First gen build

I’ll send some photos of the skid plate project later. Rock sliders are next and putting on this week.

 

Looks great so far!

 

Here is skid plate I made this last weekend. If you’re a thrifty guy, this is a far cheaper option that buying one online and having it shipped. I got 7 ft of 10 gauge steel and a 6-1/2 ft piece of flat bar for 100 bucks. Using only basic tools to cut, grind, bend, drill and weld.


hardest part is getting the mounting holes lined up and drilled. I was off by just a hair on almost all of the holes- just enough to piss a guy off- and then attempted to redrill right next to them but just made it look messy as a result. In the end, I didn’t end up using the stock mounting locations like I had planned. I used the two large holes on the radiator support and drilling a third with a 9/16 drill bit in dead center. Redrilled the rear mounts right in between where the two holes are on the stock mounting bracket with a 3/8 drill bit. Upside is that now I have heavier duty hardware holding my heavier skid plate than stock sized hardware I guess

 

Nice work on skid plate.

 

Welded sliders on a few months back. Made another mod that has benefitted me greatly this winter, and I’m sure it will in the future: a bed mount for hi lift, small snow shovel, and axe. I’d like to be able to add more on the mount, or put my spare tire somewhere in the bed for fab work on the frame.

 

A few poser pics and trip photos

 

Appreciate it, actually busted it a couple days ago though... went back to the ole red can and bungee straps. Tried and true method.


Also, rebooting a cv axle is a pain in the ass. I don’t remember it being as tedious from the first time I did it. I’ve seen a lot of debate on this site about the whole cv axle thing, and it seems like if we’re already putting the time and money into these rigs, you might as well just buy the new ones- run your old ones till they go out and go to NAPA for the neoprene ones with a 36k warranty for ~$100 ea. Or if you have the money for ones that last longer, but not enough for the get the “special” cv axles from these one-off fab companies, then get the OEM Toyota ones. They are tough, reliable axles that give exceptional results. Not worth the reboot, and with lifted trucks you’re going to replace them a couple times anyway, if you’re one to keep the truck for that long. But that’s the way I see it, who the hell cares what I have to say? Just speaking from personal experience and trying both ways.

 

I’ve been putting the bumper off for a while... I think it’s about time to bite the bullet and do it!




side marker light is somewhere in the dirt up in the hills...

 

I like the OEM look better anyways



Note: canopy is for sale too...