Lone Star Toyota Jamboree Live! (2018)

Welcome to Marlin Crawler's first Lone Star Toyota Jamboree Live!

This thread will follow the format of our pervious Live! trip report threads, such as Cruise Moab Live! (2015) and Cruise Moab Live! (2016), however this time will be a bit different in that I'm going solo and it'll be my first time attending the Texas Jamboree, event details: https://www.lonestartoyotajamboree.com

So if you've never gone to the Jamboree and perhaps would like to see what it's like for a first timer then please follow along as I post random live updates of my trip!

I'll be making the 3,400+ mile trip from central California to east Texas in my little 2016 Tacoma TRD Sport AC 6MT. Hopefully she won't get scared when a few obstacles come her way!

Edit: Ty Steven, attachments are working great!

 

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Finally out on the open road just south of Fresno, CA

I was wrenching in the Taco until just past midnight this morning. I'm currently two hrs behind schedule. Looking forward to an awesome week!!

 

Can't wait to see this thing in person! So many awesome Tacoma's this year!

Yea, the media upload is weird, just easier to upload directly to the post through the phone as I bet you have figured out.

 

Safe travels! Can't wait to see this beast.

 

Sick I’m from Visalia

 

Safe travels Mike.

 

Thanks for the replies guys Almost to Bakersfield now

This is my first road trip with the Triple Ultimate Marlin Crawler TacoBox t/case setup, the MarRack Heavy Duty IFS steering system, and NITRO Gear's new prototype 5.29:1 3rd gen Tacoma R&P.

As expected these new 5.29s are a far better match with 40–inch tires. With cruise set to 70 it maintains speed up overpasses including taller railroad types even fully loaded with all my gear and our display booth. This is something the truck could not sustain unloaded with 40" tires & 4.88s.

Fuel mileage has gone up a little now that the engine isn't lugging as much: 16.5 MPG at 70 MPH (with 40" tires are you kidding me this is great!). Acceleration obviously also has returned some. Fully loaded I can enter an uphill freeway on-ramp and easily merge at the speed limit with plenty of power to spare. I don't know why so many ppl give the 3.5 so much crap. It's a freak'n brilliant engine!

 

Look forward to meeting you and seeing your truck! Makes me wonder what I'm doing being undecided on jumping to measly 35's...

 

16.5mpgs??? That is crazy! Makes me feel a little better about my dreams for the truck!

 

Well then... that is one way to get some good MPGs...

 

Just stopped at Weedpatch Highway for a 10-100 and we're now up to 16.7 MPG. I forgot about my new more free-flowing exhaust system which helps.



The first real test will be Tehachapi, the first mountain pass, in about a half hour. I had to use 3rd gear once when last up it with the old 4.88s. Curious to see how the new setup manages!

 

Holy!!!!!! As my Canadian friends would say. This truck has turned into a fine machine!

I just pulled the entire grade loaded down and in fifth gear! I realize that is on Marlin's top 10 list of things you should never do with a manual transmission (pull a grade in overdrive) but the further along it impressed me the more I knew I had to do this just for bragging rights hahaha Average speed was about 68 MPH and RPM about 2,600.

Love this truck!

 

I'll be on the look-out for SuperBad!! Hey 35s are great, you'd love them!

Just passed through the iconic windy city of Tehachapi, the High Desert western entrance from the CA interior and home to the Nation's first large-scale wind farm consisting of over 15,000 turbines (more than 3-times larger than its next competitor). Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehachapi_Pass_Wind_Farm

 

Been there! Windmills everywhere out there!

 

Sweet. See ya there. I have some Tacobox questions for ya!

 

If you drive fast you may be able to catch up to the Total Chaos traveling road show

 

That's a sweet looking ride sir! Careful, you're not going to want to move back....I didn't...and wouldn't. Been here 20yrs now and love it. Looking forward to meeting you and seeing you on the trails..good times!

 

Awesome can't wait!!

Thank you! For me TX would have to compete with Japan first! (As a Toyota fan it's my second love. I speak, read, write Japanese on a conversational level)

While stopped in Barstow to top off, this middle-aged sort of gangster looking lady said, and I quote, "That truck is b*tch'n! Those tires are bad*ss!!"

I told her thank you very much but guys this is a problem. People shouldn't look and see big tires. They should look and see a 56-speed divetrain. They should look and see a 28:1 compound transfer case ratio. They should look and say "Wow that truck has a Marlin Crawler I bet it is so highly controllable off-road that you'd never get body damage and never break any axles!"

Yup. We've gotta change the mindset of these middle aged west coast women, I'm tell'n ya



This average includes some city driving and hauling butt up the Tehachapi grade mtn pass

 

Gotta put more stickers on it so people know!