My first Tacoma, I've been planning this purchase for years.

Hello folks,
This S5 Toyota Tacoma has been on my wish list for years. I already know it's a great truck and should last me forever. I'm not one to spend a lot of money on automobiles. Not that I can't afford to it's just that I've never seen the need to. This truck is no tricked out baby but she is all I wanted. I'm from South Carolina living in the coastal region called the "Low Country". I'm 61yrs old and recently retired from the steel making industry where I was a shift electrical tech for 20yrs. I'm a veteran having served in the USAF for 6yrs as a Security Police Specialists. I progressed toward my final trade working as a heavy equipment mechanic for a local power utility, a electronics tech at Charleston Naval Shipyard. My experience base is pretty broad but in the end I'm just a retired guy wanting to talk with like minded individuals about this purchase I've made. I've been married to my best friend and high school crush for 25yrs and we have 4 children and 9 grand kids.
My plans for the truck are to use it to pull a small 5th wheel, 19ft, 2900lbs all over creation. My build is in the planning stage and I'm pretty particular about how I do things. I build to last. I look forward to the information exchanges we will have in the future.
Ray, MrBig1 is the name a friend gave me long ago. I'm 6'4" tall and weigh 290lbs. It fits me just fine.

 

Welcome and thank you for your service!

To me it sounds like you won the lottery. If I have half the success you had in life, I will consider myself lucky.

Curious: Is there a 5th wheel hitch that fits the Tacoma? I never checked.

I build utility trailers as a hobby/side business. I always wanted to build a 5' wide utility trailer and hang a 5th wheel pin on it. One of those bucket list items that I don't really need, but want to do.

Regardless, welcome.

Kirk in Michigan

 

Kirk, I've been in touch with the good people at Scamp Campers. They assure me that their modified 5th wheel hitch can be installed in a tacoma. The modification of the 5th wheel is that it is actually a 2" ball mounted on a raised platform. I'm told that the hitch and installation is part of the purchase price.

 

Funny, when you posted, small 5th wheel, the Scamps were exactly what I was thinking of.

They have their own hitch system, but it works just fine.

I think your Tacoma will look amazing towing a Scamp. Looking forward to pictures.

I'm glad they will install it for you. I've installed 2 5th wheel hitches...and I have a car hoist! Never again! They are a pain. so time consuming if you don't do it regular.

 

The plan is to outfit this thing with all the bells and whistles. I will be sharing the details of the build. My main focuses will be durability, comfort and safety. The Tacoma with the inline 4 banger seemed to be the logical choice when I wanted mpg and toughness. My only regret is that Toyota didn't see fit to supply the brake controller wiring on the 4 cyl SR models. Not a big thing. I'm sure it can be overcome without much effort.

 

That looks like they are made for each other!

 

Nice looking rig, very nice. A lot like I plan to build. Minor difference is the location of the solar panels. I plan to add a rack system to my double cab and mount 3 200watt panels. Virtually make my truck the rigs power plant. Did Scamp mount the 5th wheel hitch for you.

 

Those are just some pics I found on the Internet, I was curious about the scamp trailer/tacoma combo.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome and thanks for your service! I would encourage you to consider a build thread that documents what you do to your truck. I think others would be interested in your modifications. Building to last is a good thing and well thought out modifications are highly prized and respected on tacomaworld.com.

 

That sounds like a plan. Anyway as soon as I figure out where all the build threads are.

 

Welcome!
I spent 6 years in the USAF too in security and LE. Spent my time in Minot, ND, Okinawa, and upstate NY.
You have purchased wisely...

 

Just follow the link below and look to the upper right corner of the page and click on the link to start a new thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/3rd-gen-builds-2016.196/

 

Welcome aboard

 

Thanks MarX. This looks like a good place to be.

 

Found it. Now I just need to figure out photo bucket so I can post pics.

 

Are you planning on posting pics from a computer or a cell phone? It pretty easy if you use a phone that can send pictures.

On the phone just click that button under this box I'm typing in that say "upload a file". From there you should be able to get your phone pics loaded without the use of photo bucket.

 

Working with a Samsung "S" tablet. I see the upload a file button