1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site
    Quick Links: Wish lists... New owner needs & frustrations First Toyota New member from OK New here..HI Looking to buy pocket-style fender flares

Long Time Coming

Discussion in 'New Members' started by Tacomated, Jan 10, 2013.

  1. Jan 10, 2013 at 11:07 AM
    #1
    Tacomated

    #1
    Tacomated [OP] Escape Artist

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2013
    Member:
    #94879
    Messages:
    45
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ted
    Socal
    Vehicle:
    13 Access SR5 2WD 4Cyl
    Always been a pickup truck guy since I was about 12. I could appreciate a Formula 400 Firebird convertible but, deep down, what I really wanted was a Chevy Custom.

    Bought my first truck, an early 70s 2WD HiLux (green, manual transmission, no radio) with a camper shell, shortly after graduating from college in the mid 80s.

    Scrounged an exhaust system and spare tire from the junk yard. Rebuilt the engine. Recarpeted the interior. Naval jellied the rust spots. Pounded out and bondo'd the dents. Primed it. Built a "carpet kit" (without the carpet) in the bed. Took it on road trips. Great little truck except the guy who owned it before me had stripped all the smog equipment. Every two years, I had to find a mechanic who would "sell" me a smog cert in California (because of the rebuild, blueprinted and balanced, it ran clean enough but failed the visual).

    Eventually sold it and bought a used 84 2WD Toyota truck (don't think they had a model name at that time). Light tan truck with a shell and a carpet kit already in it. Still a manual transmission, no stereo (got myself a boom box) and the famous 22R four cylinder engine. Got stolen twice. Didn't get it back the second time.

    Lucked into a dark blue 86 2WD Toyota truck with a shell and a carpet kit that a friend's brother had given up on because it ran so rough. I took a chance and figured out it was basically the timing was way off (back in the day when you loosened a bolt on the distributor and rotated it). This one had an automatic transmission, a stereo and aftermarket wheels. Great truck for about three years but then my wife and I started having babies.

    Somehow my truck turned into a minivan and pretty much stayed that way for the next 20 years or so.

    Well, yesterday evening, I got back behind the wheel of a Toyota truck. Bought a white 2013 2WD 4Cyl Tacoma Access Cab (not PreRunner). My absolute first brand new vehicle.

    I'm a pretty avid backpacker/camper. My prior trucks have served as base-camp vehicles and quick stop sleepers. That's pretty much what I have in mind for this one (in addition to being my daily driver). I'm not looking to do any serious off-road driving. I'm comfortable driving my vehicles on unpaved fire roads to get to a trailhead but I prefer to explore the wilderness on foot at a slower pace.

    I'm planning on camperifying (my very own word) the bed. Probably by adding a shell and some sort of sleeping platform with storage underneath at minimum.

    Been lurking here and on ExpeditionPortal for ideas. I'm sure I'll have a number of questions in the near future.

    Just want to thank the community for all the info I've gained so far and look forward to your input as I get more specific with my planning.
     
    Tacomated, Jan 10, 2013
    #1
  2. Jan 10, 2013 at 11:11 AM
    #2
    Redfox1

    #2
    Redfox1 'Stralia! Riding Roo's and wrangling koalas

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2009
    Member:
    #24099
    Messages:
    1,595
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Conner
    Santa Paula, CA and SLO
    Vehicle:
    09 Prerunner Sport TRD
    Browning Floor Mats, 275/70/17 BFG All-Terrain T/A's, Procomp 7089 wheels,Rear Spring TSB, Bilstein 5100's, LED roof light, seatbelt chime disabled, CB, UWS Toolbox,
    Redfox1, Jan 10, 2013
    #2
  3. Jan 11, 2013 at 3:21 AM
    #3
    Highboy90

    #3
    Highboy90 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2013
    Member:
    #94566
    Messages:
    220
    Gender:
    Male
    Welcome to TW :)
     
    Highboy90, Jan 11, 2013
    #3
  4. Jan 11, 2013 at 6:05 AM
    #4
    RLDTACO

    #4
    RLDTACO Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2010
    Member:
    #41121
    Messages:
    11,981
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bob
    Houston Tx.
    Vehicle:
    2010 DCLB PreRunner SR5
    Debadged,Tailgate theft mod,Extra D-rings,OEM bed mat,TRD exhaust, 5100 Billys@ 4 corners set@ 0 with Eibach springs, rear TSB springs.N-Fab tube Steps. TRD FJ SE wheels and Michelin LTX A/T 2's
    Welcome! :wave:
     
    RLDTACO, Jan 11, 2013
    #4
To Top