It rides great, nice and plush. I almost went OME w/spacers but I'm glad I went for the full suspension lift. Can't wait to do a trip at some point.

I just need to sort out some vibes, but the ride itself is awesome.

Howdy!

My truck looks like this thanks to you. I hate/love you for it.

Nice. Yeah, the Snugtop is great. Definitely versatile, you could even tie it into an oem rack over the cab like I see a lot of guys do. It insulates real well and I sleep in it quite frequently during the winter.

Not gonna lie, though. I carry a little "midget stool" (2-step ladder) in my truck to make it easier to get stuff on and off the top hah. I'm 5'9" and with the lift it's a little tough. It does, however, make it really hard for anyone to touch/steal my bikes or skis way up there so that's definitely a plus

 

Great start. I have to fix my supersport up a bit (bought used) but once all the leaks are found I'll be set

 

Finally someone with the same suspension as me! I love my boss suspension. Rides really nice and performs well. IMO.

 

I like

 

AW YEA! Had the ECGS clamshell bushing installed in the front diff and I am now vibration-free.

I was getting some pretty bad vibes post-lift, and ToyTec (and even Toyota) recommended it as a remedy.

Rides like a Cadillac now!

 

sweet truck! I dig it. Good work

 

Ran White Rim with a buddy who rode a DRZ650...

Was a very interesting experience...would've probably gone much smoother if not for the rain/thunder and SNOW that came down right before we hit Murphy's Hogback.

This was my first trip since the lift and new tires...truck was freakin awesome. White Rim isn't hard, but can be when wet. Well, it was pretty damn wet, and I had no issues on any sections of the trail. My buddy, on the other hand, had a HELL of a time in the snow and clay/mud on his bike.

I ended up playing sag wagon as we towed and pushed his bike up some of the steep and slushy sections.

Day #1:

Started White Rim at 10am.





We were hoping to start earlier, but my buddy rode from SLC to Moab the previous evening in terrible, extremely cold weather. After a canceled flight and snow/rain/wind from SLC to Moab, he was exhausted and late getting in (9:30pm) the night before.

We took our time the first 10-15 miles, lots of pictures and stops. After about 20 miles we realized we needed to pick up the pace if we were going to make it to Labrynth so we basically drove without stopping until we hit White Crack.











It had been overcast since we started, and as we stopped for our 10 minute lunch break at White Crack we realized that the clouds were looking angrier. A group of about 15 gnar pro ADV moto guys (doing Moab > White Rim > Moab in-a-day) passed us while we were stopped and warned us that it was going to rain the rest of the day and tomorrow. That wasn't in the forecast the night before we started the trail.

We left White Crack and headed towards Murphy's. A few miles before Murphy's, it started to SNOW. One minute blue sky, the next, torrential hailstorm. You know how deserts are...

There is a steep, banked left turn a mile or so before Murphy's. A good amount of snow had accumulated on the ground as we got the base of it, and it wasn't letting up. We decided to hit it before it got worse. My buddy went first, and make quick work of the first pitch. The second pitch was steeper and curved, and he wasn't able to get any purchase in the snow and mud. He moved off to the side as I tried, and I successfully made it to the top of the curved turn.

We then spent about an hour pushing/towing his bike up ~80 ft of steep, sticky clay. I have a topper and sleeping platform on my truck, and it was filled with crap (including a mountain bike), so throwing his bike in my truck was only really an emergency option.







We finally passed this section and made it to the base of Murphy's. Fortunately the snow had stopped, and the section was much less muddy than what we had just encountered. No issues on Murphy's, we simply took it slow and topped out after about an hour. We were worried about conditions and had heard it was difficult, so we scoped the whole thing before heading up.

Coming off the back side of Murphy's wasn't easy, but we dispatched that as well. A few miles after Murphy's, I was following my buddy and watched him eat it -- well, basically tip over. After two full days of riding he was showing some serious signs of fatigue. We were moving pretty slow, and I was worried about him making mistakes on exposed sections, or just crashing in general.

We decided to try and limp in to Candlestick and politely explain our situation to the people who had actually reserved the site. They let us camp with them on one condition -- we had to eat all of their leftover chicken tacos. DONE DEAL.

We were supposed to meet Timmy (Pliny) at Labrynth, but by 7:30pm we were only 50 miles in and exhausted. We didn't know what the conditions would be like ahead, and didn't want to try Hardscrabble for the first time in the night while it was raining.

So we ate tacos, drank some whiskey, and settled in for the night. I slept in my truck, my buddy in a tent. At 1am it started pouring, and we realized we were parked directly in a wash, so we decided to move the truck and both get in -- nice and cozy with two dudes back there.

Day 2:

8:30am -- Expected to get an early start, but it was STILL raining, cold and miserable. It got slightly better by 9:30am, so we left camp then. Before we left, some girls in a 1st gen passed us and told us that someone snapped and axle (or something) coming off Murphy's and so it was now impassable. I wonder how that was taken care of.





Mostly smooth sailing to the base of Hardscrabble. We made good time and got ready to start up. After a few switchbacks, we got to a big flat area at the top and celebrated the end of the "hard stuff". We traversed the mountain a bit and got to the base of more switchbacks, which were also more difficult. We realized that we're dumbasses and our celebration was premature. They ended up being fine, and then we topped out for real.





We descended off Hardscrabble slowly, and at this point were both just looking forward to getting off the trail. We cruised by the Colorado River and eventually made it to the base of the Mineral Switchbacks.

We were both pretty stoked here and sure we were about done. Just some easy switchbacks to a road and we were out. WRONG.

Mineral Switchbacks were wet and terrifying near the top. We made our way up, but about two switchbacks before the top....my buddy's bike died.

We spent about an hour on this whole ordeal, the hardest part being undoing the damn bolts that held his saddle on so we could get to his battery. Seriously, they were tightened by the hand of GOD. We finally jumped him, and made it to the road.

For me, this would've been easy. Lots of sticky, deep clay but my truck had no issue. Probably could've gone at least 20-40mph to the end. The road was basically impossible for my friend on his bike. No purchase, tires swimming, fishtailing etc. I went first and he rode in my wheel track. Probably averaged about 5mph on this section. I was bored out of my mind knowing I could've just blasted it.





After more snow and slow going, we finally made it to the paved road. Some highway driving back to Moab, it felt strange moving so fast.

We got some big ass burgers and that dank Utah 3.2% beer in town, with my buddy buying because of the pain and boredom I had to endure during the last 20 miles.

Overall, I would consider it Type-2 fun at it's finest. Will definitely look back on it fondly. And next time I run a trail with him, I'll be on a bike too.


Below is a shot of us hunkering down at the Sand Flats campground the day after White Rim. Rain and Thunder rolling in, and the next day was finally gorgeous.

 

awesome truck... i think i may have just been inspired

 

hey Dan, got any info I can get on the bed setup? Just would like to know how you got the platform seated. Finally got around to working on the campershell, replaced the rubber boot kit with a piece of lexan for the front window and applied some silicone to the windows.

 

Hey Dane, sorry for the late response. Still getting used to the new format on TW.

The platform is super simple.

Two 2x8's and two pieces of 3/4" plywood. I cut the 2x8's slightly near the ends so they fit nicely in the slots above the wheel well. I then cut the plywood in to two pieces, carpeted them, and done. Used spray adhesive to keep the carpet on the plywood. I was going to staple the carpet in some spots as well, but the mega-strong adhesive has help up great. I don't have dimensions on me at the moment, but I can measure if you'd like.

See here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-cheap-works-great.108524/page-4#post-8223105

 

Nice truck man love the color and the snugtop looks sweet! Did you put memory foam under the carpet or just a piece on top for comfort?

 

Thanks! Memory foam just sits on top of the carpeted plywood, and a bed sheet on top of that.

 

Sounds good thanks man!

 

Had some fun on the way to Conundrum Peak near Aspen. The approach to ski it is about 12 miles round trip with 2wd, 6 miles with a stock 4wd, and 2 miles if you're a little more capable