Kneeboarder's Slow-going-because-we-are-on-baby-step-6 build

Update 2/23/17 - Truck has moved on to another owner.


Hi TW - I've been enjoying reading other members builds and figured that I might as add my own, if only to keep the evolution organized in one place. I'll start by saying that the thread title has reference to Dave Ramsey (my wife is a big fan, and I like the idea of being debt free). So this will be slow going for a few years, at least until the house is paid off.

The taco as it sits now: (10/2015)



Engine/Drivetrain:
3.4L V6
Stock gearing (4.10)
Auto Trans (added a Hayden transmission cooler)
TRD E-locker Rear (gray wire mod)
Rear-diff breather Relocate (behind tail-light)
Deckplate Mod

Suspension:
All Stock (and tired)

Wheels/Tires:
265/75/R16 Cooper Discover ATP’s
Stock 16” Wheels from ’03 extended cab

Armor/Protection:
4x Innovations sliders

Interior:
Stock Radio
Stock seats

Comms:
Midland 1001wlx cb radio w/ 4ft Firestik Link


Exterior:
Softopper
Front receiver
Bed tie-downs


Lighting/Electrical:
400W Inverter
Brake Controller

Recovery Gear
The normal stuff +
Warn M8000 winch on a receiver cradle
Maxtrax

Wish list:
CB radio - Done 10/15
OME lift
33’s (255/85/16’s)
Tundra Brakes New stereo
TG front Bumper
4x Innovations Rear bumper w/ tire swing out
Lights
Belly skids
Roof Rack
synthetic rope winch cable and upgrade contactor in the control box. -http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/4x4-off-road-tech/130031-warn-winch-upgrade.html
HO alternator & big 3 electrical upgrade
CO2 tank
Snorkel

Etc..

Stock photo (2/2014)


Trips:
High water Mark Trail (Ozarks, Arkansas) 6/15
Ozark Trip 10/15

 

First I'll say that when I first joined TW in 2012, I had recently purchased a white '03 extended cab V6 4x4 5spd, manual locks, mirrors and windows. I'd wanted a 4 Runner or Tacoma for a few years but couldn't afford one that wasn't used up - I wanted it to last several years, first as a DD, and then ultimately a trail truck.

2/2012


Got a Softopper 6/2012


Then got married 5/24/2013


Then we found out we were expecting our first. I spend quite a bit of time doing research on here about extended-cabs and rear facing baby seats, and none of them seemed to a good solution that didn't involve my wife's knees being crammed against the dash, or having the car seat in the front seat with the airbag turned off (which my wife wasn't a fan off). So we started shopping for a 1st Gen DC because I like the look of them better, and because we pay cash for one (with the sale of the extended cab) Found a clean 2003 Green DC 4x4 TRD with 130K (and ended up selling the extended cab to the seller later)

When we took it home: (2/2014)


First mod was to swap out the wheels and tires for the ones on the white taco.

Second mod was installing a Curt Front receiver I had bought to put on the white taco but never installed. I had found a good deal on M8000 on CL and put it on a cradle since I didn't want to kill my front suspension knowing it was going to be a few years before I could upgrade it.




As a side note, I picked up this trailer from my parents neighbor for free - needs tires and lights and some other TLC, but should be good project



Got a Softopper ( and sold the other one) (6/2014)


Some dutch oven cooking (I'm still a beginner - excuse the crappy pic)


Took the boat to Lake Ouachita in Arkansas ( 4.5 hr). Had a scare on the highway on an earlier trip hauling the boat that prompted getting the trailer brakes fixed and a brake controller installed. (sorry no pic's) - Made towing in the Ozarks SO much nicer (and safer) 9/2014


Got to use the front receiver to haul bikes for a camping trip to Devils Den State Park in Arkansas (10/2014)


And some flexing (2/2015)



Overlooking the Arkansas River:


Sliders! (3/2015) Got these from 4x innovations because of the price and also because my dad picked up a rear bumper for his '87 4Runner and brought the sliders back for me.


My dad found a Weatherguard Packrat at a thrift store. I'd been looking for one thinking it would good for bed storage - that is, before I realized these are ~ 200-300 lbs empty. My poor stock rear suspension... I've realized I need to sell it since new suspension is a ways out. Was a great find. (Now Sold)


Using the winch to move some logs around


Memorial day camping trip to the Buffalo River in Arkansas (5/2015)


I need a roof rack! (My dad's kayak)

 

Recent wheeling trip to the Ozark High water mark trail: (6/2015)

 

Had to move some logs around and got some close ups of the winch battery cable connectors. I used welding cable connectors that I got from Atwoods. I inverted the ends so I wouldn't get the cables mixed up, and I made the male connector on the car side attached to the negative side of the battery so I wouldn't risk shorting the battery on the frame


]

 

Time for an update.

First, went to a local off-road area with a few of the local TW'ers.

















Along the way, we found a mud hole ... That I had no business going into. But in my defense, I had taken my wife and 9 mo old son out there back in February, and we had gotten through this with relative ease - but from the opposite direction, where gravity was my friend

February:


This trip:






This covered and killed my alternator - which, since I wasn't watching my dash, killed my battery. It also caused the engine to overheat, since the radiator and AC condenser a layer of mud covering them.

Thanks to the group who looked after my family, I was able to limp home, but not before being run into town to get a new battery.

 

I researched my alternator options, thinking now is the time to upgrade, but at the advice of a couple local toyota mechanics, I ended up replacing the alternator with a reman Denso from rock auto. I had already gotten Advanced Auto's biggest store brand battery (875 CCA at 32 F) to get my family home. It will be a few years before I get some serious electrical draw (besides the winch) anyway.

The old, being shipped back to Rock auto for the core charge minus shipping.

And some at home mud shots

 

sweet build! Dave Ramsey will definitely help out in the long run

I recognize that cliff

 

Ha. You can see your mud scrape on the passenger side in your pic, from the first time you went to gruber through the mud hole. Glad we got you and the family home on the second trip! I wasn't going to leave until we did.

 

Thanks Sean! Everyone was a great help, more than I could have asked for. Right down to Gustavo's GF's dad letting Tricia and McCoey sit in an Air conditioned room while we ran into Muskogee, and you staying with us back to broken arrow.

 

When were you in Oklahoma?

 

Some goodies that arrived in the mail today:

 

That didn't take long! Is that the cb we were talking about at Gruyere?

 

I'm from Muskogee. i still visit several times a year since my family is there.

 

Okay - your profile location threw me.

 

No - I think it was this one:

$90 Midland 75-822 40 Channel CB-Way Radio

http://www.amazon.com/Midland-75-82...TF8&qid=1440591653&sr=1-1&keywords=midland+cb

@Sje1124 can confirm. I realized that I probably wouldn't use it outside of the truck anyway, so I figured I'd get one I could give a permanent mounting. - It seems that Ive seen the Uniden Pro xl 520 the most in the first gen builds (it fits nicely in the ashtray location), but this one has a weatherband receiver - figured that might come in handy out in the middle of no-where with no cell reception. It's the same width, just a little bit deeper.

 

Very nice, I got the Midland just for the fact if I have to get out and spot I will still be able to communicate to the other drivers. The weather band is nice. I used that feature on mine when I was moving up here in a ton of cruddy weather.

 

Ya, I was thinking the same thing as far as mobility. Too bulky to pull in and out quickly. I'll probably still start with a good long range hand held and get a cb down the road.

 

Which one is too bulky to pull in and out fast?

 

Well, I just clicked the link that Walt posted. That's not what I was thinking of. That is compact! I like that option. Can you communicate with cbs and other handheld walkies?

 

Lets take this convo to the okie thread to keep walts build clean.