Northern Virginia Roll Call

It actually felt like longer pacing their showroom. At least there were some sweet Subies to look at.

 

I 2nd the Green Ops course, I took one of their carbine courses and it was top notch. Small class, lots of interaction w/ instructors.

 

And follow up, my front end is not healthy after this am. Body wise the @demello took the hit like a champ, but the passenger tire took a hit and now it's pulling hard.

 

I am probably going to take my truck out to ORI to mess with my alignment probably on monday, they have done mine before and ive had good luck with them

 

Hopefully its nothing major after that.

 

I've taken a class with Tom back in 2003 or so; he's one of the early adopters of Glock guns when they were first introduced by Gaston. He has a glock made for the US market with a serial # under 50. So dude has been around and loves to pass on his knowledge. Let me know if you take something and I will join for a refresher. But you are prob way above my skill level already =)

Here is Toms rap sheet:

As the owner and Training Director of Commonwealth Criminal Justice Academy, Mr. Perroni also works for a Northern Virginia Sheriff’s Office as a veteran Patrol Deputy Sheriff with years of experience as an instructor in the firearms and tactics industry as a Combat Marksmanship Instructor and industry consultant. Mr. Perroni is currently certified by the Department of Criminal Justice Services as a General and Firearms Instructor. He is also certified by Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers as an instructor. He is certified through the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department and Maryland State Police as an instructor. He also holds Instructor Trainer status in many areas. In addition to nearly a decade of Private Security Instruction experience, he has also worked on various contracts. Mr. Perroni has worked on multiple protection details here in the United States and abroad. His vast knowledge of the security field comes from his time as a former instructor and contractor for Blackwater/ACADEMI. Mr. Perroni has worked as a contract Medic for the U.S. Department of State, as well as volunteering as a Medic on a Medic Unit in Stafford County. Mr.Perroni teaches various medical classes for the United States Government and its agency’s to include First Aid CPR/AED through Critical Care Flight Paramedic courses. Mr. Perroni is a NRA Law Enforcement Handgun / Shotgun Instructor. Mr. Perroni is also a graduate of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Office (Special Enforcement Bureau) Tactical “SWAT” Medic course.

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=189923

https://www.officer.com/home/contact/11542332/tom-perroni

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-perroni-pps-nremt-1942736

 

Ok, take 2.
Be safe out there.

 

2nd on the safe statement

 

So, time to buy some skids before I ship the Taco across the Pacific. Does anyone have any recommendations for full skids? What you like/don't like? I am obviously looking for 3rd Gen, and I would like to have access panels for the filter, drain plug, etc. I am doing my own research on here and on the vendor websites, but I am particularly interested in personal feedback from you guys. Thanks!

Edit: also, if anyone can recommend a good local shop for the exhaust re-route, that would also be greatly appreciated!

 

https://mobtownoffroad.com/

http://robertscustomexhaust.com/

ETA: Put all the skids on except the transfer case that requires the reroute. Take that skid with you when you drop it off so he can be sure where the reroute needs to go. Learn from my mistake. @nd attempt was perfect.

 

Mobtown.

 

They do. Its like $800 just for the base plate and no door options

 

Thanks! I am leaning heavily toward them because of the "local" factor.

Edit: I'm assuming you both went steel? I was thinking aluminum due to the salt air in Hawaii... I know steel is stronger, just weighing the pros/cons of dealing with rust and/or having enough protection.

 

Honestly I am not sure if you need skid plates in Hawaii. Volcanic rock is not like granite. I doubt there are any pieces of rock there big enough to damage anything underneath. Any place they allow wheeling I bet everything is knocked down pretty small. Check with some of the folks wheeling there.

 

That's why I was leaning toward aluminum; minimal hardcore wheeling and no rust. I used to wheel a Jeep out there the last time I was stationed on island, and there are some spots where skids would provide piece of mind. Nothing like here, though.

Edit: plus, catalytic converter theft is apparently a big problem out there, and the skids would at least make them work for it.

 

If you think you can get away with all aluminum, I would go that way. I kind of halved it and went with aluminum for everything but the engine and lower control arm. Given how freaking heavy the engine skid in steel is, I would do aluminum if I had to do it over again. Mine are RCI with Mobtown tank skid.

 

Thanks! I'll check out RCI. SOS has a great deal on skids right now ($570 shipped) but no aluminum.

 

Hopping to another subject:

I hate the OEM fender flares on the ol' Tacoma. If I had thought my whole purchase through, I would have gotten the Off-Road and not the Sport, but that's another story...

Ideally, I'd pull these off and run nekkid, but that would leave ugly holes. I've seen a few solutions and I'm not sold on them. If I really wanted to spend some money I could get new fenders without the holes, but we're talking $1500 without paint.

I could purchase something in the aftermarket. RDJ sells flares with Rhino Liner on them; which is nice. My only issue with them is the way they install. If I went this route I'd probably put more holes in the fenders and use those fake bolts as real bolts.

Any solutions I'm missing?

 

I have aluminum mobtown and the mid/transmission skid is pretty banged up. I think it’s mostly because I’m not lifted but flagpole did some work on the skids. The IFS skid is scratched/gouged up pretty good but not bad overall

 

Don't the bushwhacker flares bolt directly to the stock holes? I've been looking at these too because Hawaii requires you to have your tire tread covered for inspection...mine stick out enough to fail.