BigMike’s Big Journey: New 2016 Tacoma

Cut'n hole for second Crawl Box



Pulled the Second Crawl Box and T/Case out to finish up underneath...



Hey look I'm out on my first test drive with Triple Cases AND the fully completed MarRack!

 

Why was I out driving? Only for this:

$196 MagnaFlow 12580 : 2.5"/2.25" Inlet/Outlet, 5x11x22" Oval, Stainless Steel, Satin Finish

MagnaFlow 12580, 2.25" ID dual inlet and 2.50" ID single outlet. Stock exhaust was 1.9" O.D. out of each cat (so what, maybe 1.7" ID, yes even the flattened cross-over pipe which is actually two pipes in one!), and a 2.4" OD single inlet / single outlet muffler (so what, maybe 2.2" ID). I had the muffler shop open up the cat outlets to 2.25". So it's from start-to-muffler better flowing than stock. I did not make any changes to the exhaust after the muffler because I've got a big project late next month after which I'll replace the rear section of exhaust.

My goal was to have a much more free flowing system yet one that is incredible quiet. I am SUPER HAPPY with this muffler. It has a slight rumble at an idle and above 3K, both slightly louder than stock. At cruising RPM it is either as quiet or better than stock. It met my full expectations.

 

Not the best photo, but I've added a second transfer case mount (oversized H.D. 1988-95 6-cyl type) for better support and to extend the life of my engine mounts beyond factory (such is the power of the Marlin Crawler Transfer Case system). This will only be temporary; I will be making a new Rock Crawling-specific Crossmember that I've not yet seen anyone make for the 2005+ Tacoma platform. This probably won't happen until next year which is why for now I've just added an extra mount.



I've got a lot going on over here you know Here is the crazy guy putting in the extra hours to make this year of wheeling a massive success for IFS Tacomas nation-wide!

 

/me does more whistling...









Can someone tell me what that computer box with PC-style fan is? I don't have access to TIS at the moment...

 

New MC08 Crawl Box + TacoBox shifters whipped up and installed



I'll have an upholstery shop make new boots after I get back from Texas



Added some sound deadening because in my mind this is still a brand new truck and it has this device called a radio which I've greatly become accustomed to enjoying having in a vehicle



Overlay with black fabric



Finish-mount dual e-brake boots

 

And wal-la!! Computer box grounded and mounted under the passenger seat, pretty much done except for new boots. I even managed to restore my long lost cup holder!

Rocky dared me to have a Latte in the completed pic of Triples plus Dual e-brakes. Hell, I could have had dual Lattes!! haha

Hey @RedBeard1! I got ya fam New boots will be made later this month

 

And the moment you've all been waiting for!!

I present to you the first footage ever of a Marlin Crawler Triple Ultimate TacoBox!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whyPnQIVmEA

 

AC/DC inverter

 

The above image was taken outside a foothill gas station just two days ago on my way up to the first-ever MarRack & Triple Marlin Crawler Shake Down Run with my good friend "TURBO" Tim!!

Here we are meeting up in the morning



I was spotted again on Facebook!



Sorry I cannot post about the trip now, I've got to get to bed. But I definitely want to say that the truck did absolutely phenomenal!! Everything FAR exceeded my expectation!! FINALLY having that extra lever and being able to show off and truly demonstrate the raw power of the Marlin Crawler just, it was just such a welcoming thing to have for the first time since owning this truck. This truck is so well on it's way to replacing my Hilux... It has TRULY grown into a fine Rock Crawler!! There are still so many areas I have not addressed yet and still so many plans I have to fulfill before my vision can be complete.

Having Dual E-Brakes that are _finally_ cable powered faaaaaaar exceed the practicality of having dual electronic line locks (what I did to my 1981 Hilux since it only has a single e-brake cable). They both function about the same but now I don't have to constantly come to a complete stop to engage a brake. This is a big improvement to the Tacoma which is like a school bus on the trail. It now cuts corners so sharp that the front tires literally traverse laterally as they pull the dead weighted inner rear tire around a corner. I almost think it works better than my Hilux since it has a longer wheel base. I cannot WAIT to SERIOUSLY out-corner those typical trail rats, ummm, what are they called, ....oh yeah those silly Jeep Rubicons. HA!

 

Here come a few pics. These are from Friday. Triple Cases. MarRack. 40" tires. We're making some progress guys!!









I've got some fun and future-YouTube-format product demonstration videos I'll be sharing the next time I'm able to spend time to post

A few people who are helping me prototype certain other "unknown" Marlin Crawler Tacoma products sure got a blast out of them!

 

Thank you good Sir

 

I have to get to sleep, I am trying to get things updated. Still have a few more things to share that I've done to the truck during April. I might not be able to post updates again until late Tuesday night from a hotel room or worst case mid-May.

I'm leaving very soon for the Toyota Jamboree so if you're going to be there then please say Hi if you see me! Texas here I come!!

Last but not least, I cannot retire for the day without concluding with the best part of this Spring Push: Freshly installed last night!









Good night from the capital of Rock Crawling!

Regards,
BigMike

 

Badass truck dude !

 

Ohhhh man,, thank you for the comment and for quoting that image. Almost makes me cry. It was just but a baby. I haven't been to Page 1 in so long lol Dang it now I'll have to update all those page index images

 

/me Loves This Thread!

 

You need to twin stick it into the six speed hole now...

 

Thanks again for the continued replies We've been doing Twin Sticks since the 1990s and now that I've got my own Taco I've got something much better up my sleeve

(But with so much going on it's down on the priority list)

 

Ok guys! I'm officially off to Texas and have started my first ever "Lone Star Toyota Jamboree Live!" trip report thread!

Tap or click below to follow along with the largest solo road trip of my life!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lone-star-toyota-jamboree-live-2018.547019/

Pic before leaving home fully loaded with our company popup tent and TacoBox booth display

 

So I've got a question. If the axles can now handle 40s where does that move the weakness to?

I'm guessing inside the passenger arm of the clamshell

I'm curious your take on moving the weak spots around by adding stronger parts.

 

Thanks for the reply. First would be steering, and I'm hoping to have that addressed (the MarRack still needs to prove itself). I am not expecting to have issues with the front differential. At least not yet.

Currently, the thing I wonder the most about is what would happen if I ran into a tree stump at speeds over 10 MPH. Don't laugh: This happens more frequently then you'd think while in 4WD stock low range buzzing around our High Sierra trails with tight tree squeezes. It happens with rocks too as I've accidentally clipped a boulder sticking out into the trail so hard in my 1981 at probably 15 MPH that stopped the entire truck and stalled the engine. This is why we don't drive with our thumbs to the inside of the steering wheel Nothing broke on my Hilux. But with 40" tires, I'm increasing the lever arm of any object acting against the tire, and those increased stresses have to get absorbed somewhere.

As @MonkeyProof has mentioned, the lower a-arm attachment points to the sub frame assembly are already known to crack. I have a few ideas to help strengthen there. Hopefully I'll get around to that before my June Rubicon trip.

I'm not worried about my UCA, LCA, or spindle for reasons I will hold to discuss until summer.

A local customer of ours who works at a collision repair center mentioned issues Tacoma's have with breaking off factory shock towers in roadway accidents. Should we be worried about this? Are Tacoma's built for jumping still running factory shock towers? I know they have added second shocks but are there kits that add extra bracing (other than extra shock mounts) to the factory tower or is this not an issue even for them?

We're also likely to reach the point where stock t/case outputs are failing, an issue we addressed on older gear drive transfer cases here and here. When this time comes for the Taco t/case we'll get on it, no worries.

BigMike