19:55 Minutes of Fame- Why I Love My Tacoma and This Crazy Forum

Yeah I said it, I like my Tacoma. I researched it, test drove it, accepted it’s faults (no one forced me to buy it), and have had a blast modifying it for what I want to do in it. My guess is you are similar, you’re here because you’ve got some skin in the game. It’s a common bond we share and yes we’ve got problems with Tacoma obsessions.

This past Saturday I did a rig walk around about a daily driver than quickly converts to an off-road rig. I was asked to share what I’ve done and accepted for three reasons. First is I love my truck and what it enables me to do. Second, I have found a love for exploring and getting past the gate keepers on a trail that keep out 99% of the population. Getting out there is where we can see some amazing stuff. Thirdly, to talk about this website and some of the amazing vendors here. Most are small business and America is built on the small businessman who comes up with a solution for a need. In this video I tried to highlight the companies I laid down my cash for like:
@KB Voodoo AluMax Rack
@SCSPerformance Ray 10’s
@CaliRaisedLed Sliders (footage was lost when I credited you, sorry!)
@FreshMexicanTaco Dashtop Multi Mount
@anytimebackupcamera
@expedition essentials Bed Cubby Mount
@sliderule01 Hood Decal

I realize some people aren’t found of “Overlanders” and Overland Bound, but after spending time with OB people that I would have never otherwise met, they are good people. When I go out I put 50-100 miles of dirt in between my campsites so this set up works great for me, and no I don’t have an Instagram channel. Thanks for all the videos, build threads, and general obsession you’ve surrendered yourself to, it’s allowed me to glean some ideas for my set up.

Dave

https://youtu.be/Qike5D_Msjk

 

People hate Overlanders? Weird.

 

I'm not the DMM Mastermind. That's the @FreshMexicanTaco

 

Thanks changed it

 

Awesome set up! Really dig that drawer system of yours.

 

Would love to see the "blue prints" or a parts list for the drawer.

 

I did a build thread on it, but that didn’t include a cut list.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-diy-camping-drawers-pic-heavy-thread.554249/

This is the cut list I sent my local lumber yard and for $70 of labor I got back something like 23 perfectly cut boards. Being a cabinet if it’s not EXACTLY 90 degree cuts you’re screwed. So here’s my cut list to fit a short bed truck, accounting for a tonneau cover and 56” sliders with locking handles sticking out.

Truck Bed Drawer— all 1/2 inch furniture grade plywood

Outer Box-
Top & bottom. 58x20.5 x2
Sides. 58x15 x2
Back. 19.5x15 x1

Drawer-
Bottom. 33.25x18 x1
Sides. 56x13.5 x2
Back & divider 17x13.5 x2
Shelf bottom. 22.75x17 x1
Shelf front. 17x6. x1
Top face plate. 20.5x9 x1
Bot face plate. 20.5x7 x1

Drawer Lids-1/2”
Lid 1. 27x18 x1
Lid 2. 23x18 x1
End Cap. 6x18 x1
Cubby bottom 6x17
Cubby side 6x17

Stove Pocket-
Cutting board 22.75x16.5 x1
Sides. 22.75x5 x2
Stove board 22.75x14 x1

 

Shopping List I Used, plus a ton of 1 1/4” nail gun nails and 1/2” wood screws

Coleman Grill that I bought
Coleman Classic Propane Stove

$79 Coleman Gas Camping Stove | Classic Propane Stove, 2 Burner, 4.1 x 21.9 x 13.7"es

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005OU9D/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_F0eTBbJJR49X8

2 sets of lifts
Sauton 1pair Folding Lift up Top Table Mechanism Hardware Fitting Hinge Spring Standing Desk Frame

$18 Sauton 1pair Folding Lift up Top Table Mechanism Hardware Fitting Hinge, Gas Hydraulic

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076FPX8MT/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_S5eTBbEY5C4ZZ

Order 1
OWACH Slam Latch for 3/4" door panel AL-958-3 for RV Motorhome Boat Drawers Cabinet door PUSH TO CLOSE

$13 Slam Latch Hatch Round Pull Latch (OWACH AL-958-4) for Boat Deck RV Cabinet Door Drawers Replace Southco M1 Push-to-Close (Black, 3/4" Door, Non-Locking)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B1K8JYJ/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_F6eTBbFX1W791

Order 2 pairs
TCH Hardware 2 Pack Medium Spring Loaded Steel Recessed Handle Black with Padded Grip Case Chest Box

$18 TCH Hardware 2 Pack Medium Spring Loaded Steel Recessed Handle Black with Padded Grip Case Chest Box

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHPFFDQ/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_G9eTBbMYZMFYY

Order 1
Winco CBWT-1824 Cutting Board, 18 by 24 by 1/2-Inch, White

$27 Winco Cutting Board, 18 by 24 by 1/2", White, 18" x 24"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DI5VCA/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_e-eTBb7SPKJ61

Order 2 sets
Liberty D80622C-ZP-W 22-Inch Ball Bearing Drawer Slides

$21 Liberty Hardware D80622C-ZP-W 22" Ball Bearing Drawer Slides

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064MDR76/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_O-eTBbG4ANXEM

Order 1
Gorilla Wood Glue, 8 ounce Bottle

$5 Gorilla Wood Glue; 8 Ounce Bottle; Natural Wood Color; (Pack of 1)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E4E3KY/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_R.eTBbXSAXMT6

Order 2
CURT 83730 Surface-Mounted Tie-Down D-Ring

$2 CURT 83730 1 x 1-1/4" Surface-Mounted Trailer D-Ring Tie Down Anchor, 1200 lbs Capacity, CLEAR ZINC

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EP29N6/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_aafTBb1RSPFZP

Order 1
Liberty H01068C-UC-C5 Non-Mortise Concealed Spring Hinge, 1-Pack

$8 Liberty H01068C-UC-C5 Non-Mortise Concealed Spring Hinge, 1-Pack

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YVKNFC/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_qafTBb2X7EPKS

Order 1 pack
Reliable Hardware Company RH-5112BO-A 1/2-Inch Wood Screw with Black Oxide and Wax

$6 Reliable Hardware Company RH-5112BO-A Truss, 50 Count

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JJ192NW/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_tai_CbfTBb3X432JG

Order 1 set
https://www.cabinetparts.com/p/fulterer-drawer-slides-side-mount-drawer-slides-FULFR5400L56

 

THANKS Dave! I owe you big time. If you ever want to take a MTB trip IMBA Gold rated Park City, UT, give me a holler. We have over 400 miles of trails and most are stunning. I'll be your tour guide.

I do have another question though. Do you wish you would have done anything different with your drawer system?
I've got an access cab so I have a 6' bed. I'm just going to make the box longer and use maybe 66" slides instead of 56".
Thanks again,
Larry

 

Awesome rig dude! Thanks for sharing, for some reason I can get enough of these types of videos.

 

Hmmmm my only issue with my drawer is weight. The drawer slides are like 80lbs alone. But they are the backbone for smooth operation, but weighty. I looked at 80/20 but it would have doubled the cost easily, and it felt daunting to plan and figure out every T nut and corner brace needed...on my yellow sheet of binder paper. Hahaha

 

Yeah just add 10” to the length and you’re good. I’m making another one for my friends DCSB with a back flip cover I think. It has a roll up compartment underneath so we just subtracted 10” off the length.

 

I’ll take you up on that. Utah is a playground!

 

There are some people that hate everything.

 

I don’t see any overland HATE. It’s just that some of us (myself included) make a mockery of posters/builds that come off as if they are involved in the “pioneering” of something new and awesome (they’re not) and they showcase equipment that sometimes is perceived by people who are looking to get into off road/overland as critical equipment (it’s certainly not). If left unchecked, the egos and Instagram accounts would go off the rails exponentially. So it’s up to responsible parties to call out how ridiculous a 16 burner induction range with a vegetable sink is when its installed in the bed of a Tacoma.

 

Haha that was funny. Yeah I understand what you are saying, that’s why I researched and only got what I wanted/needed for my build. Sometimes you gotta just get out and do stuff first (without an Instagram channel) and then see what’s really needed. This photo below is when my truck was 2 weeks old, I threw on my RTT that I got for $300, headed to the Sierras and only had a subway sandwich with me. It dumped, I had my zero degree bag, and under the ladder is the pee puddle. But I had a blast

 

Agree with this lol. Gotta do it for the gram(I don’t have one lol)

 

That struggle is real... see link in signature..... hahaha


OP- I loved the video. Your truck is aweome. Really nice job with it.


As far as people hating Overlanders, and those living an “Overland lifestyle” well, Overlanding is super popular. Has been for a few years now, and anything super popular is super popular to hate. In fact it is now more popular to hate Overlanders, than to actually be an Overlander. People who don’t even know what Overlanding is hate it out of a desire to fit in. That’s where Hipsters came from, their need to be different makes them all the same. So basically anyone who hates overlanding is a Hipster by my logic.

.

 

I don't get overlanding, and I am tying to understand their perspective.


When I go out to forest, I usually can carry 3-5 days worth of survival resources just in my backpack. It isn't even that heavy. That includes a tent, sleeping bag and a tarp.

These overlanders go out to public pay-site campgrounds with Roof top tents, a few dozen light bars, a spacer lift, an empty red fuel can (it's all for show anyways), and literally 100s or even 1000s of pounds of gear/electronics.

I took my wife and son on a light camping trip at Lake Camanche CA recently-- a very very tame overnight campsite.
There was an "overlander" setting up a portable kitchen, a roof top tent, a fire box, an assortment of foldable chairs and tables, and tons of other gismos. Of course he was in a 4runner if you wouldn't have that guessed already. He was in a "campsite" that was more like a parking lot that was also 20 feet away from the on-site general store. We actually had a site next to this guy, and before I could even get out of the car (we were in my wife's mini cooper), I left and had my reservation transferred to the site near the eastern lake. The guy didn't bother me, but I didn't want to camp in a dirt basically a dirt parking lot.

My wife hates camping, but I made my whole family sleep on the ground. I don't want my son to get soft ...LOL . I started a fire with my own hands. I then cooked and cleaned everything using that fire. I'm not trying to boost myself. I am just trying to illustrate my objectives in outdoors activities, which appear to be vastly different from the overlander's objectives.

Eh. Who am I to judge?

To each his own, but recently I visited one of my favorite free, but tame, camping locations in the ELdorado national forest. I saw the aftermath what some overlanders did to a site, and it was not cool. Tire marks everywhere and halfway burned trash thrown into a makeshift firepit. Not very respectful.

However, I definitely could see the appeal of making a trek out through death valley in 4x4. Still relying on bushcraft to survive, but using a "rig" to carry the enormous amount of supplies necessary (water) to survive a long desert trek.

 

Sounds like you totally get Overlanding...

In all seriousness there’s people at all ends of the spectrum. I was at a meetup two weekends ago and a guy asked me where my spare fuel cans were. I laughed and said I’ve never seen anywhere on the east coast that I could keep my tank 1/2 full. He just smiled and agreed. Though he had 2 cans.... he was from Long Island BTW, not sure you could run out of gas there if you wanted too. But he was happy so who am I to judge. Like anything it depends on how far you take it. I always think of Overlanding Rigs as cool RV’s that are more personalized. Millions of people have RV’s we don’t hate them... at least I don’t.