2017 White TRD Off Road Tacoma Glamping Build

It kind of depends. Typically I find campsites by using Google Maps and following roads until they end and seeing what kind of space is at the end - I try and get something as high as possible so the terrain feature on mobile is really handy for that.

Right now I'm trying to plan for some stuff in central CA in a couple weeks and I'm having trouble figuring out what's closed because of snow so it's not a foolproof method by any means.

 

Basically. I bought a pack of these and use them to construct the frame as well as attach the stove slides.

 

I love your setup and the look of your truck. Thanks so much for the helpful info! I plan on building something like that one day!

 

Decided to redo my drawer out of 80/20 as well. The material itself isn't srper expensive, but the angle brackets I need to attach it are like $3.40 so it's almost $7 per bar and of course I didn't buy enough so couldn't get it finished up today.

 

This literally stinks! Hopefully you were reimbursed?

 

Not sure if I mentioned it but the other driver had Permanent General and the policy had a maximum payout of $10,000 - which seems criminally low to me but I guess that's allowed in Nevada.

I ended up having to use my underinsured motorist coverage through my insurance which supposedly will go after Permanent General for the rest. I didn't pay out of pocket, but I'm hoping my rates don't rise.

 

URGHHHHH! I saw you had a "Press" Vest... nice to see another photojournalist here!

 

I’ve been thinking about building some drawers for my wife’s 4Runner. Found these on Amazon. Should give it a clean finished look.
40pcs Plastic ABS Accessories End Cap Black for Aluminum Extrusion with Profile 2020 20x20mm

Boeray Plastic ABS Accessories End Cap Black for Aluminum Extrusion with Profile 2020 20x20mm 40pcs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HI4IMSM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EY3JAbM42TPPD

 

Unfortunately those are the wrong size, but I'll have to look for some that are the correct. Good suggestion!

 

Finished up the framing on the drawer today, weighs only 16lbs.

It's probably about $100 in 80/20...and another $100 in corner brackets.

 

Yea they make them in I would assume all sizes. What size aluminum are you using?

 

I joke that I know how to do a lot of things but I don't do anything well.

I forgot to take some before pictures, but the dual battery system and all the peripherals under my hood hadn't gotten real complicated, ugly, and unwieldy. In the beginning it was okay, but as time went on and I added more stuff it got worse and worse.

So I took it to the folks over at Adventure Ready and they did great work redoing my system.

• New starter battery - Odyssey Group 34 relocated to passenger side
  
• Dual house batteries - Fullriver DC85-12 batteries for a total of 170ah
• Mounted Blue Sea Systems ACR to side of engine bay
• Mounted ARB Dual Air Compressor behind the grill (mount is a soon to be released product)
• SPOD wired to house batteries (was wired to starter)

All of the accessories are wired to the house batteries so that the starter battery is completely isolated.

Ended up paying way more than I wanted, but I got the piece of mind now knowing that everything was put in professionally and will last for years to come.

 

Wow. Very impressive! Gave me tons of things i would like to look into.

 

sweet rig!

 

Thanks! What years were you in 2/75?

 

Awesome thread. Great ideas. Looking forward to seeing more.

 

Had to drive down to Fresno (yet again) for work, and afterwards went on a little camping trip.

The goal we wanted to hit was Hernandez Reservoir, but unfortunately we never made it - but we were still able to salvage a good trip out of it.

I had been eyeing Hernandez Reservoir for awhile now, and using a map I basically followed dirt roads leading out of it until I converged on I5. With the route put into Gaia GPS we departing from I5 around Mendota area our goal was to drive down Panoche Road (dirt) until it hit New Idria Road and then follow that to Clear Creek Road and into Hernandez Reservoir.

The first problem we had was water across Panoche Road at a low point. It had rained substantially a couple days before, and given that this was the only portion of the road that was paved it's clearly a known issue. My Tacoma had no problem making the crossing, but the water was too high for the RAV4 that came with me.



A detour was found that took us all the way back to I5 and up around on Little Panoche Road - a beautifully paved road for several miles until it crossed from Fresno County into San Benito Cty and the beautiful payment promptly ended dumping us onto a rutted patched paid road that took us to New Idria Road.

New Idria Road lasted for probably close to 20 miles until an ominous (and welcome!) "This road is not maintained" sign at which point the patchy asphalt turned into a dirt road.



A mile or so up the road we ran into New Idria Mercury Mine, which to be honest I had no idea was there. Originally built in the 1850's New Idria Mine was in operation until the 1970s and of course, now, it's a ghost town and EPA super fund site.






The dirt road proceeded past New Idria Mine and snaked it's way up through the mountains. There was quite a bit of mud because of the recent rains, but otherwise the road was in good condition.



We also passed the New Idria Dam which because it's position reminded me of an infinity pool.



Unfortunately - shortly passed the dam we encountered a locked gate forcing us to turn around and camping at "Chileno Camp" maybe a mile down the road. Chileno Camp was a nice, open clear, spot which presumably housed Chileno miners at some point.



For dinner cooked some steak meat on my Front Runner tire grill which is one of my favorite pieces of kit.





The site showed significant signs of use - lots of trash (mostly beer bottles) were strewn around as well as some pieces of abandoned firewood. We used the firewood, and I did my best to pick up the trash but only had room for a bag in my truck.

You can see my tracks here: https://www.gaiagps.com/public/bYlzcCAHzagjlc6N7HgjpXOk

 

Thanks for the New Idria tracks sir! Been wanting to poke around there, might do it this weekend.

Sweet build BTW! How is that Hitch Gate Solo working for you? I'm thinking about picking one of those up.

 

It's great for what it is - a relatively affordable way to carry a spare tire and accessories. I like that I can carry a water rotopax, hilift, trash carrier and tire grill on it - that being said it's a pain to open and close whenever you want to access the bed of your truck. You have to get the position JUST right to get it locked.

I just bought a high clearance dual swing out bumper so will be selling it soon.

 

While driving up from CA to WA stopped and camped along the dunes in OR.

First time driving on sand and Google'd the do's (air down) and don'ts (straighten up and back out if you are getting stuck) and was totally fine. Had to yank a van out (twice!), a Bronco and a Ranger who all got themself stuck.

That all being said - not sure I would want to camp on the beach again. Sand is everywhere now, including in my drawer slides.