Loginfailed's Stolen Idea Emporium (plus BS)

Going to have it ready for the upcoming coffee and cars? I am hoping to have the cams installed and pretty decently tuned in by then.

 

I finally replaced my headlight bulbs with LED bulbs so they match better with the color of the KC fog lights.

Left side halogen / Right side LED

The bulbs I used are Philips Ultinon. The headlight nerds probably don’t approve of non-halogen bulbs in a halogen housing, but I think they work fine.

The only drawback to these is that the cut-off line is reversed due to them being designed for RHD.




I also ordered a new fan controller which will get installed soon.

 

I started the fan controller install. After combing the web for some sort of enclosure to house all most of the aftermarket electrical stuff, I ended up finding something at Home Depot.

Canter 5133164 8x8x4 Junction Box


Since I went back to the stock air intake box, I have a nice open space for this over the passenger fender. The existing aluminum bracket above the ABS pump (in pic below) is going away.



The air intake tube clears the box but I removed it to give me some elbow room while soldering the relay terminals. I have a little more wiring to do today, but the fuse panel will now live on the lid.

 

Progress. Still have to re-do some things on the other side by the battery, but I’m getting there. Loving how organized this crap is vs. before.

 

I’ve been wanting a utility trailer for a while because reasons. Pretty soon I need to go pick up a motorcycle about 400 miles away, so it gave me the excuse to get one.

The first day I brought it home, I noticed the right turn signal wasn’t working. They used some crappy line taps in the wiring, so I fixed that.


I coated the deck with Thompson’s Weather Seal. It should be parked indoors most of the time, but the deck is protected just in case. I was looking for some with ebony stain in it, but the darkest they had was doodoo brown.


I used Harbor Freight ramp, a portion of the Harbor Freight motorcycle wheel chock and some e-track from Northern Tool to set it up for motorcycle hauling.


One thing I thought was weird is that they had the tongue jack welded on to a cross brace, about half way between the ball and the front of the deck. There’s another hole right up front in the normal spot.

Being a trailer noob, I asked the guy at the trailer place why they did it that way. He said it’s so you can open your tailgate without hitting the jack. Ok fair enough.

Today I decided to install a tool box on the tongue and the tool box wouldn’t fit due to the tongue jack being too far back. The crank arm won’t clear the box.

Since the taco is lifted and I need a 12” drop draw bar for the trailer to be level I don’t think the tailgate will hit. So I went at the welds with the grinder, moved the tongue jack to its intended location and now we have a tool box.


I ordered some different hubs so that the trailer can use the same 6 x 5.5 bolt pattern as the taco. I haven’t worked out what in want to do about wheels yet. I’d like to use the same size wheels and tires for the trailer and the taco. But there’s no way the trailer fenders will accommodate something that big. I may need bigger fenders.

 

Nip tuck.

 

Or wheel spacers cause tw....

 

Do they make a wide body kit for utility trailers?

 

-75 offset.

 

I found some fenders that should work. They are about 4” longer (front to back) and 1.75” wider. I’m going to wait until I get the hubs and test fit the taco spare before ordering them.

I may end up doing an axle flip for some extra overlanding points, but I’d prefer to keep it low for easier loading.

 

Another part of the puzzle arrived.

 

What's next on the list?

 

Thinking about fabricating some new shackles to lift it around 2”.

 

Hmm. Then larger tires as well?

 

Exactly. I’m planning to get the same style wheels and same size tires as the Taco.

 

Spares!

 

Spares crossed my mind momentarily, but I’m going with the exact same as the truck has.

Will certainly need to do some modification though if I want to actually fit them.

 

So I was involved in a fender bender the other day. GMC Sierra was road raging and cut me off, except rather than a clean fuck you he actually hit me. Of course he said it was my fault when I was going in a straight line and it was him who was changing lanes.

The Taco is fine. Only scuffed the right front plastics. The GMC didn’t fare as well. His left bed side made friends with my right front tire.

His word against mine, so the insurance companies will have to battle it out. But as a future preventative measure I’m installing front and rear dash cams.

I went with this one and it’s actually really good!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XZ1D226

For the rear camera instead of mounting it inside the topper behind the glass, I’m putting it on the swing out between the spokes of my spare tire. So more noob welds! Here is the tab I welded on.

 

Leisurely making progress.

Camera is mounted. Have to cut and extend the wires since the cable is only 16ft long and there’s no way it’ll reach the mirror.

Going to make the connector land under the right rear of the bed to make it easier in the event I ever need to remove the swing out or the rear bumper.