aturk's mid-travel, double-locked, pavement princess

I'm digging your build Tony.

I put a deposit down on a Contour (without windows) that should be here within a month or so. How are you liking yours so far now that you've had it for a minute? Still happy you went that route? I have everything for my lift at the moment (Bilstein 6112/5160, Icon RXT, SPC, ECGS bushing, and some SCS F5's in 17x8.5 -10mm). I haven't decided on a tire size. 285/70/17 would probably be easier in that it keeps the spare in the spare location. But the 285/75/17's just look good and seem like they fit the trucks better. I would probably end up keeping it in the bed as well. I think a couple companies make mounts so that you can use the front factory rail in order to mount it to the front like you have it. I think even if you used that, the ratchet strap is a good idea for extra insurance.

Can you see anything in your rearview mirror now? Have any pics of what that might look like?

I think the way you're doing it makes the most sense if you didn't want to do the swing out. Oddly enough, I was looking at the same ATH rear bumper. I like their high-clearance bumper, but I am not sure I want to cut up into the body just yet. I think their standard rear bumper looks about as good as any that I've seen, that AND they still offer a 2" receiver under the bumper as an option. I don't want to have to use the flip license plate option and I transport my mountain bike on my 1Up carrier and don't want to screw with it.

 

I have a Bash Fab bed rail carrier for my spare, the ratchet strap is just extra insurance and wasn't that much money. Honestly a 1" strap from home depot probably would work JUST as well as you can't really crank down on these things. Plus having a big ratchet strap might help someone else one day on the side of the trail.

I too carry a mountain bike often (when I'm healthy) and that was where most of my decision to get the ATH bumper without the hidden hitch. My 1up rack is usually on the truck through most of the riding season, and having a flip down plate would ensure I'd get pulled over all the time. Be aware, my 2 bike 1up rack will not store in the 90degree upright position with the ATH bumper. The tow hooks get in the way. I keep it at the 45degree position without bikes and it's perfectly fine. Just something to be aware of if you're going to the grocery store or something. If you get a receiver extension it would work fine, but too much stuff to mess with. Doesn't bother me in the least.

My Canopy was not supposed to be in til the end of the year/beginning of this year, so it was on my truck a few months premature. I honestly haven't done anything with it other than drive around and wire it all up. I still like it, wouldn't go any other route. I have had 2 full ankle reconstruction surgeries in the last 12 months. First one didn't go good, so they did a follow up which was another full reconstruction. It's going better so far (9 weeks out) but has also screwed up most of my adventure plans last year. I have some big trips planned this year though. I will be loading the bed of the truck to the max in about 3 weeks to go wheeling and camping. It will be nice to see if all my new gear I bought last year (before I knew I had to get another surgery) will fit.

You can't really see much with the spare tire. Mine is offset to the passenger side and it gives you about 8" to see out of during the day time. At night, you can't see much of anything. This is pretty much the same as without the spare tire. The windows are dark, but you can see OK during the day on a sunny day. If it's cloudy or overcast where you're at, not going to be able to see much, especially if you don't get the windows. Just going to be too dark. With all that said, having the spare mounted on the bed rail does not bother me at all. Sometimes I'll look in the rear view out of memory, but I can see around the truck with the side view mirrors just fine.

34's are a great size. 529's and the right tune make them better. They take some effort to fit, probably almost as much work as 35's, but they won't beat as much up in the process. You wont have to limit uptravel or cut fenders, they won't be your inner wheel wells apart, etc.

Truck is still my daily, although I work from home. Once I heal up a bit more I'll be returning to the office so I might not enjoy driving the truck as much then, but my next car won't be here til summer of 2024 so I have to tough it out til then.

 

That's right. I remember seeing your post about the Bash Fab bed rail carrier a while back. That looks pretty cool. I guess I will see what size tires I choose and go from there. I should be able to fit a 33" spare under the bed with a little modification to those guide ears or relocation rearward if necessary.

I mostly run my 1Up in a single configuration at the moment, but I might just run a short extension anyway as it looks like the standard distance puts pedals pretty close to the tailgate paint. I'd be pissed if their was a frowny scratch waiting for me when I got to the trail. Hahaha. Sorry to hear about your ankle issues. That sucks. I have my moments as I am celebrating the 27th anniversary of my 21st birthday this year. Lots of new fun pain to manage.

I went with fewer windows as I realized that I can't see much as-is with the rear headrests where they are, so I don't think I'll be giving up all that much. That, and when I got my truck, I didn't think I'd use the back-up camera as much as I do, but it often can see things that you can't. Unless it's raining... That, and less curious eyes looking into the bed in my neck of the world, the better. The trailheads for our bike trails get prowled a lot by opportunists. It sucks.

My tuck shares daily driving duties with my other vehicle, a small monster truck of a 3rd gen 4runner. But the Taco might take over most duties without going as extreme.

Thanks for all the info man!

 

Got a couple spare axles floating around, but was able to score this nearly new OEM set, 350 miles on them, from a crash tested 2023. $200 for both!

 

Wow, great come up!

 

Picked up an ARB awning with the black aluminum case and LED's for an upcoming trip.

Also, I'm OCD about wiring. Here's an example - this is for some 12v stuff in the bed. Techflex loom and Shrinkflex heatshrink. Not as fancy as Raychem heatshrink, but a little cheaper for us regular dudes.

 

Finished up my bed 12v wiring.

2 surface mount switches. One for regular white LEDs and one for red LEDs.

I only wanted one 12v port in the bed but my first 12v socket from Amazon had an internal short in it, so then I bought a Blue Seas version plus a Blue seas switch panel with 12v and USBs.

All of this is ran to a fuse block behind the tail light. The fuse block is fed via 10gauge from the battery.

 

Didn't have a ton of luck with SPC UCA's. First set lasted 12k and the X-axis bearings were toast. Giving me a shitty clunk noise at slow speeds when the suspension would weight and un-weight. Typically only pulling into my driveway. Second set lasted 9k, same thing. SPC will warranty them, and cover your expenses for install/alignment, which is stand up. But it still costs me a day off work.

Put a set of the new Accutune arms on and hoping for better luck. Broke them in over the weekend.

 

Spent the weekend up at Windrock in Oliver Springs TN.

 

I don't envy having to re-install UCA's. That bolt was a headache.

Southeast Overland Camping Event? I waited too long and tickets sold out. How was it?

 

At the end of the day it was a good event. Thankfully I got there early (9am) on Friday.

Crazy winds and rain came through Friday night, most everyones stuff made it through Friday night just fine.

Saturday morning, things were beautiful and calm, cooked breakfast and then I went and rode Windrock for 4 hours and when I got back to camp the place looked like a ghost town. Winds picked back up (40-60mph). Stuff was scattered, tents were ripped, etc.

By 3pm on Saturday we made the call to go home. It was an hour or so to pack everything up, and 5 hours home, but I didn't know how long the winds were really going to last.

 

Damn, that sucks! I hate the wind. That don't surprise me... We had severe weather roll in that Friday night in middle TN.

 

Truck was the dirtiest it's ever been after Windrock. I do plenty of days per year of wheels off detailing, helps keep everything clean and helps me to find issues. This one was a pain.

I have about 2 hours of pressure washing the body and undercarriage, and about 2 hours pulling the wheels and manually scrubbing out the wheel wells. Will have another hour or so actually washing the truck.

Lots of rain this weekend should soak the rest of whatever mud I missed from the undercarriage.

 

I'm loving how this is coming along, especially what you've done with the setup in the bed. I feel your pain in keeping the build threads up to date as well.

 

Thanks.

After last weekends camping trip, and fully knowing I'm doing a cross country trip this year, I started asking some local cabinet builders to see if they are interested in building some drawers for my bed. Decked system is nice, but everyone says its heavy and isn't a great use of space. I could DIY, but I don't have the tools to make it super pretty. I'd have to bump up the wood a few sizes to make it strong enough, and end up losing out on space and take a weight penalty.

This would mean my spare tire mount would change, and I'd lay it on top of the platform. But then I could run a fridge and proper fridge slide, and some other stuff.

We will see what they come back with.

 

Weekend update

 

Ok, small update.

Big trip coming up in 2 months. 5k mile road trip to Colorado and Utah. Needed more space, built some drawers.

Full post here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-take-on-a-drawer-system-build-3rd-gen-drawers.805228/

Couple pics:

 

I'll be curious to see how like Accutune's UCAs. I'm maybe a year away from lifting my truck, (for identical reasons as you discovered, hopefully in the ~1.5" range max) and I've had SPC's penciled in for awhile. Like with all things upgrading (as I'm sure you know from cars as well) we usually sacrifice performance for longevity, but I'd like to find suspension that leans towards longevity, if possible, while providing some improvement from stock, specifically to handle the weight I've added (I wasn't so weight conscious and have all steel skids, sliders, and ATH's high clearance rear so far, will add a high clearance front at some point too).

Your comments about the FOX's have me thinking as well, I was also planning on Accutune valving FOX's 2.5 coilovers, rear shocks, Icon RXT's stage 1, Archive's Hammer Hangers and crossbar, pretty much your identical setup. I don't have the weight you do in the back with the topper and new drawers, but my armor adds a decent amount overall. I'll be following your thoughts on your suspension setup, my stock rear suspension is about my only complaint on the truck so far (after some abuse in Moab, already been through one set of OEM leafs and a few sets of rear shocks). Ultimately, if I can save some coin on something like a Bilstein 6112/5160 combo with RXT's and Archive's stuff and avoid messing with an aftermarket UCA, and potentially get comparable ride quality for daily driving, and potentially longer lasting components all around, I may go that route.

Great build thread so far, loving the truck.

 

It's hard to accurately rate suspension unless you can drive identical trucks on the same day and same terrain. The Fox's are nice most of the time, but the harsh bumps and washboards leave something to be desired, but my Eibach's were even worse.... Just a big chunk of money to still be a little turned off by it all.

Accutune UCA's are great so far. Not a hint of noise or play. But it's only been 3 months or so. The SPC's were already making noise at this point on both sets. As far as the SPC's, if you run a front swaybar you're probably safe. My master Toyota tech that lives and breathes these Toyotas and does hundreds of lift kits per year, only has seen the SPC UCA's fail on trucks without a sway bar.

There are some other arms out there that should be similar and on your list such as the JD Fab UCAs with OEM upper bushings.

 

Appreciate the feedback. I've been running without a sway bar for ~2 years or so (since my first trip to Moab) and honestly I don't see myself going back, unless I start hauling a trailer regularly, so I think I'll cross SPC's off my list. OEM upper bushings are appealing, I'll make sure to look at JD Fab. My buddy has the Eibach's, RXT's, and SPC's, and his only complaint so far has been topping out the Eibach's somewhat frequently, which seems to be common. I was hoping that Archive's kit would help with washboards and the general jitteriness of the rear end, did you notice a ride quality improvement at all there?