geekhouse23's "LIFE'S WAITING TO BEGIN" #EAF Overland & Adventure build

Another day at the lake, another "mod" day knocked out:

Testing the meso gasshole during fill-up



Dog approved



Companies come and go. Much like I did with AVEC LED lights, time to cut out the All-Poo junk and install some Wheeler's goodness



Put anti-seize on everything. Install was a breeze; 45-60 minute install





Might need to notch the bumpstop mounts so they sit flush, but that's for another day.



Forgot to check the muffler out but I can do that sometime this week.

Long week. Time to kick back and relax and watch some TV and "enjoy" the rest of my Sunday with the wife and dog.

 

Those tabs are for hydraulic bump stops and are designed similar to Icon's flip plates. Just a bonus if ever upgrading to those. And the mounting was correct. Tabs towards the wheel (either way works really).

 

Thanks! Appreciate the response! Install was a breeze when things are new/fresh. What took the longest was sorting out the bolts for the bumpstops. I realize that the superbump kits come with mounting hardware, however, when installing the shims, I busted a bolt and needed one this weekend to finish the install. Bolts for mounting the bumpstops should be an option when ordering just the u-bolt flip kit. I understand if that is not doable, however.
Special thanks to @KaptainH for his replies this weekend.

In other news, I am about 99% sure that we will be moving. Quite soon actually. Like, perhaps next spring/summer. The wife is on the same page that this house will be purchased with things we enjoy in mind; like a driveway and a garage I can fit into for me; hopefully a 3 car garage that I can fit into. This means that modding and spending will likely slow down SIGNIFICANTLY. However, there are a few things I would like to purchase (smaller items) and either just have them collect dust and install them after the move or just whenever I can before then.

Small items to purchase:

- Flowmaster 842451 Flowmaster 50-Series Delta Flow Stainless Muffler - Universal 2.25" Offset/Center

- ECGS Needle Bearing Kit; should take care of my remaining vibes

- Frame Plate kit

- EBC brake kit; provided bleeding the brakes does not help any. (Call it prep for 35's too)

I hope I can get to a welder soon for the cam tab guessets, body mount relocation and, once I have the frame plate kit, that too. If not, it's not really the end of the world, but things like the cam tab guessets and frame plates I would prefer to be done sooner than later.

I still fully plan on getting a welder, it will just have to be on hold until we find a new place and get settled. I will also have to have 220 hooked up and I would prefer not to waste time or money on the current house as best as possible.

Once I have a place I can work on the truck during the winter storms or rainy days, things should progress a lot faster.

Future plans also include:

- ADS extended travel front shocks with 700lb. springs

- Rear 12" RR Kings from my brother once he gets his Ford shock towers and 14's in.

- 4.56 Nitro gears (w/ 35's)

- 35's; provided I can get some new, lighter wheels. I know I said that I wouldn't go back to alloy or likewise wheels, but with that much rotating mass, a lighter wheel will be welcomed. I think my brother was looking to get rid of his SCS's but I'm not sure.

- potentially a new daily. Not sure if it would be in the cards at all after we move (depends on the cost of the new place obviously) but something that I can use while the truck would be "down for repairs/mods" would be nice.

Also, I fully plan on making purchases that would not be a waste of resources. For example, if this bitch will be my daily and I cannot make a purchase of another, gas friendly daily, 35's might not ever happen. So, things like the body relocation kit and new wheels are no longer a necessary modification/expense. A regear and possibly a front locker would be a priority regardless.

In the interest of making smart purchases and not wasting resources, the thought of a crawl box over a front locker came to mind. The videos that "Big Mike" over at Marlin Crawler has bene putting out helped a lot too.

Perhaps this is something that only a select few on TW can answer; such as @HomerTaco.

I was reading a few forums about people that have both a front locker and a crawl box and they mention that they use the crawl box roughly 50-60% of the time and only the front locker gets used about 10% of the time. Now, back in here when I was looking for information about regearing and doing the third member swaps with ECGS, that Craig said he only has used his front locker about 6 times in the lifetime of it being installed in the truck. The general consensus was that the front locker is a waste of money and to skip it. So my question is, would the money on a front locker be better saved towards something like a TacoBox?

Obviously, this might be extreme overkill as I would not really do anything to warrant this mod, but for the sake of argument, I feel like a crawl box/TacoBox would be more useful than just a front locker. NOT married to a TacoBox, something similar (and cheaper..holy fuck ) would be welcomed. Just starting to look into this. Be kind.

 

Holy shit man!

Sounds like some good plans. I'm sure it all will happen.

 

Thanks man. We're excited for sure. Just have to stay determined and focused on the goal. I was telling the wife the other day and a few friends and family that this new job was the first step towards a new house. The plan is in progress. I always said this first house was always deemed a good starter home for about 3-5 years. Here we are now, just over 3 years starting to look at some houses and see wherre we want to be and what we can get for our money. Crazy to think how far us crazy kids have come. Here's to the future!!

 

That's great you're still liking the new job. We bought the house we are in a few years ago and I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. We moved out into the country a little bit it's a little farther drive but worth it. I don't miss all of the traffic, college kids, stop lights etc etc. The only downfall is the payment but it's worth it. The rest of the adulting is great. Lol

 

I hear that.

We are completely done with the city; high taxes, traffic, etc. The daycare next door doesn't help when you hate people and have a dog that barks her head off whenever people swing by for a pickup/drop-off. NOT going to let it escalate any further if you know what I mean. I simply don't like people or neighbors right on top of each other. Burbs it is.

Older gentleman that lives across from us called me a grumpy old man. Nothing could be further from the truth; I'm a grumpy old man stuck in a 29 year old's body. Can't wait to move.

 

I know what you mean there. I've got one neighbor that's beside me other than that I have 3 acre pond in front and a big open field on the other side. Everyone kinda keeps to themselves and I'm good with that. Lol

 

How shit should be man. We are shopping on a budget, but I want my garage like I mentioned, as much square footage as possible and as far away from other people as our budget will allow.

Found a place within budget, 3000 SQ. ft, 5 acres with a huge man cave/garage/barn with a 12ft door. Would have been hard to convince the wife though..had to pass and not even try.

 

Keep this in mind.....I'm dealing with it now.

I wanted a huge yard. Plenty of room. And, that big shop. I was 43 when we bought the house, big shop, and 8 acres we have now. It was no big deal taking care of 8 acres then.

And now I'm 61. Not as energetic as I once was. Just had to buy a new mower. $5000. It takes about 6 hours+ a week just to cut and trim grass.

I'd trade it in a heartbeat for a patio home with no yard to take care of. I wanna play. Not do yard work.

 

That sounds like an awesome place. You'll find the right place just takes time and constantly looking. That's how it was for us.

 

Yep. Thought about that too. Have a push mower now and can get away with cutting the grass every week maybe two weeks. Don't want to go more than that.

We keep sending each other houses all day at work. Found a few good ones today that she hasn't seen yet. Perhaps after dinner.

 

Came home to check the muffler and holy



I pressed it with my finger a little bit after snapping the picture and it indented a little and I heard some light cracking sounds. If I leave it another winter, I MIGHT be okay. Otherwise it'll corrode even more and sound and probably look like I hammered a screwdriver into my muffler to make it sound cool.

Thanks to the Amazon link that @GARSHA91 sent me for his super 40, I almost bought the wrong inlet/outlet. Glad I double checked.

Purchased a Flowmaster 50 series Delta flow in stainless from eBay. Today only they have 15% off with code 'PRONTO15'

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/162649524432

Good thing I had to discussion with the wife on the way home from the lake Sunday. She thought a new muffler cost "so much" it would set back the purchase of a new house. I told her it's not like coilovers or gears; it's $100.

Stoked to get it and install it!!

 

Because I'm lazy in this case-- can you expand on the ADS "extended travel" front shocks? I'm familiar with "long travel", is the ADS extended travel like a mid travel? What else would you need besides good UCAs and the ADS shocks/coils?

 

"extended" fronts are a mid travel setup where they take an internal spacer out for a little more droop.

 

My understanding is that extended travel is like a mid-travel setup when you remove the swaybar. Which is the plan I intend to keep on the front. You just need aftermarket UCA's according to headstrong's site. The coils when you order the 700lb. rating option, again which is what I plan to do, are actually toytec springs. That's based off of @Sacrifice from his set that he is selling. I didn't know that and am not sure if they coat the coils the same aa the shocks. Would have to have the springs rust quicker than the shock bodies, but I suppose it's easier and cheaper to swap springs than coilver shocks.

LT comes into play when you purchase aftermarket LCAs. You can also purchase the "+2" kit from someone like Total chaos:

http://www.chaosfab.com/2005-2015-Tacoma-2-Race-Series-Long-Travel-Suspension-Kit-86002T-R.html

I plan on keeping her MT up front and would rather go SAS than LT because everyone seems to end up going SAS soon after LT. Unless I can get a hell of a deal on a LT kit. SAS wouldn't happen without winning the lottery and having a new daily.

 

Thanks guys- what I was thinking. I've already removed my sway-bar and I love having it gone. Will definitely look into the ADS front coils/shocks when I need some new shocks/coils next.

 

Can't wait to take a plasma cutter to my SB.

Unlike some, I know how corroded my bolts are...

 

Are you auto or manual? That’s the biggest factor in needing extra reduction.

If your auto, a front locker will add significantly more capability than extra reduction. If you’re manual, having extra low range is a serious game changer.

 

Appreciate the response.

That makes sense. I forgot that Craig is standard, but has both a front locker and a FJ t-case, I believe. Which makes sense why he only uses his front locker a hand full of times (IIRC, he said only 6 times). Just another ragret of not getting a standard I guess. Hind sight, money wise, I'd rather go front locker than a taco box. Unless I go full send and make this thing a purpose built offroader, I probably wont manny swap/taco box it. At least that way, I will keep it and not have to sell it after sitting in a garage forever.

Still gotta come see ya btw

Btw, how do you like the getta grip @ChadsPride ?