TacRo Build

5 years ago I started building a Vanagon syncro. I was going to build the coolest Expo Rig. But because the yuppies have made vanagons so freaking expensive I never really finished the project. Sold it in pieces and moved on. I never really lost the desire to build that go anywhere Expo camper. So after lots of debate I decided to build up a Tacoma.

About four months ago I found a 1999 Tacoma in Forks Washington with 72k miles. She was a
graduation gift/ wedding present from my father in law. I was on my last quarter of welding school.



within the first few weeks I did timing belt, Marlin crawler 1200lb clutch, all new fluid, and new BFG ta/ko 2 31x10.5. I was offered a job in Arvada, CO. So my wife and I packed up the Tacoma and Headed to Denver.

Its taken me a few months to get settled. I found a nice 97 Passat TDI to drive daily. The JD squared tubing bender took a while to get here as well.

But last week the TacRo build has started with some sliders. Now, I am not a professional at all, but, my welds are OK. My fab skills are pretty amateur and I am fresh out of school. So be nice! I am making the sliders out of 2" .120 wall DOM tubing.



So I got the shape I wanted... Bend allowances are weird... Over all they are about 2.5 inches shorter than I wanted. But now if I ever notch the cab for bigger tires I wont have to mess with the sliders so it worked out.




Used a 2" end mill for the Fish mouth.



So I was going to drill holes and bolt them to the truck. But the more I thought about it the more I decided that welding them on will be better for me. I am gong to abuse this thing a lot. So I am going to Plug weld the holes i drilled in the plate and then weld up the sides.



This is it all tacked together. I welded one side, and tomorrow I am going to weld the other side to have it sent off for powder coating.


Got lots of plans, so stay tuned. See you guys at Rock Therapy!

TacRo; The poor mans Vanagon Syncro!

 

Woo hoo! Excited to see all the progress on this thread!

 

Got them installed today!! Think they look great

 

So I added a 15 gallons of water on Saturday. Calling it the water box.
Flick a switch and fill up your Nalgene.

Wife and I took the truck up rampart range road. We were off on 314 where it hooks back up to 315 and I hit a rock just right to blow the bead and ripped a half inch hole the side wall.

Busted ass to get all this shit done for Rock therapy and it looks like I am not going. Can't decide what I want to do to her next?.... Armor on the diff? Extend the breathers? Fab a bracket for my new Co2 tank? Tube bumper?

 

I got a Co2 tank on Friday and instead of building a mount for the bed so I can lock it. I decided I might as well start the rear bumper tire carrier..... Can't make it to rock therapy might as well work on my truck.....

I also decided to turn the water box in the bed of the truck.

Fixing the lid up a bit.... More pics to come

 

Sliders look great, and being a little short of the length you originally wanted seems to be the typical length.

Your water tank looks a bit easier than mine to fill! Mine usually ends up with a bit of water spilling into the interior when transferring water from one jug to the tank.

Looking forward to seeing the rear bumper build.

 

Been working 12 hour days and not getting much done but here is what I have so far :

The swing out is just going to be a third tube across the top of what you see here... I got a latch off Amazon coming.

Here is pic of the Waterbox done.

Can't wait for work to slow down. So I can get to work on her!!! After the bumper...

Suspension
Rear locker arb
TacRobox
New battery/ add a batt
Wench/ Front bumper
LIGHTS
Save for a James Broad discovery space evolution pop tent...
Build rack and basket...
Prob run some 265 75 16 ko2s so I can run the tundra breaks.... I am going to be super heavy.

 

So yesterday I got up at 2 am and knocked out the upper and lower ball joints on the passenger side. Got her all back together. Going to head up into the Mts for the weekend. Monday I'll do the driver side....

It worked better for me to just take off the spindle. (I used Baja tacos write up for the most part.)



Put it in a vice and just pressed it Out and then in.



Compared to the old vws I am used to this really was cake. Starting to think I want to do 33 12.5 but I want 16s so I can do the bigger breaks... And I would Have to regear.... No question We will see!!! I'll post some trip pics on Monday.

 

I don't think I was clear. The reason I did my ball joints is because when I blew my tire out I actually bent the wheel... Once I got all that fixed I started hearing the lower ball joint. So I replaced them...


Work has been crazy busy but I finally was able to do Kebler pass. Made such good time I was able to convince my wife to let me smash down to Ouray.



We didn't do the full loop we just did engineer pass from Ouray to lake city.... I was shocked at the rigs that people where attempting to take thru. Used my sliders once or twice. The first 4 miles or so was pretty technical. It was awesome... But we never really found an awesome spot to stop and camp. If it wasn't rocky and full of bugs it was 12,000' and windy as hell.





So we just smashed home... Did more than 1000 miles in 18hours... My wife is a saint

 

Well Saturday I went in and got the bumper tacked together!!!

I planed for the reciver hitch to stick out and act as a step....


Took her up to the Bunce School trail. Had fun playing around!!! Tried to get to the old plane crash but decided I needed more clearance to make it in.


On our way home just outside of Nederland this guy hit me!!!!!



bed is toasted cab got some abuse a well. I don't think the frame is bent....I am super crushed....

Can't decide if I want to head to rampart like I planned today... Or wait for someone to look her over....


Haven't found a flatbed concept I like yet..... What would you all do?

 

That sucks, I would see what insurance hooks you up with... I was just reading an article about how the Colorado cities used to have pretty good drivers, and all of the state took a significant move in the bad direction with how crappy drivers are over the last year.

 

Ok so geico valued my truck at 13127... Which is awesome... 2k + more than I paid. Wrote me a check for 8600 and no total!!!...

So I got two sticks of 4" aluminum chanel... Ordering turn signals before I start cutting....but I think it will look awesome

I ordered the relentless fab DiY bummper....

On deck is the bigger alt and two new battery's

Going to go look at seats today....

I was strongly considering doing a crazy ADS coil over set up but I am not ready to blow 7k on only suspension.... So I think I am going to do OME 882.... And keep doing mods to my truck.... I wish I was rich and could just blow money!!!!!

 

Awesome to hear! Yeah, even though it's free money, don't blow it on stupid shit.

 

Lift is on, bed is getting closer and closer every day and today will be her first trip out since the hit. Some photos













I'll take more on the trial!!!!