geekhouse23's "LIFE'S WAITING TO BEGIN" Overland & Home build and all the Adventures in between!

Another startup issue this morning with the damn cold.

Every week at least twice a week I make it a point to start and run the truck 10-15 minutes each time. 2 days ago, I started the truck up with the remote start and it fired right up and ran for 20 minutes. Today, no luck. So I went out to fire up the truck the old school way and it wouldn't start. I put the Harbor Freight jump pack to it and the battery didn't have enough juice to fire the truck. The wife's Venza jumped it as soon as I hooked up the cables and it fired right up no issues.

Then, I had to go to the mother-in-law's house to jump her car and then do a battery replacement on her little Scion.

What a day of dead batteries!!

 

After dealing with super cold temps the past two weeks and today seeming like a heatwave at 27 degrees, I did some things around the house and to Caitlyn. First up was getting that disgusting salt off the truck. While I don't drive often or much during the week, the past few weekends have been just brutal. Also, heading to the fabricators next Saturday, I want to make sure I had a clean rig.

Got up early today, drove to a carwash down the street from us. Had to wait 10 minutes in line before they opened and when they finally did open, the line was 12 vehicles long! The owner is a young guy with a 2016 Tacoma he bought recently. There was also a guy with an FJ and in talking for a few minutes, the owner gave us both a "Toyota discount"

The car wash was good and I think I'll be back. Nice guy. By the time I left there was a line down the street so I'm happy I got there as early as I did.

A few other things done around the house in the morning like taking down Christmas decorations until next year, getting everything together and ready for next Saturday, and I thought that since we have a heat wave, I would try installing the rope guard from Factor55. It flatlink finally came off the truck even though it was still freezing cold and took some light persuasion from a plastic mallet.

I was able to get everything installed and back on the truck in about 20 minutes; after letting the flatlink sit inside for a few minutes to warm up so no damage was done from taking a punch and hammer to it.

Came out well!



I hope this protects the winch line better. I should have done a before and after car wash for you..it was bad.



Excited to get the hoops done next weekend and be #EAF

 

So I reached out to Marie for more information regarding the coilovers and if she had reviews or stories for me on which brands hold up better. As a reminder, I was looking heavily at Icons but open to hearing more about ADS:

"It is hard since I do not have any personal experience with rust since I am here in So Cal so I have to rely on my customer feedback. I have heard about rust issues with all of the brands however ADS does seem to have a better reputation than the others. I have seen the Fox's and the Radflo rust pretty badly.

I have seen the Icon breakage. Some people use the revtek spacers we offer to help with that issue but it is not something that I have test fit here so I can't say how much it helps but they feel like it does.

Icon have stock replacement coilovers that are sold in either and extended travel (requiring ucas) or standard travel. The standard travel do not require them but can need them if the coilover is adjusted up for lift and alignment cannot be achieved. They can come either with and without reservoir and compression adjustors. They come standard with a 650lb spring rate but can be upgraded to a 700lb spring for an additional fee. They have steel body and aluminum components. They have a digressive valving which some feel can provide a stiffer on-road ride quality, depending on terrain and speed. The valving does seem to do very well off-road at higher speeds over larger bumps/whoops. They come preset to provide around 2.5" of lift on the 05-15's and around 1.5" on the 2016+ models. They can be adjusted to provide more or less lift depending on what suits your needs. Keep in mind, whenever adjusting a coilover you need to make sure that they are not adjusted to a point that will cause coil bind on compression.


The Fox's have stock replacement coilovers in standard travel or extended travel (requiring uca's). The standard travel do not require them but can need them if the coilover is adjusted up for lift and alignment cannot be achieved. The Fox’s can come with or without reservoirs and compression adjustors. They come standard with a 600lb spring rate. If you wanted a higher spring rate they would have to be sourced separately. Their 2.0 performance series shocks have an aluminum body. Their 2.5” shocks have an alloy body and steel shaft that has been Zinc-plated and double-clear coated. They have a progressive valving which some feel can provide a plusher on-road ride quality, depending on terrain and speed. They come preset to provide around 2" of lift on the 05-15's and around 1" on the 2016+ models. They can be adjusted to provide more or less lift depending on what suits your needs however due to their design it is required to make the adjustments off of the vehicle and utilize a spring compressor to take the tension off of the collar. Keep in mind, whenever adjusting a coilover you need to make sure that they are not adjusted to a point that will cause coil bind on compression.


ADS utilizes similar components in their OE lines as they do their race lines so that is a nice benefit. ADS comes standard as a standard travel but we have an extended travel version available. They come in an IFP version as well as there is a reservoir version with optional compression adjustors available too. The come built with a 650 lb spring rate but can be built with a 700lb spring rate at no extra charge. They have steel body and aluminum components. From the feedback I do have from people who have run a variety of these coilovers most feel like these stood up to road salts better than some of the other brands listed. I cannot personally speak directly to this since I am not located in an area that contends with salt but people seem to like the ADS’s coating better than others. Their OEM bolt in Tacoma coil-overs are digressively valved on the rebound side and run progressive valving on the compression. The main reason for this is to give you the stable ride for on road and less of the harshness when traveling off-road. They come preset to provide around 2.5" of lift on the 05-15's and around 1.5" on the 2016+ models. They can be adjusted to provide more or less lift depending on what suits your needs. Keep in mind, whenever adjusting a coilover you need to make sure that they are not adjusted to a point that will cause coil bind on compression."

I think I need to find someone with ADS coilovers in the Midwest and get their opinion and experience on how they actually hold up in the real world.

Also, these bad boys showed up today. Order placed Friday morning and received 3 business days later. These things are STOUT!





I have to say that I was weary about ordering these and just going with the Revtek spacers to save some money. But after seeing the quality have having these in hand, I know I made the right choice! Bravo @dirt designs and thanks again!!

 

A little researching yielded these results:

AND

I also started this thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ads-coilovers-life-in-the-midwest-rust-belt.527964/

 

Dem kings do ride nice

 

I am looking to have coilovers that stand up to the elements brother. Thanks though! Consensus around here is Kings or nothing. Looking to "stand out" haha

 

@MO Tacoma @Sacrifice

 

theyve been great to me so far. going on 3 years now. but i dont have any pictures since im out of town

 

if i ever get to putting the LT on my truck, my fronts are coming off fyi

 

hm......................when will that be?

 

maybe a couple weeks? depends right now on my work schedule and when i have surgery on my shoulder. cause if i get surgery before its not happening for a couple months.

 

Understood. I was looking to purchase in the spring some time and then just wait for a nice day in the summer to install them.

If I don't see you or talk to you before your surgery, good luck brother!

 

thanks

ill post in my thread when they are off and ready for grabs

 

Made sure that I followed up with the fabricator this morning and I am glad that I did. No hoops this Saturday. I have to follow up with him early next week to reschedule.

 

I really like my ADS setup. Zero complaints with on or off road characteristics and the finish on them is as good as the day I bought them.

 

Thanks!

Out of curiosity, how long have you had them? Any pics would be helpful too.

 

That is all dirt on them. If I wiped them down they look new. Sorry for the bad pictures. It too cold for anything fancy. I don't remember when I put them on. A year ago... I don't do fluid film or anything like that.

 

If you have any more questions or want any specific pictures just ask.

 

@G.T. Any chance you know or remember the aluminum grade of these bumpers? I reached out to Satin, but no reply yet. If not, nbd..

 

GT doesn't have an aluminum bumper or pelfreybilt...

Is the guy welding the hoops asking?