My "AZTACOMA" build

Well it's been a relatively slow 3-4 months. Went archery elk in September and had a fantastic time, but no kill shots taken.



Went on my overnight cast and blast trip to the Rim for squirrel and trout... plenty of each were harvested.



No dedicated 4x4 runs, but also went day trip quailing 2-3 times, those dirty bastards. Replaced the original steering rack and I'm keeping the sway bar off (again). Now I'm in the market for a cheaper front steel tube bumper and new skids. I will also be buying tires sometime this spring, probably going back to BFG All Terrains.






I'm doing a 2 night excursion with a few other vehicles Jan 1-3 into the KOFA region, a really neat and lightly traveled area in west AZ. My previous foray into the KOFA was 2004... old school tribute pic:



Trip report to follow.

 

Kofa excursion complete, trip report here.

Tried to duplicate the old picture but didn't have it with me... still guessed pretty close.

 

Finally installed rotor pad combo I bought from a deal here on Tacomaworld. The pads were less than 50% and rotors original so I went with a new, more advanced set-up. They feel great.





Also replaced the BFG KM2s with BFG KOs. Despite all the newer tires out there, I still love the old BFG all terrain. Since one of my wheels was bent and discount has having a pretty solid deal, I got a set of new wheels. I'm not crazy about them, but they're growing on me. Unexpected outcome: my tires now stick out about 2" more on each side. The good part is it looks kind of cool and gives a little more stability... the bad part is they rub the pinch weld now and I will have to do some more cutting and banging.



Also went on a recent trip to the Agua Fria National Monument area off Bloody Basin. Trip report here... Good times.

 

So a couple months ago I contacted All Pro Offroad to see if they had dented, used, etc (ie. cheap) front bumpers to sell because I'm on a hardcore budget. Actually I contacted several aftermarket companies but All Pro was the only one that really replied. After a little discussion Tracy said they could sell me the metal and I do the welding... basically a kit. I went for it! Looking back now it probably would have been easier to pay the extra ~$175 complete, but it was interesting and I do appreciate their willingness to work with me.

Let me say the product was top notch, beefy, and well designed. I didn't realize I've have to cut some of the front frame off, but no sweat. I got to customize some of the angles a bit on the bumper too. So here are a few pics:











I coated it with Rustoleum black satin, the same as the other armor. No plans for a winch. I also have the All Pro skid, but it's temporarily off atm.

Ready to go for the Grand Staircase 5 day trip June 28.

 

Very cool build thread Chris(Buckoma)!

 

Thanks Ron

Completed the Utah Grand Staircase trip, excellent times.



Guess we're not going that way...

 

I needed a little more lift up front with the front bumper and skid plate weighing it down too much and creating a minor rake. I threw in some OME 881 coils, which are about ~1.25" longer than stock, along with OME front shocks. Now the truck is pretty darn level.

Did my usual "cast and blast" trip up to the high country for squirrel and trout... with a little offroading of course.



Also just finished an excellent trip running the Red Creek trail, trip report here.

 

Great build my friend. Keep up the posts. I truly enjoy the adventure pics.

Also, I am still learning so take a look at my posts if/when you can and throw me some knowledge. You obviously have experience with the 98-00 models.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...x4-sr5-all-manual-build.407774/#post-11458468

 

Thanks, I'll check out your thread.

I've been driving the truck quite a bit, just hit 219k. Changed out the radiator and hoses, everything working great. So I've done a couple short half-day quail trips with the Taco (no pics) and went deer hunting in southern AZ with the Ram (because it tows the camp trailer)


Me and a friend did a two day javelina scout + quail hunt trip just north of Phoenix a couple weeks ago. Found a pretty cool cabin set up in the middle of nowhere we used for the night.

 

Still waiting for the wild quail to return to the Southeast...

 

Hahaha, yeah really. I've spent a fair amount of time in the southeast due to military, including two 6-month stints in Georgia. I have to say it's OK, but so much of the land is private... and of course I'm a desert boy, so the humidity sucks the life out of me.

January I did a quick river bottom/powers butte romp:


February I went Javelina hunting:


And recently completed a 3 day exploration into the high desert. Good weather (minus some wind ~35%), no mech issues, some solid 4x4, interesting sights, and excellent outdoor times. We didn't get to everything, but we still covered a lot of ground. 2 Tacomas, 2 Forerunners. Basic travel log:

1. Grand Falls
2. "Inscription Rocks" (place where pioneers/travelers inscribed names/dates on some rocks, 1850s-1880s)
3. Canyon Diablo (canyon /ghost town/ old bridge)
4. Clear Creek Canyon
5. Rock Art Ranch (historic ranch + Indian ruins/petroglyphs)
6. "Chimney Canyon Cracks" (area of strange, deep fissures in the ground)
7. Chavez Draw/Pass/Ruins (largest unexcavated Indian ruins in state)


I popped in a new radiator with new hoses, since it had hairline cracks at the top. Even though I bought one of the more expensive radiators, the fitment wasn't 100%... although I got it in fine. Probably should have just went OEM. I also did a complete valve cover gasket and top service job with new plugs, wires, etc.

 

Hey man, I just checked out your thread and read through a couple of the trip reports you linked. Great stuff. The Elk Mountains trip looked like a good time and I put a few of those spots on my list. Your solutions for managing extra fuel capacity got the wheels turning for me as well, so thanks also for that.

I think myself, and many who are into this sort of thing, can take something away from your philosophies on mods/upgrades... "run what you brung", upgrade the things that break/are truly needed, keep it simple, etc. Sometimes I think it's easy to get caught up with the "building" of a rig and spend so much time on it that it ends up taking away from the time you have to actually get out and adventure.

Nice work, carry on!

 

Well thank you. The trips have slowed done some in the last few years, but you are right in that I am a "user." I know and have known people (especially from the expo crowd) with more money than brains who bolt on every new gadget and glamp around with $300 recovery pads and $25 coffee cups. These are the same people that'll spend an inordinate amount of time and money to get within a surgically precise .01% degree of tolerance on a driveline angle while taking their beautiful machines out like twice a year. I tease in good fun though, everyone has their own thing. I am about basic functionality and actually using the vehicle. Experiences are more important than things when it comes to the Tacoma. I'd like to perhaps do more to the truck, but the reality is I have too many interests and obligations to get too carried away with the mods and such. Most of my upgrades will continue to come when it's time to replace something, etc.

 

Did a quick romp near Congress into the Date Creek Mountains.






Small chance I'll get out again before the big Utah trip June 1.

 

Random update!

No trips; Tacoma is being driven once a week or so and is in great condition... minus the broken door handle (long story). Ready for the big trip in a few days to Utah.

But I have been doing a lot of fishing lately

 

Southeast Utah trip is in the books. Another great Utah adventure.

 

Charlou Gap 4x4 trip was fun. An Arizona classic. Also have done a few small day trips hunting around west of Phoenix.

Thinking the unthinkable: Maybe selling the truck in a year or so when I go to get a new one.

 

Well, it looks like I'll be selling my dear truck of almost 19 years in the next month or so So many adventures. It will have a good second life serving someone else well for years to come.

Time to get something that the kids can sit in. 2016-2018 Tacoma TRD Off Road 4x4. White preferably, but I'll take silver or quicksand if it's right.