Taco life hacks

Just a couple of little things I've done here and there to make life easier. All on the cheap.

Quickfist hack:
Got something that doesn’t quite fit in a quick fist just perfectly? Or something like a fire extinguisher that manages to work its way loose after a day on the dirt roads? A little bit of 3M grip tape makes a world of difference.


Bed mat on the cheap:
Don't like everything sliding around in the bed when you go camping? Grab a stack of those interlock-able foam mats from Harbor Freight or similar store. Cut to fit around the wheel wells. Toss them in before you load everything up and you’re good to go. Prevents stuff from sliding around too much, prevents heavier steel items like jacks, axes, etc. from rubbing into the composite bed, and best of all you can kneel in bed without killing your knees.

Obviously these will fly out of your bed if there’s nothing holding them down, so be warned about that.

Cargo net:
On that note, a cheap cargo net from a surplus store and four carabiners is a great way to keep everything in the truck while you're on the highway. You can hook the loops of the net around the factory tie down cleats on the side for a better fit too.


RTT ladder strap:
The velcro straps that hold a lot of the telescoping style RTT ladders seem to fail fairly often. A super cheap strap, again from Harbor Freight, is a simple fix. A few screws to remove the plastic piece and the old strap. Cut the new one to length, position it so the buckle is in a good spot and doesn't interfere or rub, then lock it in with the screws.


Winch clutch lever:
Clutch lever on your winch hard to get to? (I'm looking at you ARB.) A piece of scrap metal and a few minutes make a perfect tool to get in those tighter spots. I mocked it up with some 1/8" scrap, but ended up using 3/16" rod. The 1/8" wasn't quite enough. Perfect size to fit in the center console with the winch controller until its needed.

 

Kind of a hack, here are two very useful knots I use all the time when securing gear
The trucker's hitch
https://www.animatedknots.com/truckers-hitch-knot
This knot is great if you need to cinch something down as tight as possible

and 3 round turns and two half hitches
https://www.animatedknots.com/round-turn-two-half-hitches-knot
This is a great knot to secure something to a bed cleat and know that it is not going to untie or jam later

bonus*
the bowline, the king of knots
https://www.animatedknots.com/bowline-knot
I'll usually tie a bowline around the handle of say my cooler or water jug and then secure it to the bed cleats or tie downs using 3 Round turns and two half hitches

 

Yup, those are good ones to know

 

Quick and easy rock deflectors for the rear passenger side shock.

Grab some 1/8" rubber sheet from McMaster or wherever, cut to fit and install. Way better than the boot / bellows style shock guards that trap water and mud and everything else in them.
No issues so far on the highway and I dont anticipate any issues offroad because the rubber is soft enough to move around as the suspension compresses.
https://www.mcmaster.com/1861T24/

Less than a year - maybe a few thousand miles of dirt, at the most, without anything: