boy hauling, fish finding, long term build

Not sure if I am interesting enough for world wide web consumption, but here goes. Isolation will do crazy things . Despite owning a business, raising 3 boys, and recently buying a house, I am less busy than ever. 2020 is my first year retired from my first career as a professional athlete and now I have time for things like kid's games, fly fishing, mowing my lawn, and tacoma modding (slowly). I bought "baloo" 2 years ago. Got it for a good price and knowing the 05 has some gasket issues I built that into my budget for future. Bought it with 94k on it. 4th time I have owned a toyota truck all starting in the early 90's after falling in love with them when I watched back to the future as a kid. I am fabricating my own high clearance bumper right now and have suspension, a GFC built waiting for me, sliders ready to go, so lots to do while in lock down. Bumper progress pics will be coming in the next week or so.

Full on grandpa style at first:



Total bro mod to start... plasti dip the 265/70/17




Baloo's eyeballs were quite foggy




Muuuucho better



Pretty current look as of March 2020, just sold camper though... should have waited, since I can't drive to get my GFC... I am in agony

A couple of shots of the many places the Tacoma has taken me and some shots of the old career:


Watching my dodgers in Seattle:


Grinding out some miles

Favorite lake in the PNW at annual camping trip I have done for 30 years:




Running partner:


The girl:

More camping:


Proof I can fish:



Bumper progress:
so naked


Tracing some ideas:



CAD grid prep:



Early design idea - took a lot of different ideas and kinda blended them. Couple of highlights, I wanted to cover the mounting brackets and also wanted to use aluminum... two difficult things to find anywhere besides my brain.








Making a template to make sure I measured everything correctly:




bracket lines up... so time to cut the fun stuff!



More pics to come!

As of June 2020

 

That's awesome stuff!

 

Some updates... added the gfc, some new headlights... bumper will be all finished next weekend?!

 

Sure do.

 

Is that phone perch something you cut on the cut table?

 

I’m looking at shipping now. Probably $100 I would sell them including shipping... I think new oem are like $130. Not sure if that would be worth it for you.

 

Yep, lots a little things around like that just goofing around with scrap

 

Were gonna need more fish pics

 

They are the original oem headlights. I just would buff them real good each spring. No cracks or leaks. Text me... 2082626519 and I’ll get you info on sending some cash and shipping them out Monday

 

Yep

 

No worries man

 

Updates! Welding and test fitting the bumper today.

 

Like it very much. Think about increasing the gap between the bumper and fender.

I made mine about the same as yours. I get contact from frame flex. I do no off roading, just forest trails.

 

Bumper’s looking good, I also like the bronze wheels on blue.

 

Thanks man! Yah, we have a few little tweaks still, but it is fitting up really nice I think. Definitely looking forward to cleaning it up and powder coating it.

 

Why not spray it with bed liner, everything I’ve had powder coated has eventually chipped.

 

Is the material aluminum?

 

I am pretty confident that the powder coat process will work well. We have a pretty great setup at the shop that has held up on vehicles that are under an immense amount of stress with most of the mileage on fire roads.

 

Yes. I really wanted something light weight.

 

My next bumper will be aluminum as well.

I'm going to try the Wetlander coating the next time around. I used it on the bottom of the drift boat and I really am impressed with durability and ease of application. In addition, there are many color choices.