Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

Seat heaters?

 

It was one of the very first things I added to my BASE Tacoma. One of the BEST mods ever living where I do; although, I do try and NOT drive it in the winter much.

 

I understand now.

 

Make a mental note, guys. STAY AWAY FROM THE WINCH LINE WHEN WINCHING. I got knocked on my ass and hit my head on a rock. Plus the mud. It happened in a heartbeat. Hard lesson learned for me.

 

It was a steep hill.

 

Yup, pictures do that hill no justice. Nor do they convey how slick that wet clay was!

 

This reminds me, @rubbersidedown ,
I have some extra kinetic recovery ropes for your new truck if you want...

 

Damn, that 1st pic is really a good perspective and captures as well as you can in a picture how much of a challenge that was.

 

So, funny story... If we had not had rain on the last Tigerton trip, Jonathan and I were fully prepared to recreate something like this:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLB8CwiSYu-/?igsh=cmU5bDhsaWxyOG4w

I bought this kit and had it with me:

$10 1/10 RC Crawler Tow Chain,Trailer Tow Rope,Rescue Hook Buckle for Traxxas TRX4 Axial SCX10 90046 Tamiya D90 TF2 CC011/10 Scale RC Accessories

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXTMSBT2

 

imo airing down should be step one (unless you are already high centered). it can be more than enough to get you out of sand, mud, slime if you havent buried yourself yet.

 

Today was install the ECGS bushing day. Things didn't start well. Broke a Craftsman 19mm socket trying to get the lower ball joint bolts loose. Then, no matter where or how hard I pried, that damned CV joint wouldn't pop loose. A couple of big chisels on each side driven along the sides popped it.

From there, the swap went smooth, thanks to Jon's @Camerasandcoffee ECGS tools. Bearing out/bushing in, new seal. Bearing looked perfect...sure didn't feel like it and the seal looked like hell.

Back to the CV from hell. I can't get that bitch to pop back in. Part of the problem is I can't feel when the splines are meshing to give it a good hard pop. Do the splines self align? Will look at it again in the morning...had to get dinner going and needed a different perspective.

 

Haha, yes! I'd have found a way out, regardless. I was just a bit nervous because the exhaust was already underwater and it was slowly sinking.

Yes! Both, actually.

A-TRAC and mall control weren't doing it. The bottom was a mix of sand and gravel, but it's soft so I kept digging deeper. The tug from my brother was enough to get me back on top, but only when I engaged crawl. 4lo and A-TRAC were still just digging.

Once I got up to more solid ground, I aired down and had no issues getting back. But, since I was already a little on edge, I pretty much hammered down until I got off of the deep sand and onto the grass.

Tim got this right.

 

Edit: I should have been aired it down before I even went back there. But good decision-making wasn't on the menu that day

My tires were partially underwater and I was sinking. I considered airing down at that point, but my brother was already there with the winch.

If I'd been alone, I might have tried it. But, I'm still not sure if I'd want to try airing down underwater.

I usually air down before I even go back there, but I wasn't initially planning on hitting the beach. We were just working on clearing the easement road. But, once we got the trees cleared, we decided to go for a quick run. That'll teach me to go screwing around on street pressure.

 

Usually they say to give it a half or quarter turn & try again.

 

I have finally decided to upgrade my foggers. After many hours of debate in my feeble mind, justifying the cost, I am getting a pair of DD SS3 Max's. I'm also getting fang lights. Have wanted a pair since I first saw them, but I wanted to decide which fogs to get 1st. I haven't gotten ALF anything cool for a long time, and with winter on the way, now would be a good time to get new fog lights. I really suck at auto electric sh*t. I could do the fog lights. Those are plug and play. Hooking up the fangs is my issue. Would any one of you like to tackle the install? I'll come to you.

I'd also like your opinions on The Bright Box. I'd occasionally like to run the fogs on their own, but it seems that it won't work with the factory switch on the stalk, and I am out of switch space. This mod isn't necessary, but it would be helpful in some situations.

Here's the shopping list.
If you see a better price on any of these, please let me know ('specially the SS3 Max )
https://www.diodedynamics.com/ss3-sae-yellow-max-led-pod-pair.html

https://www.aspireautoaccessories.c...gh-beam-fog-light-mod-for-4runner-2014-2020-1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274733984200


The Bright Box install vid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUwK-mR03no


I just ordered the fang lights off e-bay. Only 2 in stock and the price was as cheap as I could find.

 

Looks like those fang lights just run off the drl. You can tap them with something like these, pretty easy. These don’t destroy your wiring like the ones that usually come with stuff

$12 Lockitt POSI-TAP 6 pack wire connectors 20-22 awg

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001MPW54G

I think @LarryDangerfield has the britebox on his

 

I’m mighty tempted by the Mickey Rooneys, but my 2 sets of KO2s have both been perfectly acceptable. Hard choice, unless they don’t make K02s anymore.

 

Is the c ring f'd up? stretched, bent...
If I remember right the axle goes in a little harder because the ecgs bushing is tighter than the needle bearing.
You should feel the splines enough to get it started. That hard pop in is only like the last 1/4" of insert.....