AlumEscape Expo Build

Thanks dude! I have a thread for the trailer over on ExPo here.

 

don't have a expo account so can't comment on there, but thats awesome man !! love the build ! any idea on the weight #?

 

Awesome truck! Thanks for the heads up on the VHT frame paint. Question about it. Did you mask anything for overspray or just went to town with it? It looks awesome! How is it holding up.

 

Thanks again, she ended up being pretty heavy due to the use of plywood and the framed out walls for insulation, right around 2,000lbs ready to go without the bike. Tows nice with the Tacoma though you know it's back there on hills.

 

No worries - the paint seems to be holding up well but I'll have a better idea in the spring when I get all the mud and salt washed off. I'm expecting to need to do touchup every year but I'd rather be doing that than ending up with a frame surprise of swiss cheese.

I didn't mask anything off as overspray really wasn't going to get on much that's ever seen anyway. The spray is pretty predictable but I did use a piece of cardboard to do some edge protection like when spraying around the exhaust and stuff.

 

how did you do the manual switch for reverse camera man? Thats a pretty neat mod!

 

Thanks bud, I assume you are referring to the one that let's you turn on the backup camera without being in reverse? If so I took the general idea from here.

It's a little fuzzy in my memory exactly what I did but if I remember right the only adaption I made was finding the small red wire down by the driver kick panel/fuse panel area and chopping it there. From there, each loose end of that small red wire was then extended up to the underside of the steering column by the tilt steering wheel lever where I mounted this switch (must be a On-On SPDT, other types of switches may result in your reverse lights coming on). The switched feed side of the red wire (power in) was connected to an end terminal and the camera side of the red wire (power out) was connected to the middle common terminal. I then used a fused tap from the fuse panel to run a key on 12 volt feed to the other end terminal.

In essence, with the switch in the first "On" position, when you put the truck in reverse power runs from the small red wire, through the switch and to the camera just like factory; the 12 volt wire run from the fuse panel is not doing anything in this case because of the SPDT switch. Take the truck out of reverse and the screen turns off just like normal. Flip the switch to the other "On" position and power goes from the feed added from the fuse panel through the switch and to the camera and bingo - any time camera. You can put the truck in any gear, reverse, whatever - and the screen will stay on as the factory small red incoming power wire has been isolated from the system now with the SPDT in the other position.

Hope that helps!

 

Oh wow awesome!! I'm adding this to my list of things to do! Thanks man

 

Yes Sir.

 

Nice, I find it to be most helpful when towing to keep an occasional eye on everything. By the way, you're build is looking good!

 

Thanks man! It's coming along just need a shell and I'll be set for a while

 

A question comes to mind from a guy with no build skills... When you invest this much time, effort, and money into this much badassery... How long do you keep it before moving on? And how to do you recoup any of it? Do you remove most of the components? Or try to sell it "as-is" for a premium price? Is it more difficult to sell (it surely has to be)? It's obviously a superior vehicle relative to a bone stock Taco... But it's such a niche vehicle at this point that it'd have to make it difficult.
Not taking anything away from it nor insinuating it's not all worth it. Just curiosity about those elements of doing all this awesomeness and specialty upgrading. Thanks!

 

Not to speak for my neighbor to the East but you don't build these with the mindset of what it will be worth to someone else. From what I've seen most don't sell them.

 

Sure, I get that it's not built with a second owner in mind, obviously. But surely it doesn't just stay with the builder infinitely until it no longer runs. So when it's eventually sold, how is it done (See original questions)?

 

Like any modifications done to a vehicle it makes the market of buyers smaller. The purchaser of said modified vehicle has to be in the market for a specific vehicle and know what's done to the vehicle and understand what parts and labour are worth. Come down to it the truck is going to need suspension and tires regardless of how big the tires are or how high it sits. Because with out these the truck is useless. Now try and explain that to the average buyer and tell him why the modified truck is worth more. This is why you see more of the modified vehicles for sale on specific forums rather then Craig's list

Sorry to thread Jack your build but this guy won't give up

 

Everyone would answer this a little differently, some folks build strictly for the "cool" factor to get attention or compliments, others build just as a hobby and some strictly for purpose. I honestly do for my builds for purpose and hobby but it's nice to get the compliments too.

As far as resale value goes you'll never get it back. Some modifications aid in value others hurt for sure. Things like quality seat covers, floor mats and the like are smart money spent as they protect your investment and basically add value. Mods like high clearance bumpers, lifts where you end up chomping the frame and the like will hurt value unless you find the perfect buyer when you go to sell.

That said, I'm not a great example to answer you question as I hang on to most of my builds and have only sold vehicles that I hadn't built haha.

I still have my '93 Ranger that I bought in '02 that started out as a stock 2wd 4 banger automatic - it's gone through a full frame swap and is now a 4wd 4 banger stick on 33's with 4.88's.



I also still have my '85 Bronco II that I bought in '05 that started out as a stock non-running 2.8L carbed V6 - it's now a a 4.0L fuel injected V6 on 32's with locked 4.88's.




As far as the Taco goes I had no intention of ever modding it started getting built not long after purchase anyway to suit overland type travel with my trailer. Based on four years of owning it this one will be around for a while. Figure it'll last until the frame goes or 200k+ at which time it may be built as a trail only rig or maybe get a refresh with a diesel.

Modding certainly isn't for everyone and there are a million ways to build any vehicle - different strokes for different folks as they say.

 

Thanks Homer - you nailed it, if I had a bigger yard and a shop I wouldn't ever sell any of them haha.

Haha no worries man, I certainly understand where his question was coming from but it's not really something you can explain. I've tried answering similar questions for coworkers who can't understand why anyone would make a vehicle so "impractical".

 

Thanks for your response.
"This guy won't give up"?
Ummm OK? Sorry to bother you with a legitimate question. With 1 follow up clarification a little while later.
The question isn't posed to be some negative challenge to a customized truck build. It was a curiosity I had as a regular Tacoma owner and thought maybe others would find it interesting. And what better place to ask it other than a custom build thread?
I've been following this build thread for a long time and have commented on how impressive it is.
Again, thanks for the info and response, nick, but the "this guy" comment was douchey.

 

Thanks man that's a solid response. I think you guys misunderstood my questions (or at least the intent of them). I wasn't asking "why" you would do it or if it is worth it. Just wanted to know how the end of ownership went down with a custom build - but no one so far seems to sell them. And that's an answer in itself.
BTW, That Bronco II is awesome. I'd love to have that in my driveway.