Marcgb91 mid-travel build & adventures

Thinking ahead on the future lighting/electrical systems, I pulled the trigger over Black Friday weekend on some SDHQ Billet battery terminals & Switch Pros

$659 SP-9100 8-Switch Panel Power System With Concealed Mounting Hardware

SP-9100!
The battery terminals are amazing, all of the kit was nicely packaged and top notch quality finish. Here's a before & after of the result.


Before:

After:

The rest of the installation was mainly for the Switch Pros, once again, everything neatly packaged, instructions were spot on and straight forward. The engine bay mounting plate required a little bit of finessing between wire harnesses but that's all. The dash insert is super clean and oem quality. As for the Power Module itself, i'll post another photo with the rest of the wires plugged in and the rest all clipped back together. Makes the engine bay super clean and tidy.

 

Awesome build!!
What are you shooting all these beautiful pics with!!?

 

Thank you! I've been using a Nikon D5600 with a 18-55mm & 55-200mm. I occasionally shoot with a Sigma 150-600mm but mainly for the odd distance spotting or wildlife. Circular polarizers on the lens and a cheap Amazon tripod with remote shutter for the long exposure/astro photo.

 

It's been a while since I last updated, March 22 2022
Installed CBI rock sliders after finding them for a good deal online. Pushed a lot with the oem side steps, they were still functional but slightly bent lol.

Haven't gotten around to upgrade much this year although trying to enjoy all of what's been added in a short time, keeping up on maintenance as well. Hydrolocked the engine in April for going full retard in a puddle of water. Managed to tow it back to the shop, take everything out, vaccum water, drain water from everywhere and it started up like nothing ever happened; extremely lucky! Still running fine to this day 6 months later.

 

With price of gas going sky rocket; here's a few highlights of trail/camp time so far for 2022:

Mudd areas are fun, until belts and pulleys start squeaking and the non stop pressure washing for weeks to get everything cleaned up.

Nose diving off rocks

Little spare time between work hours, a MUST stop to Dirtfish Rally school just outside of Seattle; finally a check in the box of mine, but will need to go back sooner or later.

 

September 2022
Heading to Onterrible until December for work, time to winterize the tacoma and catch up on maintenance that i've procrastinated a little to long. Scrubbed, degreased, repainted and fluid filmed the entire frame/chassis prior to departure. Hoping to come back with a half decent frame by mid-December. Also nice seeing that the OK Expedition skid plates have been doing its job this year!

Road trip accross B.C. a little smokey due to forest fires but some of the most amazing spots I wish I could see more often! The downfall of being on an Island.

 

October 2022
Ontario is getting a little boring by now, gas is cheap but had to replace both LCA due to constant creaking/grinding front end noise, which narrowed down to shot LCA Bushings and the 2x ball joints slowly on their way out.
Not to many trails nearby or that has decent scenery in comparison to the West Coast, beaches are crowded and can't drive on them, let alone pay for all sorts of parking lol. Can't wait to head back west.


CBI ditch light brackets installed, awaiting for decent sales on Baja Designs for now. Working on front bumper as well; hoping to finish that "major" add-on later this winter.

 

Hey @Marcgb91, Baja Designs will be having a black Friday cash-back rebate this year. Keep an eye out for that on your next order with us.
Best,
Brandon

 

@Baja Designs, Brandon!
Thanks for the heads up, i'll def need to pay close attention to it!

Any recommendation between the S8 vs Onx6 dual combo 40" straight vs arc?
I've poked around on the website, but other than pricing, power output etc...there isn't a whole ton of real world reviews. *Looking for a roof rack bar (40") for a good amount of distance! Most likely looking at the spot patterns.

 

Hey @Marcgb91, If you are looking for raw output the ONX6 is the way to go. The ONX6 is our high-performance light bar offering the most lumen output as well as distance and bendability out of a light bar. You will get the option between a High/Low function with this option that is not available on any S8 models. If you are looking into that arc style you will get a very similar light from the straight ONX6 there will just be a curve bend in the bar to accommodate the roof of a vehicle. We also sell a Dual Control ONX6 which will have two power cords on each end allowing you to run the outer sections of the light bar separately from the center. The best way to compare the S8 Vs ONX6 light bar would be casual off-roading vs off-roading racing. All of our sponsored drivers utilize our ONX6 platform for the raw output it brings.

Feel free to email me directly with any more questions you may have at brandonk@bajadesigns.com

Baja Designs ONX6+ Lights Bar:https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/onx6-straight-led-light-bar/?sku=454003
Baja Designs ONX6+ Arc Light Bar:https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/onx6-arc-led-light-bar/?sku=524001
Baja Designs ONX6+ Dual Control:https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/onx6-straight-dual-control-led-light-bar/?sku=464014

Best,
Brandon

 

October 2022 - Scotch Line wheeling with a few jeeps. Good ol' tacoma kept up without issues.

 

November 2022
Brisk birthday weekend sleeping outside & volunteering media for CRC @ Tall Pines Rally.

Getting sprayed with dirt all day was worth it, good to see new faces and old friends from Ontario.

 

December 2022
Traveling back to Vancouver Island from Ontario, long drives but decent road conditions. Had a good sketch moment, solo adventuring in Golden, BC. Note to self, always take the time to air down even if its not a long drive. Don't wait to fuck around and find out by yourself on a snow covered FSR off a cliffside 1,500ft up. A good scary moment as i could've easily flipped the truck off to the passenger side. Crawled down to 10psi, onto traction board and placing cut wood on the passenger tire to act as a barrier so the truck wouldn't slide off the soft shoulder.
Def. had to stop and enjoy the views in a safer spot once I drove back down.

Field, BC.

Perfect timing once again to hit the last CRC event of the season - Big White Rally at the Big White ski resort in Kelowna, BC. Decent sleep in the parking lot while it started to snow overnight. A few folks had fun sending it sideways in the giant open parking lot.

 

Spring 2023
Pushing the life on the Falken Wildpeaks, approx 3years and 70,000km of constant dirt/highway/city driving, airing up and down. Love the performance it offered me throughout, decided to jump a few sizes.
33s were a jump in price, but 35s weren't to far off; although the price different snowballs into making them fit properly.

Decided to ditch the 265/75/16 and move up to a "skinny 35" 315/75/16. Ultimately, they fit, some rubbing even with CMC. But knew shorly after a few goodies we're going to come in to rectify all these issues.

 

May 2023

Big thanks to the crew at Overland Outfitters to bring in quality parts from JD Fab.
LCA pivot kit going in for proper clearance, extra ground clearance & suspension geometry corrections and more renforcememt. Overall a long day and half, roughly 3~ hours to pull things a part, another 8h or so of cutting & grinding, burn in and reassemble.

 

JD Fab LCA pivot kit finally installed, all the way forward, solid alignement numbers 5.1° & 5.9° castor, no rub going forward, ever so slight


June & July 2023
- Full suspension rebuild! 2 years of use and abuse & maintaining it, Kings were def getting soft and saggy. Big props for Overland Outfitters & Wheelingeveryweekend to host a Shock tuning class. Big eye opener to how simple yet complex shock tuning & rebuilding is.
Decided to pull the trigger on parts & tools, happy to say as a first time ever rebuilding shocks, things went really well!

 

May 2023

Rewrapping the Tacoma after 2 years. Few days to peel off the old wrap & paint prep to get rid of the few bits of glue residue around the body. *Note, wrap was still fine, just scratched up and slightly faded, although paint survived BC pinstriping, mint underneath.

 

Please tell me you are gonna add your signature side graphic....

 

Beautiful build!

 

Mountain graphics had to go back on! Just a different color combo now, if i recal, Avery Denisson satin metalic silver paired w/KPMF Gloss blue indigo.


As BCOR 2023 was coming up Yota Tune and I worked on a little extra side decal & windshield banner. A few weeks or photoshop & designs/concepts, results came out nicer than expected!