BigMike’s Big Journey: New 2016 Tacoma

Reached the Navajo Bridge and the mighty Colorado River





Before this bridge was constructed in 1927-29, the only way across was by ferry. The crossing over Marble Canyon is 467 feet above the river and is about 1/6th of a mile long. By the 1990s traffic had out grown the 60 year old bridge and was rerouted across a new bridge finished in 1995.



Really neat looking bridges. Love looking at each piece of steel and visualizing how stresses are distributed across. Wife and I walked out to the middle and really enjoyed the view for a while. Good times.

Here is the modern replacement bridge. The original one still stands but is only used for foot traffic / exhibition.



Calm, peaceful view of the Colorado.

 

Moar from the area





Hope the Tacoma understands its life will be around rocks this size and larger soon



Some saaaweeeet drive-bys

 

Climbing back up the other side. Love the six speed manual and power in the hills. Very impressed with this truck

 

Jacob Lake Arizona. Elevation 7,925 feet.



Looking north towards...



Utah!

 

I went through some(not all) the struggles you did. I originally wanted a SR5 double cab, with manual transmission, but no go on that. I'm a service manager at a Toyota dealer and it frustrates the heck out of me that we (consumers ) can't build the truck we want. I ended up ordering a DCSB off road with auto trans as it was going to be another few months before I could get a manual. That was the catalyst for changing as I'm planning on wheeling it for 2 weeks in Idaho this summer, and didn't want to risk not having the truck.
I usually drive my 1st gen 4runner our the 6k'ish mile wheeling trips, but had the tacoma deal in the works, and sold the engine out of it in preparation for a swap.

 

Oh man. Even Toyota's own service manager cannot get service. W-O-W.

3RZ Swap?

So this was why we came north out of Phoenix instead of continuing west on I10: My wife and I have always wanted to visit Zion National Park!!



We've driven past it twice visiting the Grand Canyon and I've been past it a dozen times or so on wheel'n trips to Moab. Really happy to finally visit "Not Zion"!

We knew our time would be limited so we planned to tour the park to figure out what sort of camping and hiking we'd like to do, and then fully enjoy it on a return trip

The cost to enter is $30 and one awesome thing is that the National Parks Service is celebrating their 100th year and all admission was waved! We got in our first trip for free

Really nice rock formations here



I wanted to try driving up this rock slope so bad hahaha





A Taco for the hand!



Someday after a lot of work this truck will be able to do some Crawling. I'm not talking about that goofy Toyota "Crawl Control" limited-use over-heating gimmick. I'm talking REAL Crawling. Man... Marlin should have trademarked "Rock Crawling" and similar terms all of which he invented. At least some credit would have been nice Toyota.

 

Loving your pic's Mike, keep 'em coming!

 

Took the truck through it's first tunnel. I flipped the light switch to AUTO to test that out (previously had not been using it) and .....nothing. I had to manually flip the lights on. I've never driven an automobile with automatic lights. I thought, wow, what a pointless system. But after this point I began testing AUTO mode out and yes it works great. I think it just needed some time to get situated as I had just barely switched to AUTO before entering the tunnel. I also discovered that the awesome LED driving lights only turn on when in the AUTO position. Since this time I've left AUTO on and found settings under Customize > Vehicle > Lights to set it's sensitivity to minimum. Love'n it.



Once we came out the other end WOW the entire Zion valley opened up with very steep walls and a nice series of steep switchbacks down to the bottom. That tunnel must have been some serious engineering feat.

Due to the nature of all the switchbacks and how narrow the road was, I couldn't stop for any pics until we were nearly all the way down. The view looking back up was awesome





Looking towards the main area of Zion Nat. Park

 

Thanks man, having a fun time posting these. I need to get caught up before next Tuesday for another road trip with the Tacoma
Inside the park visitors are only allowed to drive west out of the tunnel and then south towards Springdale, Utah, or vice versa. The bulk of the National Park, or rather the main attractions are north up the canyon following the Virgin River from a point only accessible by park shuttles.

Consider the following map. The pink road towards the bottom is where visitors are allowed to drive (check out the switchbacks). The dotted section is the tunnel. The yellow road is the route the park shuttles travel.



The plan was to park near Canyon Junction and take a shuttle up to all the stops, but parking was crazy packed. I found a nice sidehill off-camber section with loose dirt to park on that was far enough off the road I didn't think I'd get a ticket. More about this later

We took the shuttle up to the very far north stop for The Narrows and then did the 2 mile round trip Riverside hike.

Looking up the Virgin River along the Riverside Trail



Flash flood warnings were in effect and the Narrows were closed. It is ok as we did not have the gear nor the time to go through them. Great to know how the park works so when we return we won't waste any time learning the ropes.





Wow what a beautiful place. Entirely surrounded by vertical, steep canyon walls.



I realized how I am fortunate to live only 1-1/2 hours from Yosemite. I was thinking how some people here probably had never seen Yosemite before. I haven't done any hiking here yet, but things are much closer together and I do like it here better than Yosemite. Only difference is that Zion is faaaaaaaaar smaller than Yosemite. Only speculating but it seems one could experience most all Zion trails in one stay whereas this would be impossible in Yosemite.

Zion had some nice Rock Climbing opportunities. (I used to climb a lot and my former brother-in-law was a professional climber for Fiveten.)







We are both excited to return for an actual camping trip with the Tacoma of course!

 

I liked the first pic out of the tunnel so much I had to do this

No, I did not get a ticket but I should have taken a picture of how much of a sidehill the truck was on because it ended up being a mess.

So we get back to the truck and some black Chevy family car had backed in and parked right in front of me. I couldn't back up any because there was a rock as high as the bumper behind me, so I had to peg the wheel hard left and try to drive out. Now I knew this wouldn't be possible as the truck was already sideways and a hard-left back onto the road required climbing up from the side of the shoulder. Sorry no photo but hope you can visualize it. I figured there wasn't enough space for anyone to park in front of me and we'd just drive straight while leveling out and back onto the road. As it turned out the Chevy car was half on the road just to park in front of me. Idiot.

So with the wheels turned full left, I slip the clutch in 1st gear and the rear immediately digs, slides to the right downhill about a foot, and sinks a bit. OK. Figured as much. Time for 4WD.

I rotate the dial to 4WD, wait for it to engage, and then push & rotate it to Low Range. Nothing. It just beeps and beeps and beeps at me. I've got it in neutral, what more does it want?? I'm wondering... well.... is it in? I didn't have this issue back in Texas when I was messing with 4WD in the parking lot.

So I try to slip the clutch and pull forward and immediately kill the engine. Fire it back up, low range still beeping at me, and I kill it again.

OK, obviously not in low range. Wife is wondering if we need to call a tow truck. I look at her like, seriously? Have you not gone four wheeling so many times with me in my Hilux? sheeesh.

I rotate the dial back to High Range and figure OK, guess I'll have to finesse the crap out of this in high range. Finally after work'n the clutch I'm able to pull forward under my own power and merge back onto the road.

Now I'm thinking, "Man... This electronic shifting is a real JOKE." It's as if I needed to rock the truck forward and rearward for the t/case to engage low range but the very thing I needed was low range; I couldn't rock it at all. With a physical shift handle you can feel how loaded the drive train is and work the torque loading on the drivetrain to engage low range without the truck even moving. With this Tacoma I'm at the mercy of some spring inside some electric motor housing.

Additional Info:
It wasn't until I was back in Fresno while trying to engage Low Range again when I had the same issue, and Tim aka TURBO suggested I try engaging the clutch and whadda ya know it went straight in and out and in and out no problem I suppose I could have read the owners manual So all that clutch abuse for nothing. At least I figured it out. I guess back in Texas I must have had the clutch engaged for no reason right at the moment I engaged low range.

Finally out of Zion, stopped for some delicious Mexican food in Springdale.



Finally here we are checking into our hotel in south Las Vegas. Ohhh man almost back to California and things are starting to look normal to me again

I love these LED parking lights. Looks so cool.



The hotel offered us VIP parking and I was like, "Hell No! Ummm, sorry, I mean, no, no thank you, I'll handle it myself "



Day Five is in the books!

 

Great read Mike! Zion is one of my favorites when traveling on the motorcycle. Even went out on horses in the canyon. The DRL's should work without having the lights in auto. The left stalk should have the DRL setting. I run DRL's all the tie and manually have to turn on my lights. As noted there is a setting in the Infotainment system to make this happen.

BTW, are you running up to Bryce too? Just a couple hours north of Zion.

 

Dear sir,

Please cease and desist these pointless photos, and get to tearing your truck apart to build

Well maybe after Utah.

B.

 

After watching a few of your marlin crawler videos Mike I am excited to see what you do to this 2016. Something tells me it won't have just one tcase for long...

 

Excited to see what you got instore for this build. I had an 85 4runner crawler, dual case, blah blah. traded for a 94 single cab. now have a 16 tacoma, DCSB offroad. Auto trans.... I would have liked a manual, but we all know where that would go. Had to go double cab because I gotta take the 2 little people with me, and short bed because, well the long bed is a bus. A tourist just slammed into the side of my new truck, and now looking for new bumper, and a few other things. Hope I can get some marlin parts for my truck too.

 

Nah. I couldn't find one for a decent price or decent miles. Then bam! An ice storm resulted in my mom's 99 4runner
she bought new to be totaled. I purchased it from insurance. So, 5vz will be going in after our trip this summer.

 

DRL.... Are the "L" shaped LED lights considered the Daytime Running Lights? If so, then we are talking about the same and thank you for the tip. I know they turn on with the Parking Lights, but in AUTO mode they turn on without any other lights turning on, which is preferred.

Unfortunately no. Only had time for Zion.

Hahaha I love this reply. I am very eager to get going as well but knew we'd need the truck at a few events before we can really get crack'n with it. Events are, 1. TLCA's Annual Bakersfield Land Cruiser Rally (last weekend), 2. TLCA's Annual Cruise Moab (happening right now), and 3. CAL4WD's Annual Molina Ghost Run (next week). So far this thread has just been one big trip report. Will be nice to start ripping things apart finally.

Bingo

Nice list of trucks mauidogg and sucks to hear about the damage to your new one. Hope it gets fixed without much hassle. Will be expanding our Tacoma product line soon enough

Not cool to hear how weather destroyed her truck but wow nice score from her bad fortune. Will you be doing the wiring all your own or will you be using an ORS harness?

 

Ok let's get this first road trip finished up!

Sunday, April 24, 2016: Las Vegas, NV to Fresno, CA

Only had about a 6 hr drive to get home. Starting to feel relieved finally.

Got breakfast at an amazing Crepe restaurant the wife located in south Vegas, and on our way back out to the truck I found an awesome fellow 3rd gen owner parked near our truck. It was extra special because this is the Blue I really like that started this journey for me.



I'm really in love with this truck



Time for another...

The curious things... Part IV

• I am happy I can lock the driver's door when both the passenger's door is open and the key is in the ignition. (If I try this with our Yaris it will get mad and unlock all five doors.)
• Nice touch: There is a rubber pad that protects the inside plastic panel from the passenger's front seat belt buckle rattling around while not in use. There is also one for the driver's side front seat belt which is nice in case the truck is towed or otherwise moved for long distances without a driver.
• I realized I never got a Valet Key. Should I have? I finally looked through all the paperwork and booklets in the glovebox and only found a trailer plug adapter. Does the TRD Sport with full Tech Package not come with one?
• I finally decided to try the AUTO A/C function and you can NOT change the vent MODE meaning you cannot alter which vents the A/C blows through. Why this? For example, if I have mid-level + feet enabled and I am enjoying manual A/C and then hit AUTO, it will change the vents to mid-level vents only. Then if I hit MODE to go back to how I had it as mid-level + feet it will deactivate AUTO. This is really dumb.
• At least one nice thing about AUTO is that I can manually cycle the A/C itself off or on without the truck deactivating AUTO. This I like because I often manually cycle the A/C, such as for passing or climbing hills, and I'm glad I won't also have to re-enable AUTO.
• Discovered it not only has a tilt wheel but also a TELESCOPIC wheel! Too cool!

 

So I'm continuing down I15 when I see not only a 3rd gen Tacoma coming up behind me in the fast lane but a White TRD Sport model!! WOOHOO! I'm thinking, "Come awwwwwn Access Cab!" But it was a Double Cab. Nonetheless I immediately looked over with a thumbs up sign when the truck passed me and the DRIVER DID THE SAME! Woooohooooooo! Love it! It took over 2,000 miles but I FINALLY found another happy, excited Tacoma owner! That was so much fun, here is his Tacoma:



Welcome to Baker, California. One of the warmest Cities in the country and also home to the largest Thermometer in the World! haha Silly and I'm sure few care about this place but I stopped for some pics anyway



The cities motto of "Gateway to Death Valley" says it all



As we approached "The Original Windy City" of Tehachapi, we had headwinds of 23 MPH and it peaked at 25 MPH. Zapped the fuel mileage.



I slowed down to 60 MPH and somehow managed over 21 MPG with the crazy headwind.

 

Rolling into Fresno via Clovis Avenue for the first time. Ahhhhhhh man home sweeeeeeeeeet home!

At right is famous Simonian Farms



Finally. First stopped at my parent's house to pick up my cat

Two thousand five hundred miles. Whew.





And at last, parked outside our garage.



Made it home safe and sound. The perfect ending to a new epic beginning. I cannot wait to get started with this truck. As mentioned above I'll be busy showcasing the truck at three events before I can start working on it, with the main push being to be Rubicon-ready for TLCA's annual Rubithon event June 24th (http://rubithon.com). Not sure if this will happen but it's Goal #1 for sure!

Thank you for watching and I've got a lot more to come!

Regards,
BigMike

 

I really enjoyed your epic post! It's nice to read something positive in this forum for a change.