J. Boogies... Kinda slow but super exciting... Build Thread

Well, I was able to finally get some wiring sorted over the past two days. I've run all of the wiring for both my new front and rear cameras. So now I can finally see behind the truck!

 

Well... thanks to @geekhouse23 , I have dropped some more money i didn't even know i need to spend:

TACOMA WHEEL SENSOR SKIDS 2005+ REAR AXLE
https://archivegarage.com/explore-archive/ols/products/tacoma-wheel-sensor-skids-2005


I've also made a minor change to my lighting setup. The Baja Designs Squadron Sports ditch lights were overpowering my mostly wooded off-road adventures, resulting in hot spots rather then lighting up the surrounding area. So I opted to move my original Squadron Sports down to the fog light holes in my front bumper, and install new S2 in the ditch light positions. Hoping to give these a test this weekend down in the RRG area!




Before:




After:

 

Just a small picture dump from our last Vinton Cty outing:



Here we drug an entire tree down the hill which eventually hung up the truck in the sand...



Here is my wife and I (unscripted) posing for the shot after we got winched out!



Then more photos...

 

Well, a few friends and I decided to do a guys trip down in RRG over the holiday weekend. We headed out after work on Friday which we knew was risky due to the volume of people headed there... Anyway, we found the last camping spot we could squeeze 5 vehicles into and set up camp on Friday night. I was able to get some pretty cools pics and video I'll be sorting through this week and posting up. In the meantime, here are few shots:

 

Did you cross a wooden bridge to get to that overlook in the last pic?

 

Yes. One that sort of made your butt hole pucker as you crossed it...

 

Yep, I know the spot.
I'm surprised there weren't Road Closed or No Trespassing signs up. There have been issues lately over that spot, vandalism and landowner conflict. People pushed a pump-jack off the cliff and trash everywhere.

 

You know, when we were there it was wide open, no signs, and what I would consider clean (no visible trash or graffiti). My Jeep buddies did a little digging after we left and found the same info. I guess a local Jeep club is working with the landowner to get the site back open. I'm not completely sure if that is why we were able to gain access, or if that is still a work in progress. While there, we encountered several SxS on the trail and one at the overlook... not sure if that means anything though.

 

I've been seeing a lot of posts (in the worthwhile and legit FB pages that make a difference) about several trails in the Gorge area getting destroyed by overuse. Ruts getting deeper, filling with mud, garbage, washing out from erosion, etc. I suspect the DBBB and other trails in the area, not inside Hollerwood or Boneyard (or whatever others are there), will be getting closed soon. Everyone is to blame, too, not just SxS and UTV/ATV riders. A 200hp+ truck or Jeep with mud tires can tear the shit out of a mudhole just like a RZR. I hate it for the future but we gotta be responsible.

Get in with ORFW Ohio River Four Wheelers and SFWDA Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, Kentucky Krawlers is another area group.

 

We experienced this while there... we did several trails on the DBBB. However, it was the trail to Stump Cave that was a completely rutted muddy mess that looked like a roller coaster downhill. I should have grabbed a picture, because it was bad. Both trails into Stump Cave were impassable and we opted to cut our losses and head around and over the mountain missing out on a cool stop.

Oh, and by no way was I claiming that SxS were to blame for anything trail damage related. I only mentioned it for "No Mans Land" to signal that there was traffic there giving the impression that the trail was open.

 

Stump Cave is the one I've seen recent posts about. It was rough a couple years ago, even worse now!

I got what you were saying, just been several people pointing blame only at those riders and not us with full size vehicles too.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the groups!

 

Ok... I'm back from the dead.

Just sold my daily driver:


Due to barely having to drive my vehicle to work, as well as a change of job that puts me a mere 10 miles from the office I am refocusing on the Taco. Tonight I plan to dust off some old projects starting with the rear BAMF shock relocation and new 12" Fox smoothies. This will be version 2.1 of the rear configuration. Version 2 starting with the Deaver expedition (Stage 3) leafs. (It is leafs or leaves when talking springs... )


If anyone has insight on how to space out the tops and bottoms of the shock, I'm all ears. I only received spacers for one or the other with the shocks...

 

Well, the good news… suspension is installed.

 

And the bad news…

 

Time for a tetanus shot and some stitches

 

Cut to the bone… 5 stitches:

 

meh…


not as bad as the arthritis will be in 10yrs..

 

Lovely.

I'm just glad I have a finger to have arthritis in...

 

grinder kick on you?