blueberry.taco build and adventures

This is amazing. I don't even know what you're doing half the time but you had me in awe with your custom work.

 

now with 50 watts of communication capabilities!
this radio can do dual channels and also has preset NOAA weather channels which i think will be nice.

 

Did you go CB or HAM? Clean install.

 

I ran CB in all my previous rigs and hated it, went with GMRS this time, so far (only played with others within line-of-sight) crisp and clear with no noise!

 

Same here. I tried multiple CB setups and none were that good, all had some sort of issues. I went GMRS and it's better in every way.

 

This is so inspiring, and a display of automotive/welding knowledge far beyond any capability I will ever have. What a great thread!

 

came out of the gym one night and found a sweet rig parked next to mine.

the pizza cutters sure looked good on that disco.

makes me miss my old disco a little bit.

as far as updates go, finally got around to making a quick little shield for the wires and bits in the shelf

 

How do you feel about the kick outs on the sliders? I’m on the fence about them for an AC…. I feel like they were made for DC guys. Was thinking about some straight ones (no kick out) at 5degrees for my AC. Nice truck

 

as the overhang and the wheelbase are exactly the same between DCSB and ACLB, I don't see why you think they are more beneficial for the DCs.
as long as this wheelbase is, I would say no kickout will provide less protection / will require you to do more 3 point turns rather than being able to rotate around the obstacle by pushing against it.
but if you aren't going to ram it into rocks and trees I'd say it's purely aesthetic and get whatever makes you happy.

 

I see thank you. The difference I figured would be the length of the rear door and how you access it is different on the DC. So it gets used way more for passengers in the rear.

 

for me at least the "step" function of the sliders is just a bonus.
(but don't use them with wet flip flops! I am constantly slipping on them when washing the truck)
the protection for the cab/sheet metal is the primary reason I added sliders.

 

I don't own a set and haven't seen in person; but I have a slightly opposite take: I like the sickouts because I feel like they are more useful on my ACLB. On a DCLB the kick out is back where the seat itself it, not up where you want to step into the truck. But on the ACLB, the rear kickoff is in front of the wheelwelgl and next to the bed side where you might want to step up to reach something in the bed, etc. So I like them for that.

Am I way wrong in my assumption on how the align on the DCLB vs ACLB?

 

I hate the idea of a spare tire under the truck but for it’s current mall crawler status it makes sense to have one. Took some exhaust rework, tire winch relocation, and some bracket bending but managed to fit a full size 34” tire up there.

Managed to get all this exhaust reroute done by reusing the stock pieces. if that exhaust "tip" looks familiar to you guys, it's because it's from the stock crossover pipe (had to chop it up a bit to get the inner wall out)

 

well, it took a while to get to here, but after 392 days of waiting from when i placed the order, I finally have the camper!

Took the weekend to enjoy cool weather ground tent car camping for the last time (we'll still continue to tent when backpacking).
got some nice dispersed spots in the Adirondacks and an okay one in the White Mountains, then woke up at 5am on monday, packed up camp and drove down to Bow, NH to visit Mainline Overland to receive our camper.
a week or 2 early for best fall colors but it was good enough for a quick weekender.






Drone vids on our instagram, since im not sure how to post vids here








aaand what we've been waiting for for so so long.

suspension handled it beautifully, with no air in the airsprings it sits just about level and rides fine.
add about 50psi to the springs to get it back to original ride height (pictured).
So looks like i can pull a leaf out of the 3 leaf pack and be fine.
I'm looking forwards to being able to set ride height lower!

Bonus: my dog found a new chin pillow. He loves this position and slept like this for a while multiple times.
weirdo.

 

Is that the Main Line Overland shop in PA?

 

it's their New Hampshire shop

 

If you ever need to post a video, upload it to youtube and then paste the link here. It'll automatically embed.

 

thanks, but adding youtube would be too many social media accounts for me to handle!

 

pic of the inside "as-purchased"



since then made some changes: some visible, some not so much.

took out the heavy and unnecessary bed slideout and extra cushions. Oh and the entire bed mattress too.
We've had an Exped Megamat that we love for both insulation and comfort that we've been using in the previous rig and ground tenting when using our half dome tent.
perfect fit in the cab over area, better R value and comfier and lighter. win win win!

added a cork yoga mat (cut to size/shape) over the linoleum stock floor for better barefoot comfort and potentially insulation


updated the old fashioned heavy fire extinguisher with a lightweight and compact "Element" extinguisher.



shortened the stock awning handle for a little more comfort and weight/space savings (see a trend here?)



made a quick and dirty hitch step. big hole underneath is so we can clip a carabiner to the dog leash on it at a convenient location



and since i hated the idea of screwing into the camper directly, made an intermediate aluminum bracket to

$7 3M VHB 100x200mm~ (4" X8") Double Sided Foam Adhesive Sheet Tape 5952 Automotive Mounting Industrial Grade Very High Bond 5952 (1 Sheets 100x200mm)

3M VHB double sided tape onto the camper.
I can see this level from the driver's seat, so leveling at camp should be super easy (especially with the individually controllable from in the cab - rear air springs)



Had a "practice" night camping in the driveway through a rainstorm, no leaks, dog was comfy, we were comfy. a successful trial

 

Followed this thread on how to wire up a non-stock backup cam to 2020+ trucks.

super easy, just ordered a

$11 Compatible with Front Radar/Sonar Sensor Connector 8 Way Pigtail for Toyota 90980-12520

$15 pigtail for the tailgate connector and a

$40 NATIKA Backup/Front View Camera,IP69K Waterproof Great Night Vision HD and Super Wide Angle Metal OEM Style Reverse Rear View Backup Camera for Cars Pickup Trucks SUVs RVs Vans (Black)

$40 camera off Amazon and hooked up 3 wires and that's it!
Not sure why aftermarket companies are charging $200+ for this, but maybe I need to get into the business.

anyways, super happy with the ease and results.