Happy to be here!

Hi everyone! Im happy to be a part of this group! I posted my first thread a few days ago in regards to towing and you have all been so incredibly helpful so far!!!

I own a 2003 Red Toyota Tacoma V6 TRD extended cab. I purchased my truck in 2009 with just over 60,000 miles on it.. 11 years later it still runs great with over 250,000 miles on it. I love to travel and have taken a few cross country trips with my tacoma and a 1985 pop up camper.

I purchased my camper in 2011 and i have taken it so many places! i love my set up so much that i actually custom painted my camper white with red stripes that are the same color as my truck!

When i purchased my truck it was definitely my "dream vehicle" and i was incredibly excited to own it. I got caught in a snow storm driving home from the dealership and i felt so safe in my new truck. The roads were so icy and at an incline in the road the traffic stopped and most of the cars started sliding backwards!!! i had to dodge all of the cars coming towards me and my truck did not slide at all... I knew i made a great purchase! ( im talking about eisenhower pass in Colorado on I70. maybe some of you are familiar with the road conditions im describing, it can be quite scary!)

I purchased my truck because i love driving off road and although i had made it to some amazing 4x4 areas in my 2 wheel drive honda accord, I thought it was time for an upgrade lol!!! Growing up in Colorado there are so many amazing places to explore off road! I was blown away with the performance of my new truck especially driving in low gear down a steep hill! it was so much fun!! I did test out my trucks ability and may have jumped it off a hill or two but quickly learned that parts do break and they are extremely expensive to fix in my truck!!! lol.

I now live in California and still use my truck as a daily commuter. I dont plan on ever selling it and i would like to eventually stop using it everyday and turn it into a more aggressive off road vehicle! I maintain my truck well and any extra cash i have i always put it into my truck! Timing belt has been changed twice and ive already replaced many parts on it but its worth every dime!!!

I am not in love with california and would like to move someplace else but im at a complete loss and have absolutely no ideas where i want to live next... All i know is im happiest when i am outdoors. So I have made a decision to purchase a new camper to live in and do a little bit of traveling in hopes i find a place to call home... I am thinking about finding a job at a lake resort or some place beautiful and just try to enjoy the simple things in life.. Im not a city girl and am currently living in a city and i need to get out!!!!

Any advise you have on traveling, towing, and maintaining my 18 year old truck is greatly appreciated.. I started a thread under the towing forum with questions about towing a NuCamp T@B 320... This is what i found to be the lightest camper available that has a shower/toilet(this is a must for me).

I look forward in learning all there is to know about towing a heavier load and the upgrades that i might need to make in my truck.. you have all been so helpful so far and i would like to thank you in advance for helping me with my journey to camper life!!!

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

Thank you for the threads!!! Rust is actually a concern i need to adress! Sadly i was not aware how big of an issue rust can be an i have taken my truck off road so many times and came back covered in mud and did not properly wash my truck.. I have a lot of rust on my frame and i have some concerns in regards to towing a heavy load with my truck. I was thinking of starting a thread about towing with a rusted frame unless you have a thread you recommend reading..

 

I recommend this

 

Welcome to TW LuvMyTacoma03!!!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Hi! I definitely have rust on my suspension i'll post pictures so you can see it. My truck has spent most of its life in Colorado so it has been exposed to tons of elements! They use mag chloride on the roads in the winter time to reduce frost on the road. i'm not sure if it's as bad as salt but i have seen noticeable decay from it on my truck.. My entire undercarriage has a nice layer of rust! I honestly wish i would of known about protective coatings back when i bought the truck 11 years ago.. I really like to maintain a well running vehicle and i don't know why i never thought about maintaining my frame!!! I just learned about the whole rust frame recall while joining this group.. too bad im pass the deadline. Anyways, my trucks not new to me im just new to this site. i've learned a lot so far....

 

Welcome girl, we got us a country girl here looking for adventures and good times. She's hauling a camper and looking for freedom. I dont even haul groceries in my 98. It's a street truck, the most off road it sees is the grass on the lawn and a little dust now and then. I also dont like the city life like you. Well I hope you the best and that your Tacoma takes you to were your happy and everything just gets better for you. Get em girl..