Iowa Tacomas (Idiots.Out.Wandering.Around)

Spotted a white double cab Tacoma on 63th street in WDSM this morning. It was headed north between Hwy 5 and Railroad. It had 3" lift and BFG AT's (32 or 33's) with chrome wheels.

 

Time to pick your brain then Renaud. Which club(s) would be the best to join and what are the fees for them? There's a jeep club that meets in Ames once a month (they say any 4x4 can come). Otherwise MIOBI would be a good one I think, but I don't know anything about any other clubs around here.

 

I've seen that one before. Not sure if they are on here or not.

 

Sent you a PM, since some of the information may contain my opinion and may not be 100% accurate.

Here is a website about offroading in Iowa worth checking out....
http://offroadiowa.com/

The contributors to Offroad Iowa are Luke and Alison Graham, avid off-road enthusiasts. Luke and Alison travel the Midwest on the lookout for exciting off-road destinations and events. They also own and operate Frontier 4×4 off-road supply.

 

Secrets don't make friends!

 

He basically said we should join MIOBI!
http://www.dirttraveler.com/miobi/

 

Going to register with the club once I have a vehicle that meets their requirements. Almost there! Lots of good stuff on the message board posted above.

 

I'm in the same boat, I have an idea for front recovery points though, just too damn cold to do any work.

 

You don't have stock recovery hooks like the 1st gens? I have 2 you can have if they bolt up to your frame somewhere.

 

Sports come with a cheap ass little loop thingy, either way, not good enough for a recovery, the offroads have a hook. I want to take off the trd skid, and cut out the drop down cross member and weld in a replacement that offers higher clearance. At that point I can drill and mount 2 shackle mounts with backing plates that should be pretty stout. Just need it to warm up so I can practice my welding!

 

Sounds like an interesting plan!

Heated shop FTW! Hopefully my bumpers get done soon so I can get to welding them. I'm installing the lift and some other stuff this weekend.

 

Cool, sounds like we finally have a plan for a real gathering.

 

This is the crossmember I want to cut down and replace with a piece of 3/16 or even 1/4 and then add the shackle mounts.

 

Looks do-able. Flat stock would probably want to twist or bend, but angle iron could work well.

 

A couple gussets couldn't hurt it.

 

If we do the meet fairly soon, i have an AAL and rotors and pads that need put on.

 

I would be up for a meet so someone could help walk me through a tranny flush.

 

I don't think we can do a true flush. You have to have a tool to force the fluid through the tranny for that. We can do a drain and fill which will get about 1/3-1/2 of the fluid changed. I need to do that as well.

 

What about pumping it out of the tranny cooler line like on 1st gens. Pump out a few quarts, add a few, pump out a few, add a few, until you did like 15 quarts or whatever.

 

There is some good information on offroading in Iowa here... http://offroadiowa.com/

There is also club links on offroadiowa.com

Run down of some of the clubs.

1) Make it or break it. (MIOBI) - Several members, probably the biggest in iowa with 100+ members. Wide range of vehicles from stock, mild, to wild. Membership is $50 first year, $35 each additional. with $15 day pass to wheel. The land is approx. 300 acres about 12 miles south of Knoxville.
Club web/forum... http://www.dirttraveler.com/miobi/

2) JOCCI - Jeep Outdoor Club of Iowa. They have access to some land near Oskaloosa. Thats about all I know about them.

3) 4x4 Syndicate - Hard core wheeling group, with minimum vehicle requirements to join, I am in this club. Poke around on the public forum for rig builds, trip reports, and a classified section.
Club web/forum... http://www.4x4syndicate.com/

4) Tall Corn Cruisers - A club affiated with TLCA (toyota land cruisers association) They don't have land access.
Club web/forum... http://forum.ih8mud.com/ia-tall-corn-cruisers/

5) CIA4WI club - Central Iowa 4 Wheelers.
6) Damage Inc. 4x4 - Dont know much about them.